Outback Adventure DVD Out Now! Video Clip

"Outback Adventure" DVD highlighting photos from "Off the Beaten Track", earlier in September, is now available. It can be purchased in both PAL format (for Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom) and also NTSC format (for the USA, Canada, Europe and South America).

There are 270 photos (without captions), plus credits, featuring South Australia's Outback, Gammon Ranges and Flinders Ranges. Wildlife, windmills and wildflowers all make an appearance. Mini adventures like the Pichi Richi Railway journey and the Ridge Top Tour at Arkaroola are there too.

Visits to Alligator Gorge, the Ochre Pits and Leigh Creek Coal Field are included as well. Signs, buildings, vehicles and people make an appearance alongside trees, creeks and beautiful scenery.

Did I mention there are planes in it too?

What more could you want as a snapshot of the Australian Bush? These are the places Oprah didn't visit.

The DVD lasts for about 26.5 minutes and has an easy listening soundtrack.

Enjoy the video clip (short but great).



The DVDs are AUD$25.00 each. Postage & handling for Australia is AUD$2.50 and for outside Australia it's AUD$6.00. Contact me at fran@franwest.com for a bulk P&H cost if purchasing more than one copy.

Although primarily designed for aged care and dementia patients, the DVDs can be and are enjoyed by people of all ages.

P.S. the wildflowers on the DVD label are South Australia's floral emblem, the Sturt Desert Pea, (absolutely stunning in the Wearing Gorge). There are just a few on the actual DVD too.

Outback Adventure DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00

Season's Greetings from Downunder

Christmas is over and New Year is nearly upon us. So here are Season's Greetings to you on a card with a difference. Instead of the usual poinsettias with the bright red and green here are some wildflowers from Australia with the brilliant red and black.

This photo of the Sturt Desert Pea (Swainsona Formosa) was taken on our trip, "Off the Beaten Track", to South Australia's Outback, Flinders Ranges and Gammon Ranges.


On the dirt road from Arkaroola to Blinman, there were patches of these wildflowers along the side of the road and these increased as we travelled through the Wearing Gorge - absolutely stunning.

Our trip didn't turn out as planned because there was actually so much rain in the Outback that many of the roads were closed. However, because of the rain the country just came alive with the burst of colour from the wildflowers - a photographer's Paradise!

That just goes to show that as you journey through life sometimes you don't always get what you want or plan for because God has something better in store for you.

So, all the best for the coming year.

P.S. You may see me out and about with my camera and Akubra hat (I'll tell you about that one later!). Fran

Outback Adventure DVD Nearing Completion

"Outback Adventure" DVD highlighting photos from "Off the Beaten Track", earlier in September, is nearing completion. It will be released in both PAL format (for Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom) and also NTSC format (for the USA, Canada, Europe and South America).

There will be at least 260 photos (without captions) featuring South Australia's Outback, Gammon Ranges and Flinders Ranges. Wildlife, windmills and wildflowers all make an appearance. Mini adventures like the Pichi Richi Railway journey and the Ridge Top Tour at Arkaroola are there too.

Visits to Alligator Gorge, the Ochre Pits and Leigh Creek Coal Field are included as well. Signs, buildings, vehicles and people make an appearance alongside trees, creeks and beautiful scenery.

Did I mention there are planes in it too?

What more could you want as a snapshot of the Australian Bush?

A video snippet will be posted as soon as the DVD's completed (probably after Christmas or in early January).

If you'd like to reserve a copy at AUD$25.00 contact me at fran@franwest.com.

P.S. the wildflowers on the DVD label are South Australia's floral emblem, the Sturt Desert Pea, (absolutely stunning in the Wearing Gorge).

When is a Euro not European Currency? Video Clip

When it's a type of kangaroo. This euro is in the Gammon Ranges, in Outback South Australia, and was spotted on the Ridge Top Tour at Arkaroola.



All sorts of wildlife was encountered during Off the Beaten Track, in early September.

Travel tips Australia Click Here!

Your guide to travelling Australia Click Here!

