Mike & Carol's Bushtracker Adventures Around Australia

Monday, June 11, 2007

SYDNEY - HALLS CREEK TRIP 2007

SYDNEY - HALLS CREEK TRIP 2007
Tuesday 5 June to Monday 11 June
Alice Springs to Halls Creek
Blog 4

Our last outing in Alice Springs was to the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame. The exhibition had just moved to its "new" premises in March this year and it was now located in the Old Alice Springs Gaol. It was a great exhibition with stories of women of the outback in the 1880's right up to current times.

The stories were of women who were first in their field, doctor, dentist, architect, engineer, pilot, politician, academic, clergy, sport and many other fields. Some of the milestones were as recent as the 1990!!!!

The idea, initial fundraising and hard work was the work of Molly Clark. Molly arrived at Andado Station with her husband and 3 sons in 1955. They initially lived in the original homestead and after they moved into the new house Mac built for the family Molly converted the old homestead into a homestay to supplement their income in drought times. Her husband died and her sons all died for various accidents and sicknesses and she had to sell up her property retaining only 45 square kilometres. She continued on at Old Andado Station. In 1980 Molly was motivated by the fact that the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach was too male dominated and decided to start a Memorial Hall of Fame for Women Pioneers which she started on 8 May 1993. It was quite an amazing achievement with the work being an on going process.

We stocked up on supplies for our trip to Halls Creek on the Tanami Rd. We met another Bushtracker couple, Don and Maree from Geelong, who were also heading up the Tanami and decided to do the trip together.

We travelled in convoy with UHFs in hand and 20km north on the Stuart Highway headed west on the Tanami Road. We travelled over 100km on bitumen to the Tilmouth Roadhouse which made the drive easy. The countryside was quite green which a lot of shrubs. We stopped at the roadhouse for morning tea, petrol and to discuss the trip and get to know each other.

We detoured into the Yuendumu Aboriginal community to look at the art work. It was the usual rubbish filled community but the people looked clean and it had quite a nice feel to it. Some of the art work was very good they supply a lot of the galleries in Broome.

We headed back to the Tanami Road which was quite a good road, wide but very corrugated in parts. We stopped for the night at a fantastic rocky outcrop just off the road. The boys built a fire, we organised a BBQ for dinner, went for a walk around the area and just enjoyed the bush; the colours, the smell, the birds and the cattle that were grazing in the area.

It was a magnificent morning. We could still smell the smoke from the campfire before we were back on the Tanami Road and heading towards Rabbit Flat. The countryside is nothing like I thought it would be. It is green and there are lots of shrubs certainly not the desert I expected like the Oodnadatta Track.

On the way to Rabbit Flat we stopped at Quartz Ridge which is a small quartz outcrop that allows views of the surrounding flat plains. It took us 2 tries to finally find the dirt track up to the outcrop and some of it was quite narrow with shrubs. It was definitely worth the effort. We walked up to the top to enjoy the view. We stopped before 3pm to have enough time to start a fire and cook dinner before dark. Bruce Farrands and his French wife Jacquie have been proprietors at the roadhouse for 30 years. It is literally over 500km from any other place other than the local communities.

Bruce warned us to be careful of snakes during the day but there was no problem at night as the nights are too cold.

It is certainly a very remote part of Australia as none of our communications works, not radio, TV or satellite phone.

The journey continued with the same countryside although there were a few more rocks and termite mounds. We stopped for morning tea at the NT/WA border and turned our clocks back 1.5h. We drive past the Tanami Gold Mine and of course the road was much better near the mines. We stopped for lunch at Sturt Creek. It was hot and dusty with lots of flies and other travellers also heading to the Wolfe Creek Crater.

The girls decided to drive the 4km to the Billiluna Community to buy petrol unfortunately it was already closed for the day so we headed back to the Tanami Road just stopping to take a photo of the beginning of the Canning Stock route. We continued driving when all of a sudden the car and van swerved, we lost a wheel and the axle on the passenger side of the van. The car came off the road on the opposite side of the road and the van tipped on its side.

