West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs
A three-day out-and-back along Namatjira Drive through Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, with gorges, waterholes and Hermannsburg's mission history.
- Distance
- 212 km (132 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 19 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 10
- States
- Northern Territory
- Updated
- April 27, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 212 km (132 mi) with 10 stops, from Alice Springs to Palm Valley. About 2 h 19 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Northern Territory
Route description
Leave Alice Springs west on Larapinta Drive, then turn onto Namatjira Drive. Simpsons Gap, 18 km out, has black-footed rock-wallabies at dawn and dusk. Continue to Standley Chasm, about 50 km from town, and time your visit for around noon, when the sun lights the chasm walls. Roads are sealed throughout to Glen Helen.
Continue to Ellery Creek Big Hole, about 85 km from Alice Springs, a deep, cold waterhole good for a swim in warm weather. Press on to Ormiston Gorge, around 135 km from Alice Springs (about one hour 45), and stay at the campground or at Glen Helen. Walk the Ormiston Pound loop early in the day, as it is exposed.
Glen Helen Gorge, a few minutes further, is where the Finke River cuts through the range; the homestead lodge offers fuel, meals and a bar. Fuel is scarce in this region, so fill up in Alice Springs and again here. In winter, from May to August, days are mild but nights can fall below freezing; in summer, temperatures often exceed 40 °C.
Return via Hermannsburg, the 1877 Lutheran mission community, to see the historic precinct and the work of Albert Namatjira's school of painters. Palm Valley, a 4WD-only track along the sandy Finke riverbed from Hermannsburg, rewards you with rare red cabbage palms; allow half a day. Alice Springs is about 125 km back along Larapinta Drive, mostly sealed.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Alice Springs
Northern Territory - 220 km
Simpsons Gap (Rungutjirpa)
NatureAlice Springs, Northern TerritoryA permanent waterhole in a cleft of the West MacDonnell Ranges, 18 km from Alice Springs, where black-footed rock-wallabies can be seen at dawn and dusk. A sealed road and short walk make it the easiest taste of the ranges.
- 331 km
Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye)
NatureAlice Springs, Northern TerritoryA narrow cleft with 80 m walls that glows orange when the midday sun reaches the floor. On Aboriginal-owned land with an entry fee to the traditional owners; the rock colours are best around noon, so avoid early or late visits.
- 450 km
Ellery Creek Big Hole
NatureAlice Springs, Northern TerritoryA large, permanent waterhole between red cliffs in the West MacDonnell Ranges, popular for swimming on warm days and for geology-themed walks. The water can be very cold, even in summer, as the sun barely reaches it.
- 547 km
Ormiston Gorge
NatureAlice Springs, Northern TerritorySteep walls of banded quartzite rise above a long waterhole lined with river red gums. The 7 km Ormiston Pound walk loops through the surrounding ranges; start early in summer. Often rated the most scenic gorge in the West MacDonnells.
- 610 km
Glen Helen Gorge
NatureAlice Springs, Northern TerritoryWhere the Finke River, thought to be one of the world's oldest, has cut through the ranges to form a permanent waterhole. The red cliffs glow at sunset; the nearby homestead lodge has a bar and a view of the gorge.
- 71 km
Glen Helen Homestead Lodge
StaysAlice Springs, Northern TerritoryA historic cattle-station homestead turned outback lodge beside Glen Helen Gorge, with rooms, a campground, a bar and the last reliable fuel before Hermannsburg and the Mereenie Loop. A good base for the western ranges.
- 836 km
Hermannsburg
Northern Territory - 90 km
Hermannsburg Historic Precinct (Ntaria)
HistoryHermannsburg, Northern TerritoryA Lutheran mission founded in 1877 on the Finke River, now an Aboriginal community with preserved buildings, a gallery of Western Aranda watercolours and a tearoom. Birthplace of the Hermannsburg School of landscape painting led by Albert Namatjira.
- 1017 km
Palm Valley
NatureHermannsburg, Northern TerritoryA gorge in Finke Gorge National Park where a stand of red cabbage palms, found nowhere else, survives as a relic of a wetter age. Access is only by 4WD along the sandy Finke riverbed; high clearance and recovery gear are advisable.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Alice Springs → Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye) · 51 km · 0 h 33 minOn the way: Simpsons Gap (Rungutjirpa).
- Day 2: Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye) → Ormiston Gorge · 97 km · 1 h 03 minOn the way: Ellery Creek Big Hole.
- Day 3: Ormiston Gorge → Palm Valley · 64 km · 0 h 42 minOn the way: Glen Helen Gorge, Glen Helen Homestead Lodge, Hermannsburg, Hermannsburg Historic Precinct (Ntaria).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April. Hot in November–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs?
3-day road trip of about 212 km (132 mi) with 10 stops, from Alice Springs to Palm Valley. About 2 h 19 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 19 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs start and end?
It starts in Alice Springs and ends in Palm Valley.
Which states does West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs pass through?
Northern Territory.
When is the best time for West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs?
The most pleasant months are usually May–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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