The West MacDonnell Ranges

We were heading out to spend the next five days camping at the Finke River, one hundred and thirty kilometres west of Alice Springs. The Finke two-mile campsite has no facilities, and you can camp close to the river on river rocks or further back under tall ghost gum trees.

It is also a popular destination for groups of much younger hikers than us, who are completing sections of the two-hundred-and-thirty-kilometre Larapinta Trail. While we've been here, there have been three to four-wheel-drive vehicles based at the site, towing trailers to support the walkers with food and their accommodation in tents and swags.

 

Each afternoon, when the walkers return to base, they head down to the river to cool off, wash away the day's grime and sweat, before being fed and then retiring early for the next day's walk. There are more gorges in the West Macs than on the Eastern side, such as Simpson Gap, Standley Chasm, Elery Creek Big Hole, Serpentine Gorge, Ormiston Gorge and Redbank Gorge.

On our drive back into Alice Springs, we agreed that we couldn't spend another night in the cramped and dusty National Road Transport Museum Campground.

So, we booked a powered site at the Alice Springs Tourist Park. It was our first powered site in just over three months. We were there to restock supplies and stayed for two days before setting off.