Thank goodness both Mike and I were OK and the car didn't tip. We were very lucky. A Halls Creek Shire council Toyota was just driving in the opposite direction and of course they stopped and Tony snatch strapped the van upright again and with all our upset we were SO lucky that a council truck with a bull dozer on the back just happened to come along. He took the bull dozer off the back of his truck and with the bull dozer picked up the front of the van and moved us off the centre of the Tanami Road and parked us neatly on the side so that we wouldn't be a hazard to anyone.

Tony luckily had an Iridium satellite phone which had reception so we could organise what needed to be done.

Don and Maree were fantastic and stayed with us overnight on the road. They continued their journey the next day while we waited for the tilt truck to come from Fitzroy Crossing, 460km, to pick up the caravan.

We sorted out what we could; I tidied and cleaned up in the caravan while Mike sorted out tyres and the car.

Steve, the truck driver, and Mike winched the caravan up onto the truck with some difficulty and then the truck headed slowly up the last 170km to Halls Creek.

When we got to the Wolfe Creek Crater turn off we decided that we might as well travel the 23km down the dirt road as we will not be coming back on the Tanami Road. It was absolutely magnificent and it really lifted our spirits.

We arrived at Halls Creek about half an hour before the truck and the van was off loaded at the caravan park. We were very grateful to be safe and in one piece and overwhelmed by peoples generosity with their time, skills and equipment.


We visited the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame in Alice Springs


It is located in the old Alice Springs Gaol


Information Timeline of Alice Springs Gaol


Layout of the old Alice Springs Gaol


This was the womens quarter of the Alice Springs Gaol


Inside one of the cells in the Womens quarter


It looks clean here but you really never want to be incarcerated here


Barbed wire fence and gate at Alice Springs Gaol


Inside the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame the book covers looked like this


National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


Patch work quilt signed by Australian Women Pioneers


Alice Springs Country Womens Association


Alice Springs CWA sketch - all chooks


National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


Painting by prisoners - National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


Carol loved it - National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame - Alice Springs


Mens section of the old Alice Springs Gaol


Our first petrol stop on the Tanami Track - Tilmouth Well


Our rig and Don And Maree's rig - Tilmouth Well


Another view of Tilmouth Well on the Tanami Track


On the Tanami Track near Yuendamu Aboriginal Community - looking South


On the Tanami Track near Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


On the Tanami Track near Yuendamu Aboriginal Community - looking North


Typical Aboriginal Community house - Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


We visited the Warlukurlangu Art Centre - Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


Our travelling companions on the Tanami - Don and Maree Hislop


Carol inside Warlukurlangu Art Centre - Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


Inside Warlukurlangu Art Centre - Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


Inside Warlukurlangu Art Centre - Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


Dogs everywhere - outside Warlukurlangu Art Centre - Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


Typical Aboriginal Community house - Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


Typical Aboriginal Community houses and streetscape - Yuendamu Aboriginal Community


We bush camped here at Rocky Outcrop on the Tanami Track


Carol and Maree went for a stroll in the river bed as Don and I made the camp fire


Mike, Don and Maree enjoying pre-dinner drinks


Sunset light at Rocky Outcrop on the Tanami Track was spectacular


On the Tanami Track heading North


These are only small corrugations on the Tanami Track


Typical bush on the Tanami Track


Golden wattles, spinnifex, red dirt and red flowering shrubs - Tanami Track


Aussie Bush Flowers - Mulla Mulla on the Tanami Track

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Our next stop on the Tanami was Quartz Ridge


A small hill overlooking the vast plains of the Tanami


This is the Tanami Desert from Quartz Ridge


Bruce Farrands (owner) at the petrol bowser - Rabbit Flat


Rabbit Flat on the Tanami Track is the halfway point between Alice Springs and Hall's Creek


