Adventure in Australia

Leave your safe life behind - Australia has vast deserts, snow-capped mountains, sea-sculpted coastlines and ancient rainforest to feel alive in. Ride a Harley from Sydney to Melbourne or take a helicopter between Victoria’s powdered slopes. See the Simpson Desert on camelback or soar over Canberra in a hot-air balloon. Hike the Great Ocean Walk alongside the wild Southern Ocean or squeeze through limestone caves in the Margaret River. Hike, bike, horse-ride or hang-glide. Winch your way down a mountain with just intense focus and thick rope.  In Australia, there’s no excuse not to get amongst it.

Horse ride in the Blue Mountains, NSW

Saddle up and smell the Australian bush on a horse-riding adventure in the Megalong Valley, part of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. With over 2,000 acres of trails and horses for every level of skill and confidence, you can go for a reign-gripping or relaxing pace. Do a scenic two-hour trek to the valley ridge, join a half-day tour to Cox's River or do an overnight ride through the epic wilderness. For full ‘bushy’ credentials, spend a week in the valley’s jackaroo school, where you’ll learn to muster cattle, shear sheep and crack a stockwhip.

Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

Hike the Alpine Track, NSW

Lace up your hiking boots and gather your stamina. This tough long-distance trail follows the crest of the Australian Alps across three states and four national parks. It travels 65km, from Walhalla in Victoria to Tharwa just south of Canberra. Wind up and down the Baw Baw Plateau and the Bogong High Plains in Victoria. Traverse the rugged peaks of Kosciuszko National Park and rocky Namadgi National Park near Canberra. Camp in the wilderness or in camping grounds, historic huts or alpine resorts close to the track. Do day treks or combine shorter sections.  The end-to-end walk takes 50 to 60 days and is strictly for the intrepid traveler.

Mount Hotham, VIC

Ski Mount Hotham, VIC

There are no end of white-knuckle winter thrills at Mount Hotham. Challenge yourself on the steep ski runs around Mary’s Slide, Blue Ribbon or Heavenly Valley. Or test your skills on the gentle beginner slopes of the Summit, Big D Playground and Milky Way. If you’re a snowboarder, there are gullies, bowls, hits, berms, lips and open stashes slick enough to make stunt skiers jealous. Travel from pub to pub on one of the many cross-country trails or jump in a helicopter to the sister slopes of Falls Creek.  At the end of an exhilarating day on the snow, you can bliss out in a mountain-top spa.

Great Ocean Walk, VIC

Do the Great Ocean Walk, VIC

For a real adventure along the Great Ocean Road, pull on your hiking boots. The Great Ocean Walk stretches 90km along this spectacular, sea-lashed coastline, from Apollo Bay to near the Twelve Apostles.  Stand atop some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs, walk through forest, beaches and coastal heaths and spot kangaroos, koalas, dolphins and migrating whales. You can step on and off the trail for short, day or overnight hikes or tackle the entire walk in around a week. Spend the night in local accommodation or book ahead at picturesque camping sites.  

Gold Coast hinterland, QLD

Hang-glide in the Gold Coast Hinterland, QLD

Soar like you do in your dreams on a tandem hang-glide or paraglide in Canungra, in the lush Gold Coast Hinterland. This is one of the most popular places in Australia to fly the skies, both for its mountains to launch-off and gorgeous scenery. In a 20-minute flight you can swoop over the Gold Coast’s skyscrapers and glittering beaches, Gondwanan rainforest, the Great Dividing Range, Border Ranges and Brisbane. At 3,000 feet above the ground and 1,000 feet above Mt Tamborine, the experience is one of pure exhilaration.

Kuku Yulanji Dreamtime walks, Daintree National Park, QLD

Explore the Daintree with an Aboriginal guide, QLD

The World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest is the world’s oldest tract of tropical rainforest, with tree species dating back to the dinosaurs. Learn more about this powerful, primeval landscape on a tour with the traditional Kuku Yalanji owners. Take a guided walk on traditional tracks alongside Mossman Gorge. Learn how they the Kuku Yalanji people have used the rainforest for food, medicine, shelter and spiritual sustenance for more than 9,000 years. Fish for barramundi, visit a waterfall with sacred healing powers and learn about the Kuku Yalanji’s five distinct seasons. You can also take Aboriginal art classes and listen to Dreamtime legends in the lush rainforest setting.

