To ride through the West MacDonnell Ranges is to travel in a landscape created before time began
Mountains and rivers formed over 300 million years ago.
What an experience to camp beside and swim in the oldest river in the world.
Ormiston Gorge at sunrise is a spectacular site from the Ghost Gum Lookout
The colours changing on the red rocks as the sun rose
The recent rains had filled the gorge with flowing water
So much water that on the Ormiston Gorge Pound Walk at one crossing it was strip off and carry packs high across the creek
But from this small inconvenience was worth it as the views from the walk were just beautiful
Ocre is prized by Aboriginal Australians for a range of purposes but primarily rock and body painting.
The Ocre pits here have provided this precious colouring for millennia
Gaps and chasms fill the length of the ranges.
Some of the creeks that run through then provide big swimming holes.
Like the Ellery Creek Big Hole
Or are a trickle that over the millennia have carved a chasm.
Tjoritja is vast and I visited only half of its amazing gorges. Maybe another visit is required