Western MacDonnell Ranges

Galleries:
Glen Helen | Gosse Bluff | Haasts Bluff | Hermannsberg | Simpsons Gap

Sweeping west from Alice Springs for around 200km, the timeless Western MacDonnell Ranges form a rugged red barrier across the vast plains of Central Australia. The ranges consist of a series of long, steep-sided parallel ridges rising up to 600m high above the valley floors. Scattered throughout the ranges are deep gorges carved by ancient rivers such as the Finke and Hugh Rivers which meander south to empty into the Simpson Desert. Although arid, the Western MacDonnell Ranges are home to a huge variety of native fauna and flora, including many tall trees such as majestic ghost gums and rare palms.

Among the most popular destinations in the Western MacDonnells are Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Bighole, Serpentine Gorge, Ochre Pits, Ormiston Gorge, Redbank Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge, Roma Gorge, Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) and Palm Valley. All are within an hour or two's drive from Alice Springs.

Ellery Creek Big Hole has beautiful clear, deep waters for swimming, but be careful about diving as the water can be extremely cold below the surface. On the opposite side of the waterhole is a white sandy beach where it is possible to walk further up the gorge. There is also a pleasant walk from the campsite through higher terrain and back along creek bed to the main waterhole.

Serpentine Gorge has an easy 1km walking track from the car park to the gorge entrance. There is also an optional 600m deviation that ascends cliffs to a lookout. Like many walking tracks in the Western MacDonnells, this track was made by inmates of the Alice Springs Correctional Centre.

Ormiston Gorge is a spectacular sight. It is only an easy 1km walk to the gorge entrance, but there is also an excellent 7km Ormiston Pound loop track which is well worth doing during cooler weather or early in the morning.

Glen Helen Gorge is located on the Finke River. It is less than 1km to the lookout, and only slightly further to the rocks at the waterhole. The entrance to the gorge is behind the Glen Helen Homestead, now a hotel and restaurant and a great spot to stop for lunch.

Camping facilities at Redbank Gorge are excellent. There are two camp areas, the larger Woodlands area being well set up with shady camps and gas cooking facilities, each site has a special patch of sand under the trees to pitch a tent in the otherwise rocky area! Redbank Gorge is quite close to Mt Sonder, one of the tallest mountains in Central Australia and the Northern Territory, and a favourite subject of the aboriginal watercolour artist Albert Namatjira.

West of Redbank Gorge is Roma Gorge, great to visit but overnight camping is not allowed. Access is along a sandy and at times rocky creekbed for 8km. Roma Gorge has an important, good quality Aboriginal rock art site.

Further west lies Tnorala (Gosse Bluff), a spectacular crater formed when a comet crashed to earth about 140 million years ago. Local Arrernte Dreamtime stories tell of a baby falling to earth here from the heavens during the Dreamtime.