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Lilliputians


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West McDonnell Ranges
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Magnificent!  We thought we had seen it all at Uluru and Kings Canyon but what a beaut sight it was at the Gosse Bluff, Redbank gorge, Ormiston and Serpentine gorges.  We eventually found the Roma Gorge track which is well worth the visit, if you have a decent 4 x 4 vehicle.  It takes 30min to drive the 8km on the river bed to a beautiful water hole with many petroglyphs in the rocks.  There is no sign as too many people were getting stuck in ordinary vehicles.  We did them all, including rim walks and lookouts which meant some tough climbing, the Serpentine one equalled the Kings Canyon climb to the rim.  We originally booked for 2 nights at Glen Helen Gorge Resort but realised that 2 was not enough.  We booked a further 2 nights and got a 5th night free, which we needed.  Be warned though, they do not carry supplies as they have a full a la carte restaurant and unless you want to drive the 190km (one way) for milk and bread, stock up.  We had 2 excellent meals there and the evening entertainment was brill.....on on



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jimricho


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If you're still at Glen Helen take a walk up the hill behind the caravan park at sunrise and check out the view of Mt. Sonder.

DSCF0343_edited-1.jpg



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tiger5


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Hi,
If you get a chance get to see Chambers Pillar & Rainbow Valley.Nearly forgot see Palm Valley as well.

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pricey43


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Last time in Alice we made our first trip to Redbank gorge. Loved the fact that it was unspoilt.  We walked up the gorge to the lovely water hole where a young family had just come out of the freezing water. They said that two German backpackers had swum up into the gorge to a beautiful waterfall around the bend but had not returned.

Shortly after, they returned, doing their best to keep out of the water as much as possible.  They were both suffering from hypothermia with blue lips, hands and feet. It took quite a while to warm them up.

Feel that a warning sign would have been appropriate.



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pricey43


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So many people spend a couple of days in Alice and say that they have seen it.  It has many magical spots to investigate.smilesmilesmile



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Gerty Dancer


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Ahhh! Just got to go back again now! Absolutely fantastic places, thank you for the photo Jim.

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Turtle Trekers


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Are you going to explore the East MacDonnell Ranges as well? We did when we were in the area last year and were very happy that we did! Trephina Gorge is worth a few nights stay and further east from there gets you back into four wheel drive country.

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Cupie


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jimricho wrote:

If you're still at Glen Helen take a walk up the hill behind the caravan park at sunrise and check out the view of Mt. Sonder.

DSCF0343_edited-1.jpg

 Brilliant photo   ..  Certainly typical of the area ...  Thanks for sharing ..  G



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Cupie


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You are far more adventourus than us.

(spell check said that 'adventourus'  ... was correct .. doesn't look right to me)

We have paintings of Simpsons Gap & Ghost Gums by the late Henk Guth in the hallway that I admire daily.

Unfortunately his gallery Panorama Guth in Alice Springs was burnt down after his death and many great paintings were lost, including one of my favourites 'King of the Riverbed'.  I have a largish print of it - still yet to be framed.

Panoramma Guth was a fantastic art work now sadly lost in that fire.  

I have a video of the gallery that I enjoy from time to time.



-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 12th of June 2012 06:32:39 PM

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Kaid


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The Gallery now houses the Mental Health Assoc of Central Australia.(My daughter works there as its Mental Health Training and Promotions Officer). Where the panorama was is now its carpark.  Adventourus didn't look right to me either. It is spelled adventurous



-- Edited by Kaid on Tuesday 12th of June 2012 07:41:41 PM



-- Edited by Kaid on Tuesday 12th of June 2012 07:42:59 PM



-- Edited by Kaid on Tuesday 12th of June 2012 07:43:51 PM

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Lilliputians


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We couldn't climb up behind the Glen Helen resort at there was too much water still in the river. We know how cold the water was because we walked the long walk at Ormiston Gorge, up to the lookout to see the magnificent view of the pound and then down to the Ormiston creek gorge where we had to either return the way we had come (approx 6km) or brave the waters, not knowing how deep it was. It was toggs off (everything), clothes held over our heads and in we went, and as I am only 5' tall and hubby 5'4" it was quite a shock to find ourselves in and up to our boobs and boy, it was freezing! The remainder of the journey through the gorge back to base had us climbing some of the biggest rocks and boulders we had encountered on the trip. Trephina Gorge was a doddle after that. We unhitched at Stuart's Well on our return journey and did the trip into Rainbow Valley which was well worth it. We are saving Palm Valley and other sights in that area for next time..........on on

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