Our next big sight was Kings Canyon. It starts with a terrifying walk up a ridge line.

At the top there is a great view of the plain around.

You then walk through these amazing structures that change at different places, some are like beehives, others like wind carvings.

You get these views of the other cliffs with interesting “swiss cheese” erosions.

Depressingly, half way through the walk you come on a deep chasm you need to climb into and then our the other side – at that point of the work, every contour line is precious!

The walk was very unusual because it rained gently thoughout. As Carmel quipped “How many people have seen Kings Canyon in the wet!”

However, Ash did not mind and enjoyed the various shapes to explore

As did I

The most depressing part of the visit though was the diesel prices!

Our first long stop in Northern Territory was at Glen Helen Gorge. This place is 130 km west of Alice Springs. It sounds a long way, but we drove to Alice and back twice while we stayed there!

The camp site is at the base of a beautiful cliff – all vertical strata. You can walk down to the gorge but there is a deep pool keeping us from travelling through. I had intended to use our canoes to travel through, but there was no point – it was a small pool.

As you can tell, Carmel and Ash did a tour of the gorge from the air.

Dog and I felt like the doctors from M*A*S*H having to run to a dusty hill top when we came back to greet the travellers.

Other airborne residents were very friendly.

After crossing into Northern Territory, we reached the northern most point of our tour, just east of Tennant Creek, and then we turn for home, but stopped to walk around Karla Karla. (Well, poor dog had to stay in the car – he will not see much of the sights of NT alas.)

The walk around the stones is most pleasant, and quite astonishing. There are rocky outcrops all over the NT, but for some reason only here are large, nearly spherical boulders formed.

When you get close, you cannot see how it is happening, but you can see daylight as a new boulder separates from the base rock.

Ash enjoyed the climbing opportunities the boulders offered.

Even Carmel allowed me to take a photo of her.