Mother Nature has made a playground for her Earthlings…
Aaahhhhh, the breathtaking Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges National Park. With stunning waterholes so icy they’ll take your breath away and turn your lips blue, glowing quartzite cliffs, towering mountains and dramatic landscapes. These ranges are unique, easy to access, and insanely fascinating.
Tourist Attractions in the West MacDonnell Ranges
Simpsons Gap
Only 15 minutes out of Alice Springs, Simpsons Gap is not only a stunning break in the range with incredible colours and shapes in the cliffs, but it’s also home to a colony of gorgeous little black-footed rock-wallabies. These critters can often be found lazing about or bounding around effortlessly on the pile of boulders to the right that was created many moons ago by a massive landslide.
The Gap itself houses a permanent, spring-fed waterhole, but floods can leave pretty little waterholes dotted down the river, making for an even more picturesque experience. Best seen early morning or late evening.
Standley Chasm / Angkerle Atwatye
This charming little recluse is entirely Arrernte owned and run, and many Alice locals visit just to sit in the café, eat some tasty snacks and absorb the serenity. Beautiful people run this place and it always has a friendly, peaceful vibe, deeming it high on the list of awesome destinations in the West MacDonnell Ranges.
There’s a small fee of $12 to go up to the Chasm. The 1.2km hike is an awe-inspiring part of the journey, and the destination is well worth the effort. The path is fairly flat and a little rocky, but easy going in general. Getting there too early or too late takes away from that brilliant sun glow that bounces off the walls, enhancing the powerful energy of the Chasm that’s almost tactile. Being a sacred women’s place, you ladies might get the urge to fully embrace the smooth walls of the chasm and feel their ancient, feminine energy. Don’t fight it girls. It’s real.
Ellery Creek Big Hole
This is the local swimming hole for Alice Springs. Here is a place where you can see the torture undergone by the rocks during the last tectonic party around 150 million years ago. The waterhole itself is stunning, passing through the gap and out the other side to a serene, sandy beach. It’s soft, spring-fed water, but be careful as ‘Big Hole’ is another way of saying ‘has no bottom’. The further you go, the colder it gets, so bring a floaty device or at least a friend or two.
The Ochre Pits
After a short walk on a beautifully paved pathway, you’ll find yourself overlooking the most bizarre phenomenon in the West MacDonnell Ranges. The impressively colourful red, yellow and creamy coloured ochre has created a cliff around 5-7 metres high, with sedimentary layers of minerals facing vertically in perfectly imperfect rows. The rocky riverbed beneath the cliff makes a picturesque walkway for you to stumble along to get your ideal shots. With all those rich colours, a gorgeous river red gum plonked in the centre of it all, and the deep blue sky as a backdrop, this site is uniquely Australian, and SO worth a visit. But please keep your hands to yourself. This site is sacred and we’re lucky to be allowed access, so no touchy!
Ormiston Gorge
Arguably one of the most impressive sites in these ranges. The towering cliffs that line Ormiston Gorge are nothing short of mind-blowing, and the swimming hole surrounded by a white, sandy beach is incredibly picturesque. It’s only a five minute walk to the gorge, and it’s on a comfortably paved pathway, but there are a couple more options for great walks at this site.
The Ormiston Pound Walk is around 8km long and covers a crazy range of habitats and landscapes. From rolling hills with incredible plant diversity and unique bird life, to breathtaking views, boulder hopping, wading through cold water (weather-dependent) and of course walking through the vast, wide open space of the pound itself. This walk is my number one recommendation for the West MacDonnell Ranges ultimate experiences. Be sure to go prepared and informed.
The Ghost Gum Walk is also a nice little hike that takes you high up on the cliff overlooking the swimming hole that glistens like a jewel far below. It’s a short hike with lots of stairs, but worth it for the views you’re rewarded with.
Glen Helen
This place is simply heaven on Earth. It’s hard to describe the magic of a swim in the mighty Finke River; believed to be the most ancient river on our planet. Although the lodge is currently closed, the waterhole is accessible by a long, boring pathway that’s been cut in around the back. Totally worth it though if you’re an avid swimmer seeking the ultimate Red Centre icy water experience! Try to get to the base of the cliff on the right to access the water rather than wading through reeds and stumbling over rocks to get to the deep bit. Or walk upstream towards the lodge for a more peaceful, shallow wallow.
Redbank Gorge
After following the picturesque 4WD track to the end, it's about a 1km trundle / stumble / rock-hop to get to the gorge itself. Not recommended for bad knees, ankles or backs, but totally worth it for the able bodied nature-lover. The gorge then runs for about 1km through the ranges until it opens up out the other side. Just swimming in the main water hole is magic enough, but if you’re feeling adventurous you can swim, climb and scramble your way right through to the other end. The name ‘Redbank’ does no justice to the deep reds and oranges of the towering walls high above your head through this narrow chasm.
Because of this gap’s structure, it’s a place where many animals get trapped, so be aware there are usually snakes about, and if they see a moving raft they might just try to get a lift! And of course hypothermia is a risk, so be sure to bring some friends to cuddle up to!
Above all else, be sure to fully immerse yourself in the absolute beauty of the stunning Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges National Park.