Owen Springs

I wrote this Trek Note for ExplorOz a few years ago

Owen Springs Reserve

Hi Osters

We took the 4wd drive through Owen Springs reserve last year, but did not camp. There was nice camping opportunities along the sandy river bed in the cutting through the hills (Lawrence Gorge) - a very sandy section to drive through in the centre of the reserve. We did not notice the turn off to the Redbank Waterhole. No facilities at any campsite.

If you are looking for a campsite close to Alice Springs but not in town, and don't want top notch amenities, consider Temple Bar CP 8 kms from the Stuart Highway on the south side of Alice.Check it out on Badgers if you are interested.

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~badger04/

Motherhen

Camped at Redbank waterfall about 2 years ago, had the place all to ourselves. Its a lovely spot but showed signs of getting a fair bit of use. Not much firewood around. No facilities and only a tiny pool of water where the red tailed black cockies came in for their evening drink. The road in was very corrugated but with normal precautions should be OK to take a van in.

Val

We were there August last year and found camp spots at Owens Springs and Redbank Water hole but they were in the creek beds and I wouldn't recommend you try to drive into any of them with your off road caravan, They were very soft, the track is fine and you could ask the rangers near the old homestead where to camp but that is closer to the Hermannsberg Road.

Check out

http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/owensprings.html

You can download the fact sheet and the self drive .pdf files for further information about the reserve.

Rick P has pointed out that Redbank Waterhole is also very sandy. We would not have got through the loose sand of the Lawrence Gorge part of the track is we have been towing.

The Ranger station at the northern end of the reserve specifies for emergency contact only, however you could telephone the Parks and Wildlife office in Alice Springs - the contact details are on the .pdf documents from the link above.

Mh

I've camped there three times in recent years for the reasons you mention.

No problems with an offroad caravan. Its only about 8km off the Highway to where the camps start. Nice place. Do it.

Cheers
Phil