Margaret River region, WA

Cave and abseil in the Margaret River, WA

Just a short distance south of the Margaret River’s wineries are the Leeuwin-Naturaliste caves - an ancient, underground network of limestone caves. While most visitors see the public caves on designated boardwalks, local caving companies cater to those seeking a greater challenge. Abseil down through the forest floor into wild caves only accessible by rope. Or don a helmet and head torch and squeeze through tight tunnels and caverns. True bravery awards go to anyone who attempts the section of Calgardup Cave known as the Rebirthing Canal!

Windjana Gorge National Park, WA

4WD the Gibb River Road, WA

Tackle one of Australia’s greatest four-wheel-drive adventures on this 660-kilometre journey through the vast Kimberley. See freshwater crocodiles in the Windjana Gorge National Park and swim, bushwalk and camp at Lennard and Bell Gorges. Take a scenic flight over Mitchell Falls and the vast Mitchell Plateau. Stay on the one million acre El Questro Wilderness Park. From here you can go horse trekking, get up close to Kimberley wildlife and boat down Chamberlain Gorge past towering escarpments and Wandjina rock art. You could even take in the sights on a mountain bike for the Brisbane to Broome Charity Bike Ride. However you take on this outback challenge, remember it's one that needs planning.

Flinders Ranges, SA

Four wheel drive across the Flinders Ranges, SA

You can really get up close to the rugged beauty of the Flinders Ranges in a 4WD. Tackle the steep trails near Wilmington in the Southern Flinders or explore the red granite mountains and golden, spinifex covered hillsides of Arkaroola in the remote north. Learn about Arkaroola’s prehistoric geology on an open-top 4WD tour along the Ridgetop Track or self-drive the Echo Camp Back Track to waterholes and old gold and copper mines. Combine your 4WD adventure with a scenic flight over Wilpena Pound, an enormous natural amphitheatre in the mountain’s centre.  From the sky it looks like a lost, ancient world where dinosaurs still roam.

Rainbow Valley, NT

Drive the Explorer’s Way, SA, NT

Trace the trail of pioneer John McDouall Stuart as you travel from Adelaide to Darwin on the Explorers Highway. The route takes you through the world-renowned Barossa Valley wine region into the rugged Flinders Ranges. Walk around the rim of Wilpena Pound or soar over it on a scenic flight. Stay underground in the opal capital of Coober Pedy and the outback town of Alice Springs. Walk around Uluru with an Aboriginal guide and to the rim of Kings Canyon. See ancient Aboriginal rock art in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and swim in the crystal-clear pools of Litchfield National Park.

Simpson Desert, NT

Take a camel trek through the Simpson Desert, NT

Explore Australia’s vast, remote desert centre in the tradition of the Afghan cameleers of the 19th and early 20th centuries. As well as riding, you’ll be walking up to six hours a day, while the stoic, regal camels carry your gear. You’ll help shepherd the camels in the morning and evening while they feed, and under the supervision of the cameleers, help to saddle and load the equipment. Experience the timeless, multi-coloured desert scapes and camp at night under a sky ablaze with stars. Do a one week walking trek or be Lawrence of Australia on a six-week tour.

Kakadu National Park, NT

Bush tucker and billabongs in Kakadu National Park, NT

Taste magpie goose, green ants, waterlily and bush carrot on an Aboriginal bush tucker tour of Kakadu National Park. It’s a cultural and sensory journey through the lush, World Heritage-listed landscape, which is home to 10,000 species of insects, 55 types of fish, hundreds of bird species and 75 types of reptiles. Learn how the Aboriginal tribes of Kakadu have gleaned both food and medicine from this complex system of life. Feast on wild snake, turtle and barramundi as you experience the vivid, changing beauty of Kakadu’s crystal clear waterfalls, wildlife-rich wetlands and lush monsoon forests.

Lake St. Clair, TAS

Hike the Overland Track, TAS

Travel through the heart of Tasmania’s World Heritage-listed wilderness on this famous 65-kilometre trek from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. Walk the entire Overland Track in six days or do short and day walks from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and Dove Lake. You’ll need to book in advance with Tasmania’s Parks & Wildlife Service and take along a good tent and warm sleeping bag. While the route has eight basic stove-heated huts, there’s no guarantee of space. The best time to walk the track is between November and April, when the weather is milder and days are longer.

