WTF is Pupunya…. the first question people ask when I say I am off to Papunya for a few weeks.  Papunya is about 200kms NW of Alice Springs, a small first people community nestled in the Hartz Ranges.  Red dust and Spinifex country.  To get there we have three days to cover just over 2500kms, so let the journey begin!!!

So day 1 and the plan was to get to Renmark and a you camp site called canoe the riverlands.  The plan was to drive up through Ballarat, St Arnaud & Ouyen, before crossing the border at Yamba and arriving in the Riverland of South Australia.  It always amazes me how small the urban areas are in comparison to the wide openness of outback Australia.   The city has faded within 90 minutes and the landscape is opening up.

The other way that I know I am in the country… the menu changes from salads and fresh brioche rolls to chicko rolls, dim sims or steak sandwiches.  It’s been so long that I forgot about the terrible road side food available in most of country Australia!!!  Not really sure why it is this way, I know there are so many great producers and some little country towns do it so well.  Anyway, time for a chicko roll 🙂 diet over.

The countryside slowly changes from green vineyards to saltbush and back to the green citrus orchards once we get towards the Murray.

A quick stop in the outskirts of Mildura for some fruit and veg to supplement the chicko rolls over the next few days!!

Eventually we arrived at the campsite, and settled under a beautiful shady boronia tree, water and power are all supplied along with a warm welcome and a smile

 

Down at the riverside, it is peaceful and quiet.  Pelicans stretch and paddle boats sit in the reeds.

 

 

 

Next time we will stay long enough to take a canoe out on the river and explore the area