Destinations > Sand Storm

RECOMMENDED MAPS

The Hema Great Desert Tracks, North Central Map will cover this entire area, giving good detail and showing the location for all of Len's Markers.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Central Lands Council, Alice Springs 08 8951 6320

Ngaanyatjarra Council, Alice Springs 08 8950 1711

Department of Indigenous Affairs, Perth 08 9235 8000



When Len originally reached this spot, he decided against erecting one of his famous trademark signposts, with aluminium plaque and the usual information, as it was too close to the Tropic of Capricorn, and would not mean as much, so Len originally erected a small stone cairn at this point. While moving large rocks closer to this location, a suitable rock was selected for the 200-miler instead of the rock cairn and it was lifted in place with a bulldozer. With photos in hand of this theft proof marker sign, it was further north for a few more kilometres until our next stop at Len's marker at the Tropic of Capricorn. The lure of Mount Leisler was beckoning us, so we set off again and homed in on the highest feature at the southern end of the Kintore Range that the Sandy Blight Junction Track has to offer.

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Mount Leisler was now almost on top of us and we knew that we must be nearly at Len's marker and Tietken's blaze tree. Coming around a small corner, the first thing that caught my eye was the small painted Len marker on the side of the track, with the usual Len stamped aluminium plaque attached. Directly opposite this on the other side of the track were the sad remains of the blaze tree that is no longer standing and in a state of termite attack. The blaze area is still clearly visible, but if the remains of the tree are not treated, then this important piece of Australian history will be lost forever and the only thing that future generations will have of this once very proud tree will be photos.
A small bloodwood tree is growing near the downed tree and we wondered if this was in some way related to this very old and dead tree. One thing that caught my attention was the dozens of galls that were growing in the small bloodwood tree. Having been a fan of Les Hiddins and his popular TV series, Bush Tucker Man, I knew that these were in fact the bloodwood gall or 'bush coconut'. It was time now to head further north to the last rocky outcrop known as the Ngutjul Rock Outcrop. These unusual shape and size rocks, some as large as a house, seem quite out of place. Len Beadell was so impressed with this outcrop that he again decided to make the road go straight past them, so all future travellers could also admire this conglomeration of rocks. We were now back into civilisation, as there were a number of Aboriginal outstation and many tracks leading off the main track that we were travelling. Arriving at the junction with the main Kintore Road, we still had one last Len post to locate. Looking due north of the junction, this large white marker post was clearly visible. Within a short time, we were all refuelling our vehicles at the Aboriginal community of Kintore before heading back the way we had just come towards Papunya and further travels throughout Central Australia. We drove past the Sandy Blight Junction turn off and if time was on our side and we did not have other pre made plans, we all would have loved nothing better than to travel back down the track through one of Central Australia's best kept secrets.
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