East MacDonnell Ranges & The Plenty Region

The East MacDonnell Ranges could be considered the 'hidden gems' of Central Australia.

Much of the East MacDonnell Ranges depict the Eastern Arrernte Aboriginal Yeperenye Dreaming. At Emily and Jessie Gaps you will see rock art, red ochre and white lime paintings, as well as flocks of native budgerigars drinking from waterholes. Figs hug gorge walls, bloodwoods hang with bush coconuts and bush passionfruit grow from the sand. You will think this land is unyielding but you will be pleasantly surprised. The 300-year old ghost gum at Trephina Gorge is one of the finest natural features in the region. Trephina Gorge hosts five walking trails that showcase the sheer quartz cliffs, rivers and creeks. From the shades of N'Dhala Gorge over 6,000 prehistoric rock carvings, art and shelter sites, and rare plants will be revealed.

The East MacDonnell Ranges aren’t all about natural history, the Binns Track wriggles through the ranges to the ghost town of Arltunga, the site of a gold rush in the 1930’s. There are a few accommodation choices in the region, Ross River Resort built on the original site of Loves Creek Homestead, Old Ambalindum Homestead, a working cattle station that was settled in the 1900’s and Gemtree, a quiet bush caravan park.