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Touring the Northern Territory

Jen Adams | October 2, 2014 | 3:39 pm | Comment

TRAVEL TIP WHILE TOURING THE NORTHERN TERRITORY: Don’t run into Ellery Creek Big Hole too excitedly…(I tore my calf muscle… And yep I had to be carried out #embarrassing)

Ellery Creek Big Hole touring the Northern Territory
Ready for a dip at Ellery Creek Big Hole, NT

Ok, so I admit that wasn’t the best way to kick off our first ever Places We Go Signature Tour, but it was certainly a conversation starter. Especially when I had three men carry me out of the water! (and that was only day #2).

In all seriousness, I want to talk about our NT adventure tour. What a trip. What a beautiful group of people. From the moment we all landed in Alice Springs, it was an absolutely pleasure. With our tag line “It’s not just the places we go, it’s the people we meet that capture our hearts”, there are no prizes for guessing what was the theme of our trip. Spectacular places and people – and that was not just the locals we met on the trip, but the group itself.

Sunset drinks while touring the Northern Territory
Hands up if you like Uluru
Ormiston Gorge touring the Northern Territory
What a Day we shared with Park Ranger Gary Weir. Check out his website: http://traveloutbackaustralia.com/

I must say, it’s pretty amazing when you put it out there and invite people (read: strangers) to come away on a holiday with you. Because in effect that is what we did….. We followed our instinct that the kind of people that would put their hand up would be like-minded, and “get” the Places We Go philosophy… but I just never knew how right we would be.

Our group of 28 people were made up of people from all walks of life. Some we’d never met before, others were family and lifelong friends (including children).

And that is what I love about travel – it’s not about who you are or where you are from. It’s about where you are, and what you are experiencing. It’s like you get to leave your ‘life’ at home.

Standley Chasm touring the Northern Territory
Jen and Clint with Ryan and Rachel at Standley Chasm

We took the group to some of our favourite places in the Red Centre, like Ellery Creek Big Hole for a swim, the walk around spectacular Kings Canyon, and of course Uluru (which at sunrise is really something to be experienced). As you can imagine, there are so many highlights touring the Northern Territory, they’re too many to mention.

But everyone was especially blown away by Kings Canyon, I think it’s the absolute jewel of the Red Centre and our nights around the crackling campfire at Kings Creek Station fed our soul. Great conversation, a scrumptious barbie (thanks for cooking Otto and Clint) and that massive outback starry sky.

One of my favourite memories was lying on the red dirt with my daughter Charli and my niece Emily and together we were treated to two shooting stars. “This looks like a completely different sky from the city”, my niece announced.

Touring the Northern Territory by air
Jen, Otto and Lorraine ready to take flight
Kings Creek Station touring the Northern Territory
Toasting marshmellow’s by the campfire
Kings Canyon touring the Northern Territory
Beautiful Kings Canyon

To cap it all off, our last night was at the renowned ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner. We had Uluru on one side, and Kata Tjuta on the other. The sky was a deep burnt orange, and seemed to glow long after the sun disappeared. The energy was undeniable. Timeless. Breathtaking.

Sounds of Silence Dinner touring the Northern Territory
Sounds of Silence entertainment while the sun sets over Kata Tjuta

But what made the night so special was the group, who just a week earlier had never met but were now swapping stories, sharing what we had loved about our adventure. With a table full of genuine emotion, the overwhelming feeling was that it was an absolute privilege to spend a week travelling with such great people. People who were interested in not only touring the Northern Territory, but the people we all met along the way, and that included each other.

A big thank you to everyone who came on the trip… especially David, Amy and Kathy from Encore Journeys for your incredible work in helping us make this possible. Can’t wait for the next one.

Do you like group touring, and if so, what is it about it that you find so enjoyable? 

About Jen Adams

Places We Go is Jen's dream come true. As the founder, she simply wanted to 'share the world with the world'. With the tag line “It’s not just the places we go, but the people we meet that capture our heart” Jen knows that it's always the locals that bring our travels alive.

