West and East MacDonnell Ranges Full Day Tour- Small Group

Our first visit of the day is at Anzac Hill, where you will be able to take in panoramic views over the town of Alice Springs and the surrounding MacDonnell ranges. You may be able to capture one photo to cover the entire town. Anzac Hill is a memorial dedicated to those who served in Australia’s defense forces during all international wars.

Your next stopping will be at Flynn’s Grave Memorial, the resting place of Reverend Flynn, the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We make short stopping to relax and enjoy the changing colours of the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges and get some photos. our experienced tour guide brief about John Flynn's contribution to Australian society.

Simpson Gap features the towering cliffs of Simpsons Range, a permanent waterhole and opportunities to spot resident wildlife, ancient Red River Gums with a taste of Central Australia. Simpsons Gap is a significant site to the local Arrernte Aboriginal people and was the mythological home of giant goanna ancestors. We will take you on a short, easy walk alongside a picturesque dry creek bed that leads to a dramatic gap in the MacDonnell Ranges and a waterhole rich in native wildlife, flora, and geology. Sometimes you may even spot you might see Black-footed Rock-wallabies along the walking track into the rocky slopes gap. After enjoying your sightseeing walk you will serve bush tea and coffee by our tour guide.

The next stop on your exploration of the West MacDonnell is a picturesque walk at Standley Chasm. After Mrs Ida Standley, who in 1914 became the first school teacher in Alice Springs, this place was named Standley Chasm. Walking access to the dramatic 80m sheer rock-face of the chasm is along a well-maintained trail (1.2km/15mins each way), following the natural creek bed with seating & interpretative signage. Angkerle Atwatye, “the Gap of Water”, is a striking geological formation with significant botanical, bird-watching & wildlife photography appeal.

Following lunch, your tour takes you to Emily Gap. Emily Gap is a significant site for the dreaming stories of three ancestral caterpillars, Yeperenye, Utnerrengatye and the Ntyarlke. Caterpillar Dreaming is one of the most important creation stories for Mparntwe/Alice Springs and the surrounding region. Many Arrernte people conceived in Alice Springs consider themselves direct descendants of these caterpillars.

Atherrke is the Arrernte name for Jessie Gap. Jessie and Emily Gaps are associated with storylines for the Three Caterpillars: Yeperenye, Ntyarlke and Utnerrengatye. The Emu storyline also has a relationship with this site. The white sand against the ridge to the east of this gap represents the emu fat. You will have a chance to see Aboriginal rock arts at Jessie Gap. The name Jessie Gap first appeared in the early 1870s on maps of central Australia by W.W. Mills, a surveyor employed on the Overland Telegraph Line.

Your next visit will be to Corroboree Rock. It’s one of many sites in the MacDonnell Ranges that are important to the Eastern Arrernte people. You will take a short walk with our guide around the rock base to survey the area and closely look at the ancient sedimentary, fine-grained rock. At the base, you can see dark grey and light grey streaky blobs of dolostone rock. A ring of low ground surrounds it, making it look like an obelisk. This striking dolostone outcrop, formed from ancient sedimentary rock, is a silent witness to thousands of years of history. Though its exact purpose remains a mystery, it is thought to have been used for storing ceremonial objects rather than as a site for corroborees (traditional dances). A short walk around the base of the rock reveals its fascinating streaky texture and forms an integral part of the region’s cultural landscape. The rock is an outcrop of dolomite from the Bitter Springs Formation, originally laid in salty lakes 800 million years ago.

Continuing east, you’ll arrive at Trephina Gorge Nature Park, a stunning location known for its rugged scenery and diverse wildlife. This 85-kilometre-long park is a prime example of the East MacDonnell Ranges' dramatic beauty. The park offers a range of short walks, perfect for exploring the rugged landscape, including the wide views of the sandy creek bed below. Trephina Gorge is home to abundant wildlife, particularly birds and other animals drawn to the waterholes throughout the area. For nature lovers, this park is a great place to catch a glimpse of the unique flora and fauna of the Outback. It also carries deep significance to the Eastern Arrernte Aboriginal people, as it lies within the Wallaby Dreaming Trail. In addition to that we further take you to the famous Giant Ghost Gum Tree, located within Trephina Gorge Nature Park. With its stark white bark, this ancient tree is more than 300 years old, making it the largest and oldest Ghost Gum tree in Central Australia.

Once again, we visit Anzac Hill withness the sunset over the desert landscape; you’ll leave the tour with a deeper appreciation for the unique spirit and heritage of Alice Springs, its people, and its stunning surroundings.