Inside the pub - Rabbit Flat


Maree, Carol, Don and Bruce - paying for gasoline at Rabbit Flat


Bruce has obviously had problems with the locals over the last 30 years


This is the petrol station at Rabbit Flat


We overnighted here at the Rabbit Flat camping area on the Tanami Track


Morning Tea time at the Northern Territory / Western Australian Border on the Tanami


Great greeting sign on the Tanami Track


We stopped here at Sturt Creek for lunch


Sturt Creek on the Tanami - so picturesque


And great gums to shade us through lunch - Sturt Creek


This is the beginning of the Canning Stock Route at Billiluna Aboriginal Community


Water and communication towers - Billiluna on the Tanami Track


Typical Aboriginal Community scene, women, children, dogs all sitting in the dirt


Billiluna Aboriginal Community on the Tanami Track


Wheel went bang our car swerved and the Caravan tipped over - what a disaster


Carol was in total shock - but these people helped us


The axle on the van snapped right off


Tony Morley - Executive Manager Regulatory Services Halls Creek was fantastic. He pulled our van back onto its wheels


Car tyre torn off its rim


After Tony put our van back on it's feet this crew drove by


Offered to help - picked up our crumpled Caravan


And parked it on the side of the road


He had to take this crane off his Mac Truck to help us


Look at our rig - both tyres dead flat - and we were not hurt


Snapped axle and wheel off the front passenger side of our Caravan


This is the side of the van that hit the dirt - smashed off the awning


The van is now lopsided and very crumpled


Windows smashed


Light and kitchen vent system - smashed


The whole top of the van on the passenger's side is crumpled


Even the handrail and entry door are damaged


So sad - how badly crumpled the front side of our van is


Mike put one of the cars tyres on the damaged tyre arm


Inside the van, the foxtel box, strong digital and satelite all damaged - bits everywhere


Hole in the roof and buckled ceiling near the front passenger's side


Fridge is broken, stove is broken and fridge cupboard crushed


Overhead cupboards above kitchen and fridge all crushed and damaged


Whole toilet fell apart and damaged


We spent last night in the van protecting it waiting for the tow truck to come today


Steve was fantastic, but more damage occurred as he dragged to van onto the tray


It is such a sorry sight - our home so mangled


And in the process of dragging the van the entry step was crushed


Steve operated this "come-along" shackle to pull the van towards him as he winched it up


Mike just looked on - thank God we were alive and unhurt


On she goes one small step at a time


Our caravan is so big it only just gets the back wheels onto the tray


Steve did it, our nolonger square crumpled van is on the truck


Mike decided to keep the jockey wheel attached to the A frame


Steve checks everything as he ties the caravan down securely to the tray


The van has a distinct out of square lean to the left as Steve prepares to drive off


We headed off to Halls Creek and decided to look at Wolfe Creek Crater


Information on Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater


Information on Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater


Information on Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater


Information on Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater


The track up the outside wall of Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater


Interesting plant at Wolfe Creek Crater


Aussie Bush Flower - Northern Territory Rose

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Looking left - down into Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater from the rim


Looking right - down into Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater from the rim


Looking across Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater from the rim


Seeing Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater cheered both of us up


Sparse green on this side of the crater compared to the left side


That's the track back to Tanami Track some 21km away


And finally our 1000km plus Tanami Track trip from Alice to Halls Creek is over - minus caravan


Our Caravan is on a truck probably one hour behind us - so we will wait

Monday, June 04, 2007

SYDNEY - HALLS CREEK TRIP 2007

SYDNEY - HALLS CREEK TRIP 2007
Tuesday 29 May to Monday 4 June
Alice Springs
Blog 3

As we drove to The Alice we enjoyed the blue sky, the red earth, the green shrubs and the magnificent wedge tail eagles. We settled in at the Macdonnell Range Holiday Park as we planned to make this our base for the next 9 days.

Alice seems to be much bigger than the last time we were here and much friendlier and less desperate.

We decided to take the longest day trip today, about 450km round trip including Rainbow Valley, Chambers Pillar and Ewaninga aboriginal carvings.

