Enjoying a Re-Finke

Continuing our exploration into the West McDonnell ranges, we took an off-road drive following the Hugh River into Owen Springs Reserve where the old technology of the late 1800s homestead contrasted with the new technology of the wifi hotspot right next to it. 

From there, we went to Gosse Bluff via a red dirt road lined with scenic blackboy plants and spinifex. 

The road finishes at the site where a comet crashed into the earth and formed a crater 5kms in diameter. A climb to a windswept lookout reveals the crater bed far below. 

Next, we took another rugged 4wd track following the mostly dry course of the Finke River, known as the oldest river in the world. 

 

The delightful drive follows sand stretches, river stone sections, past horses drinking at pools, to a lovely, shady campsite beside the river at Palm Valley.

In the early morning I woke with the feeling I’d just heard a noise. Suddenly, a dingo howled close by, then howled twice more.

Bright and early, we attempted to drive the last 4 kms further into Palm Valley, but had to call it quits when we started scraping on massive washouts and deep holes. The sign that said allow 45 minutes for 4km wasn’t joking. 

As ever, a silver lining to our failure to proceed was when we stopped on the return trip to don our trusty facenets against the friendly squadrons of flies and hike the Kalarranga circuit which climbs to a dramatic lookout with views into the valley and an interesting bowl in the rock. 

Driving back, we came across a fabulous sand monitor standing on the road with his head erect. 

The riverbed scenery included mud spots where the earth had flaked into massive mosaics.