NT Trip Advice

Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2007 at 23:10
ThreadID: 44436 Views:3035 Replies:10 FollowUps:16
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Hi

Looking for some advice and must sees for a trip we are planning. We are looking to have a couple of weeks in and around Alice Springs around October this year.

This is our first trip to the area so we are looking to do all the normal tourist areas including, Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, Standley Chasm, the gorges and possibly Chambers Pillar.

Would appreciate any advice on places to stay, places that must be seen, things that must be done, things to watch out for etc. We are travelling from Adelaide and I anticipate taking a couple of days to get to Ayers Rock. Will probably take a couple of days at each location and another couple to return to Adelaide.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Steve
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Reply By: Muzzgit [WA] - Tuesday, Apr 17, 2007 at 23:48

Tuesday, Apr 17, 2007 at 23:48
Never been to any of those places but my advice is........ have fun.

The advice from others to "don't waste your time going there" or " I wouldn't stay there" are things that made someone elses holiday. That is, discover the area for yourself and figure out for yourself which parts of the NT you like.
AnswerID: 234121

Reply By: MATT DAY - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:11

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:11
We have been to NT 3 times and loved every minute & kilometre, each place has
its own charm and character. Enjoy and travel safe.
Cheers

Matt & Julie


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Reply By: Turist - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 07:03

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 07:03
Hi

We went to Alice for a week last year and thouroughly enjoyed it.

Use Google Earth to look at Ayres Rock (Uluru) to get an idea of the size of the rock before you go if possible. I found it awesome and unforgettable even though I did not climb it - through choice.

The telegraph stations through which all the messages including casualties in the First War got to reach us here in Australia.

Personally I found a day at the Desert Garden in Alice and a day out at Hermansberg mission should not be missed.

Enjoy
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 07:22

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 07:22
If you haven't been before, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and The Olgas are work a look.

Kings Canyon is one of the better tourist places to go to, the walk around the rim is excellent.

West McDonnell Ranges, where all the gorges and chasms are, needs time to explore fully.

Chambers Pillar, I can't vouch for. It was "shut" when we were up that way.
(Actually the track in was closed due to inclement weather)

The Wildlife Reserve at the Alice is also worthy of a days visit.
Bill


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Follow Up By: crackoflunch - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 10:48

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 10:48
Thanks for the responses.

Is the Wild life reserve and the Desert Garden the same place?

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Hairy - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 12:41

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 12:41
Its caled the Alice Springs Dersert Park
www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au
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Follow Up By: Hairy - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 12:43

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 12:43
Unless your thinking of the Olive Pink reserve which is a Flora reserve.
Both in town.
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Follow Up By: crackoflunch - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 12:46

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 12:46
Thanks for that. Will do some reading on both.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 14:28

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 14:28
The Desert Park is really worth while. Study the daily programme carefully and you should be able to 'do' each of the 'shows'. You may have a bit of walking between shows so figure out how you can be at the right place at the right time. The nocturnal house and the movie theatre will keep till the warmest part of the day when you want to be cooler or sitting down. The wild birds show is VERY popular. Wife & I were the only ones present for the 'Desert Tucker' presentation when I was there and we had a good discussion and sample session with the guides.
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Reply By: Willem - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 07:27

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 07:27
Google it!!!

Site Link
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Reply By: Oskar - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 08:21

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 08:21
Great place to visit (the whole of NT of course)
We were there in Sept/Oct last year and found the whole of NT a fantastic experience.
Kings Station near Kings Canyon was a good place to stay and great fun as they have stuff like camel rides and quad bike rides etc.
Kings Canyon was nothing short of spectacular and made even more so by the storm that dumped on us in full sunlight and sent run-off over the edge of the cliffs.
We found Standley Chasm a bit of a "tourist trap" and not really worth the $7 per person entry. Walk in .... OK .... walk out. (It's privately owned and tending commercial)
If you are travelling by 4X4 and are heading up towards Darwin I would recommend entering Litchfield by the southern 4X4 entry as there are some great swimming holes and very deep rock pools on the way. The Nat Park camping areas are quite good.
The lost city in Litchfield is an eerie place and worth the drive in (IMHO)
Also (if are heading up towards Darwin) the rocks and cave paintings at Ubir at the north-eastern corner of Kakadu is an amazing place at sunset.(Well worth the experience as the sun set over the wetlands and then drops below the horizon - quite moving actually) The Nat. Park camping ground is very good there.
If you can't get up to the northern areas this time make sure you get there at some stage.

Have fun
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Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 14:30

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 14:30
I agree with Oskar but would add that there are times when the camping areas at Litchfield are limited and may be full very early in the day. If you can select your camp area early and pitch tent or something to reserve your space.
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Follow Up By: crackoflunch - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 23:39

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 23:39
Thanks oskar.

I don;t think we will get that far up this time but maybe next.

What sort of temperatures and weather did you experience at that time of year.?

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Friday, Apr 20, 2007 at 16:39

Friday, Apr 20, 2007 at 16:39
Hi Crackoflunch.

Sep/Oct the temp is starting to get hot again, although a dry heat, with Nov bringing on the humidity.

If your driving up turn right at Kulgera and head towards Finke, Just short of Finke you will find a turn off that leads to Lamberts Centre of Oz, (geographical centre of Australia), you should be able to find it on a map.

You can camp there, Then travel on to Finke and follow the old Ghan railway up to Chambers Pillar, there is camping there but we found a great spot on the ridge you drive over on the way you can't miss it.

Then you could head up to Alice or you could head across to Rainbow Valley, I haven't done that yet.

Then once in Alice you could head west to Palm valley, via the west McDonald's and Goss Bluff take the mareeni loop road to Kings Canyon, then onto Uluru and the Olga's.

