Day 43: Trephina Gorge to Ryans Well Rest Area – Sunny 27

Stuart Desert Pea

We stopped at the Tropic of Capricorn for lunch.

Day 42: Trephina Gorge – sunny 26

The 4WD track to John Haynes was our next venture, first the waterhole and then to the lookout where there wasn’t that much to look at.

Ribbbbit

Glenn scrambling along the ledges with the leach on his back.

Thank goodness we kept going and walked through the gorge to the Chain of Ponds, filed with frogs the kids were in awe. The climb across cliff faces and scrambling rocks made the walk worthwhile.

Paige loved this walk, she finds it so easy the harder it gets.

In the arvo we had our first camp shower, it was posh better than some caravan park showers.

Day 41: Trephina Gorge – sunny 31

The Panorama Walk 3km took up a good part of the day, it really wasn’t that special.

We went down to the Gorge for a swim, Glenn jumped in the waterhole, the kids and I weren’t that brave and kept to the shallows.

Day 40: Orminstan Gorge to Trephina Gorge – sunny 26

Aaah the Serenity

Our first stop was Ellery Big hole were the kids skipped rocks with Glenn, towering cliffs and freezing water.

One of the rare chances of a photo together.

Alice was hectic with organizing meat, groceries and water. We were rewarded when we arrived at Trephina Camp to find only one other camper. The gorgeous red cliffs and towering gums make this place a haven for birds and for Glenn.

And this is strange because?

In the 3 nights we were away, driving back to Alice we pass this guy once again.

He had travelled 90 km.

Day 39: Orminstan Gorge – sunny 31

Levi proved himself today by walking to the lookout at Serpentine Gorge 2.6km walk over loose rocks and up steep steps he was a little champ. (Took us triple the time).

Family photo for Mothers day.

Took the kids for a swim at the Gorge, they had a ball running wild.

Day 38: Orminston Gorge – sunny 26

Packed our bags and headed for the Pound Walk 7km loop.

It was speci, with beautiful swimming holes that were cold enough to give you hypothermia.

It was a fairly easy walk, that was until we reached the Gorge.

Two options 1. Swim across water deeper than Glenn or 2. Make Glenn get in the water and carry us across 3 metres, then scale the cliffs to reach the walking track, we chose the more death deifying option, drown Glenn than scale the cliffs.

 Not like the couple that came after us who decided to walk the 6km back.

Day 37: Alice Springs to Orminston Gorge – sunny 24

How cool is this for a second hand store.

Would you believe this is the only photo we took of Alice Springs!

Basically drove straight to the camp and set up, I was still crook so Glenn took the kids to the Ghost Gum Lookout.

Day 36: Alice Springs – sunny

This sign is posted in most aboriginal communities.

Glenn and I thought there was a typo.

Ended up getting a cabin, we repacked the camper and did some cleaning.

I was crook.

Day 35: Palm Valley - Sunny and windy 35

We did the last walk we had left in the valley called Mpaara. A 5km loop which took in the Amphitheatre, it proved to be challenging as the tracks were mostly over grown but once at the top the view was worth it.

Back at the camp the kids freaked out when we asked them if they wanted to go for a swim, as they couldn’t see the water from our camp even though it was only a few metres away. The water in the Finke River was lovely even Glenn came for a splash.

The film crew were shooting tonight so we headed to the lookout to take in the sunset and the action. At first we sat just below them filming, but Levi was too noisy so decided to head back when the Director asked us to sit and watch the filming. It was pretty cool Glenn was disappointed he didn’t get to hide Grizzly on one of the rocks in the background.

We found out while we were there a woman had to be air lifted to hospital in a freak accident in the valley. A 4WD drove off the assigned road and into the sand, got bogged, a tour bus passing stopped to help them out. They hooked up the car and when trying the pull them out the D shackle broke, hitting a training tour guide in the leg who was standing at the side.

Day 34: Palm Valley – sunny 31

In the background the Cabbage Tree palms

Anna and Paige just had to take the easy way!

We expected our drive into the valley to be full of boulders and deep river crossings, but it was fairly tame. The Mpulungkinya Track 5km loop was pretty speci and we certainly took our time, the kids enjoyed it having to cross water and climb cliffs.

A film crew turned up this evening to shoot a sunset at Kalarranga Lookout for Tourism Australia.

Day 33: Palm Valley – sunny 27

The Amphitheatre.

