{"id":7107,"date":"2020-02-09T09:42:06","date_gmt":"2020-02-08T22:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thedocaus.com\/blog\/?page_id=7107"},"modified":"2025-02-03T05:27:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-02T19:27:01","slug":"west-macdonnell-ranges","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thedocaus.com\/blog\/?page_id=7107","title":{"rendered":"West MacDonnell Ranges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There seems to quite a few requests about the Red Centre travel. This Guide concerns the West MacDonnell Ranges, using Alice Springs as your starting point. It is a loop with Alice Springs as your starting and finishing point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Places\nto see in Alice Springs are varied depending on your particular interest. I\nwould highly recommend one location, the Alice Springs Desert Park<\/a> on the outskirts of the\ntownship on Larapinta Drive part of the Red Centre Way. You can easily spend\nhalf a day or a full day walking though the exhibits, including several\naviaries, a nocturnal house, different desert habitants, information talks,\netc. So much of the plant and fauna of the Red Centre can be seen here. Worth\nevery cent of the entry fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key locations are marked on Google Maps <\/strong>here<\/a>. <\/strong>You can download the map as a KML file from the link and use it on your phone or tablet. The map gives the exact location of all the turn-offs and locations described in this Guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drive\nout of Alice Springs along Larapinta Drive past the Desert Park and the John\nFlynn Grave Memorial (founder of the Royal Flying Doctors Service) towards\nSimpsons Gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Two\nlocations for longer stays include Ormiston Gorge and Finke Gorge National\nPark. Both locations have hot showers, decent camp sites and plenty of things\nto do nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larapinta Walking\nTrail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Larapinta Trail<\/a> is walking trail 223 kilometres long, comprising 12\nsections, covering much of the West Macdonell Ranges. April to August is the\nbest time of year to walk the trail, July being peak time. The link given has\ncomprehensive information about walks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp\nfires are NOT permitted on the Larapinta Trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many\nlocations described here are part of the Larapinta Trail, so you can walk to\nmost destinations. We will stay with the 4WD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simpsons Gap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Simpsons\nGap is one of the larger gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges. At dawn or dusk you\nmay spot a Black-footed Rock Wallaby along the walking track or near the\npermanent waterhole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\nis a sign telling walkers to stay away from the rocks, this is the best\nlocation to you look for Black-footed Rock Wallabies, 9-10am is a good time to\nlook. For part of the year, there is a Ranger Tour at 10am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nwallabies are small and many people fail to see them. They are only about 45cm\ntall, so when looking focus on looking for something small. A rock near grass\nis often a good choice, as they like to eat from the safety of a rock with a\ngood view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\ncannot swim in the waterhole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending\non how long you watch the wallabies, an hour or an hour and a half is enough\ntime for a return walk to the car park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Simpson’s Gap<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Standley Chasm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Standley\nChasm is commercially-owned and operated. When I visited there was a $15 entry\nfee, which can add up for a family. As I had seen chasms before, I decided not\nto visit. It is a choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nturn off to Namatjira Drive is not far past Standley Chasm. You turn right onto\nNamatjira Drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roadside rest stops –\nNamatjira Drive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The trip starts along Larapinta Drive but later you turn off onto Namatjira Drive, the rest stops are along Namatjira Drive There are two rest stops along my suggested route, both involving a left hand turn off the main road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both\nrest stops are worth visiting as they take you up on top of the ridge giving\nexpansive views, often 360 degrees vistas across the West MacDonnell Ranges. It\nis rewarding for those with mobility issues as minimal walking is involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While\nthe views are good from the Namatjira Drive, they are great from the rest stop,\nbecause of the added height from being on the ridge top. Many visitors do not\nvisit the rest stops, it is their loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two\nlocations are marked on the Map, the name I remember is the Neil Hargrave\nLookout, before the Ochre Pits, the second of the roadside stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At both\nlocations, if you sit still the zebra finches will fly in and drink water\nleaking from under the water tanks at each location. Sit quietly and you will\nbe rewarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ellery Creek Big Hole<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ellery\nCreek Big Hole has these facilities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n