The East and West MacDonnell Ranges include some beautiful and rugged gorges and waterholes. Both East and West MacDonnell Ranges are accessed from Alice Springs. This gallery includes some older photos.
Alice Springs
View over Alice Springs from Anzac Hill lookout.
Dawn balloon ride over Alice Springs
Balloon Flight over Alice Springs at dawn. Thanks Barbara. I would never have done this without your insistence. Waiting for a truck at 4.00 am in the morning was not on my agenda. Wonderful experience. Taken from a second balloon above this one.
Alice Springs
Striking comparison between white barked ghost gums and the dead trees to the left near Alice Springs.
Simpsons Gap
Simpson's Gap is part of the West MacDonnell Ranges and is the closest gap or gorge to Alice Springs along the Namatjira Drive.
Simpsons Gap
Simpsons Gap
Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges from my earlier collection (18 years old). A more pristine view of the gap at that time.
Stanley chasm
Standley Chasm is the next gorge along Namatjira Drive. This is the route to connect with a number of gorges along the West MacDonnells.
Standley Chasm
Ghost gums growing in the rock along the track to the chasm.
Stanley Chasm
NT123 - Alice Springs and West Macdonnell Ranges
The three photos of Standley Chasm, just out of Alice Springs taken around midday. The sun shines through the chasm as it passes over between approximately noon and 1.00 PM and lights up the walls of the chasm and the sandy floor.
Standley Chasm
Standley Chasm at noon when the sun glides over the chasm and lights up the walls. From my earlier collection (18 years old).
Standley Chasm waterhole
Far end of the gorge on a wet day
Ormiston Gorge
Ormiston Gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges from my earlier collection (18 years old).
The Ochre Pits
Indigenous site where ochre was sourced for paintings. Near Ormiston Gorge.
Glen Helen Gorge
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 species of fish and migrating waterbirds. From here the Finke River makes its way to the Simpson Desert.
Redbank Gorge
Located at the foot of Mount Sonder, this dramatic gorge has a semi-permanent waterhole, reached via a one kilometre track along a creek bed, sometimes rocky.
Redbank Gorge
A long walk in, but worth it
Redbank Gorge
Relaxing after long trek into Redbank Gorge.
Hermansberg
Historic Hermansberg church, remnant of the Lutheran Mission.
Trephina Gorge Rim Walk
Trephina Gorge, East MacDonnell Ranges rim walk
Trephina Gorge
Trephina Gorge taken along an early morning rim walk therefore not accessing the inner features of the Gorge.