MacDonnell Ranges "Caterpillar Dreaming" 4wd safari

Bush Camping and 4-Wheel Driving

This unique 2.5 Day West MacDonnell Ranges adventure tour offers the very best of the Alice Springs region: the West MacDonnell Ranges and Palm Valley as well as two nights out bush, camping under our magnificent southern stars. Travelling in a 4WD vehicle with a genuine small group (max. 16 people), you'll explore highlights such as Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge, Owen Springs Reserve, the Hermannsburg Settlement as well as 4-wheel driving into Palm Valley.

Aboriginal Component

You'll also visit the Oak Valley Aboriginal Community south of Alice Springs to provide you with a first-hand experience of local Aboriginal life. You can learn about ancient myths and stories of their land, bush tucker, spear and boomerang throwing. You will also get to experience some of their paintings and artefacts they make which can be purchased. As well as Oak Valley you will visit Hermannsburg Aboriginal Community offering the opportunity to explore this settlement that was established in 1877.

Our Guides Among the Best

Your experienced guides have all the required bush skills to keep you safe and comfortable. They are among the best in Central Australia because of their enthusiasm and ability to bring people together to have the best time. This is backed up with extensive local knowledge of the outback, the Aboriginal people (Anangu), plus local and European history.

This 2 day safari will leave you with a memory of a lifetime and a real taste of Outback Alice Springs.

Daily itinerary

Day 1

You will be collected from your Alice Springs accommodation approximately 3.30pm before heading off to Oak Valley Aboriginal Community. Cross the famous Hugh River Stock Route before arriving late afternoon. Here you can relax and enjoy the evening joined by one of our Aboriginal Hosts who will share a few tales around the campfire set in beautiful surroundings. Tonight you will experience the magic of sleeping out under the clearest southern stars imaginable in an Aussie Swag.

Day 2

Enjoy a morning tour of Oak Valley including rock paintings and carvings with your Aboriginal Host. From here we head along the Hugh River Stock Route on and into Owen Springs Reserve, 4 wheel driving along bush tracks through this old cattle station emerging at the West MacDonnell Ranges. The West MacDonnell Ranges stretch for over 200km in length enabling us to explore some stunning gorges, refreshing waterholes and walks through a landscape unique to this part of the world. The day will be packed with information, swimming, short walks and time out to enjoy your surrounds.

Be on the watch for Rock Wallabies and other fauna that use the retreat of the rugged ranges as a safe haven. At the day’s end we set up our bush camp for a night under the stars situated on the Finke River. Here we will cook dinner over the campfire and share a few tales and an ale or two around the fire in true outback style.

Day 3

Morning is at its best as the sun starts to rise followed with a hearty breakfast and a fresh pot of coffee. After breaking camp we head off around Namatjira Drive stopping at Tyler’s Pass to view Gosse Bluff (comet crater) along the way.

Departing Hermannsburg we lock in the hubs and 4WD into Palm Valley. After lunch, hike through this picturesque valley discovering some of its hidden treasures before its back into the vehicle and home to Alice Springs where we’ll have you back at your accommodation around 6pm.

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