Alice Springs West MacDonnell Ranges Tour

The West MacDonnell Ranges half-day private charter service 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 hotel pickup, Anzac Hill, John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve, Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Honeymoon Gap, and return to your hotel.
With our charter bus service, your group has the vehicle to yourselves.

What to expect:

Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes

Anzac Hill

Anzac Hill Road, 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 defence forces during all international wars.

15 minutes

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.

10 minutes

Simpsons Gap

Simpsons Gap, Burt Plain NT 0872, Australia

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.

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.
Standley Chasm is operated by Arrernte aboriginal family members that are direct descendants of the Aboriginal people that have lived in the area for thousands of years.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

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.
The name 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.

20 minutes

Ilparpa Road

Ilparpa Rd, Ilparpa NT 0873, Australia

After Honeymoon Gap on our way back, you will enjoy unusual features of the natural landscape; the unique micro-climate in this valley has created some distinctive features, such as ancient cycads and a myriad of rock types and pebbles that are thousands of years old, washed down from miles upstream. On your return journey, relax and enjoy the changing colours of the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges. Finally, you will conclude with your trip and drop you back at your hotel.

Pass by without stopping