Camping around Alice Springs

The Tropic of Capricorn Rest Area is 29km north of Alice Springs and allows overnight camping, with picnic tables, toilet facilities, BBQs, rubbish bins and a non-drinking water supply. It marks where the Tropic of Capricorn crosses through the Stuart Highway with a small monument.

Connor Well Rest Area is 92km north of Alice Springs and near Aileron where you can see the 17m high Anmatjere man sculpture. The rest stop allows overnight camping and has BBQs with picnic tables and a non-drinking water supply but no toilet facilities so you’ll need to get rid of your waste responsibly. Duck into the Aileron Roadhouse for fuel, supplies and a meal.

145km north of Alice Springs, Prowse Gap Rest Area is a 24-hour free camping site with BBQs, picnic tables, non-drinking water supply, shelter and toilet facilities. Generators and pets are welcome here. Prowse Gap is 45km south of the next supply stop at Ti Tree.

Mt Polhill Rest Stop is 61km south of Alice Springs and allows overnight camping, BBQs, picnic tables, non-drinking water supply, shelters and toilets. Pets are welcome and campfires are allowed when fire conditions permit.

Half-way between Erldunda and Alice Springs is the Finke River Rest Stop, 126km south of Alice Springs. The rest stop allows 24-hour overnight camping with BBQs, picnic tables, non-drinking water supply, shelter and toilet.

Desert Oaks Rest Stop is 167km south of Alice Springs and allows 24-hour overnight camping. Facilities include BBQs, picnic tables, non-drinking water supply, shelters and bathroom facilities.

Ellery Creek Big Hole is within Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park and is a secluded oasis surrounded by towering red cliffs. Home to the Honey Ant Dreaming and Fish Dreaming stories of the Central and Western Arrernte people, Ellery Creek is an important sacred site.

88km west of Alice Springs, the campground is accessed by a gravel road to the car park and is 2WD accessible. Camping facilities include access to free gas BBQs, shade shelters, picnic tables and a shower and toilet block. An emergency telephone is available on-site.

It’s a great place to swim. Even on the hottest days, the water can be quite cold so be prepared. There are a number of hiking tracks, including a section of the Larapinta Trail to explore.

135km west of Alice Springs, Ormiston Gorge is a huge permanently-filled swimming hole bordered by wide sandy patches. It’s home to a range of relict plant species, the rediscovered Central rock-rat and the Western Arrernte Dreaming Story of the Emus.

The campground is popular in the cooler months so getting in early is good idea. Camping facilities include gas BBQs, shade shelters, picnic tables, hot water showers and a toilet block. Water is available but tank or surface water should be treated before drinking.

There’s a staffed ranger station on-site with guided walks and talks run between April and October. If you want to explore on your own, there are a number of hiking tracks and a section of the Larapinta Trail to trek through.

Halfway along the West MacDonnell Ranges and 132km west of Alice Springs is Glen Helen Gorge. Beside the quartzite cliffs, Glen Helen Gorge is a permanent waterhole that’s home to a range of fish species and important migratory birds.

Glen Helen has a commercial caravan and campground with powered and unpowered sites, plus a range of hotel accommodation.

Further west, Redbank Gorge is a popular stop on the Red Centre Way and lies at the base of Mt Sonder. It’s a significant site, particularly to Western Arrernte men who historically used the site as part of their initiation ceremonies.

Two campgrounds are nearby, both accessible by high clearance 4WD on unsealed roads. Woodland Campgrounds has toilets, fire pits and picnic tables while Ridgetop Campgrounds has toilets, fire pits, picnic tables and free gas BBQs.

To swim, walk on the signed path from the car park for 1km. The water in this gorge is known for being extremely cold so be prepared and if possible, take a pool noodle, lilo or other flotation device to assist with your swim. If you’d prefer a walk, there are a range of paths including a 4–8 hour return journey to the top of Mt Sonder.

