Alice Springs to West Mac Half-Day Private Charter Tour
- 4h 30m
- Guided in English
- Private tour
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Experience the West MacDonnell Ranges' stunning beauty and rich history with a half-day tour that takes you through the heart of Australia's iconic outback landscapes. From sweeping panoramic views to fascinating historical sites, this tour offers an unforgettable adventure. You’ll explore key attractions, including Anzac Hill, John Flynn’s Grave Memorial, Simpsons Gap, Honeymoon Gap, and Standley Chasm, all while learning about the area's deep Aboriginal significance and pioneering history. Your tour starts with Airport/ hotel pick up and drop off at your hotel/ airport at the end of your tour.
Inclusions
What's included
- Soda/Pop
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Guide
- Coffee and/or Tea
What's not
- Alcoholic Beverages
Itinerary
Your journey begins with a visit to Anzac Hill, where you'll enjoy breathtaking views over Alice Springs and the surrounding MacDonnell Ranges. This spot is a tribute to those who served in Australia’s defense forces, and it offers a perfect vantage point for photographing the town below, set against the dramatic outback landscape.
Your next stop will be at Flynn’s Grave Memorial, the resting place of Reverend Flynn, the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We stopped to relax, enjoy the changing colours of the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges, and get some photos.
Simpson Gap features the towering cliffs of Simpsons Range, a permanent waterhole, and opportunities to spot resident wildlife and ancient Red River Gums with a taste of Central Australia. Simpsons Gap is a significant site to the local Arrernte Aboriginal people and was the mythological home of giant goanna ancestors. We will take you on a short, easy walk alongside a picturesque dry creek bed that leads to a dramatic gap in the MacDonnell Ranges and a waterhole rich in native wildlife, flora, and geology. Sometimes, you may even spot Black-footed Rock-wallabies along the walking track into the rocky slopes gap.
emple Bar Gap/ Honeymoon Gap is a small gap south of Larapinta Drive opposite Simpsons Gap, 14km west of Alice Springs. The gap is of great significance to the Arrernte people, the traditional owners of the land. Temple Bar Gap fell out of favour following the site becoming the honeymoon location for Robert (Bob) and Victoria (Vicky) Darken who married at the Alice Springs Methodist Church on 25 June 1942. Bob Darken was given a week's leave from the army and the couple planned to camp for a week at the gap and borrowed a car and a tent. The couple had repeated issues with the car and it rained for most of the week so, concerned for their safety, friends decided to visit them regularly; they said they were "going to see the honeymooners" or "going to honeymoon gap". It was not until 1981 that the name of the pass was officially changed to Honeymoon Gap and, in 2004, the NT Place Names Committee agreed that, the official name of the gap should remain Temple Bar Gap.
The next stop on your exploration of the West MacDonnell is a picturesque walk at Standley Chasm. After Mrs Ida Standley, who in 1914 became the first school teacher in Alice Springs, this place was named Standley Chasm. Walking access to the dramatic 80m sheer rock-face of the chasm is along a well-maintained trail (1.2km/15mins each way), following the natural creek bed with seating & interpretative signage. Angkerle Atwatye, “the Gap of Water”, is a striking geological formation with significant botanical, bird-watching & wildlife photography appeal.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Alice Springs Tours & Transfers
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Alice Springs
- Its from-price is 86% above the median of the 50 experiences we list in Alice Springs.
- It is shorter than most of them.
About Alice Springs
Alice Springs is a small desert town in Australia's Red Centre, set among the red ridges of the MacDonnell Ranges beside the usually dry Todd River.
Alice Springs grew from a telegraph station built in 1872 beside a waterhole on the Todd River, which is usually a wide bed of dry sand. The town, called Mparntwe by the Arrernte people, lies in a gap in the MacDonnell Ranges, and Anzac Hill gives a view over its grid of streets. Aboriginal art galleries, the Desert Park and the restored Telegraph Station are among the main sights.
Top-ranked sights in Alice Springs: Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye), MacDonnell Ranges, Simpsons Gap.
