Larapinta and the East MacDonnells – 9 Days

We start our tour at 8.30 am at Mercure in Alice Springs. From here, we drive to the Ross River Homestead. On the way, we enjoy a range of short walks: Emily Gap art site, Jessie Gap art site, Corroboree Rock Conservation area and Giant Ghost Gum (Trephina entrance).

We’ll enjoy lunch at the Bluff Campground before we hike to the Trephina Gorge walk. After our walk, we’ll head off to Ross River Resort, where we will stay for the night. After a short sunset walk, it is on to dinner at the resort.

Walking: Easy to Moderate / 13 km / 4 hrs

Meals: Lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Ross River Homestead

After breakfast at the Ross River Homestead, we depart for the Trephina Gorge National Park.

Today we will walk the Ridgetop Walk – which will take us from the Panorama Campground to John Hayes Rockhole and finally back to the Trephina Gorge Road.

Walking: Easy to Moderate / 12 km / 5.5 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and two-course a la carte chef-prepared dinner at the lodge restaurant

Accommodation: Ross River Homestead

Leaving the Ross River Homestead we will drive west along Larapinta Drive and then Namatjira Drive through the West MacDonnell National Park towards Ormiston Gorge, our first stop on the Larapinta Trail. We will stop at Ellery Creek Big hole for a short leg stretch and trip briefing. The Ormiston Pound circuit walk is on a moderate track and takes around 4 hrs. Leaving Ormiston Gorge, the walk heads into the low hills surrounding Ormiston Pound, stopping first at a serene lookout and then heading down into the pound itself and meeting the ancient Ormiston Creek River. We then follow Ormiston Creek to an incredible lunch spot in the Ormiston Gorge, surrounded by towering red rock cliffs. Following lunch, we rock hop down the gorge and gradually climb up to the iconic Ghost Gum Lookout overtop the main waterhole before descending back to our starting spot. From here, there will be time to laze by the Ormiston Gorge waterhole with ice cream or coffee and have a refreshing swim.

Walking: Easy / 10 km / 4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, walkers lunch and two-course a la carte chef-prepared dinner at the lodge restaurant

Accommodation: Glen Helen Lodge

Today we visit Counts Point, which is one of the iconic and unbeatable viewpoints in Central Australia, and of the Larapinta Trail. The first few kilometres of this walk are pretty easy and level until we reach the base of the Heavitree Range. We then climb up to the crest of the ridge at Eagles Landing and are rewarded by uninterrupted views stretching to the horizon on all sides. Towards the end of the ridge, we reach Counts Point and stop for a well-earned lunch break with outstanding views. After leaving the lookout, we then descend off the ridge via a spectacular spur. We drop into the lovely shaded Lomandra Gully for a rest on our descent. The last few kilometres of the walk are along an easy, flat bush track.

Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 7 hrs / shorter option available

Meals: Cooked breakfast in the restaurant, walkers lunch and a 2 course a la carte chef-prepared dinner at the lodge restaurant

Accommodation: Glen Helen  Lodge in ensuite rooms

We commence the walk near the old Serpentine Chalet. Turning west, we walk for two kilometres in the low foothills to the start of the Inarlunga Pass. We then rock hop up into the pass where we have lunch, surrounded by Cycads and fascinating red quartzite cliffs.

Following lunch, we may head out into the Hidden Valley beyond Inarlunga depending on time. Retracing our steps down the gorge, we then continue west and walk to the nearby Ochre Pits and learn about the cultural significance of this place to the Aranda people.

Walking: Easy to Moderate / 15 km / 6 hrs / easier option available

Meals: Breakfast in the restaurant, walkers lunch and a BBQ dinner at Ormiston Gorge while watching the sunset

Accommodation: Glen Helen  Lodge in ensuite rooms

For today’s walk, we will start at the nearby Ormiston Gorge, following the low foothills and plains overlooking the Davenport and Finke rivers. Stop along the way at a spectacular lookout and rest while we enjoy the amazing views on all sides. We then drop down to meet the Finke River, where we rest in the shade of magnificent River Red gums for lunch. After lunch, we follow the riverbed down for another 1.5 km to where we reach the Two Mile Campground. There is a lovely swimming hole here, a great place to relax for a while before heading home.

Walking: Moderate / 12.5 km / 5 hrs / shorter option available

Meals: Breakfast in the restaurant, walkers lunch and two-course dinner at Ormiston Kiosk

Accommodation: Glen Helen  Lodge in ensuite rooms

Today we will leave very early to avoid the heat and take advantage of the sunrise and the best light of the day. After 500m of easy walking, we reach the start of the climb onto the ridge leading up to Mt Sonder. This will be the steepest part of the climb today. Taking short, regular breaks, we will reach the main ridge and head along with it to the 3km mark lookout, where we will see the magnificent dawn spreading across the landscape below.

From here, the next few kilometres are a gradual climb until we reach a short, sharp descent, where we will stop for snacks and before climbing again towards the summit. The final stretch of the walk is much easier. Here we have brunch and a cuppa to celebrate. The views continue as we make our descent. Once back near the trailhead, we will have a picnic lunch in the river bed and take a well-earned rest in the shade.

Walking: Moderate to challenging / 16 km / 8 hrs / easier option available

Meals: Breakfast in the restaurant, walkers lunch and a two-course a la carte chef-prepared dinner at the lodge restaurant

Accommodation: Glen Helen  Lodge in ensuite rooms

At Serpentine Gorge, we commence our easy, flat, one-hour return walk into the beautiful Gorge. Here we take a rest in peace in the shade whilst enjoying the reflections on the ancient rock and spotting birds coming to drink at the waterhole. The next stage of the walk is a short climb up to the lookout peering down into the gorge’s ancient and spectacular upper reaches. This is a great opportunity to search for Black Footed Rock wallabies that call the cliffs of the gorge home. Returning the same way, we hop on the bus and head to Standley Chasm, nestled in the Chewings Range. Standley Chasm, known as Angkerle Atwatye to the Aranda people, is located in a private nature reserve owned by the Iwupataka Land Trust and is operated by Aboriginal family members of the local Traditional Owners.

Walking: Easy to Moderate / 6 km / 3 hrs

Meals: Breakfast in the restaurant, walkers lunch and a two-course a la carte chef-prepared dinner at the hotel restaurant

Accommodation: Mercure Alice Springs (formerly The Chifley) or Aurora

This Larapinta Trail tour ends with a relaxed breakfast at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast in the restaurant