Ormiston Gorge and Alice Springs......

On arriving at the Ormiston Gorge campground we found a site and set ourselves up for the next two days.  Another fab bush camp with toilets and shower for $10 pp a night.  I do wish some of the other states would take a leaf out of the NT Tourism book and offer campgrounds like this.  Every one was almost full and people were really enjoying the whole bush camping experience.

We had been here for a very short visit in 2006 but had only walked to the waterhole, took the picture and left.  This time we were going to enjoy a proper look.  There were people swimming here but with the drop in temperature and the very cold water we weren't tempted to get the bathers out again.

We walked along the huge wide dry riverbed to the waterhole and then around the corner into the gorge.  Bill scrambled over a few rocks but with both of us wearing thongs we decided to wait until tomorrow and do it properly.  It certainly is an amazing feature.  We returned home and took it easy under the awning with a book and the birds.

The next morning Bill had been going to get up early and do the Ormiston Pound walk.  The 7-8 km walk was a bit much for me so I was staying home.  When the alarm went off all we could hear was the wind so it was a change of plan and back to sleep for Bill.  He did get up a bit later and head into the Gorge for a couple of hours while I did some bits inside.  The White Necked Heron seemed to love the high cliffs of the gorge.

Later that morning we both ventured out to do the Ghost Gum walk up to the Lookout.  This walk is almost all stairs on the way up the steep cliff to the lookout but you are rewarded with the most spectacular view of the dry riverbeds, the gorge and the waterhole below.  

We decided to take the more gentle route down around the cliffs into the gorge to the bottom and then back along the riverbed.  A bit of a scramble over large rocks once on the ground but still a spectacular walk.  Looking across the riverbed we found some of the beautiful Black Footed Wallabies which live on the rock ledges.

And who did we meet on the cliffs - yes Avril and Ian had come into camp for the night as well.  It was good to see them again and that evening we had happy hour drinks together and enjoyed their company very much.

Back at our van Bill spent the afternoon playing with the birds, the stunning Spinifex Pigeons were not shy but the Western Bowerbirds were proving to be a bit of a challenge.  Maybe tomorrow.

The next morning we said goodbye again to friends, who knows where we will bump into each other again as we are both off to Alice for a few days.  As we were packing up, just like they had been pre ordered, the Western Bowerbirds showed up and kept Bill busy for a while.  

Soon it was time to put the camera away and head back to Alice Springs where we booked into the Wintersun Caravan Park for three nights.  Time to wash again and have a look around Alice Springs.

We took care of the chores that afternoon and later drove into town to have a look.  We were very disappointed with the main tourist precinct - Todd Mall.  Last time we were here this area was very busy with tourists and shops but this trip it seemed to be a ghost strip with many empty shops and empty streets.  All the action seems to have moved a little further along to the two shopping centres (air conditioned malls) which could be anywhere at all.  Such a shame but I guess it's called progress.

We did our weekly shopping here and returned home for the evening.  As we had been coming South we had noticed the days and nights were cooling down but here in Alice we got quite a shock with the overnight temperatures down to 4 degs.  So on went the quilt and the winter pjs again and we stayed toasty warm.

The next morning we went to the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens where we spent a few hours walking around and being entranced by two active bowers belonging to the Western Bowerbirds.  Watching the birds performing at the bowers was just fascinating and we were there longer than we expected to be.

Later that afternoon we drove over to The National Road Transport Hall of Fame.  Our main objective here was to see BB who had been inducted in 2010.  But first we enjoyed a walk around the many old cars, trucks and room after room of stories of early road transport, tourism, haulage and private.  Such an interesting place to visit and all run by volunteers too.  And yes we found our man!

Right next door is the Ghan Preservation Society and here they have built a replica of MacDonnell Siding complete with the Old Ghan Train.  All in all a great place to visit.

The next day we drove just out of town to visit The Old Telegraph Station Reserve.  As we drove into the car park we spied a now familiar camper van and sure enough Avril and Ian were there too.  We chatted for a while then left them to their lunch with the beautiful butterfly while we went off to explore.  

It was here that Alice Springs was named.  The town was previously known as Stuart.  Following in the footsteps of Stuart the early explorers travelled through this route to find a path for the Overland Telegraph Line which was to run from Adelaide to Darwin.  They located a repeater station beside a water hole which they named 'Alice Springs' however it was not a permanent water supply as the river dries up each year.  Still the name stayed and the town grew up and somehow they survive.

The Old Telegraph Station is a self guided tour and we spent an hour or more going through and learning more about the importance of the Overland Telegraph wire.  Now a Historical Reserve the heritage buildings have been restored and the many interpretive displays give you an insight into life as an early settler in this remote centre of Australia.

A little further around we climbed to the lookout on Trig Hill and while it was not very high once again it was a challenge for me.  Poor Bill is getting a bit sick of having to turn around and help me up and down the rocks whenever I decide to brave the hills in the first place.  He did suggest after our walk today that a stick might help.  After my first reaction of 'how rude' I got to thinking that perhaps a Trekking Pole might be the answer and so later that afternoon we went into town and found just what we were looking for at Lone Dingo.  Hopefully this will do the job!

And so once again it was time to pack up the next morning and continue making our way south as we crawl ever closer to home again.  But with over 2000 km still to go there will be a lot more to see and explore.

until next time......