West MacDonnell NP

West MacDonnell National Park lies west of Alice Springs in the Norther Territory. We took a day trip to see some of the beautiful geological and historical features of the area. We headed west along Larapinta Drive and then onto Namatjiri Drive to see the below sites:

• Standly Chasm (Angkerle Aboriginal Corporation) - $10 per head to walk the trail towards the Chasm which apparently appears very different as various times of the day. An hour either side of noon creates a dramatic effect on the sheer walls – they seem to glow as the sun hits the quartzite. There is a cafe and you can camp here overnight.
• Ellery Creek Big Hole - a permanent water hole great for swimming. Emergency phone near entrance. Covered picnic tables and toilets - can camp overnight.   There is a paved pathway all the way to the sand beside the swimming hole. This is the first time we have seen barbeques that operate on batteries charged by a solar panel. 
• Serpentine Gorge - keep and eye out for Zebra finches as they come to the water’s edge for a drink. Lovely to see them is such numbers in the wild. 
• Serpentine Gorge Lookout - above the gorge with great views of West MacDonnell Ranges
• Ochre Pits a sacred sited - lots of colours in one spot for Aboriginal decorations and artwork. Shaded picnic tables and toilets provided for visitors - short walk to viewing platform. We saw a couple of Fairy Wrens - looked like Splendid Fairy Wrens and could have been babies.
• Ormiston Gorge – A lovely place to visit with another beautiful swimming hole. Great camping ground with showers, flush toilets, gas barbeques and a kiosk at this site for food, coffee and cold drinks. Plenty of car parking spaces in the shade and a short walk to the gorge. There is a view platform up on the side of the gorge. A short walk around the bend from the main gorge and you will be treated to magnificent view of the surrounding cliffs. This is a beautiful spot.
• Glen Helen Gorge - near Glen Helen Homestead and Lodge (accommodation, camping, restaurant, pool and bar). The gorge has formations that look like organ pipes. This is on the Finke River.

There are scenic walks from most of these car parking areas or you can embark on the The Larapinta Trail an extended bush walking track running west from Alice Springs for about 223 kilometres, camping at many of the areas listed above.