The West MacDonnells, a pleasant surprise, albeit 2wd

Our first day in Ormiston Gorge saw us visit the Ellery Big Hole.  It was absolutely beautiful.  We were expecting it to be really cold.  It was cold (I only dipped in, but the boys had a great swim).

The rope hanging off the tree was a big hit, then they swam to the other end, and played on an old tree for another hour... how blissful!

The Ochre Pits were wonderful to look at and as a dabbling artist, very tempting to touch, however, the warnings were all there.  Look, don't touch, so they were heeded.  Stunning.

We were blessed to be at Ormiston whilst there was so much water there and a nesting Nankeen Kestrel.  WOW!  What a delight

Us

The walk up to the Ghost Gum lookout, stunning flowers, spinifex in flower and great views

Me holding the trusting bird book.

Onwards to Palm Valley at Finke National Park

Trephina Gorge...and a little bit of Alice

Nice to be back in a National Park, there is always something about them that we like...

Trephina Gorge is beautiful and we found a wonderful campground.  Our setups are a bunch better now where we arrive, stop and eat something (with the flies) and then when everyone is sated, set up.  Much better.

We popped into Alice Springs for some supplies (we were running a little low), and found, a town, just like many others out here.  Quite dusty, enough shops to provide us with what we needed, and probably too many people and cars for our liking. 

We ate on top of Anzac Hill to gain some perspective and saw all of the ranges, and met some of the folk who had been here for the Masters the week before (believe it or not, we are old enough now to be in "the Masters - just need to find a sport now). 

We found out about the roads on the West, all dirt roads shut due to the rains...  Time to wait for a couple of days. 

Trephina Gorge itself was lovely to swim in, warm and delicious, fresh and flowing. 

Flies were ferocious.  Win some, lose some. 

From here we will head straight across to the West MacDonnell.