The weather was perfect even though it was a cold 110C when we left. We drove south along the Stuart Highway for 77km and turned east on the dirt road to Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve. At the end of 24km of corrugation we were confronted with the beautiful sight of the sandstone formation with its dark red at the top and the white stone at the bottom where the iron oxide and silica had leached away. The rock was obviously soft. We walked around to a rock called the “mushroom rock”, the name giving away the shape. Once the softer bottom layers erode away eventually the top will fall over. The colours were spectacular.

We then had to drive back to the highway and drove further south turning east on the Hugh River Stock Route, dirt road, crossed the Ghan Railway continued on to Maryvale Station. The road was very corrugated and we were told that the road passed Maryvale was even worse.

We continued the 45km to Chambers Pillar. Mike had dropped the pressure in the tyres and the road was really good!!! On June the 9-11 the annual Alice Springs to Finke River bike race takes place. The motor bike riders have to get from Alice Springs to Finke River in under 3 hours, stay overnight and the do the return journey again in under 3 hours. The track they will use runs near the roads we were taking and all the markers were already out and we even saw bikers riders practicing on the track.

Chambers Pillar looked exactly like the tourist photos. The sandstone and colours are the same as the rainbow valley and it is really amazing to see this 50m red and yellow sandstone column standing tall above the surroundings when the rock is so soft. Early pioneers used it as a navigational landmark and the explorers carved their names and dates in it as a record for other travellers. Of course there have been many other names carved since the 1870s which is a real pity!!! The workers who were building the overland telegraph line were looking for water and long poles for the line but found neither there and had to move further east to construct the telegraph line. Fantastic history.

Our last stop for the day when the sun was setting and the shadows were already long was the Ewaninga Aboriginal Rock carvings. That time of the afternoon gives the best light and the most beautiful colours and we walked around the rock and the clay pan enjoying the afternoon glow.

We enjoyed the company of other Bushtracker caravaners around an open fire and just relaxed.

Our next day trip was to Palm Valley and we headed west along the Larapinta Drive to Hermannsburg. Hermannsburg was once a Lutheran Mission in the late 1800s and was where Albert Namatjira, the famous aboriginal water colour artist was born, painted and lived. He lived from 1902 to 1959.

Hermannsburg is now an historic place where the mission buildings have been preserved. These included the church, the school house, a tea room where we had scones and cream and apfel strudel and of course the art gallery which paintings from Albert Namatjira and many of his family; brothers children, nieces, nephews and cousins. It a great place with a great story.

Friedrich Albrecht was the head of the mission when Albert was a child and when Rex Batterbee the water colour artist came to the area to paint he suggested that Albert go with him as Albert had shown an interest and a talent for artistic things. Albrecht bought Albert some water colour paints and the 2 months that Batterbee and Albert spent together in the MacDonnell Ranges Rex taught Albert about painting and mixing colours.

In 1938, 2 years after this expedition Albert put on his first painting exhibition with the help of Batterbee. Every exhibition that Albert put on was a sell out. He died in 1957 from complications of pneumonia after a heart attack. He had married Rubina and together they had 10 children. They were brought up as Lutherans but always lived a traditional aboriginal life. They lived off the land hunting and gathering. That was the beginning of the art school that still exists in the Hermannsburg community today.

There are 600 members if the Hermannsburg aboriginal community today. The community gets about 30% of its power from 8 solar dishes. After we left Hermannsburg we drove to see the little house where Albert Namatjira lived. It was a small house with 2 small rooms. The 21km dirt road then took us into the Finke Gorge National Park and onto Palm Valley at the end of the road. Part of the road ran along the Finke River river bed.

Once in the park we walked to the Amphitheatre and the Lookout. The colours and scenery were magnificent. The view from the top of the rock of the Kalarranga Lookout looked down over the Amphitheatre which actually looked like an old crater.