If 4WD bush camping is your style, Boggy Hole is a great spot for you. Located in the Finke Gorge National Park, Boggy Hole is accessible by high-clearance 4WD only, and is suitable for tents, swags and 4WD campervans.

Camping is free but there are no facilities, so you’ll need to be self-sufficient and experienced to manage the drive. Once there, you can enjoy swimming, walking trails and the ruins of the historic police station.

If you’d love an adventure, take a quad bike tour of the area departing from Owen Springs.

Located on the Finke River, there’s plenty of space to spread out at the Finke 2-Mile 4WD camping spot. As its name suggests, it’s accessible only by 4WD.

This is true bush camping with no facilities so you must be self-sufficient.

Home to the rare Red Cabbage Palm, Palm Valley in the Finke Gorge National Park is also a culturally significant area for the Western Arrernte people. Palm Valley is a great spot to enjoy the fresh air or to base yourself for day trips to nearby Hermannsburg, where Albert Namatjira got his inspiration, or to check out the walking tracks along the often dry Finke River, believed to be the oldest river in the world.

The campground is accessible only by high clearance 4WDs so trailers and motorhomes are not recommended. Camping facilities include access to toilets, showers, picnic tables, gas BBQs, drinking water and fire pits. No pets are permitted and firewood must be collected prior to entering the park.

There’s a ranger station on site with ranger-led activities as well as 4WD tracks and scenic lookouts. Please stay on the marked tracks to avoid damaging the Red Cabbage Palm saplings.

Located near Serpentine Gorge and in the beautiful Tjoritja West MacDonnell Ranges National Park, the Serpentine Chalet bush camping area is a basic campground accessible by 4WD only.

There’s plenty to see in the area including Serpentine Gorge itself, River Red Gums, walking trails and the ruins of Serpentine Chalet.

Alongside the Hugh River, before it joins the Finke River, is the camping area approximately 22km from the entrance sign. Camping is permitted anywhere here, but there are no facilities provided.

Nearby attractions are accessible on walking tracks including Ellery Creek, Ormiston Gorge and Redbank Gorge.

Despite its name, the Hugh River is dry and sandy for the majority of the year, filling up only after heavy rains. If you’re camping after rain, be mindful that dingoes are often seen having a drink so keep your distance and please don’t feed them.

Just over an hour west of Alice Springs, Rainbow Valley is as beautiful as it sounds. Perfect for budding photographers and wildlife spotters, Rainbow Valley is home to stunning claypan wildflowers and Mushroom Rock, a sandstone formation carved from millions of years of wind and rain erosion.

The campground is accessible by 22km of unsealed road so a 4WD is recommended. Camping facilities include toilets, picnic tables, BBQs, and fire pits. There are plenty of short walks available to see the sights close to camp.

Home to the largest Ghost Gum in Australia, Trephina Gorge is just an hours’ drive from Alice Springs is and a stunning place to set up camp.

Accessible by high clearance vehicles only (the last 5km of road is unsealed), the campground has a range of facilities including toilets, fire pits and shaded picnic areas. There’s a ranger station nearby and plenty of short walks available so you can take in the beauty of the Gorge.

Depending on how much rain has fallen, the John Hayes Rockhole is a good spot for swimming but the road can be blocked after heavy rain. Regardless of the weather, the rockhole and its surrounds are incredible to look at.

N’Dhala Gorge is an amazing gallery of more than 6,000 individual rock carvings and art sites just an hours’ drive from Alice Springs. These are believed to mark two crucial time periods in Aboriginal history up to 10,000 years ago.

Camping facilities include toilets, picnic facilities and fire pits available. There are 4WD tracks nearby and walking tracks that guide you through the incredible cultural history of the site.

Ross River Resort is close by offering food, fuel and some accommodation.

Ruby Gap is a stunning part of the East MacDonnell Ranges that was the home of the first mining rush in Central Australia. As the name suggests, it was thought to house a valuable haul of rubies in the bed of Hale River. Hundreds arrived only to find they were high grade garnets that weren’t nearly as valuable as rubies.

