Rather than skip central Australia entirely, we thought we'd duck down from Tennant Creek, and spend a night at "The Marbles".
Tennant Creek was a bit heartbreaking...and we read that the camp at Karlu Karlu fills up by about 2pm, so we set out with plenty of time to spare.
It was really super to arrive at camp so early in the day, with only about 3 other vans there, set up and then just laze around. There was a gentle breeze blowing that made life pretty pleasant when lying in the shade. After choosing the best campsite available, we sat around reading, knitting, bird watching, playing Lego and generally not doing much until the sun sank a little lower in the sky and the grey nomads started to pour in. By 3pm there really weren't many options left, and there was some consternation over how one chap had parked his family's van diagonal early in the day taking up two spaces. Grumpy greys!
It was really super to arrive at camp so early in the day, with only about 3 other vans there, set up and then just laze around. There was a gentle breeze blowing that made life pretty pleasant when lying in the shade. After choosing the best campsite available, we sat around reading, knitting, bird watching, playing Lego and generally not doing much until the sun sank a little lower in the sky and the grey nomads started to pour in. By 3pm there really weren't many options left, and there was some consternation over how one chap had parked his family's van diagonal early in the day taking up two spaces. Grumpy greys!
As the sun started it's final dip, our family set out on a walk around the huge granite boulders, to see the colours change and take a few snaps.
We finished up on top of the highest point (Dom needed a little carry by Dad over the last bit after a small fall and a big fear rise!) a few minutes before the sun dropped below the horizon. It was all pretty special, despite a squabble or two amongst the children and grownups about who would get to the top first and how and why!
We finished up on top of the highest point (Dom needed a little carry by Dad over the last bit after a small fall and a big fear rise!) a few minutes before the sun dropped below the horizon. It was all pretty special, despite a squabble or two amongst the children and grownups about who would get to the top first and how and why!
We had an earlyish night and another earlyish morning (for Emma) to get some sunrise snaps. It was really quite hard to capture the size and immensity of those boulders.
Another relaxed exit that morning, including a wonderful hot shower each for the grownups as we only planned to travel about a couple of hundred km that day. The nomads and keen campers where out of there in record time so we got to enjoy a bit more quiet and even a dingo viewing (as he came to clean up the barbeques after the crowds had gone).
All up well worth the day out of our way!
Another relaxed exit that morning, including a wonderful hot shower each for the grownups as we only planned to travel about a couple of hundred km that day. The nomads and keen campers where out of there in record time so we got to enjoy a bit more quiet and even a dingo viewing (as he came to clean up the barbeques after the crowds had gone).
All up well worth the day out of our way!
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