Tjoritja West Macdonnell National Park

Stretching for 161 kilometres west of Alice Springs, Tjoritja West Macdonnell National Park is a dramatic spine of ancient quartzite ranges, ochre-red gorges, and permanent waterholes that have drawn travellers and Arrernte people for tens of thousands of years. This is the Red Centre distilled into a single, accessible wilderness – a place where the iconic Larapinta Trail weaves through spinifex-clad ridges, and hidden chasms offer cool refuge from the desert sun.

Highlights & What to See

• Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye): A sheer 80-metre-high cleft in the rock that blazes with fiery orange light when the sun is directly overhead. Arrive around midday for the full effect.
• Simpsons Gap: A perennial waterhole fringed by river red gums and a favourite spot for black-footed rock-wallabies. The short walk into the gap is perfect for a morning stroll.
• Ochre Pits: Ancient ochre deposits in a rainbow of colours – white, yellow, red and purple. These pits are still culturally significant to the Arrernte people, who used the ochre for ceremony and trade.
• Serpentine Gorge: A narrow, winding gorge with a lookout that rewards you with sweeping views over the ranges. The walk to the lookout is short but steep.
• Ellery Creek Big Hole: A deep, permanent waterhole ringed by red cliffs and ghost gums. It’s one of the best spots for a swim after a dusty hike.
• Glen Helen Gorge: At the western end of the park, this gorge captures the sun’s last rays in spectacular fashion. The adjacent Glen Helen Resort offers basic accommodation and a cold beer.

Suggested Time to Spend

To truly experience the park’s diversity, plan at least two full days. A classic itinerary is to drive the full length of Larapinta Drive (partially unsealed) from Alice Springs to Glen Helen, stopping at every gorge and lookout. If you’re short on time, a single day can cover the eastern highlights – Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm and Ellery Creek – but you’ll be rushing. For serious hikers, sections of the Larapinta Trail (a 223 km multi-day trek) can be walked independently; the trail is best tackled in the cooler months (April to September).

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Alice Springs: The gateway to the West MacDonnells, with excellent museums, galleries and the famous Alice Springs Desert Park.
• Finke Gorge National Park: Home to Palm Valley, a prehistoric oasis of red cabbage palms – a 4WD-only destination south of the ranges.
• Ormiston Gorge & Pound: Just west of Glen Helen, this gorge offers a superb 7.5 km circuit walk through a natural amphitheatre of rock.
• Gosse Bluff (Tnorala): A massive meteorite crater sacred to the Arrernte people, located about 35 km west of Glen Helen (accessible via 4WD or a short walk from the road).
• Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park): A stunning sandstone canyon about 3 hours’ drive west – often combined with the West MacDonnells on a Red Centre road trip.

Please check official sources for current details.