West MacDonnells NT

Greetings Motherhen

Sounds like you're back on track after your forced delays. Still you could be stuck somewhere that's not much fun.

We visited Giles Weather Station back in November 06. They launch a weather ballon each morning ( I think it's 9.00am) and make visitors most welcome with a tour of the facility. Check the times when you arrive at Warakurna. It can be confusing because they work on SA time. The 'caretaker' guy, Dave had been there for ages, and was vey hospitable and a wealth of knowledge. Phone 8956 7358.

We were also lucky enough to visit the community, and see a few special spots including Gerard Gorge, and the top of the hill up in the Rawlinson ranges behind the community.

Enjoy...
BobH

Hi Mrs Hen,

We did most of this in 2006. We stayed ay Glen Helen, had lunch at Gosse Bluff. You could possibly camp there, we just stopped for lunch. Stayed at Hermansburg in the 'lock-up' caravan park. Took the BT to Palm Valley & on advice left it at the car park, about 4km from Palm Valley. Would be a challenge to take the BT this last bit. There is also a camping area off the road before you get to the car park, but we didn't check it out.
Missed the Mereenie loop, a I was a bit unwell that day. Kings Canyon caravan park is owned by Voyagers Resorts, I if you have been to any of their facilities, the attitude of "them & Us" prevail, I believe they think caravans are a necessary evil. If we went there again, I would stay at Kings Creek Station on the way to Kings Canyon, much more freindly. On the GCR there is a nice bush camp just the other side of Docker River, set among Desert oaks.We stayed at each of the roadhouses on the GCR & found the last one Tjukayirla the best. (got the spelling from my coffee cup)

Enjoy the trip, would love to do it again

Neil

Hi Motherhen,

Glad to hear you are back on the road.

We are jealous and want to go back!!!

Enjoy.

Cheers

Allan and Sharon

Hi Jim and Judy, there is a great camp site listed in Camps Australia 4. It is called Neil Hargrave Lookout and is number 38 in the CA4 book. It is described as being 107km W of Alice Springs or 24km E of Glen Helen, 800m N of the highway. The turnoff signpost appeared to have been removed when we stayed there back in June (just the vertical post was still in evidence) but the lookout is up on top of a ridge and there is a Telstra phone tower just near the lookout on the top. The road exits on your left (if you are heading west) and turns fairly sharply uphill but it is not too steep for your outfit. There is a circular turn around up the top so you shouldn't have any trouble. From the top there is quite a spectacular view of the MacDonnells including Mt Sonder towards the west. The GPS coordinates are 23 45 05 S; 132 54 14 E.
Serpentine Gorge is worth a visit but parking at the car park is a bit tight; however, we managed to park by reversing into the bush just before the car park entrance.
Hope your trip continues to become more trouble-free.
We have just landed in Tom Price after spending time at Millstream and before heading into Karijini.
Cheers
John and Rose

G'day Motherhen,

There's a good free camp opposite Glen Helen Gorge called Three Mile. Go about 100m past the Glen Helen turnoff, track on right.........just don't drive into the loose sand areas,,,can be a bit soft.

Happy Travels.........Rob and Liz

Dear Motherhen,
we recently did the Mereenie Loop road [mid-July] in our other off-road van [Tvan - Landcruiser TD combination] and found it to have the worst corrugations that we have experienced this year. We have advised others to avoid this road if possible. We would be interested in how your BT handled it if you travelled this road.

Note - the road to Chambers Pillar is a doddle by comparison.

cheers

Searenity