Towing into Roma Gorge and Gosse Bluff

Submitted: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 10:08
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Hi Fellow travellers. We are planning a trip to the West Macdonnell ranges and where looking at Roma Gorge and Gosse Bluff in particular and wondering if anyone has towed into these? it appears as though Gosse Bluff is ok to tow into but I cant find anything on Roma Gorge.
We have a Navara and Kimberley Off Road Kamper.

Thanks for any help.
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Reply By: Craig M1 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 12:55

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 12:55
Hi Nelly
Gosse Bluff is easy with a camper trailer. Did it last June (2016) with a Kimberley Kamper.
Sorry don't know about Roma Gorge.
Palm Valley is nice camp spot and again easy with a camper trailer.
Just check on recent rain fall.
Cheers Craig
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Follow Up By: Member - nellyjr - Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:13

Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:13
Thank you for the feedback, i look forward to planning more of this one.
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Reply By: GG7777 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 15:35

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 15:35
We were in the West Mac's in June/July last year and found Roma Gorge/Goyder Pass to be a lovely spot.
It does require driving along, across and over the dry stony/rocky riverbed for almost all the trip in and out. We did it in a Patrol with slide-on camper and had absolutely no trouble.
Very interesting gorge wit h an indigenous history of being an inter-tribal meeting point, lots of rock peckings at a permanent waterhole at the end, but, no camping permitted.
We came about halfway back out and camped for two or three nights, in that time only 2 cars went in and out, making it one of the unknown treasures of the area.
Enjoy, if you drive to conditions etc. etc. etc it should be easy
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Follow Up By: Member - nellyjr - Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:14

Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:14
Thanks for the feedback, we may indeed do the same and camp half way in.
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Reply By: ChrisVal7 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 16:32

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 16:32
Roma Gorge is a bit of a track which follows a creek bed and meanders in and out of the creek. So if there has been a lot of rain it could be "interesting". We drove in last June with a Landcruiser, and not towing. There were some patches of sand and rocky sections to get through but nothing which gave us any problems whatsoever. We decided that the road would not suit our caravan, an offroader but wide and long as it is there were some stretches which would make it impossible to get the length through. It was a very scenic and interesting area.
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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 18:20

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 18:20
ChrisVal17, did you see the awesome lithographs up in he gorge itself ?
Plenty in there and some very well preserved.
A little rock hopping to do but worth it.

From memory, we dropped tyre pressures just a little, as there were just a few sections, rocky / sand.
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 16:04

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 16:04
Yes, we did see the circle lithographs and there were so many of them! Very impressive spot to see them.

Chris
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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 18:12

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 18:12
Too many beers last night, they are of course petroglyphs . . . they are very distinct and prolific especially if you go up a ways into the gorge.
Happy travels.
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Follow Up By: Member - nellyjr - Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:16

Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:16
Thank you for all the comments., It is definitely the carvings i want to head in here for and appreciate the photos and details .,
looks amazing.
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Reply By: Member - J&A&KK - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 20:50

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 20:50
Hi. We visited both these locations in June 2016 with Prado and Kimberley
Karavan.

There had been about 25mm of rain during a the preceding week but all roads were good. Country side was very green and many camels and wild brumbies seen. The brumbies must enjoy marking their territory on the roads as the piles of dung were impressively high.

Gosses Bluff is a an easy drive and the camp site, in the bottom of the " crater" is OK. Roma Gorge Road was tight in some sections but if you take it easy you won't have any problems.

Don't forget the East MacDonnells as there are some great locations. Kings Canyon campground is a bit overpriced in my view and some of the walks were closed when we were there.

All in all a very scenic part of our country.

Trust you enjoy your trip....take some time to see the place.

Cheers John
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 21:02

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 21:02
Piles of dung like you describe John,is a trait of most stallions. Suppose it is marking their turf.

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Member - J&A&KK - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 22:23

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 22:23
Hi Bob

Makes sense to me. The size of some dung piles had to be the results of multiple visits to the same location. 1m in diameter and 60-70cm high. And so many of these heaps. Must indicate a good population of competing males - or just one with a bit of a problem. Obviously like to put them in cleared areas to be very visible so roads become the target.

The Sh... aside the countryside in that region is very special.

Cheers John



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Follow Up By: Member - nellyjr - Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:20

Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:20
Thank you for your feedback. i have seen piles of Horse Dung like this in the high country of Vic many times so know well what you mean.
We hope to do Trephina Gorge and N'Dhala when we are in the East MAcs as well as most of the West. More trips will be needed to fit it all in though i am sure!
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Reply By: Motherhen - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 00:03

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 00:03
We towed out caravan into Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) and it would be OK for an off road trailer. Despite the quiet location and good parking area, we changed our plans to stay when we read that custodians requested no camping due to it being a 'sorry place'.

We did Roma Gorge as a day trip from the NT Parks campground at Redbank Ridge. Someone who went at the same time left his camper trailer trackside just after turning in.

Motherhen

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Follow Up By: Member - nellyjr - Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:22

Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 09:22
Thank you for the feedback and especially regarding the camping at Tnorala as i was thinking of doing this. Change of plans coming.

Cheers,
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