We walked back down to the car and continued to drive through Cycad Gorge which as the name suggests has many cycads hundreds of years old. The road after that really became a 4WD track and was great driving. The walk through Palm Valley was a loop. On the way into the valley we walked on the rocks next to the river bed and then climbed to the top of the valley for the return journey along the ridge. Palm Valley is the only place in the world that Red Cabbage Palms are found naturally. As always the colours are spectacular.

It was very cold again in the morning as we headed east to the East MacDonnell Range. The Ross highway was a bitumen road and our first stop was Emily Gap. It was a short walk into the creek worn gap to view the aboriginal paintings of caterpillars which are the dreaming creatures of the area. The morning sun made the red rock glow.

We drove the few kilometres to the Jessie Gap which was very similar and walked along the creek bed to see the caterpillar aboriginal paintings. We next stopped at the Corroboree Rock which is an Eastern Arrernte sacred site. We walked around the rock and enjoyed light falling on the red rock which was sitting higher than the eroded surrounded area.

We drove onto a dirt road to Trephina Gorge where we walked to the top of the ridge looking down the sheer quartzite cliffs to the sandy creek and then back along the creek bed with its beautiful river red gums. We walked back along the river bed but missed the carpark turnoff and continued walking until we saw a tent camped at the campsite at least 1km from where we parked the car. We then had to back track to the car. We really MUST take the little GPS with us whenever we go for a walk in the bush.

We took the 4WD track to the John Hayes Rockhole and just walked the 100m to the water hole. It was a great drive and the area around the waterhole was beautiful.

We had lunch at the Ross River Homestead where we had a fantastic homemade Ross River Pie each and had to have a glass of wine as we sat by the fire. What a great lunch we had.

Our last stop for the day was N’Dhala Gorge which again was accessed by a 4WD track. We saw some more aboriginal rock carvings and waterholes but also lots of beautiful green budgerigars. There were hundreds swooping around from tree to waterhole. It was truly beautiful.


We left Alice Springs for a day trip - first stop Rainbow Valley


Information on Rainbow Valley just 101km South of Alice Springs


More Information on Rainbow Valley


Rainbow Valley


Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Carol walking into Rainbow Valley


So fragile - Rainbow Valley


Magnificent - Rainbow Valley


Rainbow Valley


Rainbow Valley


Mushroom Rock - Rainbow Valley


Fairy Martin nests at Mushroom Rock - Rainbow Valley


Views from Rainbow Valley


Mushroom Rock - Rainbow Valley


The variation of colours were amazing at Rainbow Valley


Last look at Mushroom Rock - Rainbow Valley


Look at this tree clinging to the earth to survive


Magnificent colours - Rainbow Valley


Magnificent - Rainbow Valley


This is just so dry - Rainbow Valley


Clay water bed - Rainbow Valley


Ghan Railway crossing on our way from Rainbow Valley to Chambers Pillar


On the new Ghan Railway track looking South


Water Bore on our way from Rainbow Valley to Chambers Pillar


Brumbies on our way from Rainbow Valley to Chambers Pillar


Brumbies on our way from Rainbow Valley to Chambers Pillar


The track we were on was the Hugh River Stock Route Track


We headed to Maryvale Station for lunch then on to Chambers Pillar


The views as we headed to Chambers Pillar


Through another stock gate and here we are - Chambers Pillar


Chambers Pillar - looks like a molar tooth doesn't it?


Chambers Pillar


Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Views of Chambers Pillar


View from the top of the mound of Chambers Pillar


Chambers Pillar - another view


Information at Chambers Pillar


View of Castle Rock from Chambers Pillar


Some of the names engraved into the sandstone of Chambers Pillar


Some of these engravings at Chambers Pillar go back to 1870


J Ross engraved this in 1870 - it's still there today 137 years later


Chambers Pillar - looking up from the engraved base


Information at Chambers Pillar


More Information - Chambers Pillar


Carol heads down to ground level from Chambers Pillar


Chambers Pillar


Castle Rock


It's late afternoon and Ewaninga is our last stop for the day


Information on Ewaninga Rock Carvings


Information on Ewaninga Rock Carvings


One of the mounds at Ewaninga Rock Carvings


Information on Ewaninga Rock Carvings

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Rock Carvings - Ewaninga

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Views around Ewaninga Rock Carvings area

