Photos from the Real AUSTRALIA

Along Namatjira Drive in Central Australia

Following the Larapinta Drive west from Alice Springs, the road forks after 47 kilometres; whereas the left turn goes towards Hermannsburg, the right turn is named Namatjira Drive from here. It is named after Albert Namatjira, a Western Arrarnta man who was born at Hermannsburg Mission in 1902 and who was the first Aboriginal painter who used the "European" way of painting his country. Having been given watercolours as a young man, he immortalised the beauty of his country in countless paintings. And it is precisely the kind of landscape that inspired him that can be seen along the road that now bears his name.

The road runs along the southern boundary of the West MacDonell National Park and features lush parkland and water holes, like Ellery Creek Big Hole Nature Park and Serpentine Gorge, with clear cool water and plenty of shade. Further west, beneath Mount Giles (1300 m) the Ochre Pits, where from time immemorial Aboriginal people obtained red and yellow ochres to be used in their ceremonies, can be visited. Bands of ochre can be clearly seen in the rocks. Further on, about 130 km from Alice Springs, is impressive Ormiston Gorge, where a great walk can be made to Ormiston Pound and back through the gorge. Experienced bushwalkers could hike to Mount Giles, with fantastic views from there.

Not far from there is Glen Helen Gorge where the Finke River (known locally as "Larapinta" or serpent) flows into a deep, permanent waterhole. There are interesting rock formations behind the gorge and there is a Resort here, complete with motel, restaurant, camping facilities and even helicopter flights. And about 20 km further on, along a dirt road, is Redbank Gorge, with a permanent water hole a 20 minute walk up the rocky creek bed. It is a very narrow gorge with cold clear waters among towering red cliffs.

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