Right in the middle of Australia’s Red Centre, West MacDonnell National Park is one of the most amazing places in Australia.
Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
With its red cliffs, colourful gorges and desert plants and animals, it's one of the best places to visit in the outback Northern Territory, and the whole remote Australia. Most people head to Uluru and Kata Tjuta and never get time to turn in here – which is why in the West MacDonnells you skip the crowds and fancy resorts which surround the Uluru and Kata Tjuta. It is the perfect place to do some simple bush camping and a lot of bushwalking in some very beautiful landscape.
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Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Geology The West Macdonnell National Park covers 39,300 sq km 160km west of Alice Springs. The ranges were lifted 350-300 million years ago in an event that occurred between two geological provinces: the northern granites and metamorphics; and the southern sandstone and folded quartzite zones. The extensive folding and faulting have formed some spectacular deep gaps and gorges, and built Northern Territory’s highest mountains Mt Sonder, Mt Leibig and Mt Zeil.
Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Climate and Vegetation The West MacDonnell National Park has a wetter climate than the usual arid plains of Australian outback. But there are differences even within the ranges, with the drier mountain tops and wetter microclimates in the deep gaps and gorges, often with permanent water. This variety has created a rich plant life with some 1000 species including Spinifex grasses, acacias and mulga which grow on drier areas; and callistemons, gum trees, figs and cycads in the wetter gullies.
Desert Vegetation. Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Australia Animals and Birds Almost 400 animal species live in West MacDonnell National Park. Euros and black-footed rock wallabies are commonly seen. Dingos are also usual to see, and many nocturnal mammals such as dunnarts and native rats can be seen when spotlighting during the night. Birdlife is also abundant – over 200 species are known to inhabit the area, including budgerigars, western bowerbirds, painted finches, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos and the spectacular Spinifex pigeons. Nine species of frogs and about 100 species of reptiles are also found in the park.
Black Footed rock wallaby. Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Bushwalks and Scenic Drives The West MacDonnell National Park are popular with serious bushwalkers who hike the 223km Larapinta Trail as well as day-trippers from Alice Springs who come here to drive the scenic drives, swim, bicycle, picnic or barbeque, or bushcamp over a night.
Larapinta Trail. Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Larapinta Trail The long and popular bushwalking track Larapinta Trail starts from the historical Alice Springs Telegraph Station just north of Alice Springs. But most people are not up to such a long bushwalk for a weekend outing so there is a sealed road parallel with the trail, where popular spots on the Larapinta Trail can be reached by car - which also gives an opportunity to hike only some parts of the Larapinta Trail.
Larapinta Drive. Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Larapinta Drive The first part of that sealed road is called Larapinta Drive, which starts west of Alice Springs. It first passes Mt Gillen and the Historical Reserve and grave of John Flynn, the founder of Royal Flying Doctors’ Service, and later on your right hand side is the turnoff to Simpson’s Gap on the Larapinta Trail - a beautiful gorge where black-footed rock wallabies are often seen. As Simpson’s Gap is only 22km from Alice Springs, it is a popular spot for day-trippers who like to have picnics with views and maybe do some short bushwalks. There is also a popular, 17km bicycle track from Alice Springs to Simpson’s Gap.
Simpson’s Gap. Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Standley Chasm Another 30-ish km west from here is one of the most amazing rock formations in the West MacDonnell National Park - Standley Chasm with its 80m high rock walls around a narrow gap – have a look at how small you are there on the photo below. There are toilets, picnic tables and drinking water here; and a small kiosk where you can buy refreshments and snacks.
Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Ellery Creek Big Hole Further west, the Larapinta Trail turns south-east to Palm Valley and Finke Gorge National Park, but if you want to continue discovering West Macdonnell National Park, turn right onto Namatjira Drive, where your first turnoff on your right hand side (after quite a drive, 90-ish km from Alice Springs) is Ellery Creek Big Hole on the Larapinta Trail. Here you can have a cooling swim in the permanent waterhole with cold water. There is also a camping ground here, picnic tables, gas and wood barbeques, toilets and drinking water.
Ellery Creek Big Hole. Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Serpentine Gorge and Ormiston Gorge Back on the Namatjira Drive, not far west from Ellery Creek is Serpentine Gorge with a camp site and wood barbeque, and further west are Ochre Pits, a source of paint for Aboriginal people. Another 25-or-so km west on the main road is Ormiston Gorge, one of the most beautiful gorges in the West MacDonnells and one of the best places to see wildlife such as black-footed rock wallabies. There is a nice swimming hole here, a ranger station, caravan and camping sites, picnic tables and toilets; and a few short walking tracks around the gorge. There are also gas barbeques and you can buy refreshments from a kiosk.
Ormiston Gorge. Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Glen Helen Another short drive along the main drive is Glen Helen where there is a petrol station, accommodation and meals (even a bar and live music some nights of the week) in Glen Helen Resort, and north-west of it is the Glen Helen Gorge which gets beautifully red in sunsets. There is a 4WD camping site here; and right next door is Mt Sonder Lookout with some impressive views over the red landscape.
Glen Helen. Courtesy of Tourism Northern Territory
Guided Walks and Tours There are many ranger-guided activities in the park, such as guided walks and nature talks organised by the West MacDonnell National Park. You can fly helicopter here from Alice Springs, or join Alice Wanderer, Centre Highlights or Emu Run on a tour from Alice.
Here's a map of the West MacDonnell National Park, where I have tagged the places that I mentioned on this web page. You can click on the tags to see what places they are, and double-click anywhere on the map to zoom it in and see the places closer. Drag the map to move around, and if you want to see the satellite image with Google Earth, click on "Sat" in the top right hand corner.
NOTE: This website is written in British English, which is the English we use in Australia. You will find words like "traveller", "harbour" and "realise", and they are all correct in the language used in Australia.
