Day 87 – June 27 – Devil’s Marbles -> Alice Springs
Can’t believe how cold it was last night! We needed jumpers and sleeping bags – very different to Daly Waters the night before.
We continued down the Stuart Highway, with a brief stop at Wycliffe Well – the UFO mecca which has frequent sightings. Seems that most of the news clippings shown report sightings by the owner of the roadhouse – strange… We also stopped at Mount Stuart, the geographic centre of Australia, and we took a photo as we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn (for the 2nd time, on the way south this time).
Can’t believe how cold it was last night! We needed jumpers and sleeping bags – very different to Daly Waters the night before.
We continued down the Stuart Highway, with a brief stop at Wycliffe Well – the UFO mecca which has frequent sightings. Seems that most of the news clippings shown report sightings by the owner of the roadhouse – strange… We also stopped at Mount Stuart, the geographic centre of Australia, and we took a photo as we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn (for the 2nd time, on the way south this time).
We arrived in Alice and checked into MacDonnell Range caravan park – heaven for kids with jumping pillows, playgrounds, a basketball court, a TV and games room, go carts and pools (although much too cold to swim!). We’ll be here for an indulgent 4 nights at $71 per night! It’s completely packed so we expect crowds wherever we go from now on.
Day 88 – June 28 – Alice Springs
Ah! The joy of caravan parks. Last night, our neighbours who were 1 metre from where we were sleeping decided to start playing music at 10pm just when we were going to sleep! The sound went straight through both walls. Give us the peace and quiet of a national park any time.
We spent a very pleasant day in Alice, we went to the Reptile Centre where the kids had lots more goes holding snakes, bearded dragons and lizards. Then we went to the RFDS to hear more about the flying doctors. We also went to a didgeridoo workshop where we were taught how to play – not very successfully – although Erin made the best sounds. We walked down Todd Mall and visited a book shop where we walked away with six more books.
Ah! The joy of caravan parks. Last night, our neighbours who were 1 metre from where we were sleeping decided to start playing music at 10pm just when we were going to sleep! The sound went straight through both walls. Give us the peace and quiet of a national park any time.
We spent a very pleasant day in Alice, we went to the Reptile Centre where the kids had lots more goes holding snakes, bearded dragons and lizards. Then we went to the RFDS to hear more about the flying doctors. We also went to a didgeridoo workshop where we were taught how to play – not very successfully – although Erin made the best sounds. We walked down Todd Mall and visited a book shop where we walked away with six more books.
We have had some interesting public toilet experiences… We had to pay 50cents to use some public toilets! We’ve never had to do that any where else in Australia. They also had some automatic silver ones where things opened, turned on and flushed automatically – the toilet even talked to you and played music while doing your business!
Day 89 – June 29 – Alice Springs
We drove out to the East MacDonnell Ranges today – a very easy drive from Alice, with the attractions between 10 and 80km away. We stopped at 2 mini gaps in the ranges – Emily Gap and Jessie Gap. Nice rock art at one and lots of tiny zebra finches near a waterhole at the other. We continued on to Trephina Gorge, and were stopped just short by a creek crossing just a little too challenging for us. We got out and walked the rest of the way – along the creek bed for 1 km then through the gorge for another 2 km. There was a lovely white sandy creekbed, red cliffs, white river gums and rock holes. The kids were intrigued by wild melons growing along the side of the road – some as small as grapes, others as big as watermelons. We also saw a little perentie lizard near a rockhole.
Day 89 – June 29 – Alice Springs
We drove out to the East MacDonnell Ranges today – a very easy drive from Alice, with the attractions between 10 and 80km away. We stopped at 2 mini gaps in the ranges – Emily Gap and Jessie Gap. Nice rock art at one and lots of tiny zebra finches near a waterhole at the other. We continued on to Trephina Gorge, and were stopped just short by a creek crossing just a little too challenging for us. We got out and walked the rest of the way – along the creek bed for 1 km then through the gorge for another 2 km. There was a lovely white sandy creekbed, red cliffs, white river gums and rock holes. The kids were intrigued by wild melons growing along the side of the road – some as small as grapes, others as big as watermelons. We also saw a little perentie lizard near a rockhole.
Back at the caravan park the kids went on the ‘Pinnacle of Terror’ – they had to climb up a platform 8m high, and attached to a harness and rope, jump off!
Day 91 – July 1 – Alice Springs -> Glen Helen
Another wet, cold miserable day. Maximum of 11 degrees! Yes we know most everyone reading this blog is experiencing this weather all the time at the moment but we’re supposed to be on holidays! Not supposed to be like this in the desert.. apparently it only gets like this two or three times a year – just lucky I guess.
To escape the rain we chose some indoor activities today. We started at School of the Air and saw an excellent DVD and presentation. We then spent a few hours at the Cultural Precinct, which encompasses an Art Gallery, a museum and aviation museum. At the Art Gallery we saw some beautiful watercolours by Albert Namatjira as well as many other aboriginal paintings. We also saw an exhibit of beanies as part of the recent Beanie festival. At the museum we saw the usual displays on natural history but we also watched a very detailed DVD on the life and controversy of TGH Strehlow – the caretaker of many Central Australian aboriginal artefacts.