Hope this helps Steve.
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Reply By: Member - peter C (WA) - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 12:05

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 12:05
Agree with what's already been said. Give yourself enough time at King's Canyon to do the rim walk!
I also strongly recommend doing Cambers Pillar & Rainbow Valley - see the trek notes for Cahmbers Pillar. Did it as a day trip from Alice myself.
Palm Valley also interesting but maybe not worthwhile if you're heading up the highway to Mataranka - plenty more palms & water there.
Have a good trip.
AnswerID: 234196

Reply By: Oskar - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 08:24

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 08:24
Temps were quite good (I think) certainly not too hot.
It should be really nice out in the centre this year because of the good rains this year.
Last October we headed back to Bris via Mt Dare and across the Simpson which we found very different to our last trip across in 2004. Last time (2004) the desert was all wildflowers etc because of good rains earlier on in the year, but it was very windy, hot and dry in 2006.
Take as much time as you can to soak up the incredible environment out there.
AnswerID: 234403

Reply By: tasgareth - Friday, Apr 20, 2007 at 16:15

Friday, Apr 20, 2007 at 16:15
Hi Crackoflunch
A mate and I spent a couple of weeks in Centre September last year, not enough time, enjoyed it so much I am taking my wife back again this September / October and plan to spend at least two weeks around Alice Springs and working out from there for one or two overnighter's, Rainbow Valley, Chambers Pillar, Finke River Gorge, Palm Valley, the list goes on and on mate.
Remember to have a look around Coober Pedy.
Look at the ExploreOz treks link and see the Northern Territory treks. ExplorOz is a great place to start.
Google is great, I bought some maps from ExplorOz on the the areas I was interested in and studied them and found places of interest that I searched Google about, amazing the amount of info thats out there if you go a hunting.
Might see you on the road.
Have a safe and fantastic trip
Cheers
TasG
AnswerID: 234776

Follow Up By: crackoflunch - Friday, Apr 20, 2007 at 18:56

Friday, Apr 20, 2007 at 18:56
Thanks TasG

I am finding exploreoz great resource for heaps of different info including this thread. Will keep on researching thanks for your help. I think I will follow suit and buy some maps of the area. Might even stretch to a national Mapbook, just not sure which one.

Thanks to all those who have repleied and please keep sending ideas.

Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Prickle (SA) - Friday, Apr 20, 2007 at 21:40

Friday, Apr 20, 2007 at 21:40
Steve,
We did this trip last Aug/Sept (not Chambers Pillars), have some research etc (itinery out of Adelaide) which I am happy to forward to you.

Send me your email address and will fill a few gaps on my notes and send them on to you.

Regards
Russ


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Follow Up By: crackoflunch - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 10:32

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 10:32
Thanks RussB

Sent an e-mail.

Interested to hear what the Palm Valley Road and the Chambers Pillar roads are like for towing in an O'Brien camping trailer. They recommend no towing but sometimes this is aimed at Vans.

Cheers

Steve
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Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 11:39

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 11:39
Hey Steve.

We towed a trailer all the way to Chambers Pillar with no drama's, and from memory the the road to Palm Valley is no worse.

In fact the photo on my rig, is on the Old Ghan Track, the trailer weighed about 800/900 kgs, just be careful on that track, as we nearly came unstuck a couple of times.

You can get supplies at Maryvale station as well.

Cheers Steve.
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Follow Up By: crackoflunch - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 12:51

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 12:51
Thanks for the info Steve.

What was the main issue with the Ghan track.? I'm guessing wet from the pic.

Cheers

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Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 13:21

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 13:21
Yeah we got bogged once but got out easily, We also got airborne once as well, Car and trailer.

Driver error, we came around a corner and there were some whoopty doo's, well we hit the first one landed over the second one up the third one and over the forth one,
at one stage I lost site of the trailer, I thought it was coming over the top.

We stopped to check everything, to our amazement nothing was out of place, we noticed there were 2 divot's in the road, on further inspection found heaps of dirt up the draw bar.

Lesson learnt, slowed down a little and no more drama's.

Cheers Steve.
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Follow Up By: crackoflunch - Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 at 00:28

Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 at 00:28
Steve

Sounds like fun.

Any chance you are familiar with the Glen Helen and Ormiston Gorge camping facilities. We are trying to decide on which one to stay at when we do the western ranges.

cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 at 11:00

Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 at 11:00
From memory Ormiston Gorge was a 4wd track with a small camp area and limited facilities.

We only stopped and had a beer at Glen Helen, it seemed like a nice place.

Steve.
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Follow Up By: crackoflunch - Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 at 12:16

Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 at 12:16
Yeah, she WMBO has picked Glen Helen as well.

Looks like

Adelaide
Gendambo (O/night)
Marla (O/Night with some time at Coober Pedy on the way up, I wanted to do the Oodnadatta track but lost that one, maybe on the way home)
Yulara (3 nights)
Kings Canyon area (2 Nights)
Western MacDonnell area (2-3 nights)
Alice Springs area (3-2 nights) (Gem Tree, Chambers Pillar, Desert Park, Western ranges, so much to do)
Return (2 nights)

Not sure of way home yet. Whether we do Chambers Pillar as a day trip from Alice or whether we pass through on the return trip. May be able to talk them into the O Track.

Now to try and book those things that need booking and fill in the fun stuff for the kids like Camels, Quadbikes, Desert Park, etc. This one is a real tourist holiday, looking to see a fair bit in a short time, keep the kids on side for future trips.

Thanks for your help, any ideas on camp areas and caravan parks, all advice welcome.

Cheers

Steve
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