The West MacDonnell Ranges

The mountains around Alice Springs are called the MacDonnells Ranges. Set in the Heavitree Gap, Alice Springs has the West MacDonnell Ranges to its west and the East MacDonnell Ranges lie to the east. The easy vehicle access to these mountains makes them a popular attraction to visitors exploring the area around Alice Springs. Covering a distance of 250 km in length, a jewel in the Australian Outback, the West MacDonnell National Park offers many sights to see and explore. The area offers The Larapinta Trail, the Ellery Creek Bighole, and Mount Sonder..

Stretching more than 220 km from Alice Springs, through the West MacDonnell National Park to Redbank Gorge, the famed Larapinta Trail has to be one of the Outback’s most incredible walks. To walk the entire Larapinta Trail takes about 2 weeks and National Geographic has deemed it to be one of the planet’s top 20 trekking experiences. Although it offers a challenge to hikers of all levels, the Larapinta Trail has been broken into 12 walks as it weaves through some of the world’s oldest igneous and metamorphic rock and rare flora from some 600 species. There is a section of the trail to appeal to everyone.

Ellery Creek Big Hole Nature Park is a great picnic site and is just 2 km from the roadway. The beauty of the deep, clear waters of Ellery Creek Big Hole lures the visitor into taking a 150m swim across the waterhole to the other side. Across the pool, the picturesque fine white sand of the beach contrasts with the red cliff walls. There are some very nice walks that will allow you to enjoy the full beauty of the waterhole.

Rwetyepme, better known as Mount Sonder, is at one end of the Larapinta Trail. There is a clearly marked 12 km walking trail on the western side. This trail takes you to the summit that, although not the actual summit has been selected to keep visitors safe. The view from the summit is breathtaking. There is water available from a water tank near the parking area.

Among the other sights to see are Simpson’s Gap where the black-footed rock wallabies can be seen at dawn and dusk, Standley Chasm offers an incredible botanical experience, Serpentine Gorge with walking trails lined by River Red gumtrees, Ormiston Pound a ring of mountains encompassing Mount Giles, and Redbank Gorge that offers breathtaking water exploration. By no means are the sights in the West MacDonnell National Park limited to these areas. There is so much more to see when you visit the West MacDonnell National Park that you need a week or so to explore in the main areas.

One more incredible Outback experience to create amazing memories.