West MacDonnell Ranges Half-Day Tour

Experience the West MacDonnell Ranges' stunning beauty and rich history with a half-day tour that takes you through the heart of Australia's iconic outback landscapes. From sweeping panoramic views to fascinating historical sites, this tour offers an unforgettable adventure. You’ll explore key attractions, including Anzac Hill, John Flynn’s Grave Memorial, Simpsons Gap, Honeymoon Gap, and Standley Chasm, all while learning about the area's deep Aboriginal significance and pioneering history. Your tour starts with Airport/ hotel pick up and drop off at your hotel/ airport at the end of your tour.

What's included:

• Guide

What to expect:

Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Anzac Hill

3 Anzac Hill Rd, Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Your journey begins with a visit to Anzac Hill, where you'll enjoy breathtaking views over Alice Springs and the surrounding MacDonnell Ranges. This spot is a tribute to those who served in Australia’s defense forces, and it offers a perfect vantage point for photographing the town below, set against the dramatic outback landscape.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve

Larapinta Drive, 7kms to the west of Alice Springs near Mt Gillen, Alice Springs, 0870, Northern Territory

Your next stop will be at Flynn’s Grave Memorial, the resting place of Reverend Flynn, the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We stopped to relax, enjoy the changing colours of the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges, and get some photos.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Simpsons Gap

18 Kilometres West from Alice Springs, Alice Springs, 0872, Northern Territory

Simpson Gap features the towering cliffs of Simpsons Range, a permanent waterhole, and opportunities to spot resident wildlife and ancient Red River Gums with a taste of Central Australia. Simpsons Gap is a significant site to the local Arrernte Aboriginal people and was the mythological home of giant goanna ancestors.
We will take you on a short, easy walk alongside a picturesque dry creek bed that leads to a dramatic gap in the MacDonnell Ranges and a waterhole rich in native wildlife, flora, and geology. Sometimes, you may even spot Black-footed Rock-wallabies along the walking track into the rocky slopes gap.

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Temple Bar Caravan Park

875 Ilparpa Rd, Arumbera NT 0870, Australia

emple Bar Gap/ Honeymoon Gap is a small gap south of Larapinta Drive opposite Simpsons Gap, 14km west of Alice Springs. The gap is of great significance to the Arrernte people, the traditional owners of the land. Temple Bar Gap fell out of favour following the site becoming the honeymoon location for Robert (Bob) and Victoria (Vicky) Darken who married at the Alice Springs Methodist Church on 25 June 1942. Bob Darken was given a week's leave from the army and the couple planned to camp for a week at the gap and borrowed a car and a tent. The couple had repeated issues with the car and it rained for most of the week so, concerned for their safety, friends decided to visit them regularly; they said they were "going to see the honeymooners" or "going to honeymoon gap". It was not until 1981 that the name of the pass was officially changed to Honeymoon Gap and, in 2004, the NT Place Names Committee agreed that, the official name of the gap should remain Temple Bar Gap.

30 minutes

Standley Chasm Angkerle

Larapinta Drive, 0872, Northern Territory

The next stop on your exploration of the West MacDonnell is a picturesque walk at Standley Chasm. After Mrs Ida Standley, who in 1914 became the first school teacher in Alice Springs, this place was named Standley Chasm. Walking access to the dramatic 80m sheer rock-face of the chasm is along a well-maintained trail (1.2km/15mins each way), following the natural creek bed with seating & interpretative signage. Angkerle Atwatye, “the Gap of Water”, is a striking geological formation with significant botanical, bird-watching & wildlife photography appeal.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included