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14 kilometres along the Larapinta Trail, starting from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, West Macdonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/walks/larapinta
Northern Territory NATATTRACT 9104233 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Wallaby Gap is a sandy creek bed shaded by walls of red rock in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Named after its population of Black-footed rock wallabies, it is also located along Section 1 of the Larapinta Trail, a 223 kilometre walking track through the ranges. The gap is also a rewarding place to sit and watch for birds - a temporary pool inside the gap commonly attracts White-plumed honeyeaters, Zebra finches, Pied butcherbirds and Crested pigeons. The deep, narrow passage was created by a small watercourse carving through the tough gneiss before draining into Roe Creek. The campground is located about 300 metres south of Wallaby Gap, but camping is permitted only for walkers on the Larapinta Trail. Vehicle access is also for Larapinta Trail walkers only - a key is available for the locked gate from the Visitor Information Centre on Gregory Terrace in Alice Springs.

Ross Highway, via Arltunga, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/rubygap
Northern Territory NATATTRACT 9000671 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Ruby Gap Nature Park is a remote spot located on the most eastern side of the East MacDonnell Ranges. Located 150 kilometres from Alice Springs, it was the site of Central Australia's first mining rush in 1886 after 'rubies' were found in the riverbed. Today Ruby Gap is a popular place for camping and bushwalking. Much of the park's terrain is extremely rugged and is only suitable for the experienced walker. Follow the riverbed and tracks upstream to Glen Annie Gorge. In 1886 explorer David Lindsay found what he thought were rubies in the sandy bed of the Hale River. A rush ensued with buyers from European snapping them up. As the market was flooded, the quality of the rubies found was questioned and, 18 months into the rush, it was found that the gems were merely high-grade garnets. Central Australia's ruby boom quickly collapsed. Access to this little-visited and remote park is via the Arltunga Historical Reserve. A high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle is essential, but is well worth the effort to get here. There are several campgrounds in the park (fees apply).

80 kilometres along the Larapinta Trail,, starting from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, Owen Springs Reserve, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/walks/larapinta
Northern Territory NATATTRACT 9104241 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Birthday Waterhole is a semi-permanent pool on the Hugh River in the West MacDonnell Ranges. It is also the Trailhead for sections 4 and 5 of the 223 kilometre Larapinta walking trail that extends from Alice Springs to Mt Sonder. Large River Red Gums fringe Birthday Waterhole, which is an important ecological site. Waterbirds are attracted to the waterhole because of its large populations of desert rainbow fish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates. Camping is permitted and access is by high-clearance four-wheel drive only. Birthday Waterhole is 14.4 kilometres from the turn-off on Namatjira Drive.

Ross Highway, 85 kilometres east of Alice Springs, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/trephinagorge
Northern Territory NATATTRACT 9000610 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Discover the rugged landscapes, wildlife, and Aboriginal and pastoral histories of the East MacDonnell Ranges at Trephina Gorge Nature Park. Located 85km east of Alice Springs, the park is a handy distance for a day or a longer trip, and is notable for its short walks, views, and natural beauty. Trephina Gorge has wide views and a sandy creek bed and can be explored via a network of short walking tracks. It is one of two gorges that intersect the East MacDonnell Ranges. The other is John Hayes Rock Hole. The two are connected via the Trephina Ridge Top Walk. As well as a good place for a cool dip, waterholes in this area attract abundant animals and birds. The largest Ghost Gum in Central Australia is set in the park, alone on a saltbush flat. The area is significant to the Eastern Arrernte Aboriginal people and contains sites that are part of the Wallaby dreaming trail. Once a part of the Garden Station, the park has strong historic links with the early settlement of Central Australia. Access to John Hayes Rockhole is four-wheel drive only.
Camping is available at three sites and (fees apply).

Ross Highway, 43 kilometres east of Alice Springs, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/corroboreerock
Northern Territory HISTHERITG 9000631 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Corroboree Rock is a dark grey column of dolomite an hour's drive east of Alice Springs. It is one of many sites in the MacDonnell Ranges that is of great importance to the Eastern Arrernte people. Take a short walk around the base of the rock to survey the area and have a closer look at the ancient sedimentary, fine-grained rock. At the base of the rock you can see dark grey and light grey streaky blobs of dalmation rock. A ring of low ground surrounding the rock makes it look like an obelisk. The real significance of the rocky outcrop to the Eastern Arrernte people is not well known. Corroboree Rock was probably not a corroboree site due to the lack of water in the area, but was probably used as an important storage site for ceremonial objects. The rock itself is an outcrop of dolomite from the Bitter Springs Formation originally laid down in salty lakes 800 million years ago. Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve is an easy stopover on your way to other East MacDonnell landmarks such as Trephina Gorge and Arltunga. The reserve is easily reached along the sealed road by two-wheel drive vehicles.

