TRIP REPORT :Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Took a trip out to East MacDonnell Ranges to test out the rear bar as you do when you build new stuff for the Prado. Anyhow this spot I hadnt been before(John Hayes Waterhole), but im sure glad I made the trip. Well to be frank, i have been to Trephina Gorge before or should I say when there was no water, but at the moment the place is truely magic. Ive never seen the place so green. It truley adds so much life the the usual dry and baron land that we have become use to. The trip out was very evident of a large amout of water that had been in the area with flood ways covered in dirt and the normally dry causeways completely filled with the rich red sands and debris from the floods. Our first stop was John Hayes Waterhole. The turnoff stated "High Clearence Vehicles Only", so at least it could be fun to drive and it didnt disapoint. The track was a mixture of eroded dirt to rock with plenty of river sand and creek crossings to keep you entertained. At least there were some recent tracks so we wernt the first in on the day, in fact when we arrived at the carpark we were the seventh vehicle.



It took about 5mins walk from the carpark to get to the waterhole, and if your adventures you can swim and climb up river to the other spots. Due to my camera being the mobile phone I decided not to take it any further, although beyond these gorges is a series of fantastic waterfalls and a really neat waterhole half covered by a rocky overhang. Unfortunately to get to this spot you have to climb a slippery 15ft rock face.






After our dip at John Hayes we decided to have a look at Trephina. Here too was plenty of water, although we didnt walk up to the main waterhole at least our 2 year old made the best of it.




This is the greenest ive ever seen it, makes me feel a little home sick.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

Amazing how some water can change the face of a location so much... thanks for sharing the pics.

How did the rear bar hold up?

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

Hi Leon,

the bar went well, I only took one tyre though with the hi-lift jack just in case.

With two tyres on the back makes the rear end real heavy with all that extra weight.

You can really notice that the tyres are their thats for sure.

[pythonkeeper Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pythonkeeper]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

Looks like a nice spot zook, i'd love to get over there to explore the Mac D ranges some day.
I keep a few species of snakes that come from there, do you ever see any when you are out that way ?

Are your black rims just stocko rims painted black ? They look alright whatever they are.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

Nice pics Zook. Don't suppose your boy's name is JACK? :lol: :lol: :wink:

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

Hi Pythonkeeper,

ive heard all sorts of stories of snakes ending up in all sorts of unusual places like in vehicle engines etc

although I havnt seen any yet apart from in the Desert Park off Larapinta Dr. Brown and King Brownies are

common in Alice and around the area. There are a heap of other deadly varities as you know, all I know is to

keep plenty of bandages and refresh my first aid training every few years. Its a good thing I joined NTES a

while back and we cover all that stuff. As for the rims they are stockies painted black. I had a heap of paint left

over from the rear bar so decided to change the look of it, I think it suits it well. It certainly stands out from the crowd.

Theres nothing worse then pulling up at a set of traffic lights and seeing the same model and colour vehicle your driving.

At least it doesnt look out of place. Theres not purple velvet in this Prado I can assure you of that :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

As for the little one his name is Eddie, and he loves going on trips with dadda to the waterholes.

[4wd26 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 4wd26]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

It took about 5mins walk from the carpark to get to the waterhole, and if your adventures you can swim and climb up river to the other spots. Due to my camera being the mobile phone I decided not to take it any further, although beyond these gorges is a series of fantastic waterfalls and a really neat waterhole half covered by a rocky overhang. Unfortunately to get to this spot you have to climb a slippery 15ft rock face.

There must also be a lookout track.

Thanks for bringing back some memories from our trip in 2004, I'm so glad you NT guys are so active on the forum.

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

We ended up coming back here a few weeks back and brought Fergs and his family along for the day. So heres some more pics of the day.










Last time I was here the water was running alot more and the water was clearer.





The kids had a ball, and the wifes didnt mind getting wet too.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

Great pics zookcubr.

At least you don't have to worry about large mud geckos down there. :shock:

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

Gecko's ?? Nah a worse problem, heaps of frogs. I mean thousands of the buggers, must mean the water is at least clean although we kept an eye out for snakes.
Thats the bigger issue here, I told the ladies this when we were leaving as to not disappoint the kids.

[Canyoner Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Canyoner]

Re: TRIP REPORT :Trephina Gorge and John Hayes Water Hole NT

Certainly a lot more water than when I was there 8 months ago in July 2008.
Even more that the 1st time I was there in April 1984.