Ormiston Gorge

from Jeanette - We headed off early to explore Ormiston Gorge.  Ormiston Gorge did not disappoint us.  We started walking up this very steep ascent to then walk around the top of it.  We got to the lookout and it looked down on the waterholes below and the cliffs that make up the gorge itself.  This place was truly magical.  Ross and I had a lovely time exploring this Gorge but also noticing some birds we hadn't seen before.  I spotted a Misletoe Bird straight away and he seemed to follow us a bit on the walk.  He was beautiful.  After that when we were on the way back we noticed a little blue bird flitting around the ground and discovered it to be another  Variegated Fairy Wren.  He was a very pretty little boy.  After Orimiston Gorge we ventured on back to Glen Helen Resort.  We had time to kill.  Glen Helen offers helicopter rides so we thought that it would be a good idea to view Glen Helen Gorge and the Ormiston Gorge by air.  This trip was fantastic.  It didn't go very long but we enjoyed it just the same.  We have really enjoyed our stay in the West MacDonnell Ranges.  I'll let Ross put up some photos for you to view.

RB--Yes Ormiston was great, it was very smelly though, lots of dead fish!   Apparently its a normal thing when the rains stop and the waters warm up.  lots of birds feeding on the fish and a dingo walking along the edge eating fish he could get, much to the delight of many overseas tourists.  We didn't find Breaden creek as its a fair up up ormiston creek and not really accessible.

 The chopper ride takes us through Glen Helen gorge into Hidden Valley beyond, really nice.  Got a good look over the finke river.  Its said to be one of the oldest river systems in the world that hasn't changed its course since its begining.  I think its about 800 km long and also unique in that it does not run in to either the ocean or a lake but empties into the Simpson Desert and in to the Great Artesian Basin

The elevation of the chopper shows the wonderful formation of the Ranges

Glen Helen in the foreground and the gorge behind it with the finke winding through it.  We have really enjoyed our time in the West (and E) MacDonnell Ranges, definitely worth a visit.  Now time to re-fuel, re-stock and head south.