29 Wilkinson Street, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870
Email: art@ngur.com.au
Website: www.ngurart.com.au
Northern Territory GALMUSECOL 9068870 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 1953
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 1957

At Alice Spring's Ngurratjuta Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre you can see dot paintings and watercolours on show in the gallery, meet the Aboriginal artists who created them, hear them talk about their paintings, and watch them work. A visit to the centre is a chance to learn about Aboriginal art and culture, see the latest exhibition of completed works, and purchase art. The art centre provides a place for Aranda artists to come together to paint, share and learn new techniques and ideas. Many well established contemporary artists, as well as new and emerging artists, are supported by Ngurratjuta. Their artworks tell many different stories and are completed in a variety of techniques. Ngurratjuta has a special focus on encouraging the artists of the 'Hermannsburg School'. These watercolour artists paint in the tradition of Albert Namatjira, who painted in the 20th century and was renowned for his unique style of painting the local landscape in Western-style watercolours. When you buy art at the centre, the greatest possible percentage of the sale price is given to the artist. Artists paint at the art centre through the week when between 5 and 20 town-based artists are on site.

120 kilometres north of Alice Springs, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/nativegap
Northern Territory HISTHERITG 9000694 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Native Gap Conservation Reserve is a sacred site to Arrernte and Anmatyerr Aboriginal people. It also stands as a memorial to the Overland Telegraph Line, which was constructed on the site in the late 19th century, and enabled communications between Adelaide and Darwin. The small roadside reserve is located 120 kilometres north of Alice Springs. The Reserve is at the intersection of several creation-time stories. The site's name in the Arrernte language is Arurlte Artwatye. Arurlte translates as 'the top of the shoulders across the neck', Artwatye is 'gap'. This name is probably inspired by the view of the profile of the 30 metre sandstone ridge that dominates the site. This ridge stands above the surrounding Burt Plain and protects an interesting variety of plant and animal species. Pull off the Stuart Highway and stop at the picnic area, which is shaded by Ironwood and Desert Bloodwood and habitat to the Short-beaked Echidna, and enjoy the views of the Hann Range. The Reserve is on the western side of the Stuart Highway. Access is via an unsealed service track to a nearby telecommunications tower on the Hann Range. The track within the Reserve forms a loop around the facilities area.

139 kilometres west of Alice Springs, via Namatjira Drive, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/westmacdonnell
Northern Territory NATATTRACT 9000765 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Glen Helen Gorge is a great place to view the West MacDonnell Ranges, take a cool dip, and is an important refuge for local wildlife. The gorge is located 132 kilometres from Alice Springs, in the western reaches of the West MacDonnell Ranges, and is a popular overnight stop for drivers embarking on the Red Centre Way from Alice Springs. The landscape around Glen Helen is spectacular - a towering sandstone wall is the first thing you see as you arrive. The area includes views of Mount Sonder, one of the highest points in Central Australia, which changes colours with the light. At Glen Helen Gorge the ranges part to make way for the Finke River. The permanent Finke River waterhole is an important refuge in the hot summer months, for all nine species of fish recorded for the Finke, and migrating waterbirds. From here the Finke River continues and makes its way to the Simpson Desert. The area's traditional owners believe that this inviting swimming spot is the home of an ancient and powerful Rainbow Serpent, and regard it as off limits. The medium grade one-day Section 10 of the 223-kilomtre Larapinta Trail walk ends at Glenn Helen Junction.

Chambers Pillar Road, off Old South Road, 160 kilometres south of Alice Springs, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/chamberspillar
Northern Territory NATATTRACT 9000626 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Chambers Pillar is a spectacular solitary column towering 50 metres above the Simpson Desert plain, located 160km from Alice Springs. Explore the reserve on foot, and don't forget your camera. Chambers Pillar was formed from sandstone deposited and worn down over 350 million years. It was an important landmark guiding the region's earliest pioneers on their way from Adelaide to Alice Springs. John MacDouall Stuart first recorded the pillar in 1860 and named it after James Chambers, one of his South Australian sponsors. The local Aboriginal people believe that the pillar is the Gecko ancestor Itirkawara. Banished for taking a wife from the wrong skin group, he retreated into the desert. When they stop to rest they turned into prominent rocky formations - Itirkawara into the Pillar, and the woman into Castle Rock 500m to the north-east. Follow one of the marked walking tracks to the viewing platform or past the prominent features of Chambers Pillar. Photographers should time their visit for either sunrise or sunset when the Pillar glows as the rays of the sun strike its face. Access is via four-wheel drive tracks. Camping is permitted (fees apply), and guided Ranger talks are held May to September.

224 kilometres along the Larapinta Trail, starting from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, West Macdonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, 0870
Website: www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/walks/larapinta
Northern Territory NATATTRACT 9104240 Phone Number: 61 08 8951 8250
Fax Number: 61 08 8951 8290

Mt Sonder is the highest point in the West MacDonnell Ranges. It marks the western end of the Larapinta Trail, a 223 kilometres walking trail that extends from Alice Springs. Walk the challenging trail to the top of Mt Sonder, at 1,380 metres above sea level, for spectacular views across the ranges and the surrounding plains. The trail can be accessed from the Larapinta Trail or from Redbank Gorge car park. Look for local wildlife, including the Grey-headed honeyeater, the desert mouse and termite tunnels on spinifex.
Near the summit the vegetation changes and the round-leaved mallee and native pine become more prevalent on the high slopes and stony cliffs. Look out for the wide wingspan of birds of prey, such as the Wedge-tailed eagle and the Peregrine falcon, soaring at mountain level and wood swallows circling the summit, riding the thermal updraughts. Pitch a tent at the Ridgetop or Woodland camping areas at Redbank Gorge (fees apply).