Oz Trip - Day 34

Day 34 – 4/6/2012 – West MacDonnell Gorges Day 1

We were basing ourselves at Glen Helen so that we could visit most of the Gorges in the West MacDonnell Ranges. The West MacDonnell Ranges were a pretty impressive geological formation.

West MacDonnall Ranges

This morning was the coldest so far, 0.5deg, so it was a bit of a slow start.

First gorge we visited was Redbank gorge. It was a 2.6km return walk up a dry river bed. There was a little bit of water at the end so this stopped us from walking fully into the gorge.

Track into Redbank Gorge

A bit of rock scrambling

Redbank Gorge

It must be a popular swimming place

Next stop was the Elery Creek Big Hole. We only had to walk a couple of hundred meters for this one.

Elery Creek Water hole

Elery Creek Water hole

Looking back to where photo no 1 was taken

The final gorge for the day was Serpentine gorge and look out. It was a 1.4km return walk and the walk to the top of the lookout was pretty steep but it had great views.

Serpentine Gorge

Track into Serpentine Gorge

Looking up Serpentine Gorge from the Lookout

Looking back onto the Ranges

When talking to a family at Gosse Bluff the day before, they mentioned that they were camping at 2 Mile camp ground just opposite the Glen Helen Resort. So we decided to check it out. The entrance was just down the road from the Glen Helen Resort entrance and right on the Finke river bank. It was a 4WD bush camp with no facilities. It was a perfect location. It is one we will keep in mind if we are ever back in this region. There was space to camp just out of the sand or in the sand and closer to the water if you wanted.

2 Mile Camp ground info

Finke River bed on 2 Mile

Heaps of space

Only about 4 groups of people in the whole camp ground