Our only day in Alice Springs was spent driving through lots of the desert country side, fighting off flies and looking at gorges.
First stop was Simpsons Gap, a prominent gap in the famous West McDonnell Mountains. It was quite a hot day and the streets weren't quite so visible because of the extreme heat on the tarmac. The countryside in Northern Territory is like none I have ever seen before and the whole family was at times gaping open mouthed at the mountain ranges.
The second stop was Standley Chasm, where the whole family embarked on a stone climbing adventure which led us past the chasm and deep into other gorges. Quite amazing and just a bit dangerous.
On our way back we stopped at the excellent desert park, where we learnt about the different types of desert (woodland, sandy and dried out river bed) and how the Aboriginal people and animals have adapted to these dire living conditions and are able to survive. I was especially fascinated by the Spinifex Hopping Mouse, which does not need to drink and whose urine is so concentrated that it can survive in sandy deserts. I also learnt about the fantastic teats of the kangaroos, which are able to have one embryo in waiting position in their womb while they have a smaller joey sucking on one of their teats (with baby milk) while an older joey sucks the second teat which has a different type of milk. That's a bit like a mother having chocolate and vanilla milk on offer.
First stop was Simpsons Gap, a prominent gap in the famous West McDonnell Mountains. It was quite a hot day and the streets weren't quite so visible because of the extreme heat on the tarmac. The countryside in Northern Territory is like none I have ever seen before and the whole family was at times gaping open mouthed at the mountain ranges.
The second stop was Standley Chasm, where the whole family embarked on a stone climbing adventure which led us past the chasm and deep into other gorges. Quite amazing and just a bit dangerous.
On our way back we stopped at the excellent desert park, where we learnt about the different types of desert (woodland, sandy and dried out river bed) and how the Aboriginal people and animals have adapted to these dire living conditions and are able to survive. I was especially fascinated by the Spinifex Hopping Mouse, which does not need to drink and whose urine is so concentrated that it can survive in sandy deserts. I also learnt about the fantastic teats of the kangaroos, which are able to have one embryo in waiting position in their womb while they have a smaller joey sucking on one of their teats (with baby milk) while an older joey sucks the second teat which has a different type of milk. That's a bit like a mother having chocolate and vanilla milk on offer.
Roos are clearly fascinating animals. Only downside was that I still wasn't able to spot the darn Echidna.
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