| I recently posted an article with my top 3 favourite | | | | 10km. Follow the trail west through magnificent, |
| Australia Walking Tours and thought it would be | | | | shady Bloodwoods and tall Ironwoods. Keep a look |
| useful to make a separate post for each of the 3 | | | | out for Echidna or Black-footed Rock Wallaby. A |
| walking tours, so I can give more detail of routes, | | | | short transfer away you can also incorporate a |
| timings, places of interest etc. The Larapinta Trail is | | | | stunning loop walk at Standley Chasm. |
| my 3rd favourite Australia walking tour and one of | | | | Day 3 Ellery Creek to Serpentine Gorge - 14km. This |
| the finest walks in Australia. The trail passes through | | | | stage is through the vertical-spined dolomite country |
| the high ridgelines of the West MacDonnell Ranges, | | | | of the Bitter Springs formation. This section is |
| the vast flood plains and the razorback rocky | | | | amazing as you will see 800 million year old rocks |
| outcrops. | | | | containing fossilised stromatolites, the cyanobacteria |
| This 7-day route will cover between eight and | | | | that were amongst the first life on this earth. |
| eighteen kilometres each day, so roughly 6-8 hours | | | | Day 4 Serpentine Gorge to Counts Point then |
| walking per day. So it really appeals to the more | | | | Serpentine Chalet - 14.5km. Take in the view of the |
| active of walkers, as although it does not involve | | | | 4 highest peaks west of The Great Dividing Range, |
| altitude it can be tough over rugged terrain with | | | | as you approach Count's Point. Add to this your first |
| some steep ascents and descents | | | | sight of the comet impact crater, Gosse Bluff. |
| I would definitely recommend that you travel with a | | | | Day 5 Serpentine Bush Camp to the Ochre Pits - |
| well esablished local operator, as vehicle support is | | | | 7km. This stage crosses the ranges at Inarlanga Pass |
| really necessary for this Australia walking tour, so | | | | as the vibrant colour of the Aboriginal quarry at the |
| you can travel light with just a day pack. The best | | | | Ochre Pits. |
| time of the year for this walking tour is between | | | | Day 6 Climb Mount Sonder - 16km (1380m). Up in the |
| April and September. | | | | early morning cool air its time to tackle Mount Sonder |
| Day 1 Transfer from Alice Springs to the Telegraph | | | | (known as the pregnant lady by the local Anangu |
| Station to begin the trek to Wallaby Gap - 13.5km. | | | | Aboriginal people). This is one of the highest peaks |
| The beginning of the Larapinta Trail is marked by the | | | | west of the Great Dividing Range. |
| Telegraph Station in Alice Springs, with its stone | | | | Day 7 Ormiston Pound Walk - 8km. The Ormiston |
| buildings dating back to 1872. The trail winds through | | | | Pound offers some beautiful scenery and wildlife, |
| boulders of Alice Springs granite, which offer fine | | | | including many Rock Wallabies as they scamper over |
| views of the town and Mount Gillen. On through | | | | the cliffs in the Gorge. This brings the end to a |
| witchetty bush and mulga scrub, and over exposed | | | | suggested Larapinta Trail, with next stop usually |
| hills and shady woodlands, before arriving at the deep | | | | being a retun to Alice Springs. |
| narrow passage of Wallaby Gap. | | | | This will definitely be one to keep a diary of for your |
| Day 2 Trek from Wallaby Gap to Simpson's Gap - | | | | travel memoirs! |
