Destinations > MacDonnell Ranges

Staying There
Camping access varies from site to site throughout the West MacDonnells - check with local authorities for more details. Most areas do allow camping, and these areas are fairly well set up, with bush toilets and designated campsites the minimum in most spots.

More sophisticated accommodation is available at various caravan parks in the area, and there are a few motels along the route for those that do not wish to spend too many nights under canvas. Caravans can be taken as far along the track as Ormiston Gorge.

At Simpsons Gap, facilities include picnic tables, water, gas barbecues, toilets and visitor information centres, and the park is open from 8am to 8pm daily. The Standley Chasm facilities are open 7.30am to 6pm, include a kiosk, water, picnic tables, barbecues and toilets. Ellery Creek Big Hole facilities include a camping area with pit toilets, barbecues and fireplaces, picnic area and numerous walking trails. Serpentine Gorge has picnic facilities here and toilets.

The Ormiston Gorge campground has gas barbecues, tables and an amenity block.

Glen Helen Gorge offers comfortable accommodation. Glen Helen Lodge is 8km from the Ormiston Gorge turnoff. Visitors can stay here in motel or bunkhouse accommodation or use a powered or unpowered camping site. The lodge also provides a quiet haven for a snack or a more filling lunch and the restaurant is open nightly. Helicopter flights of varying durations are also available.

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Things to do
The main activities of the area are bushwalking, swimming and exploring the natural landscapes that form the West MacDonnell Ranges. The area is steeped in local Aboriginal history, and offers a fascinating insight into the culture of the original inhabitants of the Ranges. Due to the high volume of tourist traffic through the region, the area is well signposted, and explanatory signs and presentations are regular features of the journey.

Around and About
Alice Springs is the largest regional centre to the West MacDonnells, and serves as the perfect base for exploration of the surrounding area. Alice Springs itself is a tourist attraction, with an amazing array of activites for laid back visitors and adventurers alike. The Alice has a population of around 25,000, which swells to 50,000 during peak tourist times. As a result, there are many places to stay and eat throughout the town.

Alice Springs plays host to many and varied festivals and events during the year, including the Central Australian Country Music Festival in April/May, The Finke Desert Race, an off-road race for motorcycles and other vehicles in June, and the Henley-On-Todd, a famous waterless regatta in September.

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