Palm Valley Finke National Park
Mothers Day 11th May 2005.
I suggested this year to take a picnic for mothers day, Wife - "Where do have in mind". Husband - "How about Palm Valley?", Wife - "Sounds nice (thinking of white sand and blue water, blowing a light breeze with beautiful green palms, maybe olive skinned bared chested studs bathing in the sun), can we swim there?" Husband -"Maybe!!!" Wife - "How long will it take?" Husband - " Ahh about 2 Hours" Wife - "What!!! OK"
With this image in her head we took of around lunch time and we charged down Larapinta Drive for our picnic. 1 1/2 hours later we arrived at the turn off, time to air down and try out the new springs on the corrigations. The Prado travelled really well and after telling the wife several times I was told "shut up about your springs, you've told me enough times !!"
As we got closer we passed through a electric fenced cattle grid, then into Finke National Park. We picked a good time to visit as we passed alot of interstate registed vehicles heading out. The closer we got to the valley the track started to get narrower and more challenging and with the picnic insight it was time to pull up and make lunch.
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008201.jpg)
Straight after we feasted on turkey, cheese and tomato toasties and some fruit we had a visit from a local fauna, a dingo. I could'nt beleive my eyes. This is the first one ive seen ever. We travelled all the way to Fraser Island for 2 weeks expecting to see at least one but to our disapointment we didn't, ill tick that one off on my fauna spotting book.
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008202.jpg)
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008203.jpg)
Time to hit the track for the carpark another 4 klms away but before we went I was told to sort out the garbage out. Husband - "We have to take the rubbish home" Wife - "Yeh right!" So I took a trip to the dunnies and found this sign (sometimes its easier to take a photo of the truth rather than argue about it).
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008204.jpg)
After all that we were back on the track, the trail didnt disappoint either. It leads you down into the valley were you end up crossing the river several times over large areas of rock formations and at times you wonder where the track goes. About half way down we passed a Britz or Apollo Hilux camper parked at the side of the trail. As we found out on the way out they were having clearence issues, so I fully understand why they left it.
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008209.jpg)
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008210.jpg)
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008211.jpg)
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008212.jpg)
At the carpark your required to walk another 1 hour, although with a pregnant wife and a 1 year old in tow this wasnt going to happen so we strolled down the valley for a few hundred meters to my wifes dissapointment mind you. But at the end of the day the weather was brillant, we missed the day time rush with tourist buses and we nearly had the place to ourselfs. We plan to stay overnight sometime when our camper trailer arrives but in the mean time we can visit anytime really as long as we call Alice Springs home. Sean.
Mothers Day 11th May 2005.
I suggested this year to take a picnic for mothers day, Wife - "Where do have in mind". Husband - "How about Palm Valley?", Wife - "Sounds nice (thinking of white sand and blue water, blowing a light breeze with beautiful green palms, maybe olive skinned bared chested studs bathing in the sun), can we swim there?" Husband -"Maybe!!!" Wife - "How long will it take?" Husband - " Ahh about 2 Hours" Wife - "What!!! OK"
With this image in her head we took of around lunch time and we charged down Larapinta Drive for our picnic. 1 1/2 hours later we arrived at the turn off, time to air down and try out the new springs on the corrigations. The Prado travelled really well and after telling the wife several times I was told "shut up about your springs, you've told me enough times !!"
As we got closer we passed through a electric fenced cattle grid, then into Finke National Park. We picked a good time to visit as we passed alot of interstate registed vehicles heading out. The closer we got to the valley the track started to get narrower and more challenging and with the picnic insight it was time to pull up and make lunch.
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008201.jpg)
Straight after we feasted on turkey, cheese and tomato toasties and some fruit we had a visit from a local fauna, a dingo. I could'nt beleive my eyes. This is the first one ive seen ever. We travelled all the way to Fraser Island for 2 weeks expecting to see at least one but to our disapointment we didn't, ill tick that one off on my fauna spotting book.
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008202.jpg)
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008203.jpg)
Time to hit the track for the carpark another 4 klms away but before we went I was told to sort out the garbage out. Husband - "We have to take the rubbish home" Wife - "Yeh right!" So I took a trip to the dunnies and found this sign (sometimes its easier to take a photo of the truth rather than argue about it).
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008204.jpg)
After all that we were back on the track, the trail didnt disappoint either. It leads you down into the valley were you end up crossing the river several times over large areas of rock formations and at times you wonder where the track goes. About half way down we passed a Britz or Apollo Hilux camper parked at the side of the trail. As we found out on the way out they were having clearence issues, so I fully understand why they left it.
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008209.jpg)
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008210.jpg)
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008211.jpg)
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008212.jpg)
At the carpark your required to walk another 1 hour, although with a pregnant wife and a 1 year old in tow this wasnt going to happen so we strolled down the valley for a few hundred meters to my wifes dissapointment mind you. But at the end of the day the weather was brillant, we missed the day time rush with tourist buses and we nearly had the place to ourselfs. We plan to stay overnight sometime when our camper trailer arrives but in the mean time we can visit anytime really as long as we call Alice Springs home. Sean.
![](http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/kitesrfn/11052008215.jpg)
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