The Larapinta Trail is famous for long days on foot, rugged landscapes and unforgettable outback scenery—but you don’t have to spend a week walking the Larapinta Trail to experience its magic. Sometimes, all it takes is a car, a day to explore and a good reason to hit the road.
When we travelled to the West MacDonnell Ranges to run and crew an ultramarathon, I found myself with plenty of time between checkpoints to explore the Larapinta Trail by car. Rather than committing to a multi-day trek, I picked out some of the trail’s most accessible highlights and discovered just how much of the Larapinta can be experienced on a self-guided road trip.
From dramatic gorges and lookouts to trailheads, swimming holes and iconic outback landscapes, this is our guide to spending one day exploring the Larapinta Trail by car.
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Preparing for Larapinta Way
It’s 5 a.m. and absolutely pitch black out on the road. Sean is ready to run 65 kilometres of the Larapinta Track. I’m in a tracksuit and a puffer jacket, hoping there is coffee at the start line. Nothing seems to be out here; the headlights don’t penetrate the darkness, and they barely illuminate a meter out from the road, let alone hint at the rest of the landscape.
There is no light pollution here; you leave Alice Springs after dark, and 10 minutes later, there is nothing.
I spy the turn-off for Standley Chasm and head down the 8 kilometre track to the trailhead to drop off Sean at the start line of the West Mac’s Monster Ultramarathon (a 65-kilometre run).
I’ve been here before, packed into a tour bus with 38 children on a school camp in 2018, but everything appears different when you’re responsible for teenagers. It feels like a lifetime ago.
Winding along the track, the first light appears on the hills. They’re low and eerie. Jagged and rocky faces appear on both sides. I hadn’t realised we were in such a steep landscape until this moment.
The start line involves overly caffeinated runners and their under-caffeinated, rugged-up crews.
At the Starting Line
Just 30 minutes later, a Welcome to Country by elders, then a cacophony of cowbells, and they’re off, keenly winding their way through Standley Chasm for the run back to Alice.
I’m also heading back to Alice, but I’m driving out. I stop to watch the light creep up the surrounding mountains that I had no clue were there before.
I spent at least half an hour taking photos, watching the light play across the ranges hidden from me only an hour ago.
Crewing someone on an ultra marathon gives you much time to kill. Apart from a planned meeting with Sean at Simpsons Gap around noon, having the rest of the day free allowed me to host his parents on a tour.
The intervening 12 hours leave ample time to explore the Larapinta Way.
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About the Larapinta Trail
Stretching for 231 kilometres through the West MacDonnell Ranges west of Alice Springs, the Larapinta Trail is one of Australia’s great long-distance walks. The trail follows the backbone of the ranges from Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Mt Sonder, passing through rugged landscapes, ancient red cliffs, waterholes and spectacular lookouts along the way.
For hikers tackling the entire Larapinta end to end, the trail is generally completed over around 14 days, although the exact itinerary depends on your pace, experience and how much time you want to spend exploring along the way. With numerous campsites along the route, hikers can break the journey into manageable sections and experience the trail at their own pace.
Hiking the Larapinta Trail requires preparation, particularly in the more remote sections, but its well-established trail information and network of campsites make it possible to plan a self-guided adventure. For those who don’t have two weeks to spare, however, you can still experience some of the highlights without walking the entire Larapinta—and that’s exactly what we set out to do.
Stop #1: Ormiston Gorge
Drive to Ormiston Gorge, 10 a.m. The furthest drive-in point from Alice Springs is about an hour and a half in the car.
This drive was breathtaking; the West MacDonald’s landscape evolves as you travel down Larapinta Way.
The rolling hills morph into sheer cliffs, punctuated by vast expanses with the occasional wild horse poking out of the bushes, plus lots and lots of red dirt.
Ormiston Gorge, like many landmarks of the Northern Territory, is very unassuming as you turn off, but after parking, you see walls of the gorge rising above the River Gums.
When you walk into the gorge, it’s so big that it’s a cliched statement, but the sheer size of the cliff edges will leave you speechless.
We spent about half an hour staring at the cliff edges, watching the reflections along the water before returning to the car.
Stop #2: Ochre Pits
The Ochre Pits 11am. The “drive back” to Alice from Ormiston, our second stop was the Ochre Pits. The Ochre Pits were one of my favourite stops. The natural pigmentations in the cliff edges can’t be captured on film.
It’s a short walk to stand with the colours of Australia. Ochre from these particular pits were traded and shared all over Australia and are incredibly special.
I expected something more minor. I also thought the colours would be faded.
However, preservation and care for this area must be commended as you walk along the walls of colour, immersed in the diverse reds, yellows, oranges and purples.
Stop #3: Simpsons Gap
Simpsons Gap noon—time to meet Sean, who by this stage has run about 40 kilometres. We drove the hour to Simpsons Gap to wait for him to run into the checkpoint.
While we had been comfortably driving in the car, he had been slogging away in the rocky, undulating hills of the Larapinta Track for the past 6 hours, and it was about midday.
Simpsons Gap is typically a quiet affair, but during event days, there are trail crews, runners, cowbells and fanfares. We refuelled Sean with fluids, chips and a chocolate bar and sent him off for the final 25 kilometre leg to Alice Springs before we leisurely strolled to “the gap”.
Simpsons Gap, named after the explorer, is home to the most spectacular Red River and Ghost gums I’d ever seen on the dry river beds. Their twisted and gnarled trunks frame the red cliffs magnificently as you walk towards the divide.
