We left Alice Springs heading along the Ross Highway to explore the east side of the MacDonnell Ranges. Our first stop was Emily Gap which was a large empty gorge with some Aboriginal Rock Art depicting the story of three caterpillars which have huge spiritual significance in this area.

We moved onto Jessie Gap which was very similar and with similar rock art. We are requested by the elders not to photograph the rock art.  These gorges were stunning especially with the sun reflecting off them.

Our third stop was at Corroboree Rock, which we walked around. The gorges and rock formations are quite something,  going back millions of years. Of course, they all have spiritual significance to the First Nations People and all have dreamtime stories attached to them. We felt so blessed to be here looking at them.

Along the track we came across an old ghost gum tree, over 300 years old. It was quite spectacular and I couldn’t help but hug it. This beautiful tree was standing proud in the middle of the desert. Amazing.

We considered camping at the gorgeous bush camps at Trephina Gorge National Park but it was still morning and 43 degrees. Instead we kept going heading for the Hale River Homestead at Old Ambalindum which we knew had some powered sites. We didn’t, however, realise it was a good couple of hours’ drive along a 4wd track. We finally arrived to discover both safety chains, attaching the caravan to the car, were trailing on the ground and both D shackles were gone!

This camping ground is lovely and well set up for groups and events with a bar, a lap pool and lots of areas to sit around the campfire. It is in fact a “very small” cattle station, just 60 sq km.  Being mid October, they were winding down to close for the wet season and we were the only campers there. The bar and food were finished but it didn’t matter as our fridge was full. We actually enjoyed the peace and quiet.

As we sat outside the van watching the sun set behind a windmill we almost had to pinch ourselves. Here we were, glass of red in hand, camping on a cattle station in the centre of Australia.  How lucky we are.