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Late afternoon sun colouring is beautiful


Sun setting over the clay pans at Ewaninga Rock Carvings


Ewaninga Rock Carvings - the rock has shattered but the art remains

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Ewaninga Rock Carvings

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Ewaninga Rock Carvings

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Views at Ewaninga Rock Carvings site


Perfect evening picture - nature at her most beautiful best


We saw this monument to Aboriginal Painter Albert Namatjira


On our way to Hermannsburg


He was brought up in this area and painted these scenes


Northern Territory, Aboriginal and Australian Flags welcome us to Hermannsburg


Hermannsburg Mission was started in 1870


Tannery - 1870 Historic Hermannsburg Mission


This was the Hermannsburg Mission School


Majestic River Gums stand guard to the Hermannsburg Church


Old Truck at Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Boys Dormitory - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


The Manse - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Water Tower and Art Gallery - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Isolation Ward - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Ration Store - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Strehlow's House - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


We had famous Strudel and Scones here in Strehlow's House - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Historic Hermannsburg Mission Church - another view


1896 Sign above Historic Hermannsburg Mission Church


Inside Historic Hermannsburg Mission Church


Huge River Gum - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Old Colonist's House and water tank - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Loved the restored old fence - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


This was Aboriginal Artist Albert Namatjira


Namatjira painted this Watercolour


Another Albert Namatjira Watercolour


Albert Namatjira was a magnificent artist


Albert Namatjira and his wife Rubina


Colour contrasts - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Old Colonists' House - Historic Hermannsburg Mission


Historic Hermannsburg Mission - entrance to Strehlow's House now a restaurant


Historic Hermannsburg Mission Church


From Historic 1870 Hermannsburg Mission to this - Hermannsburg Solar Power Station


These solar collectors provide 30% of Hermannsburg power


There are 600 Aboriginals living in Hermannsburg


Diesel provides 70% of Hermannsburg power - Solar contributes 30%


Look how much energy is collected by these solar panels


This is the house that Albert Namatjira and his 10 children family lived in


Two rooms just like this


I think another building existed infront of this house


We headed to Finke Gorge on our way to Palm Valley


Beautiful White Trunked Gum against Red Rock and Blue Sky


Entrance to Finke Gorge


Our first walk today was the Kalarranga Loop walk - 1.5km


Views on the Kalarranga Loop walk


View towards Palm Valley from Kalarranga Loop walk


Water hole on Kalarranga Loop walk


Looking into the Ampitheatre - Kalarranga Loop walk


Looking into the Ampitheatre - Kalarranga Loop walk


Views from the top of Kalarranga Loop walk


Views from the top of Kalarranga Loop walk


Aussie Bush Flowers - Pine Cone

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Views on the Kalarranga Loop walk


Views on the Kalarranga Loop walk - dead tree looks like a snake


We drove though Cycad Gorge on our way to Palm Valley


Palm Valley famous Red-cabbage Palms


Information on Red-cabbage Palms


Information on Red-cabbage Palms


Red-cabbage Palms - Palm Valley


Mike with Ghost Gum on the Palm Valley walk


Palm Valley walk along the bottom of the ridge


Creek Bed - Palm Valley walk


Red-cabbage Palms on our walk in Palm Valley


Information on the 2km creek bed at Palm Valley


Great contrasts of colours - White, Red and Blue


Creek Bed - Palm Valley walk


We will climb to the top of the Palm Valley ridge


But had to look down the creek bed at the Red-cabbage Palms


Light shining through Red-cabbage Palms - Palm Valley walk


Red-cabbage Palms - Palm Valley walk


As we climbed to the top of the ridge the colour contrasts were great


Look at this little beetle


On the ridge - Palm Valley walk


Looking down at the Creek from the ridge - Palm Valley walk


Looking down at the Creek from the ridge - Palm Valley walk


Information on Palms and Cycads


Carol on the rim of the ridge top - Palm Valley walk


Late afternoon sun on the West MacDonnel Ranges


Late afternoon sun on the West MacDonnel Ranges


On our way back to Alice Springs from Hermannsburg and Palm Valley - a magnificent day