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I was lucky enough explore regional Victoria earli I was lucky enough explore regional Victoria earlier in the year (between lockdowns!), and tour the Goldfields with @big4holidayparks – Sure, I got my much-needed fix of the outdoors and was able to feed my insatiable curiosity as I explored the regions utterly fascinating history & culture, but it was sitting up at the old bar of family run Munari wines, just outside of Heathcote that got me.
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 Chatting to the chief winemaker Adrian Munari, and his daughter India (over a lovely red, of course) I heard all about the historic sheep station that was established in 1871, and life on the property today. (I wonder how the farmers endured the pandemic in 1919?)  
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Here’s to a happy summer holiday for us all, of enjoying those ‘moments’, wherever we are. 
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 I based myself at the @BIG4BendigoAscotHolidayPark 
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 See link in bio if want to plan your own getaway 😍
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#holidayhearthisyear #ExploreBIG4 #BIG4HolidayParks #VisitVictoria @visitmelbourne
WHO WANTS TO **WIN** A LUXURIOUS 2-NIGHT GETAWAY? WHO WANTS TO **WIN** A LUXURIOUS 2-NIGHT GETAWAY?
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How would you (and a friend!) like to escape to NSW’s New England Tablelands on a 2-night LUXURIOUS getaway, experiencing the best of Armidale’s premium accom, stunning food, wine & beer, an immersion in the local arts AND a World-Heritage Listed backyard to cap it off? 
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Your weekend will include: 
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- 2 night premium suite package at the historic Tattersalls Hotel (including food & drink from their award-winning restaurant & breakfast included) 
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- Grabbing a beer at Great Hops Brewing Company PLUS some special gifts delivered to your home
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- A special Hema Australian Atlas & Guide plus a NSW State Map 
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Take it from me, this is worth entering, and if you do in fact WIN, set your alarm and get up for sunrise in the New England National Park, followed by a trip to Wollomombi Falls (the second highest falls in the county!) - it was sincerely exceptional.
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Oh and say hello to John at the Tattersalls Hotel, Rachael from the Art Gallery, and Sam from Great Hops Brewery. 
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 **TAG A FRIEND YOU'D  LOVE TO TAKE, and increase your chances of winning by both entering.. I know I would 😉❤
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Good luck, 
Jen xx
WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! ON TV TODAY 😎🕺 . Would WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! ON TV TODAY 😎🕺
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Would love you to join me as we celebrate the locals of #armidale on TV today
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Tune in (or set your record buttons) @ 1.30pm, ON TEN **TODAY**
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A special thanks to all those that not only shared their magnificent backyard with us, but who opened their hearts and let our TV cameras in.
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Armidale, you can no longer use the term “hidden treasure” 😉
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Ps did I say “today” enough times? 😆🤪🙏 Jen xx
ARMIDALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT Ready for another cele ARMIDALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
 
Ready for another celebration of a brilliant person and travel experience for us all?
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Meet James Rainger from @fleetadventures 
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He not only spends his life taking us travellers on scenic chopper tours over his World-Heritage Listed backyard of the #newengland region – he’s one of the many brilliant pilots who you’ll find hovering above the blazing heat helping fight our Australian Bushfires.
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When I shared my nerves about flying, he settled me with in seconds. Super grounded, in safe hands kind-a-feeling, with the biggest sparkle in his eye.
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“To be part of the firefighting team is being in the #armidale  community - we all live here, our kids go to school here, so we love it. Armidale is a community where we all band together, we’re very passionate about our backyard, and we hope it shows.. and we certainly hope people come and see what it’s like. We’ve got a unique view of part of the world that not many people get to see. And there are not hordes of people here, so it’s very personal, we like to bring people into our world and our life – and share it – thank you for taking the time to come and visit us… “
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As for the flight? Put it on your @theaustralianbucketlist
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Jen xx

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