Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Standley Chasm (Angkerle)
About 50km west of Alice Springs is the spectacular
Standley Chasm
( 08-8956 7440;
adult/concession $10/8, family 2+2 $25, under 12 $5; 8am-5pm, last Chasm entry 4.30pm)
which is owned and run by the nearby community of Iwupataka. This narrow corridor
slices neatly through the rocky range and in places the smooth walls rise to 80m. The
rocky path into the gorge (15 minutes) follows a creek bed lined with ghost gums and
cycads. You can continue to a second chasm (one hour return) or head up Larapinta Hill
(45 minutes return) for a fine view. There's a cafe, picnic facilities and toilets near the car
park.
Namatjira Drive
Not far beyond Standley Chasm you can choose the northwesterly Namatjira Dr (which
loops down to connect with Larapinta Dr west of Hermannsburg) or continue along
Larapinta Dr. Namatjira Dr takes you to a whole series of gorges and gaps in the range
like
Ellery Creek Big Hole
, 91km from Alice Springs, and with a large permanent wa-
terhole − a popular place for a swim on a hot day (the water is usually freezing). About
11km further, a rough gravel track leads to narrow
Serpentine Gorge
, which has a wa-
terhole blocking the entrance and a lookout at the end of a short, steep track, where you
can view ancient cycads.
The
Ochre Pits
line a dry creek bed 11km west of Serpentine and were a source of
pigment for Aboriginal people. The various coloured ochres − mainly yellow, white and
red-brown − are weathered limestone, with iron-oxide creating the colours.
The car park for the majestic
Ormiston Gorge
is 25km beyond the Ochre Pits. It's the
most impressive chasm in the West MacDonnells. There's a waterhole shaded with ghost
gums, and the gorge curls around to the enclosed
Ormiston Pound
. It is a haven for
wildlife and you can expect to see some critters among the spinifex slopes and mulga
woodland. There are
walking tracks
, including the
Ghost Gum Lookout
(20 minutes),
which affords brilliant views down the gorge, and the excellent, circuitous
Pound Walk
(three hours, 7.5km). There's a
visitor centre
(
08-8956 7799)
and a kiosk which is
open 11am to 4pm (closed Wednesday).
About 2km further is the turn-off to
Glen Helen Gorge
, where the Finke River cuts
through the MacDonnells. Only 1km past Glen Helen is a good lookout over Mt Sonder;
sunrise and sunset here are particularly impressive.
If you continue northwest for 25km you'll reach the turn-off (4WD only) to multihued,
cathedral-like
Redbank Gorge
. This permanent waterhole runs for kilometres through
