On our way to Katherine we made a quick stop near Mataranka to swim in the Bitter Springs. It’s just off the main highway and it’s such a lovely place. The water is so clear and the perfect temperature. You hop in at one end and let the springs carry you to the other end. You can hop back out and walk up the trail or you can try your luck at swimming against the current. I have more pictures … Read More
If you drive the Stuart Highway you literally can’t miss the Devil’s Marbles since the highway cuts right through them. When we drove south after our stay in Tennant Creek we oooh’d and ahhh’d at the sight and made plans to stop here on our way back north. I really had my heart set on camping here for a night because the sunset hitting these rocks is supposed to be beautiful. During peak season this campground fills by early afternoon. … Read More
Between Yulara and Alice Springs we stopped in Erldunda to refuel. There’s supposed to be a Big Thing there, a Big Echidna. When I asked about it at the petrol station they had no clue what I was talking about at first. Finally they realised what I was asking about and they told me it had been ruined by mice and the like. It used to be where their emu farm is now. We were happy to see the emus. … Read More
Our last stop during our visit to the MacDonnell Ranges was a quick one. Close to Alice Springs is John Flynn’s grave. He’s the man who started the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service. We’d just visited the RFDS tourist facility, so the name was fresh in our minds. When John Flynn was 70 he climbed Mt Gillen (see it in the background?) and declared he wanted to be buried here. This spot is about 15km west of Alice Springs. (Look at … Read More
After our walk at Standley Chasm we made our way to Simpson’s Gap. The MacDonnell Ranges are a nice backdrop as you drive along. So many lovely gorges hiding in there! Every so often we see these roadsigns that have been added to in a lovely fashion. :) They nearly look like they were designed this way! During the dry season you can walk down the riverbed. It’s full of sand, on a warm day that sand is very hot … Read More
There’s much to see in the MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs, we spent a day visiting only some of the closer attractions. Some of us were still recovering from our round of gastro and we didn’t want a huge day in the car. I snapped a few pictures from the car as the scenery changed. Our first stop was Standley Chasm. It’s on private land owned by the Iwupataka Land Trust, so there is an entrance fee which we paid … Read More