MacDonnell Ranges

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2 Reviews | Add review

Address: Alice Springs
Admission: Free

ATTRACTION Keywords:
Nature & Wildlife, Walking/Hiking, Park / Garden

7:24 PM Friday, May 24
Clear. Refreshingly cool.
7 day forecast

Offering spectacular views both east and west of Alice Springs, the MacDonnell Ranges are a 400 mile (644 kilometer) stretch of mountain ranges. The ranges hold some of the Northern Territory's finest attractions including the ancient ghost gums and rock wallabies at the majestic Simpson's Gap, the stark beauty of Standley Chasm in the midday sun and the secluded waterholes of Serpentine Gorge and Ellery Creek Big Hole.

The ranges are dotted with micro-climates offering rare wildlife including the Centralian Tree Frog that lives in some of the very cold rock pools.

There are many sites of significance to the traditional owners, the Arrernte. These include ancient rock paintings at Emily Gap, Trephina Gorge and N’Dhala Gorge. You can also visit the old ochre pits where they quarried for ochre pigment.

Latest Reviews

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All MacDonnell Ranges Reviews

Review by Shreekrishna D, Iceland, February 2010
Doing what:

This was a great tour to see maximum in just 3 days. Alice Springs came as a surprise. Visit to Anzac hill in repeated on two days which was unnecessary. Tour driver / guides were very good. Uluru sunset and sunrise were memorable. We also got a free upgrade in our hotel at Ayers Rock resort. This tour is great because the time in well utilized from landing in Alice to departure from Ayers rock.

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Review by Christina F, February 2010
Doing what:

The parts we attended were great, but unfortunately unexpected outback rains cancelled the MacDonnells Range portion of the tour. If I had to do it over again, I would stay at the top of line hotel, because the Crowne Plaza was nice, but a little ways from downtown. We had to wade across that flooded road to get back! And since the bus ride is so long from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock Resort, I was glad it was a one way trip instead of returning to Alice.

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Practical Info

The range is popular with bush walkers as the 140 mile (223 kilometer) Larapinta Trail runs along the ridge and into the plains below.

The Larapinta Trail is divided into twelve sections with most trail-heads close to the big-ticket attractions. Some access tracks are not suitable for buses or caravans and difficult in wet weather.

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