West MacDonnell Ranges Day Trip from Alice Springs
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Experience the magnificent grandeur of the West MacDonnell Ranges on this fascinating one day tour. Marvel at towering fiery red walls set aglow by the desert sun as you drive along the ranges. We tour through these amazing ranges all day and stop at beautiful gorges and waterholes, where we can enjoy a refreshing swim in the warmer months. Don’t forget your camera! Every moment of this memorable one day tour is worth capturing. You’ll visit: Simpsons Gap Standley Chasm Ochre Pits Ormiston Gorge Ellery Creek Bighole Flynn Memorial Optional swim at Ellery Creek Bighole (summer only) All activities are considered very safe for all age groups. They do not require a high level of fitness or agility. Please note an NT Parks Pass is required, please purchase prior to tour.
Inclusions
What's included
- Morning Tea
- Bushman's Lunch
- Entry fee to Standley Chasm
- Experienced, friendly tour guide
- Accommodation pick-up and drop-off
- Air-conditioned transport
What's not
- Gratuities
- Effective to all travel on 1st of April 2025, NT Park Pass is no longer included.
- Please pre-purchase the NT Park Pass & bring it with you on the day of the tour
Itinerary
After pickup at your Alice Springs hotel, set off with your guide and small group into West MacDonnell Ranges National Park to begin your exploration of the area’s many natural attractions. Throughout the day, your knowledgeable guide shares informative commentary about the natural and cultural history to the region.
Start with a scenic walk at Simpsons Gap, one of the most renowned gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Follow a riverbed to a natural rock amphitheater while looking for endangered black-footed rock wallabies that hop among the boulders.
Then admire the tall rock walls of Standley Chasm as you stroll through trees that line the tracks including acacias, cycads, ghost gums and cypress pines. Have morning tea at Standley Chasm before heading to your next destination, the Ochre Pits.
A short path leads to rock walls that are covered with white, yellow and red layers of ochre. Be sure to bring your camera to snap photos of the shifting hues. Considered a sacred site for the local Arrernte peoples, the ochre pits provided material traditionally used for ceremonies and trading.
Further down the road, stop for a bushman's lunch at Ormiston Gorge, which contains a semi-permanent waterhole. Look for waterbirds such as the Pacific heron and white-faced heron, both common visitors to the waterhole.
Continue to Ellery Creek Big Hole, a significant geological site and one of central Australia's most pristine waterholes and cool off with a swim.
Your guide returns you to your Alice Springs hotel to end the tour.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.7
- 5307
- 441
- 316
- 24
- 16
Ratings come from 374 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Ranging the Range
Nice day-trip to explore the West MacDonnell Range. Short hikes to interesting geology (gorges and chasms), beautiful vistas, the opportunity to swim in rivers and waterholes, a nice lunch. I recommend this tour.
5West Mac’s magic
Lauren was our guide, she was very knowledgeable and super friendly. The whole day was awesome, would highly recommend this tour
5West MacDonnell Rangers day trip from Alice Springs.
The day tour to West Macdonnell Rangers had lots of stops to see different places (plenty of toilet stops)- lovely walks to see stunning scenery and wildlife. We were not rushed and there was plenty of time for photos and given just enough information about each stop. Lunch was make your own wrap which was easy for all. Morning tea was provided at Stanley Chasm after walk. A very enjoyable day out in nature thanks to our guide/driver Andy from Emu Run Experience.
5A must do tour !
We really enjoyed this tour ! The pick up from our accommodation was right on time . Our tour guide Alex was new and did an amazing job ( very knowledgeable) Our bus driver Edvino was also very knowledgeable about the area. Our morning tea and lunch was delicious and the extra spots they took us to was great
5The scenery was beautiful...
The scenery was beautiful and walks were easy. Nice tea break and lunch. Andy gave us lots of information about the area. Pickup and drop off was easy. Great day.
5Beautiful and interesting
We saw some great scenery. Even though our tour was modified because of road closures, they made up for it by taking us to other extremely interesting places in Alice Springs.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 24 travellers
- Operated by
- Emu Run Experience
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please wear strong, non-slip walking shoes
- Please bring hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water bottle and swimwear during the summer months
- Please bring NT Parks Pass (digital copy accepted)
How it compares in Alice Springs
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 15 day trips we list in Alice Springs.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 2 of 15.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
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.
