The old Telegraph Station at Alice Springs in the Northern Territory can be found just north of Alice Spring where guided tours are offered which will explain what the people endured so many years ago to establish and maintain communication in the vast outback of Australia.

Ormiston Gorge.

Ormiston Gorge forms part of the West MacDonnell Range in the southern parts of the Northern Territory of Australia and is located 135 km west of Alice Springs via the Larapinta and Namatjira Drives.

The gorge has a near permanent waterhole estimated to be up to 14 metres deep at its southern end. The area is accessible all year round with its own camping ground and toilets for visitors to use.

Uluru

Uluru sometimes called Eyers Rock, is located 440 km south west of Alice Springs at the bottom of the Northern Territory in the centre of Australia. The country side is flat for miles around with the exception of Uluru which can be seen from far away.

There is a good sealed road for motorist to use to visit the attraction, there is a large commercial airport based at Yulara Resort. Many tour operators run from Alice Springs to Yulara on a daily basis offering an array of tours to those who don't want to drive themselves. Entry permits are required to visit the area and are available at Yulara.

Chamber's Pillar.

Chamber's Pillar can be found in a 340 hectare Reserve 160 km south of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. The road into Chamber's Pillar is unsealed and can be closed after heavy rains in the area.

The Pillar towers 50 metres above the surrounding plain and history has it recorded that sandstone deposits were laid down in the area 350 million years ago. Since then wind and rain have eroded away the softer material, leaving this solitary column of pebbly sandstone.

Sharing the Road.

When traveling north from Port Augusta in South Australia through to Darwin in the Northern Territory, these two road users share the same highways.

The large triple road train rolls along at speed up to 100 km per hour while the smaller 4WD & caravan will move along at speeds averaging approximately 90 km per hour. Most with common 2 way radio communication share the roads in harmony.

Traphina Gorge

Traphina Gorge is part of the East MacDonnell Ranges and is 85 km east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. While the East MacDonnell Ranges isn't visited like the West MacDonnell Range is, it still offers some very nice scenery.

Traphina Gorge is noted for its sheer quartzite cliffs and River Red Gum lined watercourses and offerers wide sandy creek beds with some water holes if you are there at the right time. The waterhole in this photo was home to hundreds if not thousands of Zebra Finches which would fly away if disturbed only to return back near the water soon after.

Rainbow Valley

Rainbow Valley is located to the east of Stuarts Well in the centre of Australia up in the Northern Territory. Whilst the 22 kms of dirt between the main road and the valley can be very rough, the drive in is well worth it particularly if you are able to witness a sunset.

Many people as we did use Stuarts Well as a base camp if visiting the area. The area in the foreground of this photo sometimes fills with water after heavy rains and offers some very magnificent water reflections, it is just a pity that it is so far away from home.

Sand Hills

After being away for several weeks, we are back with lots of photos that have been taken between Port Augusta in South Australia to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.













These two were taken near Yulara in the Northern Territory and show how red the sand is in that region.

It depends on the time of the day as to how red the sand will appear. The sky will also change it's blue to a very deep and amazing colour.

Palm Valley.

Palm Valley is 138 kilometres west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and forms part of the 46,000 hectares Finke Gorge National Park.

Access to Palm Valley is by high clearance four wheel drive vehicle only along the road which follows the Finke River bed.











There is a campground at Palm Valley for overnight visitors to use before they take the walk through the centre of the Cabbage Palm river bed and returning via the top section which gives you an excellent view of the Palms from high up.

Ormiston Gorge.

Ormiston Gorge forms part of the West MacDonell Ranges out from Alice Springs in the centre of Australia and has a near-permanent waterhole, estimated to be up to 14m deep at its southern end.














As well as the beauty of this location, there is also a well maintained camping area near Ormiston Gorge which allows it's visitors plenty of time to enjoy the area.

Redbank Gorge.

Redbank Gorge forms part of the West MacDonell Ranges out from Alice Springs in the centre of Australia.













We were unaware of this Gorge until we spotted the sign post leading into the Gorge and as such did not realize at the time that there was approximately a twenty minute walk to reach the main water pool in the Gorge. The water seen here is what has remained after some recent rain in the area.

Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ellery Creek Big Hole is located 90 kilometers west of Alice Springs in the West MacDonell Ranges along Namatjira Drive.

Like all of the gorge areas in the West MacDonell Ranges, there are walking trails that can be enjoyed by the tourist while visiting the area.













Once the walk has been completed if that is your thing, there is ample shade to rest under while one enjoys a picnic. The water pool at Ellery Creek Big Hole is permanent and swimming is permitted.

Stanley Chasm.

Stanley Chasm is a part of the West MacDonell Ranges which can be found 30 kilometers to the west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

The most impressive time of the day to visit this area is when the midday sun is high above allowing the sun rays to light up the red walls of the chasm.

There is a car park and cafe at the entrance to the area and once leaving here, it is a short 20 minute easy walk to reach the chasm.

We found this plant growing on the side of one of the chasm walls. It would have to be one of the most drought tolerant plants alive to survive on minimal dirt on a stone face.

The Olgas.

Kata Tjuta, better known as the Olgas, are only 30 kilometres on from Yulara and Ayers Rock in the southern part of the Northern Territory.

The Olgas are made up of some 36 rounded domes with the tallest one being called Mt. Olga which is a taller than Ayers Rock.

Because there are so many domes that make up the Olgas and unlike Ayers Rock, visitors can walk through the centre of the Olgas on several walking trails. No trip to Ayers Rock is complete unless you visit the Olgas as well.

Ayres Rock.

Ayers Rock is located in the lower part of the Northern Territory some 280 miles or 450 kilometres southwest of Alice Springs and is the world's largest monolith.

These two photos were both taken from the same viewing station at different times of the day. This particular one was taken during the middle of the afternoon while the photo below was during the very late afternoon.

The viewing area that they were taken from is called the "Sunset viewing Area". When we were there on this day, we were totally amazed how the tourist behaved to try to capture what they thought was going to be a good photo of the rock.




As the setting sun goes down, the rock becomes a photographers paradise with the changing colours. For a while, the rock starts to glow red as the sun sets in the western sky.

This particular photo was taken while there was still some light shining on the top half of the rock creating the red effect. After seeing this spectacle during a good sunset, the next thing to see would be the water running off of it during a thunderstorm.

Sails in the Desert.

Imagine that you have been wondering the outback of Australia for a week, your body was drained of all fluids that there was nothing left in your body to create sweat. Suddenly you looked up and found what you see in the photo.

You would have to think that you had died and gone to heaven.

Never in their wildest dreams could those early explorers have imagined such comfort, such luxury, right in the heart of the outback.






This outstanding place is called "Sails in the Desert Hotel" which makes up part of the Yulara Resort which can be found in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The area is approximately located in the middle of Australia and slightly to the left. It is easily accessed by road or air and is well known for being the overnight accommodation area when visiting the world famous Ayers Rock.