Palm Valley (May 9-12)

After a cold and sleepless night at the Erldunda Roadhouse listening to road trains rolling down the highway and noisy backpackers we were again on the road by 7am heading into Alice Springs to get a new tyre and restock with food, fuel and water.  Our intention was to then head out on the Tanami Track.  After a family discussion we decided we were all (especially Jac) a bit over the early mornings and long days in the car and needed some rest.  Palm Valley here we come – the advantage of having no set plans.

We have seen a lifetimes worth of Wedge-tailed eagles so far, they are so magnificent and one advantage of travelling earlier in the day is you see them feeding on roadkill. This morning we saw 5 on a kangaroo carcass, absolutely magic to watch.  Passed a Parks and Wildlife planned burn and saw 20 eagles circling not far above the ground.  What a sight!  

The boys (all 3) desire for some ‘real’ 4WDing has brought us down the Finke River to Palm Valley.  4WD’s only.  The campground is amazing (flushing toilets and solar showers) and only $15 a night.  Palm Valley is known for its Red Cabbage Palms which are 200-300 years old and only grow in this valley.  They grow side by side with the Ghost Gums.  Fell asleep listening to the sounds of dingoes howling.

Sunday morning dawned, another cold morning with the promise of blue sky and sunshine (again!).  Drove the 4km along the 4x4 track into Palm Valley and happened upon a free guided Ranger walk which was supposed to be 45 minutes but ended up being 2 ½ hours along the Arankaia (2km) and Mpulungkinya Walks (5km).  Incredibly informative, all about the palms, indigenous history and stories, flooding, animals, reptiles, insects and birds.  A nice way to spend Mothers’ Day along with the earrings the boys had hidden away as gifts for me.

 

Watched the sun go down from Kalarranga Lookout, the colours of the rocks are just magnificent.

 

The next morning after a sleep in and bacon and egg breakfast we lazed around in the now empty campground – so peaceful.  Ash tinkered on the car, the boys whittled sticks into knives and spears and I just relaxed.  Late afternoon we headed off on the Mpaara Walk (5km) through the rocky escarpments and to Kalarranga Lookout to again watch the deep red colours on the rocks with the setting sun.

 

 

 

Tomorrow we head back into Alice Springs to fill up with fuel and water and a few supplies.  It is with some trepidation we proceed to the next stage of our journey.  900km of dirt road - corrugations, ruts and bulldust (sand) across the Tanami Desert.