Exploring the rugged Australian Outback
Host Megan French and seasoned explorer Stephen Scourfield discuss the wondrous landscape on the latest episode of The Pod Well Travelled.
The duo take listeners on an epic journey from the iconic red heart of Uluru and the dramatic domes of Kata Tjuta, to the ancient gorges of Karijini and the rugged beauty of the Kimberley.
Hear firsthand accounts of sunrise and sunset at Uluru, the ever-changing colours of the desert, and the spiritual power that draws travellers back time and again.
The conversation also explores must-visit destinations such as Kings Canyon, Flinders Ranges and the legendary Gibb River Road, as well as quirky outposts such as Coober Pedy — where life is lived underground — and the historic mining town of Broken Hill.
'Karijini National Park is like going down an elevator in time, through millions and millions of years,' Stephen says. Stephen Scourfield and Megan French discuss travelling the Australian outback in a new episode of The Pod Well Travelled. Credit: Adobe Stock / Luke - stock.adobe.com
+ We'd love to hear from you — send your questions, comments or feedback for the podcast to The Pod Well Travelled team via travel@wanews.com.au.
+ Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.
+ Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It's our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more. Stephen Scourfield and Megan French discuss travelling the Australian outback in a new episode of The Pod Well Travelled. Credit: Adobe Stock / Reto Ammann - stock.adobe.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
It would be tragic not to tour Australia: Farrell
Coach Andy Farrell has insisted that the debate over Australia's future as a British and Irish Lions tour destination is "insulting". The Lions are seeking to complete a series whitewash when the rivals clash for the final time in Sydney on Saturday. Australian rugby is facing significant challenges on and off the field and is the weakest of the three nations visited by the elite of British and Irish rugby, with South Africa and New Zealand completing the 12-year rotation. Furthermore, there is growing support for the Lions to visit France because of the strength of their national side and club game, as well as the commercial possibilities. The Wallabies answered their critics at Melbourne Cricket Ground by taking the second Test to the wire in an all-time classic before falling 2-0 behind in the series when Hugo Keenan struck with 51 seconds left. When asked if Australia had earned the right to host another tour, Farrell replied: "It was never off the agenda, in my opinion. "Every single team, country and province have their ups and downs but Australia - the sporting nation that they are - are always going to come back. "Have a look at the year they've got coming up. Come the 2027 World Cup they're going to be a force to be reckoned with, 100 per cent. "It would be tragic not to tour here. We've had a blast. To me its insulting to talk about it in that kind of way." Farrell's success as Lions head coach - as well as his obvious passion for the concept - makes him overwhelming favourite to lead the next tour to New Zealand, but he is refusing to look beyond attending an Oasis concert at Croke Park upon his return home. "Would I do this again? Give me a break would you! Let me get through Saturday. I have absolutely loved every single minute and I knew I would because I just love everything that the Lions is about," he said. "Thinking about the future is not something that is on my mind until I get home and have a bit of reflection on the whole thing. "I'm definitely going to Oasis and that's why I'm going home! I'll be taking a few friends. There are a few coaches here that are trying to get on the bandwagon." Coach Andy Farrell has insisted that the debate over Australia's future as a British and Irish Lions tour destination is "insulting". The Lions are seeking to complete a series whitewash when the rivals clash for the final time in Sydney on Saturday. Australian rugby is facing significant challenges on and off the field and is the weakest of the three nations visited by the elite of British and Irish rugby, with South Africa and New Zealand completing the 12-year rotation. Furthermore, there is growing support for the Lions to visit France because of the strength of their national side and club game, as well as the commercial possibilities. The Wallabies answered their critics at Melbourne Cricket Ground by taking the second Test to the wire in an all-time classic before falling 2-0 behind in the series when Hugo Keenan struck with 51 seconds left. When asked if Australia had earned the right to host another tour, Farrell replied: "It was never off the agenda, in my opinion. "Every single team, country and province have their ups and downs but Australia - the sporting nation that they are - are always going to come back. "Have a look at the year they've got coming up. Come the 2027 World Cup they're going to be a force to be reckoned with, 100 per cent. "It would be tragic not to tour here. We've had a blast. To me its insulting to talk about it in that kind of way." Farrell's success as Lions head coach - as well as his obvious passion for the concept - makes him overwhelming favourite to lead the next tour to New Zealand, but he is refusing to look beyond attending an Oasis concert at Croke Park upon his return home. "Would I do this again? Give me a break would you! Let me get through Saturday. I have absolutely loved every single minute and I knew I would because I just love everything that the Lions is about," he said. "Thinking about the future is not something that is on my mind until I get home and have a bit of reflection on the whole thing. "I'm definitely going to Oasis and that's why I'm going home! I'll be taking a few friends. There are a few coaches here that are trying to get on the bandwagon." Coach Andy Farrell has insisted that the debate over Australia's future as a British and Irish Lions tour destination is "insulting". The Lions are seeking to complete a series whitewash when the rivals clash for the final time in Sydney on Saturday. Australian rugby is facing significant challenges on and off the field and is the weakest of the three nations visited by the elite of British and Irish rugby, with South Africa and New Zealand completing the 12-year rotation. Furthermore, there is growing support for the Lions to visit France because of the strength of their national side and club game, as well as the commercial possibilities. The Wallabies answered their critics at Melbourne Cricket Ground by taking the second Test to the wire in an all-time classic before falling 2-0 behind in the series when Hugo Keenan struck with 51 seconds left. When asked if Australia had earned the right to host another tour, Farrell replied: "It was never off the agenda, in my opinion. "Every single team, country and province have their ups and downs but Australia - the sporting nation that they are - are always going to come back. "Have a look at the year they've got coming up. Come the 2027 World Cup they're going to be a force to be reckoned with, 100 per cent. "It would be tragic not to tour here. We've had a blast. To me its insulting to talk about it in that kind of way." Farrell's success as Lions head coach - as well as his obvious passion for the concept - makes him overwhelming favourite to lead the next tour to New Zealand, but he is refusing to look beyond attending an Oasis concert at Croke Park upon his return home. "Would I do this again? Give me a break would you! Let me get through Saturday. I have absolutely loved every single minute and I knew I would because I just love everything that the Lions is about," he said. "Thinking about the future is not something that is on my mind until I get home and have a bit of reflection on the whole thing. "I'm definitely going to Oasis and that's why I'm going home! I'll be taking a few friends. There are a few coaches here that are trying to get on the bandwagon."
