For a region which us exposed to extreme wet and dry, there is a diverse plant life here - lush green cycads blooming in gorges, mulga and spinifex plains and tall ghost gums that flourish despite their environment.

The wildlife in the lowlands and those who inhabit the higher climbs include birds of prey circling overhead, agile rock wallabies frolic at dawn and dusk and lizards who bask on sunny rocks.

The landscape in central Australia is majestic.  Every bend reveals a new terrain - gorges, ridgetops, creek beds, gullies and mulga plains. The waterholes dotted among the ranges are a welcome reward!

The rich earthy colour tones of the ranges, a strikingly blue sky, the deep green foliage and an indigo hue at dusk.  Don't forget your camera, or even better - your water colours!

Access
Alice Springs is the base from which to start a Larapinta Trail adventure.

Alice is accessible by road, rail and air and sits on the Explorer's Way (Stuart Highway), 1,500 kilometres south of Darwin and 1,540 kilometres north of Adelaide
The Ghan train operates north and southbound between Darwin and Adelaide, and passengers can disembark in Alice Springs

When to go
The best time to walk the Larapinta Trail is in winter, between April and September. The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory provides information on walks and the climatic conditions