| The Larapinta Trail is one of Australia's great walks, | | | | increase local rainfall, provide permanent or |
| which offers hikers of all levels the ultimate Central | | | | semi-permanent water holes, moderate temperatures |
| Australian wilderness experience. | | | | compared to sand environments and provide shelter |
| Running 223 kilometers along the spine of the West | | | | and refuge in caves, overhangs and crevices. |
| MacDonnell Ranges, from Alice Springs to Mount | | | | A 7-day trek takes in the most spectacular scenery |
| Sonder, is the Larapinta Trail where trekkers | | | | of the Larapinta Trail. This is a fully supported trek |
| experience one of the most dramatic landscapes of | | | | with a 4WD vehicle to transport your luggage and |
| Central Australia while traveling through chasms, along | | | | meet you at the campsites with the most delicious |
| the ranges and swimming in waterholes. This walk | | | | bush tucker to be found under the stars. You only |
| weaves itself amongst some of the world's most | | | | need to carry a small daypack. |
| ancient metamorphic and igneous rock and boasts | | | | With amazing sunrises and sunsets you will find the |
| nearly 600 species of rare flora. | | | | beauty and grandeur truly inspirational. Immerse |
| Desert, Flora and Fauna, More than Meets the Eye. | | | | yourself in the rugged beauty of the Red Centre. |
| Contrary to what many people assume, Central | | | | You will trek 12 to 18 km per day, taking in the |
| Australia is anything but a flat monotonous desert. | | | | splendid beauty with plenty of time to relax and |
| Alice Springs is located at the base of the MacDonnell | | | | enjoy the Australian outback. Discover the magic and |
| Ranges which stretch for over 400km in an | | | | mysteries concealed within this ancient environment |
| east-west direction in parallel ridges with flat valleys | | | | and be swept away by dreamtime legends of the |
| between. They were formed through massive earth | | | | area. |
| movements some 300 million years ago, breaking up | | | | The journey will begin by heading for Ormiston Gorge |
| what was then a sea bed as fossil remains testify. | | | | where you may spot the Black Footed rock wallabies |
| Being so old and weathered, generally they extend | | | | hopping between the ghostly gums, and trek through |
| up only around 300 metres from the valley floor but | | | | the mesmerising, dramatic landscape that once |
| are a sensational sight and more importantly, facilitate | | | | inspired Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira. |
| a number of permanent water holes and provide | | | | The trail is then followed from Ormiston Pound to |
| sanctuary to a large number of plant and animal | | | | the mouth of the Finke River. Lose yourself in the |
| species. | | | | magic of dreamtime with a visit to the sacred site |
| Just south of the West MacDonnell Ranges are the | | | | known to the Arrernte people as 'Yapulpa', which is |
| Gardener and James Ranges and a little further | | | | part of the Carpet Snake Dreaming legend. Relax at |
| south-east is the George Gill Range which is home to | | | | the campsite and wander through Glen Helen after |
| the infamous Kings Canyon at Watarrka National | | | | nightfall to experience its majestic cliff faces and |
| Park, the site where the cult movie 'Priscilla Queen of | | | | moody landscape in a different light. At Redbank |
| the Desert' was shot. Another 120km or so further | | | | Gorge you can float over the icy water and enter |
| south-east lie Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta | | | | the eerie caverns in one of the Red Centre's less |
| (The Olgas) which rise approximately 350 and 500 | | | | traversed gorges between polished, multi-hued walls, |
| metres respectively from the desert floor. The | | | | its cathedral atmosphere and vivid colours are well |
| greater area around these two icons is a sandy plain | | | | worth the effort. |
| with low lying sand dunes. | | | | Rise early to witness the sunrise illuminate one of the |
| Even though the region of Central Australia only | | | | Red Centre's highest peaks at Mt Sonder. Scale the |
| receives between 100 - 300 mm of rain per annum, | | | | mountain that inspired many of Namatjira's |
| there is still a rich and diverse range of plants and | | | | watercolours and explore the dreamtime site of |
| animals. A large part of this diversity can be | | | | ancestral goanna spirits. Camping out under a sea of |
| attributed to these mountain ranges and rock | | | | stars in the outback is a highlight of the Trail |
| formations. They can assist this diversity in a number | | | | experience. A unique adventure in great company. |
| of ways, namely; they can influence and often | | | | |