Alice Springs

Hi Stephen,

It is my first time, I want to see everything but really only have the 5 days in Alice its self. Am trying to work out my best plan of attack to see as much as I can in that 5 days.
The heat doesn't worry me, in fact I've timed it so that it's nearing the end of summer, this way the crowds are down as I've heard Alice can be quite packed with tourists in the dry season, plus I really want to photography a lot of wildlife this time, namely reptiles. I did the Simpson Desert in June / July 2008 and quite frankly we saw nothing in the way of wildlife, not even a camel that time around!
I'm thinking the majority of Alice is sealed road so if it rains it wont be the end of the world.

Thanks Alan!
Just had a look at the Gosses Bluff link and its on route so will definately check it out, thanks again for the feed back.

A2.

Drive to Uluru take photos of Uluru at sunset, camp. Wakeup take photo's of Kata Tjuta at sunrise then head straight off for Kings Canyon that morning.

Also for Chambers Pillar I am driving my Nissan Navara ST-X, Ironman lift, BF Goodrich AT's, I'll be ok. Have taken her through the Simpson.
Chambers is a 4 to 5 hour around trip from Alice to Chambers & back so that will be one day on it's own.

Best of luck A2 with your plan but you will be pushing the boundaries to get through all that within that time frame. I spent 3 days at Uluru and two at Kings Canyon, took quite a few excellent shots but my wife was severely affected by the 43C temp and I didn't get to do the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon. For the same reason I didn't do the climb and only drove around the rock, stopping at vantage points.

Getting the best vantage point for sunrise and sunset means you get in line with all the tourists unless you can plan your expedition with a bit of flexibility. I am going back on my own next time and it will take me seven days just to do those three places. Going on to Alice the back way from Kings Canyon to get other stuff along the way, then, I'd be thinking McDonnell Ranges. I admire your enthusiasm and I do hope you succeed. It sounds like you have a good plan but you gotta get that timing spot on, and these places are bigger than life when you get there. The Olgas in particular is a huge area and it's so easy to get your directions screwed up when you get in there.

I forgot to mention Mount Connor, I didn't know about that one either.

Happy Xmas and hopefully some nice white clouds

Thanks for the info Paul, I'm on my own for this trip!! Sounds like I will need to slightly tame my plan though from all this advice. I think I may have to drop one or two destinations and spend some more time at the ones I choose to see this time around.

A2.

Thanks for the advice, don't fancy testing the TJM Bullbar on a camel!!!

A2.

PS Chambers Pillar is a long trip with the final stretch being a rough track. Not a there and back in day situation. You still need to walk a few hundred metres to the Pillar itself.

Choose Rainbow Valley instead - close to Alice, and easy drive in on a dirt road and the softest coloured sandstone i have seen.

Unsealed roads are likely to be closed if it rains due to potential road damage.

Motherhen


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My planning for a 1 day trip out to Chambers Pillar was based on Exploroz.com's own trek notes? They say 160 odd Km's, Avg speed 62km/hr taking 2 1/2 hours one way. Tracks pretty good with a 2 1/2 star difficulity. (unless of course it rains)
I don't tow a camper, just 4x4 and camp gear.

just checked my travel log... we took:

Alice Springs->Chambers Pillar, 171kms, 3.5hrs, 93kph max, 48kph avg. Didn't record the trip back for some unexplainable reason!

We went out in the afternoon, camped (took photos), had sunrise (more photos) then went back into Alice, set up our camper (we had left it there in 'storage') in the van park and went out to Rainbow Valley for tea and sunset (and some more photos!). Drove back in the dark to our setup camper (there was method to our madness!)

Cheers, Nige

East Macdonells are in some ways better than the western half, and there are fewer people around. N'Dhala Gorge and Ruby Gap are great, and the loop drive taking in Gemtree, Cattlewater pass and Arltunga is a great drive, but need to allow a couple of days at a minimum to do it justice. There is so much to see around Alice that you will barely scratch the surface in 5 days. Dont try to do it all in that time. Pick out two or 3 places and spend a bit more time at them to really get the feel of this special country.

Val.

We agree with John and Val that the East Macs hold more of interest than the West - although this does not in any way discredit what the West Macs have to offer. The East is softer in colour, and has different types of features. We based ourselves for a few days at Trephina Gorge, where there are a number of scenic walks. From this base went to Artlunga, taking a whole day in the very well presented historical mining area. We didn't even get as far a Ruby Gap. Another day was taken up in N'Dhala, and driving a little further south along the Ross River.

Mh

We just returned from melbourne to alice, spent 4 days in alice, 2 at kings canyon and 2 at yulara, all that talk of camels and not one to be seen, we had to take a phoro of one fenced in at the camel riding place at yalara for my daughter!

My advice, even two days at yulara and 2 at kings canyon were not enough. We felt rushed and didn't see enough.

Thanks D200Dug, unfortunately I'll have to split them so am thinking sunset Uluru then wake up and get Kata Tjuta at sunrise. If I leave Alice early I should get to Uluru around mid day so I can then stake out my spots at both Uluru & Kata Tjuta that day, then come sunrise hit Uluru. Wake up and head to my spot for Kata Tjuta and hit them at sunrise. Am basically driving all day every day with regular breaks and photo op's at every new spot.

Stake out my spots ??? How ? U do know that u cant actually camp o/nite at the rock itself or at the olgas dont u ?

Boy you really have to explain every word you use in this forum hey! By "Stake out" I refer to photography not camping! I am aware of the accommodation situation around Uluru thanks. Am also aware that there is designated photo sites. Was basically just try to say I would have to find out where those spots were the day before, no point stumbling around in the dark.

Stanley Chasm was of interest, but not as impressive as the very narrow Echidna Chasm at Purnululu in WA.

Mh

Motherhen, read the original message first...he IS NOT GOING to W.A....Just Alice Springs and it's surrounds...else I would've told him heaps of other places to visit.

Hey Dunco - Keep your hair on!

I never said he was - nor did he say whether he was or wasn't. Read the first post - he said he is doing a half lap of Oz - doesn't say which half, or where starting from or going to.

Mh

We debated giving Chambers Pillar a miss - as it is a long way, but we did have the time, so decided to go, and spent a night there. It was cloudy, and those waiting for the magic of sunset on the sandstone totally missed out. I took photos an hour earlier while the light was good, and the sun lit it up again at dawn. The Pillar is of historical importance, but Rainbow Valley has more photographic appeal. Both of course are very different.

Mh

Palm Valley is really worth the walk and the trp in is great!!!