History and Legends along the West MacDonnell Ranges: A Red Centre Tour

If you love sweeping desert landscapes, hidden histories, and fascinating facts, then this driving tour through Australia’s Red Centre from Alice Springs to the Mount Sonder Lookout is the tour for you.

You’ll drive between the West Macs, as the West MacDonnell Ranges are known locally, taking in its sights and stories. You’ll hear about the origins of the mountain range’s Aboriginal name (Yeperenye) and hear the legend of the giant caterpillars who, many eons ago, fought day and night against stink bugs but sadly lost. Locals think of the gaps between the mountains as the missing heads of the caterpillars who fell in battle.

Along the way, I’ll also tell you about the grit and tenacity of the colourful characters in the Red Centre who formed Central Australia’s heart and soul. You’ll hear about people like Albert Namitjira, a famous outback painter, John McDowell Stuart, a pioneer explorer, and the reverend named John Flynn who brought christianity to Australians living in the remote outback.

On this 2-hour driving tour, you’ll also see many beautiful and natural sights like:

• Simpsons Gap, a gap in the West Mac mountain range where you’ll have a chance to get up close and personal with cute little black-footed wallabies
• Standley Chasm where you can walk between the narrow granite chasm and hear the story of its spectacular formation
• Ellery Creek, a popular freshwater lake where both tourists and locals cool off in summer
• Ochre Pits, large pits made from multi-coloured clay known as ochre
• The majestic natural backdrop at Glen Helen Lodge, home to Wedge Tailed Eagles, Australia’s largest bird of prey, and an award-winning restaurant

Whether it’s your first time in Central Australia or you’re a local who’s curious about the West Macs, this tour is a valuable introduction to our little piece of the Outback. So come and explore this unique gem in the Red Centre.

Tour Music

Travel Light by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Redwood Highway by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Front Porch Sitter by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Plantation by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.