Adventure #5

Uluru & Kata Tjuta (Olgas) to Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon)

Spent the next three nights at the Curtin Springs campground and bumped into a friend fom St Georges Basin back home. It really is a small world. I attemped to remove some of the red dust in the bus although I knew it would soon be back. Another wonderful campfire and a night of singing and listening to the Camel man recite some outback poetry.

A bit of drama on the Luritja hwy where we unfortunately blew a rear tyre. With a bit of effort we were at last on our way again. We then arrived at the Watarrka Ranger Station to do some volunteer work in exchange for a place to stay. Water, power and showers were great to have and the Rangers were a fantastic group of people to stay with. Very friendly and dedicated to their work.

Watarrka National Park encompasses the Kings Canyon area which is situated approximately 400 kilometres west of Alice Springs by bitumen road. There are slightly shorter gravel roads but we were advised that they were not suitable for our vehicle. We stayed for two weeks at the Ranger Station as participants in the NT Parks Volunteer Program. In exchange for a place to park, electricity, water and showers we assisted the Rangers with daily routines as well as anything that we felt we could do that would be of help. We found that we enjoyed learning about life as a Park Ranger and felt our work was beneficial. We would recommend this program to anyone if the opportunity arose. Below are some some examples of our time in Watarrka National Park.

Our thanks to Terry and his team of Rangers.

Image of Watarrka Ranger sign, NT.

The family making "Camel Cans" at Watarrka National Park, NT.

 

Image of boundary track at Watarrka National Park, NT.

On a few occasions we all sat and twisted wire into the tops of drink cans. These get used as a deterent against camels getting into the National park by tying them onto the boundary fences. The reflection and noise of the cans seem to do the trick. This was a family activity never to be forgotten.

Went on the Kings canyon "Rim walk" to learn some of the patrol routines. Checking emergency radio boxes, cleaning signs, rubbish removal and checking first aid supplies. During this walk the Ranger was also doing a second measure of the walk for added distance markers. To do this she pushed along a trundle wheel for accuracy. Suddenly from behind us a concerned voice said to the Ranger, "Oh I thought you were blind" ...Can you imagine a blind Ranger patrolling the cliff edges?

Romaine on the Rim Walk at Watarrka, NT.

At the end of the Katherine Springs Walk at Watarrka, NT

Raymond, Melissa and Sarah enjoyed the "Kathleen Springs walk guided by a Ranger. He pointed out many plants such as the little Wooley butt grass Ghost and River red gums and the Watarrka tree. The highlight was the waterhole with the beautiful creeping swamp fern, found nowhere else in the world.

A Mala feeding at Watarrka, NT.

Watarrka Rangers have a wonderful breeding program in place for Mala (Rufous hare wallaby). The intention is to eventally release them, hopefully into feral free areas.