Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1380m summit of Mt Sonder. Each section takes one to two days to navigate and passes
many of the attractions in the West MacDonnells:
Section 1
Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Simpsons Gap (23.8km)
Section 2
Simpsons Gap to Jay Creek (24.5km)
Section 3
Jay Creek to Standley Chasm (13.6km)
Section 4
Standley Chasm to Birthday Waterhole (17.7km)
Section 5
Birthday Waterhole to Hugh Gorge (16km)
Section 6
Hugh Gorge to Ellery Creek (31.2km)
Section 7
Ellery Creek to Serpentine Gorge (13.8km)
Section 8
Serpentine Gorge to Serpentine Chalet Dam (13.4km)
Section 9
Serpentine Chalet Dam to Ormiston Gorge (28.6km)
Section 10
Ormiston Gorge to Finke River (9.9km)
Section 11
Finke River to Redbank Gorge (25.2km)
Section 12
Redbank Gorge to Mt Sonder (15.8km return)
walks/larapinta/index.html
)
. Walkers should register their names and itinerary at 1300
650 730. And don't forget to deregister.
There's no public transport out to this area, but transfers can be arranged through the
www.alicewanderer.com.au
)
; see the website for the various costs. For guided walks, includ-
ing transport from Alice Springs, go through Trek Larapinta (
Click here
).
Simpsons Gap
Westbound from Alice Springs on Larapinta Dr you come to the
grave of John Flynn
,
the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which is topped by a boulder donated by
the Arrernte people (the original was a since-returned Devil's Marble). Opposite the car
park is the start of the sealed
cycling track
to Simpsons Gap, a recommended three- to
four-hour return ride.
By road, Simpsons Gap is 22km from Alice Springs and 8km off Larapinta Dr. It's a
popular picnic spot and has some excellent short walks. Early morning and late afternoon
are the best time to glimpse black-footed rock wallabies. The visitor information centre is
1km from the park entrance.
