Maralinga Tours. -- Sorry ! you won't glow in the Dark.

We fley in (from Perth) a few years ago and landed on the airstip and had a private tour.. I agree, wa one of the best things I have done.. I took a geiger counter. The radiation wasnt any higher than the middle of any Australian city.

Hi Guys,

I don’t understand what the British being here has to do with the higher levels of Strontium 90, particular in and around Melbourne. We still have British People here today, quite possibly more than back in the 50’s & 60’s. I do not see the connection.

Nuclear testing was also being carried out in the Pacific by the Americans and the French.

Macca.

G'day B P, just returned from Maralinga having done the one day tour last week. as you found the guides were well versed in the history of this establishment. I can thoroughly recommend it to any one with an interest in some of the "dark history" of Australia's involvement. I will be going back to do the two day tour, probably early next year.
regards - bruce

I was there working many years ago as we were operating a survey aircraft there. We had plenty of time to walk around the remains of the township with its cricket pitch and golf course.
I was usually accompanied by the then resident dingo. When i was sitting in the sun reading a book it would slowly come closer once it became more confident.
We were taken to all but three ground zero. Some were quite impressive as there was still some places where the desert floor had been turned into glass. Some data pits were still there with some of the old cabling.
The airport was impressive for it’s size. Our aircraft (Shorts SC7 Skyvan) and our fuel storage barely took up any space on the apron. It was huge.
The runway is several kilometres long and in reasonable condition as I did an inspection each day travelling the whole length.
Maralinga is a place which should be visited if possible. It is another bit of our history for each individual to determine

I wonder how well informed the new guides are seeing Robin got the flick?

This was Robins backyard and he knew every nook and cranny there like the back of his hand.

All the area was not cleaned up and west of where the range tours take place, the area is still contaminated with Platinum and government scientists do regularly checks.

Also within a stones throw of the airport, there is still Yellowcake in small partials on the ground, but I bet the tour guides do not tell you about that?

You might ask is there third hand hearsay?

We were doing regular trips to Maralinga well before it became a tourist destination and loved every trip and were very privileged to see many places there that the new tourists never get to see.

I can not make any comments about the new guides, but can only speak very highly of Robin and his knowledge of the whole history of Maralinga and if you ask anyone that ever did a tour with Robin, they would all sing praise from the same page.

But yes, the general thoughts on Maralinga are true, it’s a safe place to visit and wish it was like it was all those years ago.

When Judy and I were there, we the only ones. Robin made us more than welcome, and invited us up to the old hospital ( his home) to look around inside. There was much to see in old maps etc, and also had a bbq with him and his son in law Billy and family. Billy was from a northern clan, and made great fun with everything he did. Billy and his wife also came down to thank us for getting the washing off the line when a big wind came through scattering the baby clothes eveywhere. Robin also lent us his ute to drive the runway at night since we had a roof top tent. Now that is an experience. We also jumped in Robin's ute for him to take us on a tour around Maralinga, and also areas not usually visited. We were there for 4 days back then, and an experience I will never forget. I hope the new staff will manage the complex as well as Robin.

My visit a few years ago.