Alice Springs to Glen Ellen Gorge

15-16^th July 2007

 It must be one of the most beautiful roads in Australia, driving along the Larapinta road to Glen Ellen 135, spearing between high ridge-lines.    Numerous spectacular red gorges with deep waterholes gave us wonderful walking opportunities too.   Simpsons Gorge was discovered whilst surveying for a telegraph route through to the south

We encountered a lovely Black Rock Wallaby who seemed quiet unconcerned with our presence

Our next stop was Standley Chasm owned by the local Aboriginal people

We arrived for the midday light display along this deep narrow cleft with its smooth vertical walls.  The rocks really are as red as this!

The lower levels of the gully are crammed with moisture-loving plants, such as these cycad palms, unexpected lushness in this arid world of craggy bluffs and Spinifex grass, a reminder of the tropical climate central Australia used to have.

These may look like lupins, but the desert is full of magnificent flowers adapted to survive the harsh climate

Ellery Creek Big-Hole further along the Namatjira Drive is a popular swimming hole, too cold for us though!

Ormiston Gorge with its soaring red cliffs and deep waterhole is the greadest scenery in this central range.

Thirsty work all this walking the gorges, but such a breeze to drive along a sealed road to our destination at Glen Ellen Gorge, overlooked by Mount Sonder

Glen Ellen Resort had a great view over the gorge, and to maximise the pleasure, flocks of emerald and blue budgies flying amongst the eucalypts, enjoying such a great watering place

I had always wanted to see these delightful birds in the wild, here they were at last!

Plenty of other birds I had not seen before were all enjoying such a great place too.

Budgies in the wild are too difficult to photograph, but these galah parrots are all over Australia, picking the seeds out of the grass.

Glen Ellen Gorge’s water hole, caused by the Finke River carving it’s way through the rocks

Sitting by the log fire for dinner in amongst the aboriginal paintings is a great way to enjoy excellent food.  There were more overseas tourists at this spot than we had met on the whole trip! Specially French and Germans, all here during the school Holidays

A great sunset thanks to an unusual small cloud cover, which gave a little bit of welcome rain during the night

Some friends we met climbed Mount Sonder as part of a 5 day walk along the MacDonnell Ranges.  They slept out in swags under the stars every night.  With temperatures down to 3C at night, I didn’t fancy roughing it when it’s so cold!