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
It would be tragic not to tour Australia: Farrell
Coach Andy Farrell has insisted that the debate over Australia's future as a British and Irish Lions tour destination is "insulting". The Lions are seeking to complete a series whitewash when the rivals clash for the final time in Sydney on Saturday. Australian rugby is facing significant challenges on and off the field and is the weakest of the three nations visited by the elite of British and Irish rugby, with South Africa and New Zealand completing the 12-year rotation. Furthermore, there is growing support for the Lions to visit France because of the strength of their national side and club game, as well as the commercial possibilities. The Wallabies answered their critics at Melbourne Cricket Ground by taking the second Test to the wire in an all-time classic before falling 2-0 behind in the series when Hugo Keenan struck with 51 seconds left. When asked if Australia had earned the right to host another tour, Farrell replied: "It was never off the agenda, in my opinion. "Every single team, country and province have their ups and downs but Australia - the sporting nation that they are - are always going to come back. "Have a look at the year they've got coming up. Come the 2027 World Cup they're going to be a force to be reckoned with, 100 per cent. "It would be tragic not to tour here. We've had a blast. To me its insulting to talk about it in that kind of way." Farrell's success as Lions head coach - as well as his obvious passion for the concept - makes him overwhelming favourite to lead the next tour to New Zealand, but he is refusing to look beyond attending an Oasis concert at Croke Park upon his return home. "Would I do this again? Give me a break would you! Let me get through Saturday. I have absolutely loved every single minute and I knew I would because I just love everything that the Lions is about," he said. "Thinking about the future is not something that is on my mind until I get home and have a bit of reflection on the whole thing. "I'm definitely going to Oasis and that's why I'm going home! I'll be taking a few friends. There are a few coaches here that are trying to get on the bandwagon."
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Major update on pets on planes
In an Australian first your flight is set to soon become a little bit furrier with the regulatory green light flashing to bring one small pet dog or cat on Virgin Australia domestic flights. A previous regulatory loophole that classed aeroplanes as restaurants, prohibited food and drink from being served when pet cats and dogs were present in the cabin. However last month Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) approved Virgin's amendment to allow for pets. 'We assessed the microbiological food safety risks and found that, with appropriate risk management controls in place, the presence of pet cats and dogs in aircraft cabins presents a low risk to passengers,' a FSANZ statement read. Virgin Australia wants to become the country's first airline to operate domestic flights with pets in the cabin from next year. Pic Alex Coppel Credit: Supplied 'The amendment to the Code gives airlines operating in Australia and serving food in-flight the discretion to allow pet cats and dogs in aircraft cabins, provided all relevant food safety requirements are met.' The service is expected to launch by the end of this year. Two rows will be designated on select flights for flyers travelling with pets. Pets will be required to fit within a pet carrier which with the pet in it must weigh less than 8 kgs and fit under the plane seat in front. A Virgin spokesperson said they were 'excited to have reached an important milestone' in the journey to offering a pets in cabin service. Brisbane food and travel influencer Jacqui Toumbas and Basil, who are waiting eagerly for Virgin Australia to allow pets in the cabin on domestic flights. Callie Marshall Credit: Supplied 'With this approval now in place, we are a step closer to welcoming pets on board select Virgin Australia flights, and we look forward to sharing more details with travellers about our trial flights in the coming months.' In Australia, major carriers have never allowed leisure travel with pets before. Travellers will need to book the pets trip in advance through Virgin's Guest Contact Centre and animals will need to stay inside their carrier for the duration of the flight. Despite the amendment the ultimate authority to permit animals on a specific flight remains with the pilot in command. According to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), pilots are accountable for the safety of all on-board and hold wide-ranging authority over passengers and cargo. The ambiguity in the rules effectively grants captains the discretion to decline pets on a case-by-case basis including the ability to refuse the transport of animals – even certified assistance animals – in exceptional circumstances where safety or flight operations may be compromised.
