Destinations > MacDonnell Ranges

Once at Ormiston Gorge, the only way to see it is by walking. There are a variety of walks ranging from the easy 10-minute walk to the waterhole, to a three-dayer to Mt Giles for the more experienced.

"You gotta do the Pound Walk," said Graham from Sydney, perspiring in the carpark after his four-hour hike. "It loops for 7km across the western edge of the Pound floor then rock-hops along the gorge to the main waterhole. It's a beauty!"

Nature blessed us with a sensational display when we camped here. In the early evening the full moon rose huge and orange over the grey-green floodplain of the Finke, while the MacDonnells basked in the sun's last light, first in muted hues of gold then blue and finally purple.

Glen Helen Gorge
Park your car at the Glen Helen Lodge and walk the short distance to the gorge. Further access through here is restricted to those who want to either swim through the cold water or spend hours climbing the ridge.

When explorer Giles first saw the Glen Helen valley with Mt Sonder reclining in the background in 1872, he may have said something inspiring like "Crikey!" No doubt he was more articulate because only three years later a pastoral application had been lodged. But this country is not easily tamed and this first attempt at raising cattle failed. Reasons for abandoning the place seemed to be low market prices and high costs.

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In time cattle prices rose and when there's a quid to be made there's always someone willing to have another go. After the turn of the century that willing someone was Fred Raggett.

Fred didn't have it easy either. The story goes that once while out mustering a long way from the homestead - Glen Helen then was roughly 1600 sq km - he broke his leg. Unable to be moved because of the rough terrain, a bough shelter was built over him. Later, the pastor from Hermannsberg arrived by camel and set the broken limb. Fred was then left there until his leg had healed enough for him to mount a camel and ride back to the station homestead.

Finally giving the game away in 1938, Fred sold out to Bryan Bowman, the creator of Glen Helen Lodge. The restaurant of the present day lodge incorporates part of homestead No. 3 from the original Glen Helen property.

Gosse Bluff (Tnorala)
After rejoining Namatjira Drive travel 12km, turn left and then look for signs to the lookout at Tylers Pass about 10km from the turn-off. From here there are spectacular view over Gosse Bluff. The Bluff is still 20-odd km away but it rises up from the flat plain like the battlements of an ancient city.

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