2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Tues, 2nd July, 2024 Jon’s workplace, Alice Springs to Bluff Campground, Trephina Gorge Nature Park, NT (exploring East Macdonnell Ranges)

Didn’t get down to the forecasted 1 degree this morning, thank goodness. Only got to 7. Clear sky.

We packed up and loaded the camper back on. Steve found Jon’s boss, Viv and his son in the office and thanked them for allowing us to park up and use the shed.

We did some shopping. Tried to get some grog but they don’t open till Wednesday afternoons now and then only till Sat so will do that when we come back from exploring. Our Tassie friends will be heading over on the Spirit tonight so we will see them next Monday.

Wandered down Todd Mall - so many buildings with boarded up windows and lots of rubbish from the fireworks left on the ground by the Todd River. No ‘respect for country’ around here.

Drove out through Heavitree Gap. Sky all clear. Only enough room through here for two cars, the train and the wide sandy Todd River.

The showgrounds are full of all the carnival people for the show on Friday. Onto the Ross Highway which heads to Ross River Resort and the East Macdonnell Ranges. Across the wide sandy Todd River. Would have been great to see it with water from the rain last month.

A few homes then horse paddocks and some acreage blocks as we run parallel with the range.

Across Emily Creek with was dry and into the car park for Emily Gap. The breeze is still very cold. There is a walk from here to the next gap along the base of the range. We don’t have time so we will just drive there.

Plenty of water in the ‘pool’ so we can’t get across to the art work. Steve went looking for a track around but there was just a solid wall.

Big sloping rocks. Lots of budgies in the trees.

Continued on.

Into Jessie Gap. The name appeared on maps in 1870s by the surveyor but no history of where the name came from.

Interesting it says not to take photos of the rock art but the brochure has a photo of it!

Steve commented that we need signs like this on homes and businesses.

No water in this creek but it is moist on one edge. Walked along the sand to the fence. The art was on the other side and marked with a small fence. It is the same as on the brochure - long stripes but I was a good girl and didn’t take a photo!

Lynne had sent through info about two weird US helicopters coming to Alice Springs. I heard them but didn’t get out of the trees quick enough to photograph them going over the top of us. The sound echoed off the hills.

Had a cuppa. Reread my diary of our visit in 1986 and saw we have visited here. Will have to dig out the photos.

Across Emily Creek and continued on. Passed a turn off onto the Binns Track (section 2) which is the same as near Gemtree. Interesting hill shapes.

Off to the left is Mt Umdoolya (822m) and another gap in the hills. We can see some buildings so either a station or community.

Turned off onto a track for 1km drive to Corroboree Rock. Nice walk around it. Certainly is a different shape hill. Lots of spinifex. Didn’t see any Perentie but saw some holes freshly dug in the ground.

Onto narrow bitumen now passing a few cattle on the roadside.

Over Mt Benstead Creek which was dry and sandy. It continues on our right for a while.

Another 30km on we took the turn off for the 8km drive into Trephina Gorge. Winding our way through the hills and into the Nature Park and onto gravel road.

Stopped at the information hut which has been relocated here - hence the wrong spot marked on their map. They haven’t updated the camping info either as it is all online bookings. We never know where we want to pull up for the night so it’s a bit of a pain as there isn’t any phone reception here.

There is a rough track along to John Hayes Rockhole so won’t bother with that one.

Along a bit we turned off to check out a beautiful big Ghost Gum. Another one has seen better days. Lots of new ones growing well though.

Back out and across the wide sandy Trephina Creek.

Lots of interesting hills as we head down alongside the creek.

Across the creek again.

They must have got a bit more of the rain as there are some soft patches in the track.

The Bluff looks good in the afternoon sun.

Passed a couple of campgrounds and stopped at the picnic area. The young French couple we met at the fuel depot were here so we said hello. She had Optus and was able to get enough reception to book so offered her phone to me but then it went very slow. The camp host came back and she said the National Parks provides them with a tablet so people can use the wifi to book their sites. At least that is helpful. I managed to get a spot back in the Bluff Campground. They were full up here at the Gorge one and she said it would be quieter down there. As we will be inside with the heater going it won’t matter but at least we could camp as it is too cold now to go for a walk. She said to stay warm as the forecast is for -2 tomorrow morning!

Said bye to the young couple and drove back to the campground. Nice spot right by the river.