macdonnell ranges

MacDonnell Ranges is a wonderful natural park near Alice Springs, in fact Alice Springs is located in the center of MacDonnell Ranges and there are two zones: West and East MacDonnell Ranges. It is a mountain ranges so beautiful with a some holes, gorges, creeks, pits, etc., where you can always do a walking tour (a short tour about 15-30minutes, a medium tour about 2-3 hours and a long tour more than 3 hours). It is perfect to all kind of people!!!Moreover, it is so calm and quiet, perfect for relax and do trekking, but we could not see wallabies!Unfortunately, we drave a non 4WD car and we could not see all tourist attractions, we could see:On the East MacDonnell Ranges: Emily Gap, Jessie Gap, Trephina Gorge.On the West MacDonnell Ranges: Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek, Serpentine Gorge, Ochre Pits and Glen Helen GorgeAll sightseeings were fantastics, wonderful! I recommend you a lot! and I recommend you drive a 4WD car.

Did a DIY tour to the West Macdonnell ranges today. I didn't have a 4WD car so skipped the unsealed roads except for the Ellery Creek as I wasn't aware until I did the turn off. I did the Simpson's gap, Standley Chiasm, Ellery Creek, Ochre Pits, Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge. Coming from Alice Springs, it took me about half an hour to get to the first stop and another half hour going to the next. I didn't stay very long at each stop but it took around 6-7 hours return trip. The different points of interests were breathtaking and despite the hot weather (not to mention plenty of flies!!), it was definitely worth visiting. The turn off going to Ellery Creek is unsealed and is about 2 km so that was a bit of a pain to drive on. The water holes at Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge is a good spot to have picnic. It's currently low season for tourists so it was nice esp when trying to take pictures.

My husband & I visited in September 2014. The West McDonnell Ranges alone are beautiful to see. We stayed at "Glen Helen Resort" which is an ideal base for exploring the West McDonnell Ranges, allow 1-2 days. Most of the roads are sealed, some of the unsealed roads are fine for a 2wd...yes we have a 2wd Rodeo & had no trouble. We did not go to Birthday Waterhole, Hugh Gorge, or Redbank Gorge as these roads are 4wd only!Our first stop was Simpson's Gap, then Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Serpentine Gorge, Ochre Pits this is amazing to see, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen Resort (see my review) Glen Helen Gorge, each gorge has stunning views, water holes, walks, wonderful photo opportunities, some have lookouts but all have a huge array of flora & fauna. Every gorge has it's own unique beauty.This is a trip you will really enjoy, take the time to explore & enjoy The Red Centre

Loved walking in and finding the Chasm so amazing for the first time . We where early and enjoyed being there alone . The rocks have so much antiquity about them quite awesome feeling. Watching the sun move over the Chasm was amazing seeing the colours ignite . I did a few pastel drawings and was able to use golden yellows and oranges.

I had booked a tour that was cancelled last minute on Emu Run Tours. Luckily renting a car turned out to be a fortuitous option. Central Car Rentals provided the car and I was the driver. There were three of us...and this turned out to be a less expensive option for touring this area. I had my US drivers license with me and this was adequate to make the rental transaction. (You need to be over 21 to rent a car here.) We left Alice Springs at about 10am and returned the car at 5pm. This allowed us to take in four spots...of which we learned later were the best of 6 the tour would have taken us too. Of course we could lounge at the spots we chose. Ormiston Gorge is about 1 3/4 hour drive. Ochre Pits. Ellery creek (take a suit if you want to swim) and Standley Chasm. Each of these sites is small, requires no strenuous walking and each is uniquely beautiful.

Both the East and West ranges have fantastic walks. But you do need to give yourself time to enjoy them all. We had 4 kids ranged 9-4yrs with us and they all enjoyed our walks even when we walked more than 4 hours. Also try to go early or late as the middle of the day temps are over 30 degrees.

To cover both the East and West McDonald ranges you will need two days minimum (1 day for each). If you have the time and don't mind the driving distances I highly recommend doing the East & West McDonnald ranges.

Great features to see like Stanley chasm, Ormiston Gorge, Fink river and the option for a helicopter ride over the ranges. The meal was really great at Glen Allen and the guide for the trip(Leah ) who was very knowledgeble and friendly. Would recommend this tour to others

took a drive out to Ellery Big Hole. The scenery along the way is just incredible, you watch the landscape change in front of you and just wonder where you are. We decided that Ellery would be a nice place to stop. There is a large swimming hole which gets good use, plenty of people around so need to feel like you'd be unsafe. The only downside was tourists bringing their beat-box and playing loud music. If you cannot understand that it is a place to sit quietly then you have no place being there.

