Wandering Around The East MacDonnell Ranges

Some more enjoyable days spent in the middle of Australia.  This time it was in the East MacDonnell Ranges to the east of Alice Springs.

Tuesday - we packed The Turtle, left poor old Tuf Cat and Li'l Pussy in storage at the caravan park and headed east.  After collecting some much needed firewood, we eventually pulled into a lovely little spot called Trephina Gorge and set up camp for what we thought was only going to be two nights.

We spent a couple of very pleasant hours checking out the area and deciding what Walks of Trephina Gorge we should undertake before returning to our campsite.  The water in Trephina Creek was only about ankle deep but at least it was flowing - unlike a lot of the other waterways in the area.  The River Red Gums that line the Creek were beautiful and look just like the paintings and pictures that we seen over the years.

Trephina Creek - Looking Upstream

Wednesday - the decision had been made to do the Trephina Gorge Walk - a moderate 2 km, one hour walk.  We didn't need anything more strenuous as we had slept in and it was a bit late in the morning to do much more.  And, amazingly, the info sheets were correct - it was a moderate walk except it took a bit longer for us as we kept stopping to take photos.

The First Part of the Climb

Looking Into Trephina Gorge

Up Into The Valley

Coming Back Down Off The Rim

After our little walk, we headed back to camp for some sustenance and a much needed rest.  Our lunch must have rejuvenated us more than we thought as we then decided to do another walk, but this time it was much shorter and on mainly flat ground.  This one was called The Creekbed Ramble - a well defined bush track to another small campground at Trephina Bluff and then splashed our back up along the creekbed.

Trephina Bluff

Taking It Easy!

Celery Trees In Trephina Creek

'Celery Trees' are just Red River Gums that had been cut down to be used as railway sleepers for the original Ghan Railway Line in the 1950's.  The remains of the trees then sprouted many smaller trunks which made them look like stalks of celery.

As we were sitting around the campfire that night, we thought that it would be nice to stay another day (and night) so that we could do some further exploring.  There were some good thoughts that we should have an early night but our neighbours at the campground came to share our campfire, have some after dinner drinks and to swap travelling tales.

Consequently, there was another late start the next morning before we embarked on the Panorama Walk.  This walk is on the opposite side of the Creek that we were on the previous day and just as spectacular.

Trephina Bluff and Creek - Looking South

Looking East Up The Valley

That night, the neighbours returned to, once more, share our campfire and were kind enough to offer to take us into the John Hayes Rockhole the next day.  We had contemplated doing this drive ourselves, but had been reliably informed that The Turtle could have possibly come to grief on some of the many low branches of the trees that lined the road.  Well, we actually managed to have a reasonably early start and then a very nice drive to the Rockhole.  It was also nice to be chauffeured around again especially when we Jeff and Annette whipped up some morning tea on the way back to camp.

John Hayes Rockhole

John Hayes Creek

At The Top

Back to camp where we packed up and headed back towards Alice Springs.  Only about ten klms east of Alice is the Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Reserve which made a very nice stop for a late lunch.

Jessie Creek - Through The Gap

Part of the Rock Wall at Jessie Gap

Rocks and Sand of Emily Gap

Water In Emily Creek

Finally made it back into Alice Springs and once more did the whole refueling, restocking and resting up thing before the next part of our adventures.

Tomorrow, Sunday, we are off to the West MacDonnell Range to check out what the rocks are like there and to see what is left after the bushfires ravaged the place a few weeks ago.

Keep smiling!!