West MacDonnell Ranges half-day tour: Alice Springs

Discover hidden gorges and hear local stories on a small, intimate journey

A half-day guided tour of the West MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs takes you to five stops (Anzac Hill, John Flynn's Grave, Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, and Honeymoon Gap) with hotel pickup, park entry, and morning tea included. The group stays under twelve people, and your guide explains the local geology, Aboriginal significance and history at each site. Two short walks are built into the itinerary: a gentle one alongside a creek bed at Simpsons Gap, and a 1.2-kilometre trail to the 80-metre rock face at Standley Chasm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Anzac Hill20m
2. Standley Chasm1h · entry included

Explore West MacDonnell Ranges highlights

• Hotel pickup in Alice Springs
• Visit Anzac Hill for panoramic views
• Stop at Flynn’s Grave Memorial
• Walk at Simpsons Gap and spot wildlife
• Walk Standley Chasm trail
• Visit Temple Bar Gap / Honeymoon Gap
• Return to hotel through scenic landscape

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and heads to Anzac Hill first, where you take in panoramic views over Alice Springs and the surrounding MacDonnell Ranges: the kind of vantage point that lets you photograph the entire town in one frame. From there you move to John Flynn's Grave, a short stop at the resting place of the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, where you can pause and watch the colours shift across the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Simpsons Gap is where the walking begins. A short, easy walk takes you alongside a dry creek bed toward a dramatic gap in the MacDonnell Ranges and a waterhole where Black-footed Rock-wallabies sometimes appear on the rocky slopes. The gap holds significance for the local Arrernte Aboriginal people. It was the mythological home of giant goanna ancestors. After the walk, your guide provides complimentary bush tea and coffee. The next stop is Standley Chasm, named after Ida Standley, Alice Springs' first school teacher in 1914. A well-maintained trail runs 1.2 kilometres each way along the natural creek bed to the base of the 80-metre sheer rock face, with seating and interpretative signage along the way. The geological formation (called Angkerle Atwatye, "the Gap of Water" in the local language) draws bird-watchers and wildlife photographers.

On the return journey, you stop at Honeymoon Gap (officially Temple Bar Gap), a small gap 14 kilometres west of Alice Springs with deep significance to the Arrernte people. The gap earned its popular name in 1942 when a newlywed couple camped there during their honeymoon week, and friends began saying they were "going to see the honeymooners." The valley's unique micro-climate has created distinctive features: ancient Cycads and thousands of years' worth of rock types and pebbles washed down from upstream. You finish the day with the drive back to your hotel, watching the landscape colours change as you go.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return to your accommodation.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full route.
• NT Parks Visitor Pass covering entry to all five stops.
• complimentary bush tea, coffee and soft drinks throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 13:00 and 13:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (1 to 95 years) · Child (under 1)

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 21 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Alice Holiday Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups of up to eleven work best here. You get a guide's attention and the flexibility to linger at the two walking sites without the pace of a larger coach tour. Book this if you want the West MacDonnell Ranges' geology and Aboriginal history explained as you go, not just the views.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 1).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What's the walk like at Simpsons Gap?

Simpsons Gap includes a short, easy walk alongside a dry creek bed that leads to a waterhole and a gap in the MacDonnell Ranges. The walk is gentle enough for most fitness levels, and you may spot Black-footed Rock-wallabies on the rocky slopes. Complimentary bush tea and coffee are served after the walk.

How long is the walk at Standley Chasm?

The trail to Standley Chasm is 1.2 kilometres each way and takes about 15 minutes in each direction. It follows a natural creek bed with a well-maintained path, seating areas and interpretative signage, ending at the base of an 80-metre rock face.

Does the tour include entry to the parks?

Yes, the NT Parks Visitor Pass is included, which covers entry to Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm and the other stops on the tour.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and return, an air-conditioned vehicle, the NT Parks Visitor Pass, morning tea and coffee at Simpsons Gap, and soft drinks or water throughout the tour are all included.

How many people go on this tour?

The tour operates as a small group with a maximum of eleven travellers, so you're not on a large coach.

What does the guide explain along the way?

Your guide shares knowledge of the local geology, Aboriginal history and significance of the sites, the flora and fauna of the MacDonnell Ranges, and the history of Alice Springs, not just pointing out the landmarks.