In Hermansburg we stopped at the Historical Precinct and had Apple Strudel and a cup of tea. We didn’t pay the $25 entrance fee since we just went to the cafe. Paige and Levi made friends with Elijah and Jasper who live in the Precinct.

The Palm Valley drive was our first experience 4WDriving, and Glenn was loving it, actually the kids had a ball as well. The creek crossings were shallow, but the sand was fairly deep.

Our first night out in our dome tent, it was a bit of a laugh since we had put it up the wrong way round. The camp ground is beautiful we found a camp spot on the river, they have flush toilets, hot showers and gas bbq’s. Looks like we may stay longer.

In the evening we got a lay of the land by walking the Kalarranga Lookout 1.5km, this has fantastic views of the Amphitheatre.

Day 32: Alice Springs – sunny 26

Would you believe we just shopped and caught up with groceries, photo’s and other bits and pieces. Mainly just packed for our trip tomorrow to Palm Valley…oohh… our first real 4WD experience.

Day 31: Stuart’s Well to Alice Springs – sunny 27

We were able to book into our beautiful 1BR Suite at 9.30am, then headed to Todd Mall to meet Ruth and Kevin. Umm! Not sure what to say about Alice, mum said if you haven’t got anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.

I can say that my well awaited almost full body wax was magnificent.

Tierney (Tini) from Beaute On The Mall was lovely and would recommend her to anyone looking to be pampered.

Ruth and Kevin left today, their adventure is over and it was great to do some camping with them.

Day 30 - Kernot's Range to Stuart's Well Caravan Park

As the bad parents we are we only discovered today, that the fall Levi had at Kings Canyon on the rock, didn’t just give him a black lip but also a massive hole in his tongue. Oops!

AAAAAAA

This was such a short drive today, we were camped at 11.30am.

We didn’t want to arrive in Alice Springs before the weekend and all the rest areas on the side of the road or near the rivers were asphalt.

This wasn't a bad place, it had shaded camp area’s and a pool.

BUT you wouldn’t want to buy a litre of milk here….UHT was $7.30….yep…Glenn was thinking of milking my triple A concaves!

By 3pm this place had another 5 caravan’s accompanying us and god knows how many convoys of them drove past us today. The Southerner’s have started their migration to the North.

Day 29 - Kings Canyon to Kernot's Range Rest Area

An early breakfast.

I forgot the mention the dingoes at this place, they sing to us every morning and night.

Also we are not sure how much they get paid to clean the bbq’s.

Easy drive today.

The kids loved it, they got to go on their Bilby tracking and Glenn taught them orienteering.

Paige reading her compass

Paige had to use the compass and count her steps to find the treats at the other end, they loved it.

Day 28 - Kings Canyon

Slept in today, thank goodness as we did a disappointing walk of Kathleen Springs.

The eggs and bacon after the 2.4km walk was the only thing worth getting out of bed for.

Ruth and Kevin left us today to head back to Alice Springs, it was fantastic to see them.
The rest of the afternoon was spent swimming, and then packing up to leave the next day.

 Also we discovered that Levi’s 2 year old molars are coming through, great.

The moon coming up.

Day 27 - Kings Canyon

Bugger another 6.30am morning to do the Kings Canyon rim walk, this was 6km of breath taking scenery. The first 20mins is definitely the hardest but the rest is just a stroll on the top. Glenn and I swam at The Garden of Eden, the kids said it was too cold.Soft

Looking down into Kings Canyon.

Having a dip at The Garden Of Eden.

The walk is supposed to take 3-4 hours, we took at least 5 hours and loved it.

Back at camp for lunch and a swim before heading off to do the 2.4km Creek walk through the canyon, this was full of birds and lizards and well shaded.

It was a relaxing walk except for Levi falling over, head butting a rock and giving himself a black lip. I have decided to keep a list of Levi’s injuries on the trip.Hopefully I don't add to it very often, but I don't like the chances of that.

Day 26 - Ayers Rock to Kings Canyon

This caravan park is so much more inviting than Ayers, with shaded sites all over and many toilet blocks.

The kids have become so much more confident in the water swimming everyday.

Alcohol is alot cheaper here.

Day 25 - Ayers Rock

A lot easier day compared to the past two, still up at 5.10am to see the sunrise at the Olgas, it wasn’t as specy as we thought it would be.

This didn’t matter, the Olgas are certainly beautiful with or without the sun, they are incredible.

The 7.4km walk around the Olgas was well worth the effort although we had wished we went clockwise.

The valley of the winds is beautiful with enough rocks and steep declines to keep Paige interested in the walk.