THURSDAY 17th MAY

We decided to head out to the West MacDonnell Ranges to see how it has changed since we were here last time.
First stop was Simpsons Gap. The drive out 25kms is amazing with the beautiful orange ranges on our left all the way.

Simpsons Gap

The rock gets redder as the sun comes over this is early in the morning.
The next stop was Standley Chasm another 25kms away.

This is a deep red chasm gouged out by a river over thousands of years. This aboriginal owned and looked after.

Huge tall walls very narrow glowing red

 Our next stop was Hermannsburg which is an old Lutheran Mission established in 1877. It is also the birthplace of Albert Namatjira and where he learnt his landscape water painting which is very different from traditional aboriginal paintings.

Some of the old buildings are in great shape and havebeen made in to a museum. Very interesting tannery which was started to employ the aborigines.

One of the old residences now a cafe interesting fence

You can't hide behind this fence!!!!

Loved this sign on the loo door!!!

Nev ringing the old church bell

This was a really interesting place with the best aboriginal art I have ever seen. A big day but lovely scenery on the drive.

The drive back to Alice Springs

Tonight we all went to the Desert Park for a nocturnal tour. We saw Mala, bilbies, and little rats all endangered at night with our headlamps on. then had a warm coffee and cake, it was a freezing night. Temperatures are 2 or 3 degrees at night.