26th-28 August - Alice to Ellery Creek Big Hole

It feels like ground hog day!   We get the parts, go to Budget Auto - Janiece and I go off to look at the shops again for some retail therapy, after a trip to Anzac hill. 

Couple hours later back to Budget Auto and guess what, the car is fixed!  Yay!!!    We thoroughly recommend these guys, if you ever get stuck in Alice.....

Oh yeah, Janiece and I try to get some cask wine, in Alice they only sell between 6pm and 9pm and you are only allowed 1 x 2 litre cask per person.   We both get a cask, plus I get 2 bottles wine and Janiece gets a carton of beer.  (Darl already had his carton)..

Off we go, on the road again, to Ellery Creek Big Hole.  We decide to park up here for a few nights for a bit of destress and rnr.     It is a lovely spot ($3.30pp pn) - a small camp area so not too many campers here.   Toilets, no showers!  The hippy neighbours ask us over to join their camp fire.

The wild flowers are all out in bloom, beautiful colors, yellow, red, purple, pink etc.  We do a couple of walks here, the Dolomite walk is the better walk, more scenic than the walk on the eastern side.  Ellery's big hole is freezing cold, not too many go swimming here.   They advise not to dive into the icy cold water as people have been known to die.   My darl of course, can't resist temptation but he is sensible this time and doesn't dive in, nor does he put his head under water, it's a quick dip.

He is not even game to swim across to the other side for fear of seizing up half way cross, that is how cold this water is.   I swam in other water hole a bit further down, not as cold but still chilly, very refreshing......who needs showers???





Darl and I went exploring up the side of the hill to the cave hole.   It was a nice view from up there.
Saturday is like central station, so many day trippers coming out for look see, bloody tourists!  We enjoy our relaxing few days here.  

If you ever have the opportunity for a stay at Ellery's big hole beware of bindies!   They take an exceptional liking to thongs!  Look harmless enough but they have the tiniest of prickles.  Here we are watching the day tourists come and go over a drink or three.

The cave we climbed to looking out towards the big hole!   No that's not mole I said hole, the water hole in the background......

And here's the cave man, no other inhabitants evident here.