East MacDonnell Ranges & Trephina Walk
Drive east from Alice Springs through the East MacDonnell Ranges to Trephina Gorge — a broader, more ancient landscape than the western ranges, with ghost gum forests and swimming holes in a deeply remote setting.
- 1
Emily Gap
Emily Gap is the most sacred site in Alice Springs — the Caterpillar Dreaming story begins here, and the rock paintings of the caterpillar ancestor are among the most significant Aboriginal art works in Central Australia.
- 2
Jesse Gap
Jesse Gap is a narrow defile through the quartzite range with a permanent waterhole — the Aranda people have used these water sources for thousands of years, and the gap remains an important ceremonial site.
- 3
Trephina Gorge
Trephina Gorge is the largest gorge in the East MacDonnells — a broad, open valley of red sandstone walls and ghost gum trees with a permanent waterhole makes this one of Central Australia's most beautiful landscapes.
- 4
John Hayes Rock Hole
John Hayes Rock Hole at the end of Trephina Gorge is a series of pools in a narrow side canyon — the swimming hole is cool and clear, and the towering cliff walls on both sides create an enclosed, sacred-feeling space.
- 5
N'Dhala Gorge Petroglyphs
N'Dhala Gorge contains over 6,000 rock carvings (petroglyphs) — one of the most significant collections of Aboriginal rock art in Central Australia, accessible only by 4WD on a corrugated track.
- 6
Ross River Homestead
Ross River Homestead is a historic cattle station turned tourist facility — the stone buildings from the 1890s pastoral era provide accommodation, and the surrounding landscape shows the real Central Australian cattle country.
Walk this route with audio
Stories play automatically as you reach each stop — no tapping needed.
