Day 12 - Palm Valley to Redbank Gorge - Northern Territory

Day 12 - This day saw us continue on in Finke Gorge National Park to Palm Valley (or Mpulungkinya). Once again the only access was via 4WD tracks or one hell of a long walk. The track was more steep rocks than it was dirt. Good times.

Palm Valley is home to a diverse range of plant species many of which are rare and unique to the area, including the Red Cabbage Palm for which the Park is well known. The whole area used to be rainforest and now is mostly desert except for this little oasis.

We next ventured to West MacDonnell National Parks to the Ochre Pits. Ochre plays an important role in local Aboriginal culture. The ochre was produced from when the MacDonnell Ranges were no more than a floor of a massive inland sea. Aboriginals in this case the Western Arrernte used ochre in preporation of medicines, in religious ceremonys and for decoration. It is considered a “household” item. We camped for the night at Redbank Gorge – West MacDonnell National Park.

Into Palm Valley we go.

A view of the valley.

This is pretty cool. It is the evolution of the Australian continent.

A beautiful view of ancient palms.

More palms.

A lone Ghost Gum tree.

Beautiful colours of the ochre.

A view of the pits

Up close view of the ochre.

Our camp site at Redbank.