The MacDonnell Range is home to the increasingly famous Larapinta trail which follows the ranges just south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Bec wanted to walk part of the trail, whose full length would last a week or more, but in the end we all decided to follow the Namatjira Drive, named after the famous and highly regarded Aboriginal artist whose landscapes are adored and fetch a lot of money. This route has lots of side roads to important environmental attractions that are linked by the Larapinta Trail. In succession we visited Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Serpentine Gorge, Glen Helen - a resort where on can get lunch, a lovely viewing platform overlooking Mount Sonder (the highest peak in Central Australia), and Ormiston Gorge. At the risk of being laughed off stage most of these sites were gorgeous.
But first, on the way out of Alice Springs, we passed a famous monument - the tomb of Flynn, founder of the Flying Doctor Service, which has brought so much help to remote rural communities in sparsely settled regions like Central Australia. I hope his namesake, my Grandson Flynn, becomes as famous!
Here's Simpson's Gap
And now were on the Namatjira Drive through open but visually attractive countryside to the Standley Chasm, another gorge splitting the MacDonnell Ranges..
Next came the Ellery Creek Big Hole, where water is captured and enables a relatively lush vegetation. One can swim in the shallow water to cool off.
On the road again we had glorious vistas of Mount Sonder.
And coming to Mount Helen, we stopped for lunch at a resort perched nigh above the creek leading to Glen Helen Gorge. Something of the scale of the scenery can be gauged from the size of the people standing on the river bank. Max found a massive collection of old boots kept by the management - presumably for entertainment rather than use.
Mount Sonder again from a specially constructed viewing platform - showing the wild and isolated landscape.
I took this image with the fish-eye setting on my camera, which makes scenes look somewhat circular!
Ormiston Gorge, with its delightful swimming hole was next up. I paddled in the water, but found it rather chilly, which is not surprising given that the ambient temperature was about 35 C.
I hope you enjoyed these images as much as we did. It was a glorious trip and one I'd recommend to anyone.
AS
But first, on the way out of Alice Springs, we passed a famous monument - the tomb of Flynn, founder of the Flying Doctor Service, which has brought so much help to remote rural communities in sparsely settled regions like Central Australia. I hope his namesake, my Grandson Flynn, becomes as famous!
Here's Simpson's Gap
And now were on the Namatjira Drive through open but visually attractive countryside to the Standley Chasm, another gorge splitting the MacDonnell Ranges..
Next came the Ellery Creek Big Hole, where water is captured and enables a relatively lush vegetation. One can swim in the shallow water to cool off.
On the road again we had glorious vistas of Mount Sonder.
And coming to Mount Helen, we stopped for lunch at a resort perched nigh above the creek leading to Glen Helen Gorge. Something of the scale of the scenery can be gauged from the size of the people standing on the river bank. Max found a massive collection of old boots kept by the management - presumably for entertainment rather than use.
Mount Sonder again from a specially constructed viewing platform - showing the wild and isolated landscape.
I took this image with the fish-eye setting on my camera, which makes scenes look somewhat circular!
Ormiston Gorge, with its delightful swimming hole was next up. I paddled in the water, but found it rather chilly, which is not surprising given that the ambient temperature was about 35 C.
I hope you enjoyed these images as much as we did. It was a glorious trip and one I'd recommend to anyone.
AS
