From east to west and back again: West MacDonnell Ranges

From Kings Canyon, we drove over 100km of dirt road to the West MacDonnell Ranges. These low rocky ranges have multiple gorges carved through them, often filled with water. The rivers drain south into the Simpson desert and the vast Lake Eyre (a mainly dry salt lake). We had two amazing birds visit our bush camp at Redbank Gorge - the Red (RED!) Breasted Robin and Superb Blue Fairy Wren. We got done by the local dingo - she chewed the corner off our heavy duty naly bin, and knocked our put box over (we did not know it had choc chip biscuits in it - but she did). We laughed when she settled down 10 metres from camp in the shade of a Mulga tree and waited for us to leave for a day trip.

Tony was told about this legendary road marker 25 years ago - we found it on the road to the West Macs. Unfortunately its fabled sister "Put foot down" was not around the corner so his quest continues.

Another cool outback lizard.

Max at Gosse Bluff, a 144 million year old meteor crater.

Gosse bluff from afar.

Mt Sondar in the West Macs.

Glen Helen Gorge

Ormiston Gorge

Redbank Gorge

Julia liloing in Redbank Gorge. The water was freezing!

Looking west from a dawn climb on Mt Sondar. Mt Zell (circa 1500m)., the highest mountain west of the Great Divide. Flat country! For non-Australians the Great Divide runs about 100-400km from the east coast, so "west of the great divide" is most of the continent!