Uluru and Alice Springs
Uluru and Alice Springs
West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory
The MacDonnell Ranges, stretching to the west of Alice Springs and the Finke River region to the south, hold some of Central Australia's most spectacular scenery - from the famous Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm less than an hours drive from Alice Springs, to the ancient 5km across meteor crater in Tnorala Conservation Reserve. The Ranges and surrounding country are home to the West MacDonnell and the Finke Gorge National Parks.
This entire area is also home to the Western Arrernte people and was where Aborigianl artist Albert Namatjira drew his inspiration. All of the sites hold special significance for them. If you take the unsealed Mereenie Loop from Hermannsberg or Glen Helen, the Ranges are also the gateway to Kings Canyon within Watarraka National Park.
This is Central Australia's most accessible National Park. You can see all the major sights in a day trip following the Larapinta and Namatjira Drives from Alice Springs. This is where you will find Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek, Big Hole. Ormiston Gorge and Pound, the Ochre Pits and the Glen Helen, Redbank and Serpentine Gorges.
One of the most surprising features of the West MacDonnell Ranges are pockets of permanent water that lie hidden among its ancient folds. These help support a rich variety f plants and animals, with thick leafy canopies of bloodwoods and ghost gums sheltering diamond doves, migratory rainbow bee-eaters and many other birds. Black-footed rock wallabies pick their way along the rocky slopes while, high above, majestic wedge-tailed eagles seek out unwary snakes and skinks. The Finke Gorge National Park is perhaps best known for Palm Valley with its grove of unique and beautiful palms. These palms and other rare vegetation are remnants from a period which had a much wetter climate. The nearest relatives to these palms are 1,000km away. The Finke River, which flows through this 46,000 hectare wilderness area, is believed to be the world's oldest watercourse, with sections which are 350 million years old! It is often dry but because there is always water flowing underground you may find some permanent waterholes, such as those in Finke Gorge itself, that are refuges for an abundance of waterbirds, animals and plants. The river formed a link in an Aboriginal trade route that brought such unlikely items as pearl shell to the Arrernte people, over 1,500km across the desert from the sea. The park has 4X4 access only and there are 4X4 tours operating out of Alice Springs that will take you to Palm Valley and to see the Parks truly remarkable scenery.
