From Tennant Creek, we deliberately planned a short trip - just about 100 km in fact - to the Devils Marbles. There is a camp ground right next to the giant rocks and it is popular. Arriving there about 10:30am ensured we got a great spot for the night.
For the rest of the day - we explored the many walking paths around the area. Really is a great location. Although I don't think we've ever taken so many photos of rocks... just when you think you've seen a great one, along comes another. Some sat precariously and seemed to defy gravity with their ability to balance.
This crested pigeon, or 'punk pigeon' as we call them along with his friend made visits to our campsite whenever there was food about. He lucked out though.
We saved the longest of the walks (around 4kms) for late afternoon / evening when it cooled down a little. This also gave us the benefit of seeing the changing colours reflecting on the rocks - a magical experience. I rate it as even better than Uluru at sunset.
The following morning we enjoyed some sunrise colour on the rocks as well, before packing up and getting ready for the 400 km drive to Alice Springs.
We had a few interesting stops along the way, including the roadhouse at Wycliffe Well - which promotes itself as the UFO capital of Australia. Clever marketing I guess... not sure of the actual evidence to prove this! Fifteen years ago when we were here, it was a much more happening place, with a bar that sold a staggering 82 different varieties of beers... maybe that has something to do with the UFO sightings? We recall an old woman who played the piano in the bar... she is long gone and so is her piano and the bar area looks neglected and unused. The new owners have redone the murals out the front - just this year, and are trying to get the place on the up again.
At one point on the highway we had to pull of the road for 2 trucks, each carrying just the front digger bit of a giant excavator... I'd love to see the whole machine and the size of the sandpit it needs to play in!
We stopped for lunch in Ti Tree - which is quite the metropolis compared to all the roadhouses. We enjoyed a little footy on their oval... not a blade of grass in sight.
These were some nice old ruins that were by the side of the highway.
The Aerilon Roadhouse attracts travel from the highway with it's very large statues of Indiginous people. We swung in to take a look, but didn't buy fuel as it was way more expensive than other roadhouses had been. They were asking 1.99 per litre for diesel, but we've been paying in the 1.70's since joining the Stuart Hwy. Apparently it is around 2.10 at Uluru. There is something to look forward too.
By the time we got to Alice Springs, it was a relief to set ourselves up in the nice and shady Winter Sun Caravan Park. The kids wasted no time getting in the pool.
The boys love their trains, and we heard that the famous Ghan was due to leave, heading north this evening around 6pm, so we went to the railway station to take a look at it. Standing on the platform we could see neither the front or rear of the train it is so long!
As the sun set and after a brief visit to a supermarket we drove up Anzac Hill and took in the lovely views of Alice Springs and the surrounding ranges.
Speaking of shopping... I popped into Bunnings for a couple of things to carry out minor repairs on the caravan... and wandering around the familiar isles it was like being transported back home. Just like McDonalds tastes the same the world over, the aisles of Bunnings are identical too! J did notice something a little different about the local IGA supermarket which was a little different to home though...
Yesterday then, was our first full day in Alice Springs. We spent much of the day at the Alice Springs Desert Park. Although not our first trip to the Alice (for the parents of the tribe that is), we had never visited this place. And today, we are so glad we did. It was amazing. With dingoes, emus, roos, reptiles, a flying bird show, aviaries, the biggest nocturnal house in the southern hemisphere, an inquisitive numbat, reptiles, different desert ecosystems complete with so many desert flowers... it was fabulous... Let's see if these pics give you an idea of what it is like:
After another dip in the pool - it was another 30 plus day, we drove to our evening treat - a sunset camel ride! Gemma and I were riding on Cookie, Zac was on Shadow, and J and Ethan were aboard Tjala. It was a great experience (thanks to our tax returns this year!). We spent an hour shuffling around the red sand with the MacDonell Ranges around us.
Unattractive creatures that smell, grunt and walk ungainly... but are highly lovable! Everyone enjoyed a camel cuddle at the end!
Today we went and explored three of the gorges out in the Western MacDonnell Ranges. The first stop was around 20 km's from Alice, Simpsons Gap. We walked in along the dry, sandy river bed, in awe of the towering red rocks around us. Also in awe of the little rock wallabys that call the cliff faces home.
At the gap, there was a small amount of water.
Another 20 km up the road we visited Standley Chasm. A short walk of 1.2 km found us standing in the narrow chasm. It was around midday, so the sun illuminated much of the sheer rock walls and dry river bed. It is no more than about 3 metres in width and goodness knows how many metres tall. Majestic would be a word to describe it.
Continuing on we turned off the Hermansburg Rd and drove another 45 km's to Ellery Creek Big Hole.
We have a couple more days in Alice Springs... so we'll see what we get up to before moving on to Uluru.
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