We really loved the west Mac Donnell Ranges: beautiful quiet spots to enjoy nature. You can easily walk around and enjoy a little swimming in many of the gorges.

My name is Nick Westermeyer. I am a quadriplegic from a gymnastics injury sustained at Michigan State University in April 1991 who is interested in global travel and participating in activities not normally associated with disabled people. I’m currently on an adventure that will explore worldwide handicapped accessibility. Many people have travel blogs, but there are none that I know of that come from the vantage point of a wheelchair user going off the accessible path.I get picked by Clive with Alice Wanderer. This is his first tour with Alice though he's been in the business over 20 years. The bus is a Toyota Coaster bus that seats 20 people. We have 12 people on The West MacDonnell's tour today. Our first stop is just outside Alice Springs at John Flynn's grave. John Flynn created the Royal Flying Doctors. An aero medical health service for those who live, work or travel to outback or regional Australia. The hill was too steep with loosely packed gravel I did not get off the bus. Clive gave me a short history then went up to the grave to give the rest of the group the history. We start heading to the West MacDonnell's range that were named for the former Governor of South Australia. The first stop is Standley Chasm. Nowhere close to being accessible, very difficult gravel to wheel though in the parking lot. Can't make it to the trail to hike to Standley Chasm because of how rugged it is. I'm regretting this tour at this point because I don't know what the rest of the day holds. No way to make this trail wheelchair accessible.After the group returns from a 40 minute hike, we have morning tea and coffee. I ask Clive how the rest of the tour is and what I will be able to do/see. He is unsure what I will be able to do/see. He says "most of the places we’re going to visit throughout the day have paved paths or gravel and some hills." After about a 1 hour drive we arrive at the Ochre Pits. The Ochre Pits where used by Aboriginal people for ochre pigments for medical purposes and painting. It has paved walkway with only one slight hill down to the observation deck. Most of the group goes down to the pits but I can't make it down the steps or have any chance of wheeling through the terrain to get a closer look. No way to make getting down for a closer look at the Ochre Pits accessible. Lunch is at Glen Helen Resort. The parking lot is gravel and difficult to wheel through. There is a ramp to the front entrance but it is a little steep. We sit on the back patio overlooking the Finke River, the oldest river in the world. There is a walk way to the river and to the gorge but it is down several steps with difficult terrain to wheel through. Paving the parking lot to make it easier to wheel and a paved walkway to the river would let a wheelchair get close. These improvements are probably not economical. After lunch we visit Ormiston Gorge. The pathway to the gorge is paved with a slight grade but it a little bumpy to wheel over. There is sandy slop to get close to the water that is not accessible. There is an accessible bathroom by the parking lot.We have about a 1hr 20min drive to our last stop, Simpsons Gap. Head net on, we make our way down to Simpsons Gap. I can only make it about 75 yards on the way to Simpsons Gap. It is packed red clay with some rocks to wheel around and a couple of slight grades. The last 50 yards are down steps then through sand so I am not able to make it all the way into Simpsons Gap. Paving a walkway would make it easier for a wheelchair user. Photos of the tour can be viewed at http://offtheaccessiblepath.smugmug.com/Australia/Alice-Springs/West-MacDonnells-Tour/I would not recommend the West MacDonnell's tour for someone in a wheelchair. Clive was a good guide but I've had some excellent guides and the bar was set very high. This tour was not as good as other tours I’ve done. I was not told about how inaccessible this tour was when booking. If a wheelchair user is interested in this tour ask for a pricing discount since you can’t get to several parts of the tour. A head net is recommended for anyone on this tour because the flies are really bad. Most able body people would be able to do this tour but there is some hiking through rough terrain. This tour is about 9-1/2 hours long. Accessibility wise this tour would receive a 1.5/5 rating.

West McDonnell Ranges is a magical place to visit. The mountain range changes at every turn. Gorges, chasms, waterholes. This is indeed an ancient land.Main roads are good but some of the access roads are a bit corrugated but accessible for 2wd vehicles in good weather

Beautiful. Take lots of photos. Many colours, many contours. We have such beautiful countryside in Australia!!!

Just fabulous. We based ourselves in Alice and explored from there. People miss a wonderful part of the area if you just head straight to Uluru

We first went west McDonnell ranges and stopped ormiston gorge ellory water hole and Simpsons gap all worth a look and then next day went east ranges which were different again. Well worth the drive