A glimpse of Alice Springs

 Highest point between Adelaide & Darwin

It was Saturday morning and as the caravan was booked in for its second service in Alice Springs we decided to bypass Alice Springs and visit East MacDonnell Ranges for the week-end.  We checked with the information centre on the road conditions and were told the road was bitumen to Trepina Gorge (125 kms) other than the last five kms which was dirt.

 Marker of Highest point between Adelaide & Darwin

First impressions of Alice Springs – large residential area which appeared to just appear from nowhere, large gap in the ranges to the south of the town makes an impressive sight, groups of locals “sitting around”.  We have been amazed that the local people seem to congregate and just sit – whether this be on the pavement, under a tree, in a dry river bed, in the park.  They rarely acknowledge anyone and often don’t appear to be conversing with their neighbours. 

 Inscription re highest point

We travelled out of town and made a first stop at Jessie Gap which is a gap in the high MacDonnell Ranges.  We walked the short distance through to the gap and then to see the Aboriginal rock art which was pretty amazing.  We continued on driving with the ranges on both sides of us.  The hill tops to the right had like a fortress wall and we thought how helpful this would have been to the Europeans if situated in Europe as they would have been able to protect their castles in years gone by.

 Boring landscape!  Northern Territory

The road continues on eastward but we branched off and took the Trepina Gorge National Park road.  Within a short distance we came to the dirt and as we prefer to take the caravan on as few dirt roads as possible we slowed right down.  It was a little corrugated and very dusty.  We soon found that we had to cross two creek crossings which had both rocky and sandy areas and surprisingly had water in them.  Again, something we prefer not to do with our caravan as it is not what is considered an “off road or outback” model.  Fortunately we were able to cross with no problems.  When we arrived at the camping area designated for caravans and camper trailers we were the only ones there – this was just wonderful.  It felt as though we had the full National Park to ourselves.  The camping area had environmental toilets, gas BBQ’s, tables, water etc but no showers.  We felt we were in luxury as we have the shower in the caravan so what more could we want.  Later in the day two other small groups arrived and stayed overnight.  It was extremely hot – 37 degs on the temperature gauge.

  Burning off beside the road north of Alice Springs

 Landscape north of Alice

The gorge had a number of walks so on Sunday morning we left early to avoid some of the heat, and took the rim top walk.  The walk took about 1 ½ hours up the rock face to the rim, down then up the other side and back down into the gorge.  There was very little water in the gorge but to get back to the camp, of course, we had to walk through what water there was.  Again it was very hot on our return.  We had a leisurely afternoon (actually watching a DVD during the heat of the day) and then cooked roast pork for dinner.  Flies are always a problem when cooking meat so decided to try cooking the boneless roast in the cast iron pan on the outdoor BBQ.  Surprisingly this worked very well, and we enjoyed a lovely roast dinner with roast vegetables in the “middle of nowhere”.

As the day cooled down we were able to enjoy walking further around the park.  There were many birds, but as always we are always vigilant about the possibility of a snake.  So far so good, and unfortunately we have not been able to even photograph a snake.   Monday morning we headed back, across the creeks, into Alice Springs to deliver the van for service. 

 Welcome to Alice Springs

The East MacDonnell Ranges seems to be the least popular by visitors but we really enjoyed it.

 Gill at welcome to Alice Springs

 Welcome to the Outback Way sign

 Jessie Gap, East MacDonnel Range sign

 Jessie Gap, East MacDonnell Range

Rocks at Jessie Gap

 Jessie Gap rocks

 Information sign Jessie Gap

  Rock Art at Jessie Gap

The top of the range like a concrete boundary

 Rock boundary without a castle!

Welcome to Trephina Gorge sign

 Rocks surrounding the camping ground Trephina Gorge

 Mountain in Trephina Gorge

Small stream to crooss with the caravan on!

 The rock incline on our walk Trephina Gorge

Trephina Gorge camp

 The hills as the sunsets taken from the caravan

Cooking dinner Trephina Gorge

 Trephina Gorge

 On our walk Trephina Gorge

The track was well marked

Peter adding his rock to the pile

  We took the orange Trephina Gorge Walk

 Looking down at the gorge

 Rock formation we climbed around

 Enroute on the Trephina Gorge walk

Looking down towards the gorge

Close up of rock sides to the gorge

 What a great sight as it was getting very hot

 Walking up the dry gorge

Close up of rocks Trephina Gorge

 Note the colour variations Trephina Gorge

Our caravan at the Trephina Gorge National Park

Swag table went unused

Cooking roast pork the unconventional way

The rock was necessary to keep the tinfoil in place

 Bugga a few burnt spots but it tasted fantastic and the burnt bits
were not really burnt bits at all, they were just pieces that had been
maade slightly crisper than the rest just how Peter likes them!