Wineglass Bay, TAS

Climb and abseil in Freycinet, TAS

It’s an hour-and-a-half hike to the top of the Hazard Ranges, but you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view over Wineglass Bay, where dusky pink mountains, blue-green sea and white sand meet. This jagged range is also a popular spot for rock-climbing and abseiling, from the big slabs of Main and Flowstone Walls, to the small and scattered boulders. For more of a challenge, tackle the granite sea cliffs near Bluewater Bay, which is only accessible by 4WD. There is a climber’s camp near the popular steep grey crags of Whitewater Wall and Lassies Wall. 

Hot air ballooning, Canberra

Go hot air ballooning in Canberra, ACT

Float over Canberra’s iconic national buildings, parklands and planned, orderly streets in a hot air balloon. You’ll drift over Old and New Parliament House, the National Gallery, National Museum and War Memorial. Canberra is one of the few cities in the world where balloons can fly so close to houses of government. Most tours leave at dawn, offering a slightly magical perspective on this formal city. Like sky-diving, the one hour flight is weather-dependent. During the Canberra Balloon Fiesta in March, you can join dozens of other balloons decorating the skies. Your flight finishes - and your Canberra day begins - with a champagne breakfast.

Murrumbidgee River, ACT

Walk, fish and camp on the Murrumbidgee River, ACT

You can’t ignore the call of the great outdoors in the Murrumbidgee River Corridor, easily accessible from Canberra. All kinds of natural communion are possible along this short, lovely section of the river’s epic 1,600km journey from the mountainous Australian Alps. Take short walks near Uriarra Crossing or Tharwa or tackle the 27km Murrumbidgee Discovery Track. Swim, kayak and picnic at Casuarina Sands and play cards in the shade of Cotter campground. Fish for Murray cod and listen to native birds warble in the bushland. Pick your day destination from Canberra or combine a few scenic spots on a riverside camping trip.

»»  READMORE...

Australia Icon - Great Ocean Road

Take a ride through nature on the spectacular Great Ocean Road, which winds alongside the wild and windswept Southern Ocean from Geelong to Portland. This diverse and dramatic region takes in surf beaches, historic ports, whale lookouts, breathtaking mountain ranges, rainforests and national parks.See monster waves at Bells Beach and laze on the golden sands of Lorne. Visit an important Aboriginal site near Tower Hill or spot shipwrecks near the charming fishing village of Port Fairy. Of course, you can’t miss the Twelve Apostles - craggy limestone stacks rising majestically from the Southern Ocean. Five highlights of your Great Ocean Road trip

1. The spectacular coastline

Victoria’s dramatic south-west coastline covers an incredible range of scenery. See monster waves at the iconic surf spot of Bells Beach. Laze on the golden sands of Lorne. You can swim, surf, sea kayak or fish in Apollo Bay. Or soak up salty history in the charming old fishing village of Port Fairy. Enjoy family friendly swimming at Anglesea or get wild and windswept on Shipwreck Coast. Of course, you can’t miss the Twelve Apostles. These craggy limestone stacks rising majestically from the Southern Ocean are sure to leave you spellbound.

2. Wild and wonderful nature

From rainforests and rivers to old volcanoes and rugged coastlines, the Great Ocean Road showcases nature at it most diverse. In Great Otway National Park, you’ll see thundering waterfalls and sparkling gorges and walk through the tops of ancient mossy trees. Cruise through gorges and past spectacular caves at Cape Bridgewater. See ancient limestone towers that seem to float in the ocean at the Bay of Islands. Need to stretch your legs? You can see deserted sandy beaches, thick forests and some of Australia's highest sea-cliffs on the 91km Great Ocean Walk.

3. Wildlife everywhere

The Great Ocean Road is really one long, curving spectator stand for native animals. In Warrnambool, you can watch southern right whale whales during their annual migration. See koalas, kangaroos, emus and waterbirds roam freely at Tower Hill State Game Reserve. Enjoy a game of golf alongside grazing kangaroos in Anglesea. See koalas in the wild at Kennett River and in the Great Otway National Park. Check out hundreds of fur seals at Cape Bridgewater and watch glow worms put on a spectacular light show at Melba Gully in the Great Otway National Park. Swim with dolphins at Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula. For something different, canoe alongside platypus on Lake Elizabeth at dawn.

