Week 20

West Mac Ranges to Edith Falls

 We thought about staying at Curtin Springs but it was only a short drive from Yulara so we kept moving on. Mt. Connor was another formation higher than Uluru so we stopped like the rest of the traveller for a photo.

 

 

We stopped at the Elindara roadhouse for lunch and then used the free camp book to target somewhere to stay before Alice.

 

 Unfortunately the only spot we liked had a homeless/ unfriendly person setup there and we didn’t feel comfortable staying so we moved on all the way back to Alice springs. We had no need to stay in Alice so we made plans to go out to the West Mac ranges for the night.

 

West MacDonnell ranges 14th & 15th May

Well it got late and before we knew it, it was dark and still nowhere to stay the night.

Just before we high tailed it back to Alice, we found a 24hr rest stop, not one that was marked in the camps book. We couldn’t see much but we setup, ate and off to sleep after a very long day in the car.

It rained. And didn’t stop for over 30 hours… it was very cold and there was nothing but school work to do. It did clear up in by the second morning the place we stopped at, held a spectacular view of the ranges. It was very muddy and Guy carried everyone to the car…

Wycliffe Well 16th May

After our quick visit to the roadhouse here last week the kids wanted to stay for the night. It was a Big4 so we had a level of facilities expectations in mind. We were let down big time. The only thing great was a hot shower. This place was run down. We don’t know how they are still apart of the Big4 group. This has to be the worst caravan park we stayed at and the dirtiest, the washing machine’s damaged our clothes the dryer busted down as was trying to dry them, Rachel was extremely frustrated. Toilets were dirty and so were the showers.

The only thing good going for it was a heap of paraphernalia of UFO sightings and the painted murals.

Yeah… our advice is to visit the roadhouse but stay at Devils Marbles just up the road…

 New Castle Waters free camp 17th May

 New Castle Water was a next free camp spot for a night; it was a popular spot with over 15 vans fitted in. It was a great spot for an overnight rest after a long day of driving. The only problems are the fly’s and the truck drivers that tooted the horns in the middle of the night. To fill in some time in the late arvo Amity walked around to the campers selling her cards, she made about $20.00 not bad!!

We stopped into the Larrimah Wayside Inn (Pink Roadhouse) the next day. The kids checked out the free zoo. Curtis was not sure about the Pink Panther….   

 

Edith Falls 18th & 19th May

Great free camp spot…. About an hour’s drive north of Katherine. We stayed here for 2 nights had intention of staying more but we needed the comfort of the air con at night…. The night didn’t get down below 26 and humid. By the end of day 2, Rachel was grumpy and tired.

We were only 100 metres away from the waterfall and the plunge pool so that’s where most of our time was spent, life is just too hard.

 

The kids had a go at dot painting, after buying supplies from the shops in Alice, (it was way too expensive at Uluru $75 an adult and $35 a child!) Zach and Amity were not happy as they had expectations of it being easy…..