Page 290 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

288  THE NOR THERN TERRIT OR Y

2Chambers Pillar In the West MacDonnells, 7 km
Historical Reserve (4 miles) from Alice Springs, is
John Flynn’s Memorial Grave,
Tel (08) 8951 8250. £ Alice Springs. which honours Presbyterian
@ Alice Springs. 8 minister, Rev John Flynn, who
∑ nt.gov.au
founded the Royal Flying
Doctor Service (see p261).
Chambers Pillar, a 50-m (165-ft) A further 10 km (6 miles) from
high sandstone obelisk, was town, Simpsons Gap is the first
used by explorers as an of a series of attractive gorges in
important navigational landmark the MacDonnells. A pretty spot,
during early colonial exploration. it is home to some rare local
The pillar is made of mixed red plant species. Nearby is
and yellow sandstone deposited Standley Chasm, a narrow,
more than 350 million years ago. deep gorge whose sheer rock-
Many of the explorers, such as faces glow a glorious red, par-
John Ross who visited the area Lush Palm Valley in Finke Gorge National ticularly under the midday sun.
in 1870, carved their names and Park, MacDonnell Ranges The large 18-m (60-ft) deep
inscriptions into the rock. permanent waterhole within
Located 160 km (110 miles) 4MacDonnell Ellery Gorge at Ellery Creek Big
south of Alice Springs, with the Ranges Hole is a good swimming spot.
final section of the journey £ Alice Springs. @ Alice Springs. Serpentine Gorge, 20 km (12
accessible only by 4WD vehicles, n Alice Springs (08) 8951 8250. miles) further west, is another
the pillar is also a sacred Simpsons Gap: Open daily. 7 narrow gorge created by an
Aboriginal site. ancient river. A walking track
Standley Chasm: Open daily. & 7
∑ nt.gov.au leading to a lookout gives a fine
view of its winding path.
3Henbury The MacDonnell Ranges are the Pushed up out of Ormiston
Meteorites eroded remnants of an ancient Creek, the 300-m (985-ft) high
Conservation mountain chain which was walls of Ormiston Gorge are an
awesome sight. The gorge
once as monumental as the
Reserve Himalayas. Still impressive and consists of two layers of quartzite,
filled with striking scenery, the literally doubled over each
Tel (08) 8951 8250. £ Alice Springs.
@ Alice Springs. 8 ∑ nt.gov.au East and West MacDonnells other, thus making it twice the
contain gorges, waterholes and height of others in the region.
This cluster of 12 craters, walking tracks. Running east Along Larapinta Drive is the
located 145 km (89 miles) and west of Alice Springs and small Aboriginal settlement of
southwest of Alice Springs, easily accessible, they are popular Hermannsburg, site of an 1870s
was formed by a meteorite with day-trippers. Visitors will Lutheran Mission which pre-
which crashed to earth several notice the layers of rock thrust up dates Alice Springs. Famous as
thousand years ago. It is in the ranges, evidence of geo- the home of the popular
believed that local Aborigines logical movements more than Aboriginal painter Albert
witnessed the event, as one 300 million years ago. Culturally, Namatjira (1902–59), most of
of the Aboriginal names for they contain many areas sacred the town is contained within
the area suggests a fiery rock to the Aranda people. the Hermannsburg Historic
falling to earth. The largest Precinct, which includes a
crater in the group is 180 m museum devoted to the
(590 ft) across and is 15 m mission and an art
(50 ft) deep. Signs on a gallery. Twenty
trail mark significant km (12 miles)
features. south of
here lies

Sacred site of Corroboree Rock in the East MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp489–90 and pp518–19