When water brings life to the Larapinta Trail!
PART 1
WOW!!!… is the first thing to say about the Larapinta Trail End 2 End hike.
By Lisa
Truly a fabulous way to see Country and walk on sacred soil. I believe it’s such a mental game undertaking a 14-day walk and not something I had done previously. Making it to the end of the trek was a fabulous personal goal just 2 years after breaking my leg quite badly. The leg withstood the daily steps, the mind was occupied with some chat, balanced with quiet contemplation and scenery which was just mind-blowing.
What made this journey completely enjoyable and very doable were our 2 amazing guides, well 3 actually, as one had a few days off as he had the sniffles, not man flu just being covid safe. Nacho, Luke and Clayton ensured we were well fed, well informed, comfortable and relaxed from start to finish. Only carrying day packs, with swags and our duffle packs transported to camp, made this the perfect way to sleep under the stars without the back-breaking thought of carrying everything.
Me on the rocks!
Whilst I absolutely loved the ridge walking, the heights, the rocks, the dirt and even the spinifex my fondest memories are the water holes, rivers and spots to swim/bathe. I’m a water baby so it didn’t matter that the water was icy, it was sooooo magical, cleansing for the soul and the body, a real treat to have been in NT when there was water in the holes.
My happy place!
Would I do this trip again…………ABSOLUTELY! Had I not wanted to get home and see the family I could easily have turned around at Mt Sonder and walked back the way we came for another 14 days. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to walk the sacred soil with our Diamond Coach Jacq Conway and our team of Diamonds in the Rough.
PART 2
The summer rains had fed the rivers and water holes.
By Marion
Our Diamonds Larapinta End 2 End trip was amazing in sooo many ways.
We were unable to do the trek in August 2020 due to Covid and we were very lucky to have our trek in May 2021.
In August 2020 the landscape was still suffering from the effects of the devastating bush fires 2 years prior. However, the summer of 2020-21 brought plenty of rain which revived the whole environment and gave us the fantastic experience we had in May.
Species of trees that hadn’t been seen for decades regenerated (such as the Gracious Wattle). There were many many fields of white Mulla Mulla flowers and other fields of mauve Mulla Mulla - it looked more like a scene from a European countryside than the semi-arid landscape of Central Australia. There were also wattles, the desert rose, wild parsnip, silver indigo (even though it had a crimson flower!), daisies, cassias, desert fringed Lilly, many different pea flowers and plenty more... On some steep hillsides, it looked like an old fashioned suburban ‘rockery’ with plants filling the gaps between large rocks. The trees were also regenerating and provided a lovely show and welcome shade.
The summer rains had fed the rivers and water holes. Even though some were upside down rivers (sand and rock to be seen but water would still flowing underground). This water continued to support the plants and also the birdlife. We saw thousands of green Budgerigar in flocks of 20 or more birds at a time. They gave a cheerful soundscape to our travels near riverbeds. We also saw and heard Butcherbirds, Finches, Black Cockatoos, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos, Kites, Eagles, Willy Wagtails, Spinifex and other Pigeons, Galahs, Ring-Necked Cockatoos, Herons and many more. Just wonderful!
