Uluru and Alice Springs
Uluru and Alice Springs
East MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory
The beauty of the East MacDonnells, stretching just 100km east of Alice Springs, is simply breathtaking although not many tourists have discovered them. The area was originally opened up with the discovery of gold at Arltunga - today a picturesque ghost town. The road that leads to Arltunga winds through some of Central Ausralia's prettiest bushwalking country - past gorges and waterholes to camping grounds and an outback pub. This is also part of the Explorer Territory 4X4 Trail which will take you on through changing landscapes to the Plenty Highway.
And a little north of the East MacDonnells, along the Plenty Highway, are the gemfields where glittering rewards remain scattered, just waiting for you to scoop them up! Daily fossicking tours are available from Gemtree.
According to the Dreamtime stories of the Arrernte, the caterpillar ancestral beings of Anthwerrke originated in Emily Gap. As they moved around, they formed the MacDonnell Ranges and created the gap where Alice Springs now lies. Jessie Gap, Corroboree Rock, Trephina Gorge and N'Dhala Gorge are also highly significant, as you can see from the rock art and the stories of the area.
The Ross Highway is sealed all the way to the Arltunga turn-off and , except for Ruby Gap and N'Dhala Gorge, all other attractions are easily accessible by conventional vehicles. There is a range of air-conditioned 4X4 touring options with experienced guides from Alice Springs.
