You'll soon be able to take a virtual trek through Australia's red centre from your desk, thanks to a collaboration between Google and the Northern Territory (NT) government.
By loaning a Street View Trekker device to Tourism NT and Parks and Wildlife Commission NT staff, Google is mapping and recording scenery from throughout the remote region -- from the iconic Uluru to the rocky outcrops of Kakadu National Park -- to add to Google Maps.
The Street View Trekker camera has 15 lenses, which allow it to capture a 360-degree view. It's also attached to a backpack, so the rangers can walk through the landscape capturing photos and video.
It wasn't always easy, according to Tourism NT employee Chris Frankenfeld, who said in a statement that the equipment weighed about 18 kilograms. "The hardest part was traversing steep terrain such as Gunlom Falls and Wangi as the Google Trekker should be kept upright at all times," he said. "Some of the step ups were tricky and you have to keep in mind not to get yourself in the frame, such as when reaching out to grab hold of a tree."
The spectacular imagery will be published on Google Maps in 2016, allowing users to take a personalised digital trip through the desert. In the meantime, check out some of the panoramic scenes you can look forward to below.
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