WEST MACDONNELL RANGES FULL DAY TOUR – SMALL GROUP

Anzac Hill
Your journey begins with a visit to Anzac Hill, where you’ll enjoy breathtaking views over Alice Springs and the surrounding MacDonnell Ranges. This spot is a tribute to those who served in Australia’s defence forces, and it offers a perfect vantage point for photographing the town below, set against the dramatic outback landscape.

Simpsons Gap:
Simpson Gap features the towering cliffs of Simpsons Range, a permanent waterhole, and opportunities to spot resident wildlife and ancient Red River Gums with a taste of Central Australia. Simpsons Gap is a significant site to the local Arrernte Aboriginal people and was the mythological home of giant goanna ancestors.
We will take you on a short, easy walk alongside a picturesque dry creek bed that leads to a dramatic gap in the MacDonnell Ranges and a waterhole rich in native wildlife, flora, and geology. Sometimes, you may even spot Black-footed Rock-wallabies along the walking track into the rocky slopes gap.

Honeymoon Gap:
Your next visit will be Honeymoon Gap/ Temple Bar Gap, a small gap south of Larapinta Drive opposite Simpsons Gap, 14km west of Alice Springs. The gap is historically significant to the Arrernte people, the land’s traditional owners.
The name Temple Bar Gap fell out of favour following the site becoming the honeymoon location for Robert (Bob) and Victoria (Vicky) Darken, who married at the Alice Springs Methodist Church on 25 June 1942. Bob Darken was given a week’s leave from the army, and the couple planned to camp for a week at the gap and borrowed a car and a tent. The couple had repeated issues with the car, and it rained for most of the week so, concerned for their safety, friends decided to visit them regularly; they said they were “going to see the honeymooners” or “going to honeymoon gap.”
It was not until 1981 that the pass’s name was officially changed to Honeymoon Gap, and in 2004, the NT Place Names Committee agreed that the official name of the gap should remain Temple Bar Gap.

Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye):
The final stop on your West MacDonnell tour is Standley Chasm, a spectacular rock formation named after Mrs. Ida Standley, Alice Springs’ first schoolteacher. Known as Angkerle Atwatye, or “The Gap of Water,” this dramatic chasm is surrounded by native flora and wildlife, making it a photographer’s paradise. You’ll enjoy a 600-meter walk through a well-maintained trail that leads to the towering rock walls of the chasm and return. The site is managed by Arrernte Aboriginal descendants, adding a deeper layer of cultural significance to your visit.

Standley Chasm is managed by Arrernte Aboriginal family members who are direct descendants of the Aboriginal people who have lived in the area for thousands of years.

Ellery Creek Big Hole:
Your next stop will be Ellery Creek Big Hole, the largest and deepest waterhole in Central Australia. The spectacular waterhole is fed by the West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja). This natural wonder is perfect for a refreshing swim or a peaceful picnic by the water. Tall red cliffs and the sandy Ellery Creek surround it. Thousands of years of massive floods have carved out this waterhole, which is recognised as an internationally significant geological site. A sandy beach also lines this huge waterhole, offering beautiful scenery.

Ormiston Gorge:
Your next stop will be Ormiston Gorge, which has become a must-see on any visit to the West Macs. The Gorge has a near-permanent waterhole ideal for swimming, especially in the warmer months. The spectacular scenery features the soaring cliffs of an ancient mountain range, incredible rock formations, and a picturesque sandy river bed lined by giant River Red Gums. Walk up to a stunning lookout overlooking a beautiful swimming hole and swim in this surprisingly big, deep permanent waterhole.

While you swim or take in the majestic scenery, we do bush cooking, including Lamb/ Kangaroo meet and prepare your picnic lunch.
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Mount Sonder Lookout:
Your next stop is Mount Sonder Lookout. This 360 ⁰ vista looks out towards the imposing Mt Sonder and over a beautifully scenic. Look for the wide range of birds of prey, such as the Wedge-tailed eagle and the Peregrine falcon and wood swallows circling the summit, riding the thermal updraughts. The view is a favourite spot for photographers and landscape artists.

Glen Helen Homestead and Gorge:
Your next stop will be at Glen Helen. Historic Glen Helen Homestead is the perfect place to relax for a while. Next, you may walk down a gorgeous waterhole to the striking Glen Helen Gorge. This stunning natural formation marks the confluence of the Finke River and the surrounding ranges. This permanent waterhole here provides an oasis for local wildlife and it is an essential refuge in the hot summer months for all nine species of fish recorded for the Finke, as well as migrating waterbirds.

Ochre Pits
Your next visit to see the vivid colours of the mineral Ochre Pits, which have been mined for generations by the local Aboriginal people. The site of Ochre Pits is located 110km west of Alice Springs; the ochre pits are a colourful outcrop on the banks of a sandy creek. Magnificent scenery, colours, gums and a nice easy walk up the dry sandy river bed to view up close this treasure of the site.
Ochre occurs in various earthy colours, including white, yellow, orange, red, and brown. It’s an important part of Aboriginal culture that is used in everyday life. It’s the raw material for paintings and ceremonial body decoration.
Ochre was used to paint weapons to increase hunting success and protect wooden weapons from termites. Red ochre was mixed into an ointment to relieve decongestion, and white ochre was used as a magical charm.
These pits are significant Aboriginal Heritage sites. It is the only quarry for ochre in the Central Australian region that is open to visitors and where the mining and collection of ochre by the Traditional Owners still occur. The right to continue to take ochre from this site is protected by the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976.

Neil Hargrave Lookout:
Between Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge, this lookout and free camp is a great spot to check out on a road trip to the West MacDonnell Ranges. You’ll be rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the West MacDonnell Ranges. The beautiful panoramic views look right across the ranges, and it’s a perfect place to rest for a while.
This lookout commemorates the valuable contributions made to the Northern Territory by Nathaniel Charles (Neil) Hargrave.
Mr Hargrave was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Council in May 1954, where he made major contributions to the territory’s constitutional status and eventual self-government. He also advocated government action for the conservation of natural and historic places, leading to legislation that resulted in the formation of the Reserves Board (now the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission).