Larapinta and West MacDonnell Ranges
Alice Springs, NT

Duration: 4 days / 3 night Walking Tour
Departs: Alice Springs, NT

Itinerary:
Day 1: Alice Springs Desert Park  – Standley Chasm
Visit Alice Springs Desert Park to gain an understanding of the environment, plants and animals we will see during our four-day walking tour. Then we head off to stunning Standley Chasm where we will enjoy some lunch and then head out for a walk. The rare MacDonnell Ranges Cycads are common in the special, sheltered gorge and Black-footed rock wallabies are also common. The second walk is one hour return and it takes you up into one of the valley spurs for great views both east and west of the range. Accommodation check in and Two-course set menu in hotel restaurant. Meals – lunch and two course dinner (drinks at own expense)

Day 2: Larapinta Trail – Serpentine Gorge
For our walking today we follow arguably the best section of the Larapinta Trail. The walk begins at Serpentine Dam and we enjoy lunch atop Counts Lookout which afford magnificent views. The ridge line walk from Counts Point to Serpentine Gorge is absolutely stunning with huge views looking north and south as well as along the spine of the West Mac’s. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Day 3: Larapinta Trail – Red Bank Gorge – Mount Sonder
After a drive to Red Bank Gorge we start the ascent of one of the most stunningly beautiful and rewarding walks in the Western MacDonnell Range. Mount Sonder lies at the end and final stage of the Larapinta trail and offers one of the most amazing summit views in Central Australia. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 4: Simpsons Gap – Olive Pink Botanic Gardens – Araluen Arts Centre
This morning we head to Simpsons Gap and take the 1.5km Cassia Hill Walk. This lovely trail takes about one hour and features interesting native flora and great views. We will then visit the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens where we can stroll through 16 hectares of themed plantings and surrounding bushland where you’ll find over 250 central Australian plant species, not to mention the black-footed rock wallaby, western bowerbirds, and a multitude of butterflies and birds.We finish the day on a cultural note with a trip to the amazing Araluen Arts Centre. Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

Grade
This walking tour is graded Medium. We recommend participants have a moderate fitness level. We walk at the groups pace with plenty of stops to enjoy this stunning part of Australia

Conservation Impact
A Mala is a small finely built hare-wallaby with reddish brown fur. Once widespread and common in the Sand Country of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia but are now extinct in the wild. The Alice Springs Desert Park is a key location for the conservation and breeding of Mala. Our conservation efforts have assisted with the construction of the Mala Breeding Pens and we are currently helping upgrade the 4.5 hectare Mala Breeding facility at Alice Springs Desert Park.