Wallace Rockhole, Ormiston Gorge and Ochre Pits

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Wallace Rockhole

Our fourth day began with a helicopter ride over Glen Helen Gorge. We had tried to get the ride in at sunset the night before, but the helicopter had been overbooked. Debora stepped in and got us a 7am ride before departing this morning. We only paid for a 6 minute ride, but I know we got close to 10… and it seemed to last forever. We saw some beautiful sights - the rocks along the gorge were carved by erosion in such a way to form tall walls of rocks - the “organ pipes.” We also saw several wild horses grazing in the valleys below.

Our next stop was at Ormiston Gorge - another pretty walk through red rocks - all carved over time by the meandering creek below. We saw several black-footed wallabies jumping among the cliffs. One had a little joey in its pouch.

Next - the ochre pits. The aboriginal people often decorate themselves with colour for ceremonial purposes. The coloured rocks in this location are protected for the aboriginals and we were not allowed to touch the coloured cliff-sides. The walls were variegated with dull purple, orange, red and yellow streaks. Lunch was spent at Ellery Creek - a very deep waterhole where some of the more adventurous in our group decided to go for a swim. Tom stepped into the water but it was too cold even for two Canadians!

After several more hours on corrugated dirt roads, we ended the day at the aboriginal community of Wallace Rockhole. The final road into the town was actually very beautiful - it was a deep, dark red - quite unimaginable before now. When we arrived in town, we were met by a member of the community (not aboriginal) who took us on a short walk through the bush showing us all sorts of different bush tucker and the actual rockhole. We saw aboriginal rock drawings that are estimated to be thousands of years old and depict all sorts of animals and stories. Another camp oven dinner for tonight - great food!

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Photos

Ochre Pit walls - Inarlanga Pass, Namatjira Drive
This ochre is still used by the aboriginal Aranda for ceremonial purposes. It is basically dry clay with various levels of iron, lead, and other minerals giving it earhty colours.

Our guide at The Wallace Rock Hole
Learning about aboriginal customs.

In the air over Glen Helen
$90 for 6 minutes didn't sound like a good deal but it really was worth it (and we got 10 min.).

Sunrise at Glen Helen
The sun peaked through the clouds just as the helicopter took off.

Glen Helen Heli ride
We took an early morning flight over Glen Helen before heading out to Wallace Rock Hole.

Very Interesting
The sign details the number of people who have died in various accidental deaths over a 10 year period. I'm not really sure how this relates to the sign's title.

Ormiston Gorge
A beautiful oasis and good hike on the way to Wallace Rockhole

Ormiston Gorge
Another view of the red rocks and soil.

Long nosed lizard
Everywhere we walked we could hear these guys scurrying around in the dry grasses.

Rock Wallabies
These rock wallabies bounded up and down the rocks in Ormiston Gorge.

Bush tucker
The honey grevileas were just coming into bloom at the end of September. The ants seemed to like them.

Ormiston Gorge
The ruggedness and beauty of Ormiston gorge.

Rock Wallabies
Watching the black-footed rock wallabies in Ormiston Gorge

Walking along the base of the gorge
This walk along the water was shaded and somewhat cool - a pleasant break from the desert sun.

Ormiston Gorge Oasis
Another view from the base of the gorge

A Eucalypt Reaching for Rain.
A lone Desert Gum

Desert Vegetation
This is how nature says don't touch. (Rule of thumb - if it has spikes, it's fruit is probably not poisonous)

Ghost Gum
A ghost gum perched on the side of the gorge.

Hundreds of km
This was our view for a few hundred km. The road may look smooth but, believe me, it wasn't.

Ellery Creek Big Hole
Another oasis in the middle of the desert. More of a pond than a creek, the water in Ellery Creek felt like about 10 degrees C - my legs went numb after only a few minutes.

Aboriginal Rock Paintings
These paintings are on the rock walls on the path to Wallace Rock hole.

The Hole at Wallace Rock Hole
Our guide was quite knowledgeable and showed us many artifacts and rock paintings on our way to the rock hole.