The East MacDonnell Ranges are not as well-known as the West MacDonnell Ranges, but it is a great location to visit when in Alice Springs. If pressed for time most locations can be visited in a day. That can be extended to several days if you have the time.

The key locations are marked  on Google Maps here.

Drive south out of Alice Springs

Drive south on the Stuart Highway out of Alice Springs, once you drive through the large roundabout continue south and turn left onto the Ross Highway. The Ross Highway is the second street on the left after exiting the large roundabout.

Emily Gap

The Heavitree Range is now on your left as is the Emily Gap and Jessie Gap Nature Park (sometimes spelt Jesse Gap). A name easy for me to remember as my two youngest nieces are Emily & Jessie.

Jessie and Emily Gaps are associated with the Arrernte People’s Dreamtime story of the Three Caterpillars: Yeperenye, Ntyarlke and Utnerrengatye. These caterpillars formed Emily Gap, Jessie Gap and many of the topographic features around Alice Springs, then spread out to the edge of the Simpson Desert.

The first stop is Emily Gap, which is well sign posted. A short walk from the car park takes you into Emily Gap, a small break (aka gap) in the East MacDonnell Ranges, where water flows during heavy rain.

Like so much of central Australia the high iron content in the rocks means deep brilliant reds and oranges contrasting with the blue sky and the white sand of the creek bed.

It has aboriginal rock art and a small picnic area. When I was there, the flies were plentiful, so take a fly net or Aeroguard.

Half an hour is enough time to walk in and out of the gap, with time to explore.

Jessie Gap

Further down the Ross Highway is Jessie Gap. Again, there is a parking area and a short walk into the gap.

No aboriginal artwork here, but it is a little bigger than Emily Gap. Again, flies were an issue, the fence on the other side of the gap suggesting cattle were around, explaining the flies.

The two gaps have more in common than they have differences, but each is worth a short visit. Half an hour is enough time.

Corroboree Rock Conservation Park

A place of significant ceremonial importance to the local aborigines. From memory you cannot climb on the rock. But there is a walking trail around Corroboree Rock.

The walk took about an hour, but I stopped frequently to take photos and explored. There are additional tracks to explore for those visitors with more time.

There are great views and scenery to see along the Ross Highway itself. I often took a detour to the roadside to take in the views.

Trephina Gorge Nature Park

Trephina Gorge requires you to leave the Ross Highway and drive into Trephina Gorge Nature Park and Campground. It is a stunning drive in.

Again, I stopped a few times to take in the view and take photos. You can visit the “The Ghost Gum” on a side track and there is a spectacular bluff roadside.

The main attraction of Trephina, not surprisingly, is Trephina Gorge. The gorge entry is a short walk from the carpark. I only walked a short way into the gorge, but there are several short walks are available for those staying a night or two in the campground. Details here.

Activities in the park, include:

• bushwalking;
• wildlife spotting;
• camping. The campground has quite a few campsites and many have good privy due to the vegetation;
• swimming at John Hayes Rockhole (requires a drive);
• four-wheel drive (4WD) tracks; and
• ranger guided walks and talks.

Facilities include:

•  firepits;
• public toilets (no showers); and
• picnic area.

I took a walk along the gorge and another walk along the creek bed at creek crossing as I left the park. I then returned to Alice Springs stopping often along the Ross Highway to enjoy the sunset. These places can be visited in one day for those of a tight time-frame.

Up to here the trip can be down in a 2WD car, but some of the following destinations require a 4WD.

On leaving Trephina you can instead head east towards the Ross River Resort and 500m before the Resort entry you turn right into N’Dhala Gorge Nature Park.

N’Dhala Gorge Nature Park

N’Dhala Gorge Nature Park has the following facilities:

• information signs;
• fire pits;
• public toilets (no showers);
• picnic tables;
• bush campsites; and
• walking tracks.

 Maybe a loop instead

If you choose not to return to Alice along the Ross Highway, you can continue eastwards towards Ruby Gap Nature Park, Atnarpa and Arltunga Historical Reserve. Then turn onto the Gardens Road (the Arltunga Tourist Route) to visit Amblalindum and Claraville. You will rejoin the Stuart Highway north of Alice Springs.