Australia
All over the fifth continent
date of entry 18/12/2002
mileage 369,485
capital Canberra
area 7.692.024 km²
population 23.130.900
GDP 1488 Bill. US-Dollar
official language English
Australia is a country tailor-made for all-terrain vehicles: wide, open spaces, a mild climate and, on the coast, a good infrastructure. The Holtorfs spent almost two years on the fifth continent with Otto and criss-crossed the whole country. They were so fascinated by Down Under that they even thought briefly about staying there permanently. But then their wanderlust kicked in again.
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From Northern Territory's capital Darwin, Otto sailed by ship to Dili in Timor Leste26 of 26 -
You cannot visit Australia without seeing Sydney: Otto against the backdrop of the famous Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.1 of 26 -
Between 2002 and 2006, Christine and Gunther Holtorf paid several visits with Otto to the largest Australian city on the Pacific Ocean.2 of 26 -
But they spent even more time in the outback, away from the major cities.3 of 26 -
They crossed the fifth continent many times, often on unpaved tracks. Many roads ran through the landscape in an absolutely straight line – in this case, for a grand total of 146.6 kilometres.4 of 26
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Again and again, there were dead kangaroos lying on the road. They are the victims of road trains, ultra-long lorries that deliver goods to the Australian interior.5 of 26
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Even for little Otto, these fast road trains were not without danger,...6 of 26
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... because these juggernauts, which are more than 50 metres long, are virtually incapable of braking and leave huge clouds of dust in their wake.7 of 26
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With up to 220 litres of diesel on board, the long distances between two filling stations were no trouble for Otto.8 of 26
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The Holtorfs took Otto to tourist highlights such as Wave Rock in Western Australia,...9 of 26
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... the Devils Marbles in the Northern Territory...10 of 26
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... or Ayers Rock at the centre of this huge country,...11 of 26
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... which is called Uluru by the Aborigines.12 of 26
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From the Holy Mountain of the indigenous people, they drove on smaller tracks into the hostile interior.13 of 26
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One of the Aborigines tried out Otto’s driving seat.14 of 26
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Along with snakes, saltwater crocodiles are the most dangerous inhabitants of the outback. They can grow to more than seven metres in length.15 of 26
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Bushfires are also among the country’s perils,...16 of 26
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... especially when you are travelling alone through these unimaginable expanses.17 of 26
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For Otto, however, there was no path too isolated,...18 of 26
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... too difficult...19 of 26
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... or too muddy. Here, he is driving on a track in the tropical rainforests of the Cape York Peninsula.20 of 26
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It was there that Christine and Gunther Holtorf and Otto also came across an abandoned wrecked aircraft dating back to the Second World War.21 of 26
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In the Nambung National Park in the west of the country, the wind has created bizarre limestone pillars, the Pinnacles.22 of 26
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They too are a tourist attraction, towering up out of the sand over a distance of many kilometres.23 of 26
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A similar sight is provided by the numerous termite mounds, which are built by those small insects from red soil in the bush.24 of 26
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Gunther and Christine Holtorf often pitched camp for the night in splendid isolation.25 of 26
