Day 13 & 14 – Shaken not stirred

Back on the air again after a couple of days in the wilderness with no internet connection!

After marvelling at the sheer cliff face of Glen Helen Gorge in the morning light, it was time to break camp again and set off for another day of driving – only 250km but the majority would be on dirt road of unknown quality along the Mereenie Loop Road. So with permit in hand, an intrepid spirit (for us) and preparations made, it was off further along the Red Centre Way.

The road into Redbank Gorge gave us an early taste of things to come with a few kilometres of fairly rough road. After a bit of a trek we were rewarded with views of another spectacular gorge – very narrow with high red cliff sides and a waterhole at 14m deep reputed to be the coldest of all the waterholes. We couldn’t really tell – it was freezing like the others. Apparently the snakes and lizards which fall into the water from the cliffs go numb and stupefy. I think I would be the same so didn’t try it.

Some people were game enough to swim

Dingo at Redbank Gorge carpark - looking for a feed

The first part of the dirt road was not too bad and then we hit a couple of more corrugated sections where we got used to being shaken around and then the last section was quite good. All in all it was quite uneventful and unpacking at Kings Canyon a couple of broken cable ties on the stone deflector was the sum total of damage – apart from what may be a permanently red tinge to the Challenger and the cover of the Emu Camper. Elizabeth is of course determined to clean them all off on our return to have them back to pristine condition.

Lunch was a quick stop on the side of the road under a shady tree (no rest areas out there) before we came across the SANTOS Mereenie Oil and Gas Fields – yes Michael there are more isolated places to work than Fairview!

Our feed stop on the Mereenie Loop Road - best tree around

A sign to a lookout was the next distraction where we went to see Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) which rises up out of the surrounding plains somewhat like what we imagine Uluru will. No idea that it was coming up, just rounded a corner in the road and there it was. 

Gosse Bluff from the lookout

About 25km from Kings Canyon, just as we were starting to think about a cold drink and maybe a swim, but certainly the sunset we were stopped by – you guessed it, the scourge of the Bruce Highway the lollipop man. Here we were in the middle of Australia and still we could not escape the roadworkers.

Elizabeth under a great ghost gum on Kings Canyon walk

The next day we were up reasonably early (by NT standards) to go out on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk which was simply breathtaking. The start of the walk is a fair climb of about 100m and it can be a little warm in parts but it was amazing. You walk the northern face of the canyon and then cross the canyon at the ‘Garden of Eden’ where you go down to the floor and then walk the southern rim back to the carpark. Stunning views of the cliff faces where Stephen battled his fear of heights.

View of the northern face looking back to where the other photo was taken

View to the southern face of Kings Canyon

A refreshing dip in the resort swimming pool (also very chilly but at least we went for a swim) before a lazy afternoon reading and resting in the shade before checking out the spectacular sunset again.

So yes shaken but certainly not stirred as we are very relaxed and enjoying every moment. 

Love to all

S & E