Day 24: Alice Springs - MacDonnell Ranges

We take advantage of the great offer at this campground and head straight to the playground in the morning. Samuel has a lot of fun. We have breakfast outdoors in pleasant temperatures and then get our Maui ready for the national park. Tonight, we want to stay at a simple spot in the West MacDonnell Ranges, so we load up all our equipment, fill up the fresh water tank, and empty our wastewater and toilet.

With a quick stop at the gas station, we start our tour in the West MacDonnell Range. The kids were already very tired when we left and it doesn't take long for both of them to fall asleep. Maxima doesn't sleep well and therefore not for long. She is cranky and wakes up Samuel as well. Time for a little snack with pizza rolls and snack sausages. Our little mouse likes it too.

In the early afternoon, we stop at Ellery Creek Big Hole. The campground and parking lot there are not very inviting. But the water hole is a dream. A great way to cool off in the warm temperatures. Michael swims to the other end of the gorge. The water is too cold for the kids. We stay at the entrance and pass the time playing in the sand and throwing stones.

We continue driving to Serpentine Gorge. We march along the approximately 1.5 km trail to the water hole with the intention of taking a dip in the cool water. Unfortunately, the water hole is not very inviting, so after a short photo stop, we decide to head back.

The kids are pretty exhausted from the short hike and the high temperatures and take a late afternoon nap on the way to Glen Helen. We really like this swimming spot and gorge as well. The water is quite cool here and since the sun has already disappeared behind the mountains, we quickly feel refreshed.

We're still undecided about where to stay overnight (Glen Helen, Ormiston, Ellery Creek) and therefore visit Ormiston Gorge. We really like it here too and the campground is perfectly fine.

Michi explores the gorge with Maxima while Samuel and I cook chili. We eat outdoors, which turns out to not be such a great idea. There are quite a lot of giant flying ants and grasshoppers that are attracted to the light and therefore ruin our cozy meal. Tired from the eventful day, the kids quickly fall asleep.

We really enjoyed the drive through the West Macs. The landscape is very beautiful. It's quite hilly and curvy - quite unusual so far. The short hikes to the gorges and water holes are very entertaining and provide a welcomed cool down from the high summer temperatures.

11/16/2016

Overnight: Ormiston Gorge Camping Area / West MacDonnell Range (1 night 20 AUD, very basic national park campground by the gorge, toilets, cooking area, four other pitches occupied next to us)

Weather: sunny, 34 degrees

174 kilometers today, total of 2,623 km