Nele & Andrew Around Oz

Gorge Campsite, Trephina Gorge National Park, NT

Day 159 – 25^th July 2011

Gorge Campsite, Trephina Gorge National Park, NT

Today we visited Ruby Gap Nature Park, linked to the first mining rush in 1886 in Central Australia when explorer David Lindsay found what he thought were rubies in the bed of the Hale River. By 1886 it was found that the stones were merely high grade garnets, not nearly as valuable as rubies. This remote park was only opened 2 weeks ago and hadn’t been opened for the last 18 months; therefore the 4WD drive into the park took over 3h over quite a rough track. The scenery was however magnificent! The last kilometres are along the riverbed and as it was sandy with rocks hidden below we decided to stop to avoid any trouble. After a quick lunch we continued to walk along the riverbed towards Glen Annie Gorge. Unfortunately we didn’t quite get there as we had to keep track of time as the drive back would take 3h as well and we wanted to be sure to get out of the park with or without any trouble within daylight. We got back to the main road without any issues by 5pm and took a short detour to have a look at the Arltunga Historical Reserve, Central Australia’s first town born out of a gold rush in 1887. Thanks Maureen and Andy for taking us with you on this wonderful day and the great driving!

We all thought Ruby Gap was great and we will have to come back to finish the walk to Glen Annie Gorge and Fox’s Grave. Ideally you would camp a couple of nights in the park, leaving you a whole day to do the walk and enjoy this remote setting.

Drive into Ruby Gap Nature Park

4WD track - rocky part

4WD track - sandy part

Lunch

Andy and Andrew

Walk along the riverbed to Glen Annie Gorge

Ruby Gap Nature Park

Andy, Andrew, Maureen and Nele

Ruby Gap Nature Park

Scenery along the drive back

Arltunga Hotel

Scenery along the drive back

How cute!

Sunset

Gorge Campsite, Trephina Gorge National Park, NT

Day 158 – 24^th July 2011

Gorge Campsite, Trephina Gorge National Park, NT

It was a really cold night with temperatures dropping below zero outside and inside the van it was only 5 degrees this morning. We drove into Alice Springs and caught up with Maureen and Andy at the Visitor Information Centre. After some grocery shopping we continued on to Trephina Gorge NP in the East MacDonnell Ranges. We set up camp and after lunch we joined Maureen and Andy in their 4WD for a drive to John Hayes Rockhole via a rocky road crossing the riverbed several times - hence the need of a 4WD. There we did the Chain of Ponds walk which took us first to a lookout to view the gorge from above and next continued on into the gorge (3.5km loop – 1.5h). Back at the campsite we were happy to get cosy in the van as it was getting quite cold outside.

Cooking porridge for breakfast to warm up

Highest point on the main route between Adelaide and Darwin

Entering Alice Springs

East MacDonnell Ranges scenery

Ghost Gum, Trephina Gorge NP

Scenery in Trephina Gorge NP

River Crossing in Trephine Gorge NP

Trephina Gorge Campsite

Chain of Ponds Lookout at John Hayes Rockhole

Chain of Ponds walk

I'll catch it if it falls

Chain of Ponds walk

4WD road to John Hayes Rockhole

Tropic of Capricorn Rest Area, NT (30km N of Alice)

Day 157 – 23^rd July 2011

Tropic of Capricorn Rest Area, NT (30km N of Alice)

Another big day of driving. After breakfast we took a walk around the Pebbles before driving to Tennant Creek where we visited the old telegraph station, looked at the Jurnkurakurr Mural painted by local Aboriginals and the 1936 corrugated-iron building of Church of Christ the King, walked up Anzac Hill Lookout and drove to Bill Allen Lookout. We stopped at Wycliffe Well to stretch the legs and learn all about the local UFO sightings. Next stop was lunch at Barrow Creek with another Hotel where the walls were covered with banknotes - ringers (shearers) would leave a banknote on the wall with their name on it so that they would have enough for a drink the next time they passed through - and another Overland Telegraph Station to be viewed. At Aileron there was a photo opportunity of the statues of Charlie Quartpot, the Anmatyerre man and his family – don’t know the story behind the statues so might have to find out when we pass through on our way up to Queensland. And finally we pulled up at the Tropic of Capricorn Rest Area for the night.