The popular extended walk, the Larapinta Trail, runs east–west along the linear park, following the West MacDonnell Ranges.The park includes many tourist attractions along its 250 kilometre length including Ormiston Pound, the Ellery Creek Bighole, Glen Helen Gorge, Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Mount Sonder, Serpentine … Stay in the heart of the East MacDonnell Ranges at Hale River Homestead, accessible by 2WD; from $30 per night for an … Simpsons Gap is a dramatic cleft in the range through which a dry white sand riverbed fringed with river red gums winds. But if like most visitors to the Red Centre you are also planning on visiting Kings Canyon and Uluru, then the West Macs are really just the start of the journey. Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park stretches 161km west of Alice Springs and will draw you in with its majestic beauty. The MacDonnell Ranges stretch east and west from Alice Springs. He was one of the important people in the development of the contemporary indigenous Australian art. The West MacDonnell Ranges are well worth a visit on their own. MacDonnell Ranges. The narrow chasm is truly spectacular. Standley Chasm, 50 km west of Alice Springs, is the only privately owned gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges, and that means there is an entry fee to cover the maintenance of the facilities.. There are an awful lot of Scottish clans to start with and on top of this each clan can have many different tartans and names associated with it. The MacDonnell Mountain Ranges (East and West) stand as mighty sentinels overlooking the town of Alice Springs.. They were formed by folding at least 1000 million years ago, but the sediments that comprise them are 1400-2400 million years old. It's easy to make a day trip that takes in a range of natural gorges, waterholes and lunch spots. QantasLink and Virgin Australia fly direct to Alice Springs from most capital cities. The MacDonnells are close to the exact centre of Australia, and extend for 500 km in an east-west direction. They are quite impressive to any onlookers, both visitors and locals. This man came from western MacDonnell Ranges of Australia. Standley Chasm with its vertical red walls that glow in … Hire a car to drive yourself, or take a tour from Alice Springs. From Redbank Gorge if you have a 4×4 you can carry on west around the Mereenie Loop and continue on … Facts about Albert Namatjira provide the information about the western Aranda speaking aboriginal artist. At lunch time, when the sun is right above it, the steep walls light up in orange and … Their location and formation is also closely tied in with the formation and development of Alice Springs in this isolated far-away area of … They were originally about 4500 m high but after … Running due west from Alice Springs, the West MacDonnell Ranges contain a variety of impressing and interesting geological features and landscapes. Standley Chasm. Who wears the MacDonell or MacDonnell Tartan? Associated Names. Staying there Hale River Homestead. You’ll enjoy beautiful walks at Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, the Ochre Pits and a stop at Ormiston Gorge for … Known as Tjoritja by the Traditional Owners, the continuation of cultural practices and a connection to the land is highly significant for local Aranda Aboriginal culture. The West MacDonnell Ranges tour will provide you with panoramic landscapes, spectacular outback scenery and many photo opportunities as you travel along the ranges, stopping occasionally at historic sites. First of all to explain why there are so many tartans, way over 2000 in fact. The West MacDonnell Ranges begin just outside of Alice Springs, and the major attractions range from 15 minutes to approximately 2 hours drive away. If approaching Alice from the south, you will drive straight through a quite spectacular gap in the range. This gap is called Heavitree Gap and was named after the explorer William Mills, after his former school in the English county of Devon. The East MacDonnell Ranges can be found for 150km just east of Alice Springs.