First stop this morning is Ormiston Gorge - apparently the most photographed gorge in the entire outback – even more so than Karajini and that's saying something. It is easy to get to - sealed road in. We did the loop walk which took us up to a lookout and then back through the gorge. A very steep climb up to the lookout but well-constructed stairs. Stunning views from the lookout. Amazing colours in the rocks in the gorge - pinkish stripes and patches.
"The Dreaming story for the waterhole tells of the adventures of a group of Emus who came to the waterhole from the East, and the man who hunted them whilst they were there."
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| Ormiston Gorge |
A little further towards Alice Springs we stopped at the Ochre Pits, a registered sacred site that is protected by NT Sacred Sites and Parks and Wildlife legislation. The site (300m from the carpark) offers one of the few opportunities for visitors to see an ochre deposit that is still used by the local Arrarnta people. As we know, ochre has been used all over the world for decoration and painting since pre-historic times and here you can see different coloured ochre in the cliff face which have been a source of materials for Aboriginal people for thousands of years.
While having lunch we were visited by some very cute Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens which kept running about our feet looking for crumbs. Quite different to the Superb Blue Wren that you see elsewhere.
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| The Ocre Pits |
Serpentine Gorge is less visited than the more stand out locations along the West MacDonnells but is still a stunning little waterhole. Incredible colours and reflections. The traditional owners do not swim here and consider it to be a dangerous place. The indigenous name for the gorge is Ulpma (uhlp-Mah).
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| Serpentine Gorge |
Ellery Big Hole is a spectacular waterhole on Ellery Creek surrounded by high red cliffs. Thousands of years of massive floods have carved out this waterhole, which is recognised as an internationally significant geological site. It's a 3 kilometre walk in and well worth the effort. Once again amazing reflections. In photographs its hard to tell the reflection from the original.
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| Ellery Big Hole |
Before setting up camp on the Hugh River we called into the Neil Hargrave Lookout at Point Howard. Magnificent views along the MacDonnell Ranges.
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| Neil Hargrave Lookout |
Camp tonight is on the Hugh River, a sandy track in a little in off Larapinta Drive. We're camped in the dry river bed. Apparently, the Hugh is dry most of the time, unlike where we were on the Finke last night. In fact, it's very dry here and as soon as we set up we had all these bees flying around looking for water. We gave them a bowl so they would stay away from the sink and dishcloths.
Another fire and sunset. We were joined by a neighbour (a single female traveller in a Landcruiser Troopy - Annie) around the campfire who was on for a chat. She likes remote travel but also likes a little company (for safety).
The Hugh River
