The morning was spent doing the other major walk at Pam Valley the Mpaara walk. Another 5km loop around some amazing cliffs and intially next to the Finke river bed. We had the privilege of seeing close up a Black Footed Rock Wallaby on the first part of the trek perched high up on an impossible looking ledge. He hopped away after we managed to get a couple of shots off with the camera. He hopped down a really steep narrow ledge and disappeared never to be seem again.

We bypassed the aboriginal township of Hermannsburg on the way into Palm Valley a couple of days ago but we found ourselves short of cash for camping fees and decided to pop in and try our luck at the supermarket for some items and get some cash out if we could. Strange place and shop but we got what we came for and then did a lap of the township that we were alowed to see. Most streets had no entry signs and no photograph signs. There is an old historic mission here established in the 1870’s. Up on top of the hill is an impressive solar array that runs part of the town, the rest is diesel.

It was on this hill that we discovered there was mobile coverage so we broke out the laptop and the phone and uploaded a few days worth of blogs. A few phone calls later and we are on our way again. Lunch stop was at Gosse Bluff another sacred aboriginal site with no camping and plenty of warning signs. This is a large meteor crater and stands alone in the flat lands. There was a short walk up to a high point with a good view of the white rock rather than the more common red rock in the area. I discovered that one of the brackets on the bull bar was slightly loose here after a post lunch inspection. The bolts are 17mm and my small socket set did not have enough oomph to do it properly. I didn’t have a 17mm socket for the big bar I had. Nipped it up anyway, it’s not going anywhere.

Gosses Bluff

After Gosses Bluff we encountered some road works on the last 6km unsealed section of Namatjira drive before we hit Tylers Pass lookout. Tylers Pass was a great spot for views. High up between Gosses Bluff and the MacDonnells you can see it all from here. Gosses Bluff crater realy sticks out as does Mt Sonder that I am climbing tomorrow for the sunrise.

Gosses Crater from Tylers Lookout

Mt Sonder form Tylers Lookout

A short drive on and we reached our overnight destination Redbank Gorge top camping area. We have a fantastic view of Mt Sonder out our window. Reasonably early camp for us again so we got to watch another pink sunset on the slopes of Mt Sonder.

Mt Sonder sunset out the camper window

Mt Sonder Sunset