4. Food, wine and all things fine

Need another sense to impress? The Great Ocean Road regions will tempt your tastebuds with sumptuous local produce, great dining and excellent wine regions. Go to the source for mouth-watering local delicacies. For seafood, step down to the wharf in any seaside town and be sure to visit the fishing co-ops in Lorne and Apollo Bay. Taste luscious berries from farms in Colac, Heywood, Gellibrand and Deans Marsh. Or get into the gourmet cheeses from delicatessens in Allansford, Timboon and Cooriemungle. Cool climate wineries stretch the length of the Great Ocean Road, so stop off for a drop at Colac, Apollo Bay, Timboon, Geelong and Henty. You’ll also enjoy fine food and warm hospitality in restaurants, cafés and tea rooms throughout the region.

5. Vibrant Aboriginal culture

Aboriginal stories connect the landscapes of the Great Ocean Road, from Wathaurong country in Geelong to the Gunditjmara region of the west. Taste bush tucker, learn about ancient remedies and watch boomerang throwing and didgeridoo playing in Geelong. Learn about the significance of the site nestled in an extinct volcano near Tower Hill from the Gunditjmara people. In heritage-listed Lake Condah, you’ll see the stone houses and fishing traps left from a permanent Aboriginal village.

»»  READMORE...

Australia Icon - Kimberley

Ride a camel at sunset down Broome’s Cable Beach and soar over the towers of the Bungle Bungle Ranges. Cruise huge Lake Argyle and see tides taller than a building in the Buccaneer Archipelago. Four wheel drive the Gibb River Road past gorges and mighty rivers, or follow the red-dirt track from Broome to the remote Dampier Peninsula. Welcome to the Kimberley - a world of vast horizons, ancient gorges, weird rock formations, welcoming rock pools and golden beaches.
Five Kimberley wonders to discover

1. Broome: beaches, pearls and dinosaur prints

Ride a camel along the white sand of Cable Beach, the place to watch a blazing sun sink into the Indian Ocean. See 130 million-year-old dinosaur footprints preserved in rock at Gantheaume Point. Have a picnic dinner on Town Beach and watch the ‘Staircase to the Moon’, a spectacular, silvery illusion created by a rising full moon reflecting off the tidal flats of Roebuck Bay. It’s visible for three nights a month between March and October. When night sinks over the natural attractions, head to Broome's Outdoor Picture Garden for movies under the stars. Broome was once the centre of the world’s pearling industry, and today you can buy pearls, tour a pearl farm, visit a pearling museum or see the headstones dedicated to some 900 Asian pearl divers.

2. Kununurra: big waters, beehives and diamond mines

Take a scenic flight over the towering orange-and-black striped rocks of the Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park. Or camp and explore them by four wheel drive or foot. These fascinating geological landmarks rise up to 578 metres above sea level, sheltering gorges, crystal-clear pools, fan palms, rich wildlife and living Aboriginal history. Kununurra means 'big water' in the language of the traditional Aboriginal owners, and here you can also cruise down vast Lake Argyle past freshwater crocodiles, wallabies, wetland birds and dramatic cliffs.  Or appreciate its 1,000 square kilometers of grandeur by air. Canoe Lake Kununurra and swim in a deep waterhole under Black Rock Falls. Then visit the Argyle Diamond Mine and see the rare pink diamonds extracted from this ancient rock each year.

3. Dampier Peninsula: beach beauty and Aboriginal history

Four wheel drive the red-dirt road from Broome to Cape Leveque, where you can stay in the Aboriginal wilderness camp of Kooljaman. Sleep in safari-style or paper bark cabins, then snorkel, reef walk and explore old mission ruins with a local Aboriginal family as your guide.  Camp at Middle Lagoon and charter a boat or go mud crabbing with a local guide from Lombadina. Stay in the remote communities of Mudnunn, Chile Creek and La Djardarr Ba and visit Beagle Bay. The Sacred Heart Church here was built by Pallotine monks and Aboriginal people in 1917, all the way down to its mother-of-pearl shell altar.

4. Derby and the Buccaneer Archipelago: islands, history and huge tides

See the sun set over the King Sound from Derby Wharf and fish from tides as tall as 12 metres. Learn about Aboriginal leader and outlaw Jandamurra on the Pigeon Heritage Trail and discover the art of the Mowanjum Aboriginal Community.  Don’t miss the 1,500-year-old Boab Prison Tree, with its girth of more than 14 metres.  From Derby, you can take a boat or fly to the islands of Buccaneer Archipelago, home to South Sea Pearl farms and the famous Horizontal Waterfalls. Take a scenic flight and see how massive tidal movements force the seawater ‘waterfall’ through a narrow gap in the cliff walls.

