We sorely wanted to see one more WHS and National Park in the Red Center - Kings Canyon aka Watarrka National Park. But it was 400 km out of the way on unsealed (unpaved) 4 wheel drive road. Distances are vast in central Australia and this last day here had a "hard stop"; a 6:00 pm departure on The Ghan, the historic train from Adelaide to Darwin. A flat tire or washed out road and we are stuck in Alice Springs for three more days - not a risk to take. So we drove back to Alice Springs the way we came. After lunch we squeezed in a lovey short hike up the Stanley Canyon in the MacDonald range, only a half hour east of town. Of course we had to stretch it by doing a side trip up the canyon walls.
End of Stanley Canyon
Hike up to top of cliff over looking Canyon.
We booked the train to try again whether reality could match our romantic vision, but this time our heart-throb is a week-long, trans-continental train ride across Siberia or India. The Ghan from Alice Springs to Darwin would be a 24 hour test. The Ghan (not pronounced Gaaahn, but Gann) was named after the the Afghanistan camel herders (get it - see logo) who transported the supplies to Alice Springs and cattle stations before the train was completed. The camels were released or escaped and now are ferrel in the outback.
The Ghan - note the logo.
After being scheduled each day for almost two weeks, we felt this leisurely transport would be a treat. Robin could catch up on work (her treat, not mine) and I'd read, write the blog, and sample the beverage cart (Robin did her share too). I booked a private cabin with ensuite WC, shower, and stacking twin beds so we could be rocked to sleep. The cabin includes a private dining car, full complement bar/lounge car, and a supplementary excursion in Katherine, another World Heritage Site, shortly before arriving in Darwin.
Robin in our Cabin with beverage. The seatback and panel above fold down into twin beds.
The Ghan was run efficiently by young men and women. They checked if you needed anything, confirmed your dinner reservations, and advised on supplementary excursion during the stop-over in Katherine. Each meal you share a four-top and we had delightful companions for our three settings. The first night we closed down the dining car lost in conversation.
Friday, 6 June 2014
For our tour we selected the river cruise of Katherine Gorge - another WHS. This gorge is also composed of - guess it now - sedimentary sandstone. However, instead of plate tectonics tilting it, it pushed it up. Visualise cutting criss-crosses in a mango half, then pushing it up from the bottom. All the cuts rise and spread apart. That's the gorges, now filled with rivers.
Next Post: Surprise in Darwin
So, you ride a camel -- again! Sounds like a very pleasant ride with all the amenities one could want: good sleep, scenery to enjoy, good dinner company, and fine food. River cruise -- a good way to see another perspective. Love all the sandstone throughout. Making good use of your time!
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