July
01
West MacDonnell Ranges
Our next leg (June 29) was to Glen Helen Gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges. This was our first dirt road leg, the Mereenie Loop Road. 155km that we had been warned was “sandy and very rutted” when we tried to get the permit to use it.
In reality it was not too bad; lots of corrugations and dips for the floodways, but mostly 80-100kph. Only two issues, a stone must have have broken the end of the trailer effluent pipe (nothing that a trip to Bunnings cannot fixed, when we find one!), and the dust… it was everywhere, in all the lockers, coating everything. The only things that got spared was inside trailer and car, but we soon fixed that when we arrived, walking it everywhere. I suspect the dust may become part of our life for the next few months.
Glen Helen campsite was a little cosy, but under a massive red cliff with a very pretty gorge. The site was an original homestead, dating back to forever, with pub and restaurant, that spared us from some more yummy pesto pasta.
On June 30 we went to Ormiston Gorge. Wow, it is a truly magnificent place, and a highlight of the trip so far. Massive vistas of the mountains, deep gorges, water holes, and the massive, but dry Finke river. The pound walk (8k), took us up to peaks with amazing views, thought the plains and dry river bed with it massive boulders and through the stunning gorge. The rock formations are fascinating. It must be a geology heaven.
Once I got over the grandure of the place, a recurring though, was that the terrain of initially shale with grass, moving to sandy red earth with spiky tufts reminded me of the snake exhibits at Taronga zoo! I suspect that the snake identification posture at the outset made left its mark.
The kids have been amazing. We have walked them over 40k in five days. They have never been bored or asked to stop. They have endured my geology and nature rants / lessons / guessing and requested and enjoyed Mummy maths. They have climbed and thrown rocks and sticks and explored with us and seem happy with it all. I only hope that some of the majesty of the last few days has stuck with them.
Now the longest drive. We start July with a 1050km drive to Daly Waters, and journey into tropics… warm weather finally?
Facts
June 27: Yulara (Lassiter Hwy to Luritja Hwy) – Kings Canyon Resort / 267km, 1300 – 1530 / Fuel at Yulara 105L, $211 (most expensive yet 219.5pL)
June 29: Kings Canyon Resort (Larapinta Drive / Mereenie Loop Road to Namatjira Drive) to Glen Helen Resort / 219km, 0930 – 1230
July 1: Glen Helen Resort, Alice Springs ( Stuart Hwy again), Barrow Creek, Wycliffe Well Roadhouse (UFO capital), Tennant Creek, Renner Springs, Dunmarra, Daly Waters Hi Way Inn Roadhouse / 1025km 0800 – 1815 / Fuel Alice Springs 153L, $217 & Tennant Creek 84L, $140
Chasefloow Around Oz 
Wish we could be with you. It looksamazing
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when did you get there.i wish i went there.
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