Day 61: Wed 22 Jul 26 - Alice Springs

Wed 22 Jul  26 - Alice Springs

7 to 22 Degrees, parlty cloudy in the afternoon, light winds

I had a big day out today exploring the West MacDonnell Ranges while while Noel had a day at the van with Olli. I drove 135 km out to Ormiston Gorge and walked the Ghost Gum Walk up heartbreak hill to the lookout and down into the gorge and back along the waterhole to the carpark, a 90 minute + walk. Next stop heading back towards Alice Springs, with a short detour from the main road was a stop at the Ochre Pits, then on to Serpentine Gorge, a 2.5km walk to the Gorge Waterhole, then another 500m up a very steep and rocky climb to a lookout overlooking Serpentine Gorge and the wider MacDonnell Ranges. Last stop for the day was at Ellery Creek Big Hole, a lovely waterhole only 500m from the carpark. A dip in the waterhole was tempting, but it was already 4pm, and getting quite fresh, so I called it the day, and instead climbed back in the car and started the remaining 90km back home. It was a wonderful day visiting the last of the main sites in the West MacDonnell Ranges that I wanted to see. A lot of driving with a magnificent scenery, a few wild brumbies running out in front of me, and a curious dingo keeping a very cautious distance near the turnoff to Serpentine Gorge. A very rewarding day.

Map showing the location of the gorges


Map of attractions in the MacDonnell Ranges

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge Waterhole

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge Waterhole

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ghost Gum Walk - Ormiston Gorge

Ochre Pits

Ochre Pits

Ochre Pits

Ochre Pits

Ochre Pits - Unsure if they are weeds or wildflowers, but they look pretty

Ochre Pits

Ochre Pits

Ochre Pits

Ochre Pits


Serpentine Gorge

Serpentine Gorge

Serpentine Gorge Waterhole


Serpentine Gorge - climb up to the lookout

Serpentine Gorge Lookout

Serpentine Gorge Lookout

Serpentine Gorge lookout

Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ellery Creek Big Hole

The Red Centre Way


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