Owen Springs is significant for a number of reasons:
- The Waterhouse Ranges (Urenhe Pwetere in Central Arrernte) are full of Aboriginal sacred sites, Dreaming Stories, rock art and occupation sites, and remain sacred to the Arrernte (Aboriginal) people of this area today
- Charles MacDouall Stuart came through here on his trans-continental crossings, following the Hugh River
- The original Overland Telegraph Line came through the Waterhouse Ranges and then turned east to Alice Springs from here
- The first European homestead in Central Australia was established here in 1873.
Redbank Waterhole is a fabulous free camping area located right next to the Hugh River, on the southern end of Owen Springs reserve.
Whilst the waterhole is not permanent, it is resplendent with tall river red gums on its banks and your pick of glorious shaded, grassy camping spots. If there’s water in the waterhole, then you can go swimming as well.
Redbank is dog-friendly. It’s one of the few places you’re allowed to take a dog on NT national parks.
Redbank is only 5km off the Stuart Highway, and is easily accessible for travellers heading along the highway. You can bring a high clearance camper trailer and even a 2WD in here, provided you’re careful and don’t mind a few bumps.
To access this cache, you will need to enter the Owen Springs Reserve from either Larapinta Drive in the north, or the Stuart Highway in the south. A 4WD Track (quite easy) runs for 50km through the reserve, and you can easily make a round caching day trip from Alice Springs, and pick up around 8 or 9 caches. Bring a picnic lunch or do what we do, and camp inside Lawrence Gorge - true outback bush camping with no facilities and no fees!
We have included two additional waypoint for this cache, which mark the 2WD or 4WD access points. If you choose the 2WD access point, you will need to walk across the waterhole to locate the GZ. It's very shallow at the best of times, and in winter often has no water in it; and: THERE ARE NO CROCODILES IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA.
Cache is a normal decon container with a log, a pencil, and a few swaps.
Congratulations for FTF to Shazcol from Tasmania