Early morning sunshine brought out the colour in these Sturt’s Desert Pea in Alice Springs. The red has not been enhanced – they are this vivid.

Flynn’s memorial on Larapinta Drive west out of town. John Flynn was a minister of religion who did much to improve the health of all residents in Central Australia. He is credited with starting the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Flynn appears on the polymer $20 note that was introduced in 1994. This rock was not the original. The first rock was taken from Karlu Karlu (Devil’s Marbles) without permission. Indigenous elders campaigned to have it returned. In 1995, a replacement rock was placed on the memorial and the original sacred stone returned to Karlu Karlu. The replacement rock was still from another sacred site, such was the respect that the indigenous people had for Flynn.

West Macdonnell Ranges in the morning light.

We make the short drive to Rrengetyirpe (Simpsons Gap) in overcast light. Rrengetyirpe is pronounced Rrung-GAH-chip-uh – trill the double ‘r’) in the local language. Go on – give it a go – out loud, three times.

My travelling companions enjoying the morning walk  as the sun tried to break through.

The waterhole in the gap in the range.

A white necked heron looking for morning tea.

Dramatic rock formations are the home of the Black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis (Macdonnell Ranges Race)

This one contemplated the teachings of Yoda in regard to rock hopping – “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”

We spent close to an hour watching them amongst the boulders.

A Dusky grass wren actively looking for food.

Hooded robin surveying the gravelly creek bed.

Some of you entomologists have no doubt been waiting for some insect images instead of the usual bird and mammal images so without further ant-icipation…..

That should stop some people bugging me for a while.

The road into Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm), a Euro (Wallaroo) Dreaming site.

The track through the narrow gorge

The Macdonnell Ranges cycad (Macrozamia macdonnellii) is common here.

A very prickly wattle

Western wonga vine or spearbush Pandorea doratoxylon has upright hard woody stems before becoming vine-like at the top of the stems.

Holly leaved grevillea Grevillea wickhamii at Angkerle Atwatye

Grey shrike-thrush were active in the gorge.

Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm)

We climbed up a side track (part of the Larapinta Trail) for views across the gorge onto the quartzite hills.

The colours of the Macdonnell Ranges cycad

On returning to Alice Springs, we visited the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens late in the day. There was not a lot flowering but this brilliant wattle brought some colour to the gardens.

Having scoured the boulders at Simpsons Gap for the black footed rock wallaby, we easily found a few friendly ones at the gardens.

There are some sculptures at the gardens made from recycled metals such as this emu.

This one has merit once they iron out a few problems.

Soft light from grey skies from the lookout hill at the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens looking towards Mount Gillen.