5. Gibb River Road and the Mitchell Plateau: gorges and great off-road adventure

Four wheel drive the 660-kilometer Gibb River Road from Derby in the west to Kununurra in the east, taking in Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek and the mighty Pentecost, and Ord Rivers. Travel into the remote Aboriginal community of Kalumburu, where you can stay; fish from the reef and rivers and camp on the beach at Honeymoon Bay and McGowan Island. For a really rugged adventure, discover the Aboriginal rock art and native vegetation of Mitchell River National Park. Trek Mitchell Plateau and see the majestic Mitchell Falls – a series of four waterfalls - cascade over layers of rock into a deep pool.

»»  READMORE...

Australia Icon - Ningaloo

Join the tropical-coloured party at Ningaloo Marine Park, home to 200 species of hard coral, 50 soft coral and over 500 species of fish.
Ningaloo is one of the world’s largest fringing reefs, stretching for 260 kilometres off Western Australia’s mid north coast. What’s more, its closest point is within 100 metres of shore so you can join the festivities just by stepping off the beach.
Five things to do in Ningaloo

1. Meet intriguing marine life

Swim with the docile whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, who visit between April and June. Watch humpback whales between June and November and see rare turtle species hatch on guided, eco-interactive trails in January and February. Sea kayak from Exmouth and spot migrating whales and visit remote sites teeming with dugongs and turtles. Or join a boat tour to watch the spectacular mass coral spawning in March and April. You only have to step off the beach at Exmouth or Coral Bay to see clownfish bathing in anemone tentacles, lionfish and predatory moray eels as well as hundreds of other species of tropical fish.

2. Slip on a snorkel and flippers

Snorkel through coral lagoons and gardens in calm, protected Coral Bay and meet graceful manta rays, dolphins and brightly coloured fish. If you’re ready for deeper waters, jump on a glass-bottom boat or join a snorkelling tour from Exmouth. Head to Lighthouse Bay or the classic desert Muiron Islands for spectacular reef diving. See sea creatures from small to big in the reef sanctuary of Bundegi Bombies, which has shallow waters perfect for entry level divers and snorkellers. More experienced divers can discover the diverse collection of large sponges, gorgonians and sea whips in the sponge gardens at the entrance to the Exmouth Gulf. Whatever level you are, Ningaloo has a piece of underwater Eden for you.

3. Stay in salty seaside towns

Stay in pretty Exmouth, where you can hire a car, join an eco safari or a beach, reef and game fishing tour. Learn to surf on the gentle waves of Wobiri, catch a left-handed swell on The Bombie or ride the reef breaks at Dunes Beach and Murion and Montebello Islands. Back in town, you’ll find accommodation to suit all budgets, from self-contained apartments to backpackers and campsites. Wander the yachting marina and visit the town's cafes, restaurants, boutiques and wine bars. Then have a yarn with the locals or other travellers over a beer at the local tavern. In the idyllic seaside town of Coral Bay you can stroll to everywhere. Snorkel, swim and feed fish off the beach, do a dive trip or take a scenic flight over the reef.

4. Have adventures on land and sand

Four-wheel-drive the Shothole Canyon Road or Charles Knife Canyon to Cape Range National Park, just 35 kilometres from the centre of Exmouth.  Here you can camp where spectacular gorges, carved by ancient rivers, meet Ningaloo’s coral reefs, clear blue seas and sandy beaches. Walk to Yardie Creek past wildlife and wildflowers, watching out for rare black-footed wallabies crouching on the steep walls. These mangrove areas shelter many bird species and marine animals. Or follow the three-kilometre walking trail through Mandu Mandu Gorge for panoramic ocean views. When it's time to dry off, explore more of the coastline on a four-wheel drive or quad bike.

5. Go castaway

Join a day tour to the tranquil Muiron Islands, classic desert islands with tropical waters teeming with marine life and complex coral reefs. Dive or snorkel at Turtle Bay, a nesting sanctuary for turtles. You’ll find many other great dive sites just offshore, with colourful coral gardens in depths of 3 to 20 metres. Laze on a deserted beach or cast your line in the shallow waters for a giant trevally. For the ultimate in solitude and romance, get permission to camp overnight.