Day 90 – June 30 – Alice Springs
Another cold wet miserable day! We didn’t think we would see rain in the middle of Australia, but here it is. We rugged up with jumpers and raincoats and went to the Alice Springs Desert Park, where we spent six hours there doing a self guided audio tour through various Desert environments: sand country, woodlands and desert rivers. We saw a bird of prey show with owls, falcons and kites, and saw lots of desert birds and reptiles. We also listened to a very interesting talk on Aboriginal survival in the desert by a local aboriginal man.
Another cold wet miserable day! We didn’t think we would see rain in the middle of Australia, but here it is. We rugged up with jumpers and raincoats and went to the Alice Springs Desert Park, where we spent six hours there doing a self guided audio tour through various Desert environments: sand country, woodlands and desert rivers. We saw a bird of prey show with owls, falcons and kites, and saw lots of desert birds and reptiles. We also listened to a very interesting talk on Aboriginal survival in the desert by a local aboriginal man.
Day 91 – July 1 – Alice Springs -> Glen Helen
Another wet, cold miserable day. Maximum of 11 degrees! Yes we know most everyone reading this blog is experiencing this weather all the time at the moment but we’re supposed to be on holidays! Not supposed to be like this in the desert.. apparently it only gets like this two or three times a year – just lucky I guess.
To escape the rain we chose some indoor activities today. We started at School of the Air and saw an excellent DVD and presentation. We then spent a few hours at the Cultural Precinct, which encompasses an Art Gallery, a museum and aviation museum. At the Art Gallery we saw some beautiful watercolours by Albert Namatjira as well as many other aboriginal paintings. We also saw an exhibit of beanies as part of the recent Beanie festival. At the museum we saw the usual displays on natural history but we also watched a very detailed DVD on the life and controversy of TGH Strehlow – the caretaker of many Central Australian aboriginal artefacts.
We drove past the West MacDonnell Ranges shrouded in cloud and drizzle to stay at the Glen Helen resort. We were treated to an amazing 10 minute firework display to celebrate Territory Day. The kids said it was the best firework display they have ever seen. Their comments: ‘sweet’, ‘sick’, ‘totally awesome’, ‘wicked’.
Day 92 – July 2 – Glen Helen -> Alice Springs
We woke up to a clear day, but still freezing. We put on jumpers and beanies to walk along the sandy bank of Glen Helen Gorge. By the time we got to Ormiston Gorge it had warmed up to a nice day. We did a two hour walk up along the gorge rim and down back along the river bed. We heard our voices echo against the sheer cliff. At the Ochre Pits the kids had fun grinding ochre, making paint using spit and painting rocks like aboriginal children. At Ellery Creek Big Hole the water was so cold the fish were all dying! We walked along a rocky creek bed to see Standley Chasm, and we saw 2 cute rock wallabies at Simpsons Gap. All in all a very full and enjoyable day in the West MacDonnell ranges. We decided to stay in Alice Springs again tonight so we can go to the show tomorrow.
Day 92 – July 2 – Glen Helen -> Alice Springs
We woke up to a clear day, but still freezing. We put on jumpers and beanies to walk along the sandy bank of Glen Helen Gorge. By the time we got to Ormiston Gorge it had warmed up to a nice day. We did a two hour walk up along the gorge rim and down back along the river bed. We heard our voices echo against the sheer cliff. At the Ochre Pits the kids had fun grinding ochre, making paint using spit and painting rocks like aboriginal children. At Ellery Creek Big Hole the water was so cold the fish were all dying! We walked along a rocky creek bed to see Standley Chasm, and we saw 2 cute rock wallabies at Simpsons Gap. All in all a very full and enjoyable day in the West MacDonnell ranges. We decided to stay in Alice Springs again tonight so we can go to the show tomorrow.
Day 93 – July 3 – Alice Springs -> Curtin Springs
What a FUN morning! We spent four hours at the Alice Springs Show. The usual assortment of rides, sideshows, show bags, stalls, animals and events but a lot smaller than the Royal Easter show in Sydney and a lot less people. We were the first ones on the Dodgem cars and had fun banging in to each other. We bought showbags, licorice and corn and watched some rodeo events and car races.
We saw six wedge tailed eagles feasting on road kill on the way to Curtin Springs. Luke was startled when collecting firewood in the scrub by an emu which raced up behind him.
What a FUN morning! We spent four hours at the Alice Springs Show. The usual assortment of rides, sideshows, show bags, stalls, animals and events but a lot smaller than the Royal Easter show in Sydney and a lot less people. We were the first ones on the Dodgem cars and had fun banging in to each other. We bought showbags, licorice and corn and watched some rodeo events and car races.
We saw six wedge tailed eagles feasting on road kill on the way to Curtin Springs. Luke was startled when collecting firewood in the scrub by an emu which raced up behind him.
You're right Bruce - it is cold here. The fire is keeping us warm. Loved the double headed beanie. love Grandma xxxxx
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