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Ormiston Gorge and Pound

Ormiston Gorge and Pound is situated 135 km west of Alice Springs, on a good sealed road all the way. Camping is available, with hot showers! - I intended staying a night but was there for four.

This would have to be the pick of the attractions that I've been to in this area. It has towering red cliffs overlooking a near-permanent waterhole. Unfortunately the sun didn't shine on the cliffs - perhaps it would in mid-summer - but the reflections of the cliffs and rocks in the water provide fantastic photo opportunities, as do the white ghost gums against the red background.

There are three short walks, starting with the easy five-minute walk to the waterhole. There's also a 2.4 km, 1.5 hours ghost gum walk to a lookout with a large ghost gum and views of the gorge, then down to the gorge and past the waterhole back to the camping ground. Then there's the pound walk - a very enjoyable walk of 7.5 km, supposedly taking 3-4 hours (it took me 5.5, but I walk slowly and stop to take lots of photos!), meandering along scenic slopes, up to a lookout with fantastic views over the pound, then across the flat floor of the pound and returning to the camping ground through the gorge and past the main waterhole. There are also longer, overnight walks.

Click on any thumbnail for a larger image.

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