West MacDonnell Ranges
Trip Start
Jan 31, 2011
1
85
121
Trip End
Jan 23, 2012
Where I stayed
Glen Helen, Northern Territory, Australia
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The resort itself is a little run down but clean. The view to Glen Helen gorge from the deck out the back is really lovely and a stunning backdrop.
It was quite a good temperature during the day but got awfully cold at night, something we are not at all used to. We got a fire going so after dinner we all sat around the fire toasting marsh mellows and chatting. It wasn't a late night as we are all tired from the driving and the late night the night before, it was quite nice to be able to snuggle into bed to get warm.
We had a lovely long sleep in this morning which we all needed, did some washing and then did the short walk to the Glen Helen gorge. The water in the gorges down this far is very cold so I don't think we will be doing much swimming but they are still pretty.
After lunch and with some not so enthusiastic children, we jumped in the car and drove the short distance to Ormiston Gorge walk. The Finke river has wound it way through the sandstone to create this beautiful gorge, and the steep walk up the lookout is worth it. We finished the walk off by heading down to the river itself, we sat on the rocks and enjoyed the beautiful views which we had to ourselves and then along to where we started. It was good to do some exercise after days sitting in the car and the kids enjoyed it despite their lack of enthusiasm at the beginning.
We got back in the car and went to a look out over nearby Mount Sonder, beautiful colours and very Australian outback looking views.
The boys got a cricket game started with some other kids in the park when we got back and this kept them amused for the rest of the afternoon. It is school holidays in Queensland so there is a few more kids around which is good. Jack and Elijah even went for a run then a swim in the freezing cold pool. Grant and I certainly did not have any of that energy.
We watched a movie that night and had a few laughs with the Jervis's, we are on a count down to saying good-bye to them as they are heading south after we do Uluru which everyone is a bit sad about. It has been great to have another family to travel with and that we all get along well with.
