Ernest Giles Road

100.6 Kilometres of some of the richest red mystic dusted roads you will ever travel along. Along the way some 11.3 kilometres is the Henbury Meteorite Conservation reserve (see below). Further along we found some small caves/shelters on the right side of the road though very hard to find. 48 kilometres along you cross the Palmer River (Seasonal flowing) and here is the turnoff for the Finke River Track past Boggy Hole to Hermannsburg. Along this track is the very isolated Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve. Some 52 kilometres further on the road ends at a T road intersecting with Luritja Road the road joining Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Kata Tjuta National park and Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National Park. 13 Kilometres before Ernnest Giles Road finishes is the turnoff to Tempe Downs. RAB

History

Named after Ernest Giles. The area was little known to Europeans until recently; Ernest Giles being the first white man to explore the area in 1872.

Where Is And How To Get To Ernest Giles Road

Located 109.8km from Alice Springs, access to the Reserve is via the Stuart Highway and Ernest Giles Road, or from Palm Valley via the Finke River 4WD Route. Ernest Giles road is a dirt road and in some area a heavily corrugated road so drive slowly.

The Ernest Giles Road and access tracks are unsealed, sandy and occasionally closed following heavy rain. The tracks are 4WD only, due to their unstable and changing road surfaces.

Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

Travel 8 kilometres down the Ernest Giles Road to the access road turnoff to the north and follow this road for 5 kilometres to the Reserve entrance. The Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve contains 12 craters which are of national astrogeological importance. They have played an important part in the scientific study of meteorites over the past 60 years.

Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve contains 12 craters which were formed when a meteor hit the earth's surface 4,700 years ago. The Henbury Meteor, weighing several tonnes and accelerating to over 40,000 km per hour, disintegrated before impact and the fragments formed the craters. The scattered fragments of the Henbury Meteorite are extremely heavy since they consist mainly of the metals iron (90%) and nickel (8%).

The scattered fragments of the Henbury Meteorite are extremely heavy since they consist mainly of iron and nickel. Pieces of these can be found at the Museum of Central Australia. Over 500 kilograms of metal have been found on the site, the largest over 100 kilograms. Few specimens now exist in the area (which are not to be taken from the reserve), but the craters are fascinating attractions providing natural, cultural and scientific value. Few specimens now exist in the area.

How to Get There - Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

Located 145km south west of Alice Springs, the Reserve can be reached in a conventional 2WD vehicle. At 132 km south of Alice Springs, along the Stuart Highway there is a gravel road Ernest Giles Road leading to Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon. Travel along this road for 8 km, then turn north for 5 km to the Reserve's entrance.

145 kilometres south west of Alice Springs

Walking Tracks - There is a self-guided walking track around the craters. The largest of the craters is 180 metres wide and 15 metres deep, while the smallest is barely recognizable at 6 metres wide and only a few centimetres deep. Three or four of the craters can be seen very clearly and inspected at close range.

Visitor Facilities - Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

A camping area with basic facilities is adjacent to the carpark, visitors must bring their own water and firewood.

A camping ground with picnic facilities, a pit toilet and information are available.

There is no drinking water in the area.

Firewood should be collected before entering the Reserve.

Did You Know

Several tonnes of these fragments have been recovered, many torn and twisted looking like shrapnel. One piece weighing 44 kg, can be seen in the Spencer and Gillen Museum in Alice Springs. The distribution of the craters at Henbury suggests that the meteorite shower came from the southwest and radiometric age dating techniques estimates that the craters were formed around, but not more than 4700 years B.P.

The existence of the Henbury craters has been known since 1899 when the manager of Henbury station, Mr Park informed F.J. Gillen of ‘one of the most curious spots I have ever seen in the country’. Park described the craters to Gillen but did not know what had caused them or in fact what the craters were. Park went on to say ‘To look at it I cannot but think it has been done by human agency but when or why Goodness knows’.

Courtesy Parks NT

Finke River Track past Boggy Hole to Hermannsburg

Travelling along the Ernest Giles Road from the turnoff on road to Hermannsburg (see map below) is rather very slow going. It will save you kilometres by not going the Mereenie Loop but not in time. A suggested site of interest is www.exploroz.com © and also there mapping at www.exploroz.com ©.

Boggy Hole Finke Gorge

Boggy Hole Finke Gorge (known just as Boggy Hole or Boggie Hole to some) is located within the Finke Gorge National Park due south west of the West MacDonnell Ranges in the Alice Springs general region. The most popular attraction or tourist 4WD icon is Boggy Hole, a permanent billabong courtesy of the Finke River. This is an interesting and isolated alternative four wheel drive route to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Kata Tjuta National park and Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National Park.

Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve

This is one of the most peaceful and isolated Reserves in the Parks and Wildlife Service's estate. It's natural values are due to the impressive southern foothills of the James Range and the presence of a permanent natural spring. The site provides a moist habitat for several relict aquatic plant species and it protects the ruins of the Illamurta Springs Police Station.

How to Get There - Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve

Located 192km from Alice Springs, access to the Reserve is via the Stuart Highway and Ernest Giles Road, or from Palm Valley via the Finke River 4WD Route. The Ernest Giles Road and access tracks are unsealed, sandy and occasionally closed following heavy rain. The tracks are 4WD only, due to their unstable and changing road surfaces.

When to visit - Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve

The Reserve is accessible all year round except after rain. The cooler months, from April to September, are the most pleasant times to visit.

Visitor Facilities - Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve

Currently there are no visitor facilities provided at Illamurta Springs and the use of fire here is prohibited. Camping is not permitted on the Reserve. Camping facilities are available at the nearby Ilpurla Aboriginal Community.

Tempe Downs

http://www.exploroz.com

Photographs Courtesy Of: NTTC - Northern Territory Tourism Commission.
Maps Courtesy Of: NTTC - Northern Territory Tourism Commission.
Photographs Courtesy Of: PJ B Private Collection.
Information courtesy of Parks and Wildlife Service NT for the promotion of tourism for the Larapinta Trail.

Photographs Courtesy of NTTC - Northern Territory Tourism Commission
Information courtesy of Parks Northern Territory

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