By Mary Peterson

The Larapinta Trail begins at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station and ending at Mt Sonder, the Northern Territory's second highest mountain peak.

This expedition covers a variety of terrains and is divided into 12 sections, ranging from easy day trips to challenging overnight walks.

The sheer rock face of Simpsons Gap is the first extreme landscape most trekkers will see along the Larapinta Trail. The deep red rock melds with the creamy sand of the creek bed and river red gums dot the crevices. 

White Cyprus pines, fig trees and ghost gums with their snow-white trunks and vibrant green leaves are all found along the Gap, which splits the MacDonnell Ranges in a striking colour contrast of desert tones.

The next stop along the Trail is the cathedral-like walls of red rock that is Standley Chasm. This sheer rock face shields a whole new eco-system of plant life from the desert sun. On the one kilometre walk into the Chasm, huge ghost gums stand alongside cycad palms and delicate ferns in a lush gully floor. Trekkers can easily find a cool, shady hideaway deep in the entry passageway to enjoy this oasis.


Picturesque swimming holes are found all along the Larapinta Trail.

The holes offer a refreshing relief on a scorching day. After the summer rains, a scattering of temporary swimming holes are revealed in addition to the permanent swimming holes at Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge and Redbank Gorge. These can be accessed from Namatjira Drive as well as along the Larapinta Trail.

Located at the western end of the Trail, Ormiston Gorge is a popular stop among trekkers and is home to some interesting fauna and flora, including a number of relic plant species from its tropical past. There is also a local colony of black footed rock wallabies that can often be seen bounding over the boulders and crevasses.

The next swimming hole along the Trail is Glen Helen Gorge, which is important in Aboriginal mythology as it was from here that some of the creatures of the Dreamtime emerged. Trekkers can take a refreshing dip in the cool water and experience the unique habitat of waterbirds living in the middle of the desert. 

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