Day one in town to acclimatise, day two in the West Macs. Times assume the warmer months; in winter, start an hour later.
Day one: town
| Time | Plan | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 6.00–7.00 | Breakfast at Tali (from 6am on weekdays and weekends) | On site |
| 7.30 | Olive Pink Botanic Garden, walking tracks and coffee | 1.7 km |
| 9.30 | Alice Springs Desert Park, the birds-of-prey show and the nocturnal house | 7.7 km |
| 12.30 | Lunch on Todd Mall, then the galleries | 2.5 km from the hotel |
| 15.00 | Back to the hotel; the pool and Splash Cafe until 6pm | On site |
| 17.30 | Anzac Hill for sunset | 4.1 km |
| 19.00 | Dinner at Juicy Rump or Tali | On site |
This day keeps every drive under ten kilometres. You will learn how quickly the sun works on you, and how much water you actually drink, before you are 50 km from town.
Day two: the near West Macs
| Time | Plan | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 6.00 | Breakfast, fill the water bottles, pack lunch | On site |
| 6.45 | Drive west on Larapinta Drive | |
| 7.15 | Simpsons Gap: wallabies and the waterhole | 24 km |
| 9.30 | Standley Chasm, picnic in the shade | 50 km |
| 11.45 | Walk into the chasm for the noon light | 20–30 minutes return |
| 13.00 | Drive back | 50 km |
| 14.00 | Room, shower, rest | On site |
| 16.30 | Telegraph Station: the stone buildings and the post office | 7.4 km |
| 18.30 | Dinner at Tali | On site |
Standley Chasm closes at 2pm on Sundays (last entry 1.30pm). If day two is a Sunday, swap the order: Standley first, Simpsons Gap on the way home.
If you have a third day
- East: Emily and Jessie Gaps before breakfast, then Corroboree Rock and Trephina Gorge. See East MacDonnell.
- Far west: Ellery Creek, the Ochre Pits, Glen Helen and Ormiston. A long day; see West MacDonnell.
- Rest: the Health Club, Lavish Day Spa (Thursday is the late day, to 7pm), and the RFDS museum in town.
Changes for winter
In June and July the BoM average maximum is about 20 °C and the average minimum under 5 °C. You can walk at midday without trouble, but you will want a warm layer until mid-morning. Swap the sunset at Anzac Hill for an Earth Sanctuary stargazing show, and pack gloves.
- The night before day two
- Fill bottles and put them in the fridge
- Pack lunch: there is a kiosk at Standley Chasm but not at Simpsons Gap
- Check the car's fuel and tyre pressure
- Tell someone your plan
- Set an alarm for 5.30
Need the dates held? Send a request below; the desk checks two nights or more at once.