where are the gores: Fossicking at Gem Tree

It felt strange leaving Alice Springs. We felt we had seen so many incredible sights, but at the same time left so much untouched. NO room for disappointments of that nature on this trip. So, new list created….what to do when we do our next trip around Oz.
One thing that we forgot to mention in the last post was our visit through a town called Stuart Wells, on the way to Alice Springs. It is the home of the world famous Dinky the singing Dingo. He is around 11 years old. His owners discovered that he had a music ability. Each time their daughter played on the piano, Dinky would start singing/howling, until one day he discovered that he could create the music himself, and did not need anyone else to play for him.
Timna was volunteered to have a little tinkle on the piano. It did not take long for Dinky to start to sing, and then he climbed on to the piano and started playing along with her.
Just as fascinating was finding out about Dinky's masters family. The Cotterill family were responsible for opening the Kings Canyon to the public in 1960. They built the road leading in, and also the tracks and walking paths throughout the canyon.
Prior to leaving Alice we let the kids decide where to next. They had the option of hanging in Alice a little longer in order to see some of the sights around town, or to try their hands at fossicking. Fossicking was the winner.
So onward we head…..

We cross the Tropic of Capricorn.

In the car park of the Tropic of Capricorn we swapped travel tips with a couple who had decided to camp here for the night. While chatting it begins raining. Not the water variety, but ash.
She gave us some tips on what to see in Kakadu. Note: must see Gunlom and if possible Cahills Crossing at high tide. Apparently this is when the barramundi come out close to the shoreline and the crocs go berserk!!!.

We are going to be turning off the Stuart Hwy 70 km north of Alice Springs, to travel a fruther 70km east on the Plenty Highway. Off to Gem Tree we go!

The parks power is provided by a generator. It is turned off between 10.30pm and 6.30am. Showers and toilets are available. The hot water is provided via a wood fired boiler. We feel like we have the park to ourselves as there are very few other campers here.

The park runs tours to their gem fields where you can fossick, or alternatively you can purchase a bucket full of dirt from the quarry, a much easier alternative for the kids (and us). This lovely gentleman, Clive, in the pic is showing the kids how it is done. They spent about 1 ½ hours sifting, washing and searching for that elusive glimmering red light indicating that a garnet might be present. Success was had. The children, with a little help from us, managed to find themselves some beautiful gems.

Relaxing after fossicking.

More beautiful wildflowers!

Sunset over the camp site.

A rewarding feed after all their hard work.

Marshmallows come out, shared with a new friend, Joey, around the campfire. It is nice to see that the kids have as much fun playing here with only their imaginations to create the playing fields, as they do in a regular playground.