Awestruck by the beauty of Ormiston Gorge

Awestruck by the beauty of Ormiston Gorge

Sunday 22^nd – Tuesday 24^th October

Ormiston Gorge is very impressive – towering rich red quartzite rock, dotted with ghost gums, with large boulders aligning the dry creek bed and several swimming holes. It is just stunning. I've included lots of photos in the blog as there was just amazing, 'photo-worthy' scenery everywhere we looked, however, as good as some of the photos are, they still don't quite capture just how remarkable Ormiston Gorge is. We really enjoyed our time at this special place.

Whilst camping at Ormiston Gorge we:

• Did the 9km Ormiston Pound loop walk. Daniel and Emilia did it on the first morning as Jackson was unwell so I stayed back with him. The next morning Jackson felt better, so he came with Daniel and I. This walk is Daniel’s favourite walk so he was more than happy to do it two days in a row. Emilia and Daniel got a spectacular sunrise from the lookout, but it was too smoky and cloudy on the morning Jackson, Daniel and I went, however once the sun finally broke through the clouds it was stunning. The walk then takes you in the pound where the sheer size of everything is just breathtaking. The last part of the walk is along the dry creek bed, in between the soaring gorge walls.
• Walked to the Ghost Gum lookout, affording us stunning views over Ormiston Gorge and the surrounding ranges.
• Went to nearby Redbank Gorge, where Daniel and I did the short walk to see the swimming hole and narrow gorge walls at the end (Jackson was sick and Emilia was tired after her early morning walk).
• Had dinner down on the banks of the Finke River and watched the sunset through a smoky haze.
• Swam, relaxed and kept ourselves cool down at the waterhole.
• Watched the beautiful Major Mitchell cockatoos.

As we drove towards Ormiston Gorge we could Mt Sonder in the distance - the smoke haze made this photo look like an old watercolour painting.

Emilia and her favourite Ghost Gum at Ormiston waterhole

Enjoying the cool water at Ormiston Gorge

Looking out over Ormiston Gorge to the fires in the distance- they were several ranges away but the smoke was very visible, and it got thicker over the 2 days we were there.

The view from the Ghost Gum lookout when Emilia and Daniel did the walk on the first night (I stayed back with Jackson who was unwell).

Although I didn't do the whole Ghost Gum walk with them, I still met them at a high point to watch the sunset over the ranges.

Another night, another amazing sunset

The next group of photos are from when Emilia and Daniel did the Ormiston Pound walk- they left at 5.15am and were rewarded with an incredible sunrise.

Some drone shots showing the size of Ormiston Pound and the surrounding ranges- you can just make out the walking track. For the last 2.5kms you walk through the dry river bed with the imposing ranges on either side - it is stunning.

Redbank Gorge - the water did not look very inviting to me but Daniel still went for a swim.

We went to a lookout on the way home from Redbank Gorge - you could see how the fires had burnt up the range and were still smouldering.

We spent the heat of the day enjoying the cool water and shade down at the waterhole.

The lone Ghost Gum at the lookout of the same name.

From the lookout I could see right down to where Daniel and the kids were relaxing on the sand.

Relaxing and keeping cool at the Finke River, waiting for the sunset

Emilia cooked us vegetarian nachos for dinner- it was delicious

What an incredible spot for dinner!

Rinsing the dishes, bush style :)


These two drone photos show the extent of the fires and smoke in the area



The next group of photos are from the morning Daniel, Jackson and I did the Ormiston Pound walk. Jackson did so great as he still wasn't feeling 100% but he didn't want to miss out on doing the walk.

We started the walk in the dark, but soon enough the dawn light lit the way.

We walked fast to get to the lookout for sunrise, but the cloud cover and smoke haze meant we missed out.

Once the sun finally made it past the clouds it was still beautiful.

After the lush green area we'd just walked through, the inside of the 'pound' seemed very sparse, although just as beautiful.

The rocks are just so breathtaking

Walking along the dry river bed, through the gorge

These rocks were like heaps of large slabs piled up, they looked so interesting.

Jackson took this photo of us laying back and enjoying our surroundings.....

Then he started playing with the photo settings and took this photo. I think it looks like we are dolls put on a rock- the perspective gives a very strange effect.

It wasn't even 7am yet, but Jackson was already so hot that he was walking shirtless!

I loved the shape of these rocks, on the gorge walls coming into Ormiston waterhole

We had to wade through one pool to get through

We rewarded ourselves with a swim at the end of the walk (to cool off and to wash off all the sweat!).

Daniel got the kids a scone from the kiosk at the campsite- they were super happy about it.

In between swimming the kids had fun playing on the rocks and Jackson built himself a stick/bark shelter to sleep under :)

One of the many Major Mitchell cockatoos that entertained us.