Today we headed to the East MacDonnell Ranges - first stop, Emily Gap


Emily Gap is just a short walk from the Ross River Highway


Early morning light - Emily Gap


Carol looking at the Aboriginal Rock Art - Emily Gap

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Three Caterpillars Aboriginal Rock Art - Emily Gap

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Ochre and Lime Caterpillars Rock Art - Emily Gap

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More Caterpillars Rock Art - Emily Gap

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Caterpillars Rock Art - Emily Gap

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Magnificent Gum - outside Jessie Gap


Jessie Gap


Information on Jessie Gap


Aboriginal Rock Art - Jessie Gap

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Fantastic strata - Jessie Gap


Nature is just incredible - look at the wiggles on these Tree Trunks


This map shows where we are going today


Our next stop in the East MacDonnell's - Corroboree Rock


Corroboree Rock - Can you see the hole through the rock?


Corroboree Rock - Side View


Corroboree Rock - look at the striping in the rock staircase


Back of Corroboree Rock - not one but two holes through the rock


Corroboree Rock


Information on Ghost Gums


This Ghost Gum is supposed to be 300 years old - the oldest in the Northern Territory


Ross River - has run 3 times this year - you would never know


Other side of the road Ross River - funny colour for water, oh it's sand not water!


We decided to take the 2km Trephina Gorge Loop Walk


Starting point for the Trephina Gorge Loop Walk


We climbed from the river bed to the top of the rim of Trephina Gorge


The views were spectacular as we climbed to the top of the rim of Trephina Gorge


Looking down at the Ross River from the Rim of Trephina Gorge


Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Carol on the trail - Trephina Gorge Rim Loop Walk


Looking down Trephina Gorge and the Ross River


Trephina Gorge from the Rim


Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Carol Walking in the Ross River - Trephina Gorge


Walking in the Ross River - Trephina Gorge


Ross River Water Hole - Trephina Gorge


This tree branch looks like the Rainbow Serpent - Trephina Gorge


Purple/Pink Rocks - Trephina Gorge


Walking in the Ross River - Trephina Gorge


River Gums in the Ross River - Trephina Gorge


Dead Tree Branch - Trephina Gorge


River Gum Tree Trunk - Trephina Gorge


Mike thought we missed the track back to the Car Park as we plodded along the Ross River


Now we have to trek back to the Car along this trail


Our next stop - John Hayes Rockhole


We drove 8km on difficult 4WD tracks to get here


Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Aussie Bush Flowers -

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John Hayes Rockhole


John Hayes Rockhole


The 4WD track was challenging in and out of John Hayes Rockhole


Ross River Homestead Resort - beautiful


We lunched here at Ross River Homestead Resort


The Pure Beef (Rump with Burgundy) Pie was delicious


Final stop for the day N'Dhala Gorge


Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Information on N'Dhala Gorge


Another Caterpillar Dreaming Story - this time carved into rock


Caterpillar Dreaming Story Rock Engraving - N'Dhala Gorge


As we walked through N'Dhala Gorge we read this


Irlwentye Rockhole - N'Dhala Gorge


Aussie Bush Flowers -

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Walking in N'Dhala Gorge


Walking in N'Dhala Gorge


Cave - Walking in N'Dhala Gorge


Carol watching beautiful little Budgie type birds - N'Dhala Gorge


Hundreds of little birds - N'Dhala Gorge


Birds fluttered down to the watering hole


Settled on the rocks - N'Dhala Gorge


And flew back into the trees - N'Dhala Gorge


Are they Australian Ringnecks or Budgerigars


Hundreds of these beautiful bright green bellied birds whooshing everywhere