West MacDonnell Ranges Day Trip from Alice Springs

Simpsons Gap

Simpsons Gap, known to the local Arrernte people as Rungutjirpa, is the first stop and one of the most striking gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges, just a short drive west of Alice Springs. Here a creek has cut a narrow passage through a high ridge of red quartzite, and a sandy riverbed lined with ghost gums and river red gums leads to a small waterhole at the foot of the cliffs.

The easy walk to the gap takes about 15 minutes each way, and the early morning light makes the rock glow. Keep an eye on the boulders: black-footed rock-wallabies often rest among the rocks on either side. It is a gentle introduction to the West MacDonnell Ranges tour and a place where your guide explains how these ancient mountains were formed and later worn down.

Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye)

Standley Chasm, Angkerle Atwatye in the Arrernte language, is a narrow cleft between two sheer walls of rock about 80 metres high, and one of the most famous sights in Central Australia. The chasm is on Aboriginal land and managed by the local community, which is why there is a separate entrance fee; on this tour it is already included, together with morning tea before the walk.

The path into the chasm follows a creek bed through a shady gully of cycads and gums and takes about 20 minutes each way, with some rocky sections. Standley Chasm is best known for the moment around midday when the sun shines straight down between the walls and lights them up in brilliant orange, but the chasm is impressive at any hour. Plan on about an hour here.

The Ochre Pits

The Ochre Pits are a layered cliff of soft rock in shades of red, yellow, white and purple along a dry creek bed. For generations Aboriginal people have quarried ochre here, mixing it with water or fat for ceremonies, body painting and artworks, and the site remains culturally important. A short path and viewing platform let you see the colourful bands up close without disturbing them.

This is a short stop of about 15 minutes, with a guided explanation of how the ochre is used and why the colours vary. Please do not touch or remove the ochre. Many visitors find the Ochre Pits one of the most photogenic spots on a West MacDonnell Ranges day trip from Alice Springs, especially when the low sun brings out the colours.

Ormiston Gorge

Ormiston Gorge is often called the jewel of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Towering red cliffs rise above a permanent waterhole, and the wide sandy creek bed, scattered with smooth river stones and ghost gums, makes it one of the most beautiful places in the Red Centre. It is also a good spot for birdlife, with honeyeaters and cockatoos among the trees.

Here you enjoy a bushman's lunch, then have time to walk to the waterhole or along the creek and take photos of the gorge walls. Allow about an hour. Is Ormiston Gorge worth visiting? It is one of the reasons travellers come to the West MacDonnell Ranges at all, and arriving on a guided tour means you can relax and enjoy it without worrying about the long drive back.

Ellery Creek Big Hole

On the way back to Alice Springs you stop at Ellery Creek Big Hole, one of the most pristine waterholes in Central Australia. A deep, permanent pool sits at the base of a gap in the ranges, framed by rugged red cliffs and river red gums, with a sandy beach at the water's edge and views of the rock layers folded by ancient earth movements.

In the warmer months, from about October to April, a swim here is a highlight of the day, so bring your swimwear; the water stays cold even in summer. In winter you can simply walk around the waterhole and enjoy the reflections. You spend about an hour here before driving back to Alice Springs, often watching the ranges glow orange and red in the late light.