Despite many people there, The Gap never seemed “busy.” it’s such a large expanse and so much bigger than it seems that everyone is dwarfed by the two rising rocky outcrops from the reflective pool in the middle of the gap.
Going later in the day allows you time to cool off in the shade and leisurely spot rock wallabies watching from the cliff walls and high peaks above.
Stop #4: Standley Chasm
Standley Chasm: 3 p.m. Returning to the daylight in the chasm was surreal after I’d arrived in the dark some 10 hours ago. This place, hidden under a fantastic light, was now bathed in a golden glow. We just made it in.
I would not recommend turning up right at 3 p.m. as we almost missed the cut-off, but I would recommend the afternoon walk out to the chasm. The entry fee for Standley Chasm goes towards preserving and protecting the area.
There is also a great campground there!
Standley Chasm is an oasis, and it has these beautiful palms as you wander into the chasm. The walk itself is pretty special. It’s this rocky path that follows a creek bed winding further and further into the rocks. The walk will only take you about 15 minutes, but the finish is the “show stopper”.
The chasm is narrow, only about 50 metres long and not even 5 metres wide. The end is blocked by a rockfall, and looking up, two sheer walls of rock form the chasm. With the late time in the day, the hills and cliffs beyond were gold and orange.
The chasm was shaded, and everything had this golden hour feel. I loved this place. It was beautiful to stand and bask in the light.
My favourite place in the West MacDonnell’s remains Standley Chasm—a piece of paradise.
After this, we returned to Alice Springs for the arrival of Sean. He finished the Monster Mac in around 12 hours at the Telegraph Station, 65 kilometres from Standley Chasm.
Looking to Walk the Larapinta Trail?
A Larapinta walk can be as ambitious or as relaxed as you like. While many hikers set aside around 12–14 days to tackle the entire Larapinta Trail from Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Mt Sonder, you don’t need to commit to the full journey to experience some of its best sections.
Walking a few carefully chosen sections is a great way to enjoy the trail while still having the comfort of returning to accommodation between walks.
Trail transfers pick up and drop off from some of the most popular sections including Ormiston Gorge, Serpentine Gorge, Ellery Creek, and Redbank Gorge and Simpsons Gap. These range from relatively accessible walks to more challenging and remote sections, so choosing the right route for your experience and fitness level is important.
If you’d rather leave the logistics to someone else, consider joining a guided walk with expert guides who know the trail and its more difficult sections, or book a trail transfer to get you to and from specific sections of the Larapinta. It’s an easy way to experience the highlights without having to plan the entire Larapinta Trail yourself.
I was so lucky to have time to explore this trail while he was running. I had no clue the Larapinta was so diverse in each of its stops- it’s not all the same “red cliffs” but instead filled with unique landmarks that leave you speechless.
You can easily do four to five milestones properly in a day with a car along Larapinta Drive.
I recommend driving out as far as we did; Ormiston Gorge and the Ochre Pits are unique.
Sean ran in the Standley 65km Ultra in a running festival called the West Mac’s Monster, which has many distances, all following the Larapinta trail. This festival usually runs in May, and I followed him on May 21, 2023. This festival is famous for running circles and is an incredibly challenging but rewarding run, whichever distance you choose.
*Cover image is by @elevatedblooms on IG.
Remember to pack your sense of adventure, respect for nature, and an open mind as you set out to discover the West MacDonnell Ranges. Leave only footprints behind as you traverse the trails and immerse yourself in the pristine wilderness of the National Park! We would love your feedback – we encourage you to share your experiences, questions, and suggestions in the comments below.
You can always get more inspiration for other National Parks to visit by following @northerhq or get your West MacDonnell National Park daily fix @westmacdonnellnationalpark on Instagram or at our Facebook page.
Heading to the NT? Here’s What You Need to Get Started
Travel Insurance
Whether you’re from Australia or across the globe, it’s a great idea to get insurance to cover unexpected accidents or medical emergencies. AllClear and Cover More are our favourite travel insurance providers to give us the peace of mind while heading to the outback.
Flights
For the best deals on flights, we recommend using Trip.com. It’s super easy to compare prices across different airlines and booking sites. I always find great options for my trips, and it saves me so much time and money!
Hotels
We always recommend using Booking.com for hotels. They have a variety of accommodation options and great filters to help you find the perfect place for your trip to the NT. With amazing deals, a great loyalty program, and the largest selection of hotels and rentals, it’s our favourite place to book rooms.
Tours
Tours, either multi-day, half-day, or private excursions, are a great way to experience the NT. Viator has a great selection of activities to help you travel the Territory and learn from locals.
Car Rental
If you're looking to rent a car to explore the Territory on your own, we suggest checking out Budget. It’s so easy to compare prices and find the best option from their huge selection of cars. Or try Rentalcars.com to see cars from all rental companies in the NT.
National Parks Pass
If you live outside the NT and plan on visiting national parks, you'll need a Parks pass. Choose from a day pass, a 2-week pass, 12-month pass, or family pass at NT.gov.au. If you're an NT resident be sure you bring your NT driver licence or proof of residency. Note: Park Passes are not accepted at Kakadu or Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Parks. Purchase those from Parks Australia.
Sim Card
If you're travelling and need a reliable connection, We'd recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo. Choose from data only or cellular connection. It’s super convenient and helps you stay connected without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards or paying exorbitant fees to your wireless provider.
