West MacDonnell Ranges & Standley Chasm Day Trip from Alice Springs
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 18 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Experience the West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja) on a small-group adventure combining guided walks, wildlife spotting, Aboriginal cultural insights and spectacular swimming holes. Explore alongside an experienced local outback guide who accompanies you on the walks, sharing insights into the landscapes, wildlife and cultural significance of Central Australia. Walk through Simpsons Gap (Rungutjirpa) in search of the endangered black-footed rock wallaby and marvel at the towering 80-metre walls of Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye). Cool off with a refreshing swim at Ellery Creek Big Hole, surrounded by dramatic red cliffs and ghost gums. Discover the culturally significant Ochre Pits, where vibrant mineral-rich ochres have been used by Aboriginal people for thousands of years in art and ceremony, before exploring magnificent Ormiston Gorge (Kwartatuma). With guided walks, local knowledge, wildlife, culture and ancient waterholes, experience the natural wonders of Tjoritja.
Inclusions
What's included
- Morning tea & picnic lunch
- Selected Alice Spring inner-city pick-up/drop-off points
- Air-conditioned mini-coach travel with local tour commentary
- Guided bush walks (3-4km, subject to fitness level)
- Translation app service available in several different languages.
- Angkerle Atwatye – Standley Chasm entry fee
What's not
- NT Park Day Pass for West MacDonnell Ranges National Park is required prior to travel
- Hotel transfers pre/post tour itinerary to a nominated pickup point.
- Personal expenses
Itinerary
We depart Alice Spring on an adventure to explore exploring the West MacDonnell National Park and surrounding UNESCO-listed areas onboard our West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja) day trip.
Explore the West MacDonnell National Park, known by the traditional owners as Tjoritja.
Refresh within the towering walls of Ormiston Gorge, traditionally known as Kwartatuma.
See the UNESCO-listed Ochre Pit mineral rockface and coloured clay ochre still used in traditional ceremonies
Cool off at Ellery Creek Big Hole, one of Central Australia's largest and most beautiful swimming spots.
Marvel at the awe of Standley Chasm traditionally known as Angkerle Atwatye as you meander through the 80m high gorge.
Try for a glimpse of the very shy black-footed-rock-wallaby and other native wildlife through Simpsons Gap, traditionally known as Rungutjirpa.
We deliver you back to Alice Springs to your chosen accommodation around 18:00pm, as you reflect on your day of exploration and wonder.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 580
- 44
- 31
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Ratings come from 85 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.
5Fabulous day
Wonderful day trip through West MacDonnell ranges. Plenty of time at each stop. No stop failed to captivate and leave long lasting memories and impressions. Would do this tour again in a heartbeat
5Very picturesque and interesting tour
Great trip to see the West MacDonnell Ranges including Simpson’s Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole, where there was time for a swim, The Ochre Pits for a demonstration of how the ochre was collected and prepared, Ormiston Gorge, where there was a picturesque view of the Gorge from the lookout, almost 300 steps to the top. Lunch was at Standley Chasm where we had a choice from the Menu board and also a drink. Morning tea was provided on the vehicle, fruit bars, mandarins, apples and mixed lollies, these were available all day. All sites had extremely amazing scenery and was totally great value. We left at 7:30am returning back to the Hotel about 6pm.
5A great day in the outback.
This is a great trip and we just came back to our hotel. The places we visited were astonishing. The lady driver / tour guide was very organized and very very knowledgeable. She mada the trip a great experience and unfortunately it came to an end. Thank you for everything.
5Awesome day trip—Great pace, plenty of food options and beautiful views!
If you are in Alice Springs, you definitely have to do this tour to the West MacDonnell Ranges. The bus was super comfortable and the whole ride felt really smooth. What I loved about the itinerary is that it gives you plenty of short, well-timed stops to just hop off, enjoy the scenery, and take photos without feeling rushed at all. The walking tracks at both Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm are very flat, well-kept, and easy to walk, so you can just enjoy the outback at your own pace. Standing inside Standley Chasm right at noon when the sunlight hits the 80-meter rock walls and turns them bright orange was incredible.Another huge plus was the lunch. It had a lot of different options to choose from, which you don't usually expect on a remote tour like this. Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. Definitely worth every single dollar! 5 stars.
5Spectacular
The tour was really well organised and the pace was perfect. We got to spend enough time at each place to really enjoy it. The ranges are spectacular! Lunch and a drink are provided/ the burgers were really good. Our guide Emily was friendly and a wealth of knowledge about the ranges, the flora and history. Highlights were Stanley Chasm, seeing rock wallabies and walks to the water holes. I would highly recommend this tour.
5A trip worth for the dsy
This is an excellent tour I mistakenly gave one star which should have been the 5:star performance on the part of guide for his expertise knowledge of the terrain , history and legend associated with them. Specially using appropriate humour and genorosity shown towards his clients was truely commendable. I rrespectfully request you to rreplace my one star in earlier review with five star for his performance .Apology for my ooversight .
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Our main meeting point for this tour will be outside Stay at Alice Springs Hotel, 11 Leichhardt Terrace Alice Springs at 7:30am. Please advise us of your hotel details, so we can provide you with an exact pickup time according to your accommodation.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 23 travellers
- Operated by
- Autopia Tours
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A minimum moderate level of fitness is required to complete the walks.
- Child policy 6 years old and over, not suitable for children 5 years old and under.
- This itinerary may vary to adapt to seasonal changes and occasionally spots in the parks close or do not allow swimming. As safety is our top priority we plan accordingly to ensure our guests have the most fun and best experience possible while on tour.
- Please ensure you have checked the average temperatures for the time of year you are travelling and have packed adequate clothing.
- Alternative, pickup locations are available within the Alice Springs area. To change please contact our reservations team for details.
- Prior to booking, we strongly recommend guests purchase travel insurance.
How it compares in Alice Springs
- Its from-price is 12% below 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 4 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.
