Moores on the move

So here we are in the, center of the driest country on earth and we go for a short drive from Alice Springs to a place called Palm Valley.  So named because it gets its name from a desert oasis of palm trees.

Walking along a track where on one side you have very typical desert cliffs and ghost gums. The other side if the track is the valley floor covered in palm trees. The only palm trees in central Australia.  They really do not look like the belong there.

We then camped at the campground in the Finke Gorge National Park, tents again.

Dingoes everywhere! One pinched our bread while we were cooking the BBQ. He then came back for whatever else he could get.

The kids were on a dingo hunt, looking for him everywhere.

When we got up to go to the toilet later there were at least 3 dingoes sitting in the bushes not 5 meters away. We could later hear the ransacking people’s camps.

(I had put our stuff away by this time).  I’m not that silly!

So after 2 nights at the brilliant Ormiston Gorge, we moved on to a free camp at Point Howard lookout.  Our theory was it was well placed to tackle the Eastern end of the West MacDonnell ranges.

Another brilliant decision, fantastic place to view the impressive  sunsets with a beer and a campfire looking out over the ranges.  It is close to Ellery Creek big hole and Standley Chasm

Too cold for swimming for me but Ellery Creek big hole would be a great spot for a swim in real heat.  Mind you we are not putting up with Melbourne weather!

Standley Chasm is impressive in it’s own right with only a 2 metre or so chasm with

sheer walls on both sides.  We were there for lunchtime to see the sun move down into the chasm (as it does not get sun all day).  Only problem being so was everyone else.  Standly Chasm was the first thing that I thought on this trip might have been a bit over rated.  That is when you compare it to the other (free) places around.

We also took a quick drive out to Hermansberg an Aboriginal settlement, just about the only white people in town.  Not sure how welcome we were.  I dropped into the cop shop to say hello and ask them where I could leave my van if we were to need to leave it somewhere while driving to Palm Valley.  They suggested that the barbed wire surrounded caravan park was not ideal and said I could leave it locked up in their compound.  They still wouldn’t guarantee it was safe but it should be!  Decision made, I’ll leave it at Alice.

We have now moved back to Alice for my birthday!!  And before you ask yes that’s right 21 again!

After making the decision to not tackle the Mereenie Loop road from Alice Springs to the West MacDonnell ranges due to the recent rain (and the real probability of our vans falling to bits) we went back along the main roads and into Alice Springs.  Picked there busiest day of the year to drop in unannounced (the Finke Desert race was on).

Washing/shopping (restocking on beer) and 2 nights in Alice before we headed out west again, this time to the West MacDonnell Ranges.  Incredibly glad that we did.  Anyone who has done the center and not had a look at the West MacDonnell’s has missed out.

We set up camp at a little campground (no power but has toilets/showers) at Ormiston Gorge.   From there we were well placed to have a good look around.  We had dingoes visiting the campgrounds at night, even stealing Kylie and Mikes backpack to see what was inside.

Ormiston Gorge itself is fantastic, sheer rock face, waterholes and it seems to go on and on around the bend.  It opens up with a view to more mountains.  I went into the gorge for some early morning photos and saw 3 rock wallabies that came down to visit us (about 10 meters away).

Redbank Gorge was great in a different way.  A lot of rock hopping to get into the gorge itself but once there, a rock pool disappearing in between 2 sheer rock faces.  Would be even better if you swam down but the water in these gorges is freezing this time of the year (and a bit manky).

We had a look at Gosse Bluff, where a comet smashed into the earth 140 million years ago. You can drive right into the crater.

Alright now we have done uluru and I said that was fantastic, we did the Olgas, I talked that up too.  Kings canyon rim walk, may very well be the best of the red centres treats!  Mind you I haven’t yet done the (West Macdonell ranges) Kings Canyon was a testing walk for the little ones, awesome views from both up on top of and from down inside the canyon. The garden of eden inside the middle of the canyon is awesome.  Maybe the best yet. 

Ok, so climbing the rock was again out of the question due to the weather.
Went to kata tjuta (the olgas).  We did the Valley of the Winds walk.  7.6 km up and down a goat track.  On the upside through some of the most truly amazing rock formations you could ever hope to see.  The little monster struggled a bit today backing up from yesterdays big walk.  I ended up with her on my shoulders for the final climb.  Don’t need to run now.  That was until we got back to the car and realized that Tegan had dropped her camera.
Quick dad just run back up there and see if you can find it.  A quick run back up to the first lookout.  1.5 km up hill over uneven ground.  Thought I just decided I didn’t need a run?
Is it un-Australian to prefer the olgas to uluru?  Spectacular walk!

Climb of the rock was closed today due to forecast rain (which did not happen).  We did the base walk instead.  Not sure that you can truly understand the size until you are standing beside it.
A 10.6 km walk around the base.  Tegan managed on her little legs, I know I am tired so I can only imagine how she feels. 

We will all sleep well tonight!