Alice Springs Half-Day West MacDonnell Tour

Alice Springs Airport to West MacDonnell Ranges half-day tour is an excellent opportunity to explore the panoramic landscapes of the West MacDonnell Ranges. View spectacular outback scenery and take photos as we travel through magnificent Outback Country, stopping at the many historical locations. Tour attractions include airport pickup, Anzac Hill, John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve, Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Honeymoon Gap, and return to the Alice Springs Airport or drop you at your hotel. 
We provide Alice Springs and its surroundings sightseeing tour services in the Northern Territory. Our tour operations concentrate on a maximum of eleven travelers. It is not only just sightseeing tours, but also you get to know about Alice Springs. Our tour operators know the local geology, history, climate, flora, and fauna of the McDonnell Ranges and Alice Springs. This is convenience way to explore West MacDonnell ranges starting from Alice Springs airport.

Meeting Point

Alice Springs Airport

Santa Teresa, Road, Alice Springs NT 0871, Australia

Alice Springs Airport passenger pick up area

What to expect:

Duration: 4 hours

Temple Bar Caravan Park

875 Ilparpa Rd, Arumbera NT 0870, Australia

Temple 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 name of the gap should remain Temple Bar Gap.

15 minutes

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, 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 you might see Black-footed Rock-wallabies along the walking track into the rocky slopes gap. After your bush walk, your guide will invite you to complimentary bush Tea and Coffee at Simpsons Gap.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

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.

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

15 minutes

Anzac Hill

3 Anzac Hill Rd, Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Our first visit of the day is at Anzac Hill, where you will be able to take in panoramic views over the town of Alice Springs and the surrounding MacDonnell ranges. You may be able to capture one photo to cover the entire town. Anzac Hill is a memorial dedicated to those who served in Australia’s defense forces during all international wars.

20 minutes