Redbank Gorge - Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park

23 – 25 August 2017

The road in to Redbank Gorge is designated 4WD only and was in rough condition. The Woodland Campground is a couple of kilometres drive from the gorge and in a bushland setting. There are 15 campsites and a couple of long-drop toilets. The best part of this campground is that each campsite has its own fire pit with barbecue plate as well as a gas barbecue with two extra gas burners. There is also a picnic table at each site. All this for only $5 per person per night.

A well equipped campground.

We drove down to the Gorge and went for the Gorge Walk which starts off along the bank and then drops down into the creek bed. This walk required quite a bit of scrambling across rocks. I was wearing my hiking sandals and found it quite difficult in parts. There wasn’t much water at the waterhole but it was a nice spot to stop and relax.

Redbank Gorge.

This Australasian Grebe was hunting insects in the gorge.

Grey-headed Honeyeater. We found a small pool that was favoured by honeyeaters taking an afternoon drink and bath.

Brown Honeyeaters

White-plumed Honeyeater.

We surprised a Black-footed Rock Wallaby on our way back.

Black-footed Rock Wallaby

The following day we returned - this time wearing my hiking boots - and walked back up to the waterhole again. It was much easier with my boots on. We also took the short walk from the carpark up to the lookout for some fabulous views.
  
Although there was not a great variety of birds around the campground, there was a mixed flock of Southern Whiteface, Hooded Robins and Grey Fantails that would be seen foraging around each day. I also saw Red-capped Robins and Chestnut-rumped Thornbill. Mick.

Male Hooded Robin

Female Hooded Robin.

Southern Whiteface

Southern Whiteface

This is one of the best equipped campgrounds we've stayed at. There were a couple of problems though. The sites were all facing the wrong way (awnings of most vans and camper trailers would face the dusty road instead the BBQ area), leading me to believe that the 'one way' sign at the entrance was put in the wrong place. We ignored it. The other problem is one we have encountered before at Coffin Bay NP in South Australia, the presence of large numbers of bees looking for water. If one is careful, they are quite harmless but they are annoying and I was stung on the thumb this time. Mick.

Our kitchen tap.

The bees particularly like the washing up sponge.

Because we were aware we would be able to have a fire, we had stopped for firewood before we entered the national park. We made bread in the morning and a camp oven roast chicken and vegetables in the evening. It’s a great way to cook if you can get it right. The bread would have been nice of not for the burned top, but the roast was perfect. We’ll just have to keep practicing with the bread.

Too many coals on top of the camp oven spoiled the bread. Better luck next time.

Before we left in the morning we headed back to the day use area carpark for morning tea and to look for some birds Mick had seen the day before. The road to the day use area is very steep in parts and probably not suitable for those towing a caravan. There is another campground – Ridgetop – which is for tents only and not as well resourced.

I was hoping to photograph the male Crested Bellbird (female) at the day use area but he didn't show up.

Our next destination was just down the road - Ormiston Gorge, a very popular stop in the West Macdonnells.