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Published: April 29th 2023
THAT MAGNIFICENT ROCK
Johns drone shot is pretty good isn't itMonday afternoon Outback Spirit Tours took us for an orientation tour of Alice Springs although we had done quite a bit of walking as well as a tour with the Ghan, it was interesting to hear different stories from Alice Springs and get to know our driver/guide Gary and another guide Kane, great blokes and we will have a great tour with these guys. Dinner was at the hotel Monday night and it was delish with a delicious piece of Wayghu beef with an entree and desert. Earlyish night as an 8am take off tomorrow in our monster bus/truck, its something else, quite new with only 30,000klms on the clock, a Mercedes truck with a small bus type set up on the back, lovely leather seats and everything onboard, iced water, big fridge full of food for our lunch etc on the road, lots of snacks and fruit to eat along the way. Seating is 26 passengers. Tuesday sees us on our way to Kings Canyon via the Mereenie Loop or as its now called The Red Centre Way, over 400klms to do today, first stop was the John Flynn grave which was interesting to see the huge rock on top
ALICE SPRINGS
Welcome to town of his grave which had come from Devils Marbles and had to be returned to the original spot because it was off sacred land but it was replaced with a similar rock. It is set on the outskirts of Alice Springs with the beautiful MacDonnell ranges as a backdrop, then onto Stanley Chasm, which is an important cultural site 100% owned by the Arrernte community, an amazing place to visit with its 80 metre high sandstone gorge which narrows to just 3 metres, spectacular and only about a 30 minute walk in, and our lovely Kane had morning tea all set up for us when we arrived back to the truck, hot water on tap for our teas and some lamingtons and biscuits. We are loving our guides as they continually speak about places of interest and stories about people of the inland. Next stop Ormiston Gorge which is about 140klms into our trip and in the West MacDonnell National Park, its a great place for a cool dip, even though it was over 30 degrees none of our crew opted for a swim but some did the walk up the hill which was equal to about 250steps to the
JOHN FLYNN GRAVE
Early start for us all but what a great background viewing platform which about half of us did to see the towering red walls of the gorge and pound and overlooking the swimming hole below. When we arrived back Kane again had our lunch already to go, yummy wraps with an assortment of meats and salad to put in them.....yummm after our big walk, all of us being told that if you could do this one OK then you would think about doing the six and half kilometre rim walk at Kings Canyon which is three and a half hours of walking on rocky ground, steep rocky steps up and down, but the initial climb to the rim is about 500 steps, we will see what that brings we will decide. After lunch back on the road and veer off in the other direction of Hermannsburg Community, and onto about 150klms of dirt road, corrugated and up and down through creek beds and there as still a bit of water around on the road from the rain a couple of weeks ago. Still cannot believe how green it still is out this way with lots of feed around. We saw loads of wild brumbies roaming around next to the roadside,
STANLEY CHASM
Great place to visit didn't see any donkeys or kangaroos today. Finally pulled into Kings Canyon about 5pm... it is now run by the Discovery Park Group who have sunk a lot of money into it and it shows, our rooms were devine probably going to be the best on the trip, here in the middle of nowhere and you have this oasis with lovely accomodation. Like everywhere they are struggling with staff but everyone we met were lovely. After getting settled down to the Sunset Bar for a few beers and then dinner in the Carmichael Restaurant. Had a great night mixing with our fellow travellers who are a great bunch, two overseas couples from Montana and Canada, 4 New Zealanders (one of them did a talk on Anzac Day at Ormiston Gauge and recited the ode) and the rest of the 25 from Australia. Then to find out who is doing the Rim Walk tomorrow, there ended up being 12 of us. It nearly killed us getting up to the rim but we did it but I wouldn't do it again. Was totally spectacular with the colors etc and formations. We are so glad the boys got us up very early take
STANLEY CHASM
Look at those soaring walls.... with little me sitting on a rock! off after a 6am breaky, then bus to the Watarrka National Park only about 10 minutes, saw the sunrise as we went out and were on the trail by 6.55am with a cool breeze blowing, its going to be low 30s today so was glad of the early start. It took us just over three hours to do the rim walk, stopping for pics and it is all a bit up and down with big staircases down into the Garden of Eden, the most gorgeous waterhole with loads of different trees and shrubs down there, an oasis at the bottom!. No mishaps with our group which was great! Those that didn't do rim walk had an easier 2klm walk into the base of the canyon. All had a fab morning and John and I hobbled back to bus then back to the resort for a beautiful hot shower and a couple of beers before a lovely lunch in the bistro.... something I will never forget on our 43rd wedding anniversary! My beautiful cousins made up for the sore and fatigued legs and body.... bringing champagne to our room prior to sunset drinks.... what a surprise....we enjoyed it over a few
STANLEY CHASM
Just spectacular laughs and recap of our day! Thurs get away from Kings Canyon 8am and our first stop was Kings Creek Station for morning tea, a lot of the stations do a bit of tourist stuff to help their incomes, the morning tea was great freshly baked scones, raisin bread and like a bread and butter pudding cake. They also have accommodation here too, camel rides, gift shop and Kaz bought the hat she had been looking for! Then onto Curtin Springs for lunch which were yummy fresh sandwiches with cake and tea and coffee....The Severin Family have owned this station for 70 odd years, true pioneers of the outback! Then onto Yulara arriving about 3pm, time for relax, swim, showers before getting a bus out of town a bit to a big sand dune where there is a platform set up to enjoy the sunset whilst sipping bubbles and eating yummy canapes. Then when the sun set we walked down the other side of the dune where they have it all set up for the Sounds of Silence dinner experience,everything about the dinner was fabulous! Friday set off early for the 30 minute drive to Kata Tjuta and hiked into
ORMISTON GORGE
The waterhole from the viewing platform above the gorge which was spectacular and a fairly easy walk when compared to the rim walk at Kings Canyon. Then onto the Cultural Centre to go through the galleries,read the stories and check out the gift shop. Then we did two hikes around the rock which were great seeing rock art, billabong full of water and John getting his drone up to take a couple of pics, they were fantastic and you could see how enormous the rock is, as it is hard when you are on the ground and close up to really feel how big the whole rock is. Then back to hotel for rest and showers onto the bus again and out to see the Field of Lights, sunset drinks and canapes on another sand dune and then after sunset a walk through the field of lights....spectacular..... it is something else! Back on the bus and to our hotel for a fantastic buffet dinner, anything you could want....way out here in the middle of nowhere....its incredible! Prawns, oysters, mussels, great meats, lamb, steak, shanks, fish .....great dinner enjoyed by everyone! Cannot fault Outback Spirit tours. Early night and up Saturday for the sunrise, which we could see
STANLEY CHASM
The trees are so majestic on a hill not far from our hotel just a 10 minute walk....was worth the effort. Sadly our tour ends today back in Alice Springs this afternoon and we stay at the Hilton again before rejoining the Ghan tomorrow. We all have enjoyed our action packed six day tour off train. See what the next 2 days on the Ghan hold.
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