Palm Valley
We fueled up and bought the $5 permit which you require to travel on the Mereenie Loop road because it passes through Aboriginal land. The dirt road was a lot better than what we had thought it would be as it had been recently graded. It was about 200km to the turn off to Finke Gorge N.P. and Palm Valley. We got phone reception just near the turn off so we made a few calls. The road into Palm Valley leads along a rocky track and sections of the Finke River bed. The camp ground was great and we set up on a shady, grassed site on the river bank. Caitlin & Cooper had fun exploring and playing bocce with the paddy melons. We saw a large sand goanna. Late afternoon we drove the rugged track into palm valley and did the Arankaia walk (2km loop) which meanders along the oasis of the unique and rare Red Cabbage Palms and ancient cycads before returning via the sandstone plateau. Rick was keen to do the longer walk but it was really hot and we weren't really carrying enough water so I sided with the kids to stick with the shorter walk. Back at the campground we cooked some sausages and mash for dinner and listened to the dingos howling. After the kids were asleep we sat around the campfire with a few of the other campers we had meet.
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