East MacDonnell Ranges

Emily Gap & Jessie Gap

See Aboriginal rock paintings at Emily Gap, an Aboriginal sacred site 14km from Alice Springs. The paintings tell the local Arrernte people’s story of the caterpillar dreaming, which describes how Alice Springs was formed. Birdwatchers can see wild budgerigars nesting after the rain.

Have a picnic or use the barbecue pits at nearby Jessie Gap, a further 10 minutes along the Ross Highway and another Aboriginal rock art site. Take the five-minute walk into the gap along a shady creek to see the sacred paintings on the gap wall. Interpretive signage explains the stories of the paintings.

Corroboree Rock

Take the circular 20-minute walking track around the impressive dark grey dolomite structure of Corroboree Rock, about 50km out of Alice. This is an important sacred men’s site in Arrernte culture.

Take your camera – Corrobboree Rock makes for amazing photos in the early morning or late evening light.

Trephina Gorge

Further along the Ross Highway is one of the East MacDonnell Ranges’ best attractions: the Trephina Gorge Nature Park. It’s known for its walking trails, Aboriginal rock art, dramatic ridges and bluffs, and its two excellent, shady camp grounds.

There are several short walks here.

Take the easy 500m return stroll down to the gorge and its semi-permanent waterhole or the 20-minute walk to the lookout for views of the dramatic gorgeous country. Or follow the challenging but rewarding 90-minute return Chain of Ponds loop past rock pools and up to a lookout above the gorge.

If you have a four-wheel drive, take the turnoff to John Hayes Rockhole on the way to the gorge where you can swim and see one of the outback’s largest and most-photographed ghost gums.

N’Dhala Gorge

Got a four-wheel drive? Excellent. Further along in N’Dhala Gorge, you’ll see some 6,000 ancient petroglyphs—rock engravings—that trace the Arrernte people’s history of the land. It’s an excellent reward after the tricky drive in over a couple of shallow creek crossings and through some of the most little-known but spectacular scenery in Central Australia.

There’s bush camping with tables, fire pits and a long-drop toilet. Collect your firewood before you reach the reserve.

Arltunga Historical Reserve

Further along at the Arltunga Historical Reserve, wander between the ruins of Central Australia’s first town. Now a ghost town, Arltunga was once thriving and supported some 300 people after gold was discovered there in 1887 and mined until 1913. Explore the gold mines themselves and the restored police station and jail. Arltunga is a great spot for families, with a visitor centre and hands-on displays of old mining equipment.

Ruby Gap Nature Park

At the far end of the East MacDonnell Ranges is beautiful Ruby Gap, another high-clearance four-wheel-drive-only attraction, about 45km on from Arltunga.

Set up camp by the Hale River, the site of a ‘ruby rush’ in the 19th Century where miners mistook tiny purple garnets for rubies. The sandy river bed still glows crimson with garnets. There are several gorges to explore here, and the waterholes at Glen Annie Gorge are usually deep enough for a swim. Nature lovers: keep your eyes peeled for brush-tailed possums. The park protects one of their few remaining healthy populations.

Join an outback dinner & astronomy show

Back in town, book a three-course gourmet barbecue dinner and show at the award-winning Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre, a ‘sustainable living environment’ just south of Alice Springs. You’ll make damper and watch the sun set over the East Macs then hear stories about the local ecology, culture and astronomy. You can also take an astronomy tour.