Alice Springs lies nestled in the MacDonnell Ranges, which provide a rugged backdrop to the town. We had needed a break from the gorges of the Kimberley (yes, we had gorged ourselves), so the week poking about town was as good for us as it was for Rocky and Matilda. We opted to spend a day checking out the East MacDonnell Ranges, and found we could have spent much more time exploring its delights.
Emily Gap, with the story of the caterpillars painted on the rock walls behind us
Our first stop was Emily Gap. This gap was named by the surveyor William Mills after his assistant's wife (not sure what was going on there), but it had a much stronger meaning for the local Arrernte people. It was here that Intwailuka, an ancestral hero is said to have stopped and eaten caterpillars on his dream time journey. The artwork on the gap walls reflects the story of the caterpillars. It was beautiful, but really cold and The Little Fisherman regretted his choice of wearing shorts against all advice.
