24th - 27th August, 2020
Basing ourselves in Alice Springs for a few days we did a few day trips out to the Eastern & Western MacDonnell Ranges.
Eastern MacDonnell Ranges
We took a drive out on the Ross Highway to Arltunga Historical. It was about 110 km from Alice Springs, 30km Of which was on a very corrugated dirt road, but an interesting place to have a look at it as it was an old gold rush town that started in 1887. It was officially Central Australia’s first town and the old buildings in the town have been restored back to there former glory. Worth a visit.
We also stopped in at Trephina Gorge about 80km from Alice Springs, which was about a 5km drive off the main highway on a pretty rugged track to a beautiful water hole. Great place to sit and admire the high rock walls and the waterhole.
Western MacDonnell Ranges
We took a drive to Palm Valley (Finke Gorge National Park) which is approximately 150km from Alice Springs. You drive through Hermannsburg which at the moment they are restoring the old buildings, so unfortunately we couldn’t get in there to have a look. To get to Palm Valley you have to drive through about 22km of creek beds of which the potholes and deep holes tested the Jeep. But as Jeff says no problems with a Jeep!! But after the 22km much to your amazement you come upon a beautiful gorge full of Palm trees. Truly amazing as you would not expect this in the middle of the desert. We walked the 2km walk and it was palm tree upon palm tree with a bit of water throughout the walk. Well worth a visit.
The next day we did a trip Out to Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm & Ellery Creek Big Hole. All very beautiful places.
At Simpsons Gap (West MacDonnell National Park) we came across some Black footed Wallabies and luckily enough we got a chance to speak to the Park Ranger who gave us a run down on the local wildlife in the area. The Gorge itself has a permanent water hole, which apparently also has fish in it. Of all the places we have been in the NT this is probably the one place that we actually saw some wildlife. Everywhere we have been there has been no wildlife at all, not even any roadkill !!
Then it was on to Standleys Chasm which is run by the local community so there was a small cost to walk the trail. You walk along a creek and then come to a large chasm where the walls glow from the light That is reflected from the sunlight, it is truly beautiful as the colours are just amazing. We got to see it with about 50 primary school kids from the local school. Lucky for us they were packing up as we came along !!
Next stop Ellery Creek Big Hole (West Macdonnell National Park) about 88km from Alice Springs. At this stage of the day Jeff thought it was becoming an epic journey and was over the driving and Hungry !! But when we got there is was well worth the drive as there was an enormous water hole set between a beautiful gorge. If you were game you could swim in it, as apparently the locals classify this as there version of going to the beach. While we were there we didn’t see anyone swim only dip there feet in and jump out very quickly as apparently it was freezing cold. Great place to have lunch and take in the awesome scenery. Must say I have never been to such a remote place and seen a life buoy set amongst this type of setting !!
Overall i would have to say the West MacDonnell Ranges were much more spectacular and well worth the drive.
Just a couple more days in Alice Springs before we head off towards Katherine !!
