Whilst I could drive to most of the sights in the West MacDonnell Ranges I decided to do a conducted tour. I love exploring on my own but sometimes it’s good to just sit back and enjoy the scenery from a passengers seat and not have to think about where I am going. The Tour Company picked us up about 7.30am and after that I just had to get on and off the bus as I was told to. It was a great Tour and a great day out, arriving back in Alice Springs just after 5pm. Pretty good value at $155 per person. The bus was close to but not quite full.
First stop was The Rev John Flynn Memorial Cairn followed by Simpsons Gap, Ormiston Gorge, Mount Sonder, Ochre Pits, Standley Chasm and finally Ellery Creek Big Waterhole. We had 2 opportunities in the afternoon to cool off with a swim. This was most refreshing as the afternoon temperatures soared. A total of 10 hours for a tour that was excellent value. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to cover so much terrain in that time under my own steam.
It’s hard to pick a highlight from the day. Each place was special in its own way. Perhaps Simpsons Gap was the specky one with the morning sun glowing over the rock face.
There were a couple of other places on the southern side of the range that I didn’t get to so will look at calling in there on my way back south.
rayaroundoz 