Our day exploring the
West MacDonnell Ranges takes us to the historic Hermannsburg precinct - a Lutheran mission that became the first town in
Central Australia and birthplace of Aboriginal watercolour artist Albert Namatjira; along corrugated 4WD-only roads stained a deep dusty red; and to the staggeringly beautiful Ormiston Gorge with its lookout and swimming hole. We leave early and return late, satisfied indeed with our day in the desert.
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| Inside one of the old mission buildings - this one a school house - at Hermannsburg. |
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| The red road that stretches through the range... and tells us beyond any doubt that we are in the heart of Australia. (We actually mark the middle point on our GPS, flagged forever more...) |
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| Climbing to the lookout at Ormiston Gorge. |
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| View into the Gorge from the lookout. Today we opt to do the short lookout climb before heading down for a swim in the waterhole - instead of tackling the full Gorge hike. It is a wise, kind move that brokers no complaints. |
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| Budge, Jack, Rikki and Benji over on the other side of the waterhole, the big boys having braved the very cold water to swim their way across, the two little 'uns walking up and around the side to avoid the chill. |