»»  READMORE...

Australia Destination - Red Centre

You probably know about the red monolith in Australia’s Red Centre.
You may know it’s sacred to the Aboriginal people here, and that it turns some spectacular colours at sunrise and sunset. You might not know that you can experience it through Aboriginal eyes, or that there are many other sacred and breathtaking sites here in Australia’s vast centre.  Uluru’s cousin Kata Tjuta is just 40 kilometres away and you’ll find the awe-inspiring Kings Canyon not far from Alice Springs. You might not realise that this landscape has green vegetation and lush waterholes as well as dusty red roads and huge slabs of rock.  And what you won’t really understand until you get here is the magic, majesty, silence and splendid isolation of Australia’s Red Centre.
Five places you must visit in the Red Centre

1. Alice Springs and surrounds

Stay in the famous outback town of Alice Springs, which sits in Australia’s red heart just 200 kilometres south of its geographic centre. From here you can bushwalk, four wheel drive or join a camel trek across the rolling sand dunes of the Simpson Desert. Bike ride to Simpsons Gap at dawn, discover different Aboriginal art styles along the Tanami Track and explore the rock art, artefacts and ceremonial sites near the small Aboriginal community of St Teresa.

2. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

See Uluru rise 348 metres from the desert in the deep centre of Australia, matching the light and weather with hues so vivid they upstage the sunset. Walk around Uluru’s base with an Anangu guide, and learn how it was created by spirit ancestors in the Dreamtime. You can even trace the battle scars they left behind. See Uluru on a motorcycle, from the back of a camel or on a scenic helicopter flight. Drink in its sunset glow with a glass of champagne, then return to a campfire dinner of barramundi, emu or kangaroo underneath a starlit sky. Just 40 kilometres away you’ll find Kata Tjuta - steep, rounded, russet domes formed through more than 500 million years of erosion. You can experience both wonders in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which offers tours by Aboriginal guides and accommodation ranging from campsites to luxury resort.

3. Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park

Trek to the rim of Kings Canyon for breathtaking views across the rugged bluffs and gorges of Watarrka National Park. The canyon’s towering rock walls shelter palm-filled crevices and pockets of lush green in otherwise inhospitable desert. See rare plants from a lone-gone wetter age and swim in the tropical pools of the Garden of Eden. Explore the weathered rock domes of the Lost City. See sunset at Carmichael Crag, take the Kathleen Springs Walk to a pretty waterhole or trek overnight on the Giles Track.  If camping doesn’t appeal, spend the night in a resort or wilderness lodge.

4. Finke Gorge National Park

Four wheel drive next to towering sandstone cliffs and the mostly sandy Finke River. Mostly dry in Finke Gorge National Park. Explore the desert oasis of Palm Valley, the only place in the world you’ll find the Red Cabbage Palm. You can meander through the slender palms on the Arankaia Walk or the longer Mpulungkinya Walk. Afterwards, follow the short Kalaranga Lookout Walk for spectacular views of the rock amphitheatre circled by rugged cliffs. Or learn about the mythology of the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people on the popular two-hour Mpaara Walk. See long-limbed gums stretch over glimmering water and mountain ranges turn from purple to burning ochre in the setting sun.

5. MacDonnell Ranges

Walk the Larapinta Trail or Emu Dreaming path to Ormiston Gorge and Pound, past graceful red river gums, wallabies and cool, clear waterholes.  Marvel at the gorge’s sheer walls rising 300 metres out of Ormiston Creek, then dive into the waterhole that is 14 metres deep. You can also cool off in Ellery Creek Big Hole, Redbank Gorge and picturesque Glen Helen Gorge. See rock wallabies in and around the ridges and ghost gums of Simpsons Gap. Walk to Standley Chasm and see its steep walls blaze red in the midday sun. Don’t miss the 20 kilometre wide crater at Gosse Bluff, or Tnorala to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people. Their dreaming story is a little more magical than the scientific explanation which says it was formed by a comet crashing to Earth about 130 million years ago. In the East MacDonnell Ranges, you can bush walk, camp, four-wheel-drive and visit Trephina Gorge and the gold rush ghost town of Arltunga.

»»  READMORE...