Source: ipa
If Uluru – or Ayers Rock – is the most famous place in Australia, a site dear to the Aboriginal populations, you need to know that this majestic reddish rock that appears in the middle of the Red Center is not the only place sacred to the ancient populations of the Northern Territory .
Less than 500 kilometers to the North-East there is another beautiful place, very important but much less famous and less frequented by tourists. And the rainbow valley, famous for its limestone rocks which are colored with incredible shades early in the morning and at sunset. Ochre, orange, red, purple are the predominant colors, a true paradise for photographers. Especially after the rain, when the rocks reflected in the puddles create very suggestive images.
The Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve, established in 1990, is located about 75 km south of Alice Springs, the last large inhabited center before the Australian red desert. It is part of the James Range and is an important sacred site (Ewerre) for the Arrernte Aboriginal people. On some rocks it is possible to admire petroglyphs dating back many years.
The “Rainbow Valley” is in the middle of nowhere, to reach it you need to rent a 4×4 and cover the last stretch on foot. The trees called "Desert Oaks" that line the last stretch of road are spectacular. Everywhere there are reddish rocky panoramas and clay plains that flood after the rains, giving life to surreal sceneries.
Very suggestive is the rock formation called Mushroom Rock, with an internal tunnel dug over millions of years by wind and rain.
As in the Uluru site, also in the rainbow valley some areas are closed to the public unless with a special permit and a guide to accompany the visit. They are those still considered sacred today, where artefacts, jewellery, engravings and rock drawings have been found.
Local guides advise not to stray too far from the marked tourist route, on the one hand to avoid invading the forbidden areas of the archaeological site, but also to avoid the risk of running into some strange animal.
In fact, if this place appears deserted, in reality teeming with “wild” life. Anyone who has been to Australia knows that on this continent there are some incredible animal species, some are among the most dangerous in the world, think of jellyfish or alligators. None of this in the middle of the desert, but it is easy to come across small reptiles with primordial shapes, like the thorny devil, a lizard whose body is entirely covered in thorns and whose color ranges from yellow to brown to black, depending on the environment in which it is found, camouflaging itself perfectly with the environment.
But there are also dingoes here. This is why camping is allowed, but respecting some very strict rules. Otherwise, there is no other type of accommodation in Rainbow Valley. The nights here are blacker and starry than ever.
Source: ipa