Biking in the Bush - Floods, Flowers and Dust

When travelling in the Outback, you meet such a lot of interesting characters. It pays to stop for a few minutes and find out their story.

On our way from Arkaroola to Blinman and Rawnsley Park, we stopped to talk to Jeff (or Geoff) who was heading up to Arkaroola. He too had tried to reach the Cooper Creek but couldn't make it because of the floods.

Wading through water a metre (about 3 feet) deep wasn't too bad, he said, until the carrier behind his bike started floating away. Giving up was then a good option.

Jeff said trudging through creeks was bad enough, but when the roads were wet, the mud found its way into all the nooks and crannies on the bike. It then made it impossible to ride once the mud had dried.

Definitely an intrepid adventurer, riding about 100 kilometres a day. The advantage of going at a slower pace, like Jeff, means that you can really take in the beauty of the wildflowers and scenery as you go.

"Sheep in Boots", not "Puss in Boots", another Sign of the Australian Outback

Because the Australian Outback is a harsh environment to work in, a sense of humour can be a good thing to have.

After leaving Leigh Creek and Copley, during "Off the Beaten Track", we headed on the dirt road to Arkaroola, in the Gammon Ranges.

Not far along the track, we came across this sign for Leigh Creek Station. They obviously must run sheep on this property!

I thought the sign looked a bit odd, so I zoomed in on it and found "Sheep in Boots", not "Puss in Boots"!

In future posts I'll show you a few more of the humorous signs of the Australian Outback.

Off the Beaten Track DVD coming soon

"Off the Beaten Track" DVD will be released shortly. It contains several hundred photos taken on the recent trip to Outback Australia for
The World By Web - http://theworldbyweb.com.

As well as the magnificent scenery of the Flinders and Gammon Ranges, there are photos of the wildlife, wildflowers, buildings, people and activities. A true Outback experience.


The photos (without captions or narration) are made into a movie presentation suitable for playing on your TV (in PAL or NTSC).

Only AUD$25.00 (free postage), so order NOW by contacting me at fran@franwest.com.

Off the Beaten Track to Outback Australia - 5 days to go

Not long now before I head Off the Beaten Track to Outback South Australia.
One of the places that I'll be visiting is Arkaroola in the Gammon Ranges. It's north of the Flinders Ranges and I'll be making my way there after going to Marree and Lake Eyre.

During my flight around South Australia's coast and Outback in 2002, I landed at Arkaroola and spent a couple of nights there.

While there, I went on the world famous Ridge Top Tour which I hope to do again depending on availability.

It's not just the scenery which is impressive but also the skill of the drivers when they park on the lookouts.

If you'd like to see more of this place you can join me on my trip, by remote via the web, by going to this site
http://theworldbyweb.com/global/blogs/entry/Fran-West-Off-the-beaten-track-1-week-till-launch

The DVD of this trip, "Outback Adventure", is available now. Click here.

Off the Beaten Track with Fran West - 1 week till launch

In a week's time I'll be heading Off the Beaten Track to the Flinders Ranges, Gammon Ranges, Lake Eyre and the Cooper Creek. In other words, I'll be heading to Outback South Australia.

As well as the sightseeing, there will be a ride on the Pichi Richi Railroad, hot air ballooning near Wilpena Pound and a flight over Lake Eyre.


This photo of Wilpena Pound was taken during Sea, Sky and Sand, a fundraising flight I did for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 2002.

You can join me on my trip, by remote via the web, by going to this site
http://theworldbyweb.com/global/blogs/entry/Fran-West-Off-the-beaten-track-1-week-till-launch

The DVD of this trip, "Outback Adventure", is available now. Click here.

Off the Beaten Track with Fran West

The next adventure's coming up soon from the 4th to 12th September.

We've actually had some rain in Australia this year and I'm heading up through the Flinders Ranges and Gammon Ranges to photograph Lake Eyre and the Cooper Creek in flood. The last time the Cooper Creek was in flood was in 1991, so it's going to be an exciting trip.

More about the trip will be posted soon. Stay tuned.