On the recent long weekend we drove out to Palm Valley with our workmate Kazza for a second look and camping trip.
In the lead up to our weekend off the weather was predicted to be very cold, around zero to thirteen with drizzle. This is not great camping weather. Come Saturday morning, the sky was blue, the sun was out, the drizzle was no where to be seen. It was however, very cold. It is winter though, in the desert so this is to be expected.
There was even more water in the Finke river this time and there were a few fun crossings. The tracks out there were also a lot more worn by all the campers and there were a lot of deep sandy spots and the track was quite rough. We made it to camp though and found ourselves a quiet corner. The campsite was loaded with people, mostly oldies with heavily kitted out 4wd’s and trailers.
After setting up, we drove back out of the National park, which is not far, and collected ourselves a heap of firewood to keep the night a bit warmer. We got out the saw and cut up some good sized logs and filled the roof-rack with good old gum tree.
On the way back to camp we stopped and did the 2 hour, 5km Mpaara walk.
This takes you out the back of a large sandstone ridge and brings you to a lookout in front of the Amphitheatre. The views are stunning and reminded us of Monument valley in the US.
This is one of the best walks and views we have done in the NT and probably beats King Canyon.
The Corkwood Grevilleas are flowering at the moment, in winter.
Another great Ghost gum
The first palms we had seen on the trip – The red cabbage palm, found only in Finke Gorge National Park.
These light blue/white bushes contrast nicely with the bright red rock and blue skies.
The girls with the valley we had just climbed in the back.
The valley we walked up to get to the lookout.
Suddenly you come up to a lookout and see this.
Click on the photo to see a larger version, a beautiful view. We climbed down into this valley to get back.
No comments:
Post a Comment