Ellery Creek Big Hole: Chilly Dip

We checked out Glen Helen Goerge and Resort just a short distance west of Ormiston Gorge. The Namatjira Restaurant at the resort is award-winning, and the view of the MacDonnell Ranges must be part of that.

Heading back towards Alice Springs, we saw some ochre pits where local Aboriginals sourced their ochre for body painting and medicine. A short visit to Serpentine Gorge, then to our final destination for the day - Ellery Creek Big Hole.

We took the plunge and went for a swim in the frigid water of the rock pool. We only lasted less than a minute each - it took our breath away. As there are no showers here it doubled as our daily wash too. Later when most of the noisy day trippers had gone, we went back to the waterhole to sit and have a quiet beer with the birdlife.