The mining rush is now a distant memory and Ruby Gap is home to challenging bush walking and unspoilt wilderness. Camping is available between the park entrance and Ruby Gap and is accessible only by 4WD. As the site is so remote, it has no facilities and it’s recommended that campers have access to emergency equipment including a satellite phone, EPIRB and plenty of supplies including water. If heavy rain occurs, it’s best to leave the park as the Hale River is prone to flooding.

Bushwalkers should note that there are no marked tracks, and walks in this area are for experienced walkers only.

A 90-minute drive from Alice Springs and you can camp right near the spot where 12 meteorites crashed into the Central Australian desert almost 5,000 years ago.

Basic facilities are available such as toilets, picnic areas, fire pits and walking tracks. The campground is accessible by 2WD however roads can be restricted after heavy rain.

The craters are a sight to behold with the largest crater measuring 180m wide and 15m deep. These are great to see at sunrise and sunset.

Chambers Pillar is a 50m high sandstone pillar first recorded in 1860 by John McDouall Stuart and named after James Chambers, one of Stuart’s trip sponsors. The sandstone pillar has significance to Aboriginal people who believe it represents a husband and wife banished from their homes.

A 2½ hour drive from Alice Springs, two campgrounds are accessible only by high clearance 4WD as there’s deep sand drifts and steep jump ups. Both campgrounds include toilets and fire pits. There’s no drinking water available so campers need to be self-sufficient.

There are two easy walking tracks to explore Chambers Pillar, which looks even more spectacular at sunrise and sunset.

Formerly Owen Springs Cattle Station, Owen Springs Reserve is a bush camping site accessible by high clearance 4WD only. There are no facilities on site so campers need to be self-sufficient.

The nearby Owen Springs Homestead was one of the first homesteads built in Central Australia and it can be explored along with the Redbank Waterhole, a temporary waterhole that is often dry. It’s still worth a look as its surrounded by a rocky gorge in the middle of red sand country.

Located 140km north of Alice Springs on the way to Tennant Creek. As the name suggests, Gemtree Caravan Park is known for fossicking.

Air conditioned cabins, powered and unpowered sites are available. Facilities for the campground include bathroom blocks, laundry, an on-site country store, pay phone and swimming pool. Food is available from the store or Kate’s Campoven Kitchen and licensed bar.

There are plenty of activities including Paddymelon Bowls, movie nights and gem fossicking.

Just 83km east of Alice Springs is Ross River Resort. The resort is built on the old Loves Creek Homestead originally established in the 1890s as an outstation of Undoolya Station and later to supply fresh produce to gold miners at Arltunga, run cattle, and breed horses for trade.

Now it’s a modern and comfortable place to stay with cabins, bunkhouse accommodation, caravan park and campground.

Facilities on site include bathrooms, BBQs, communal lounge, laundry and swimming pool with a bar and restaurant offering meals all day. The resort is set up for campervans with a dump point and drive through sites available. Pets are welcome on request.

In the remote community of Ntaria (Hermannsburg) is the Hermannsburg Ntaria Supermarket Caravan Park. On-site facilities include an amenities block with solar hot water and clothes lines. It’s just 100m from the supermarket and takeaway which includes a petrol station.

Along the West MacDonnell Ranges is the Glen Helen Lodge, an ideally placed campground and motel to do day trips to some of the brilliant surrounding attractions.

The campground offers powered sites of all sizes with access to fire pits, bathroom facilities with hot water, BBQ and gas cooker, swimming pool and a bar and restaurant.

Willis’ Walkabouts offers a 12 Day Finke Gorge and Watarrka National Parks bushwalking tour starting in Palm Valley and ending in Kings Canyon. This tour operator will take you off the track to places you can only reach on foot with a combination of day walks and a possible overnight walk. Group size is 4–12 guests and a mix of sand and rock ledges and maintained campgrounds.

The 15 Day West MacDonnell Ranges walking tour is more than the Larapinta Trail. It covers parts of the Larapinta Trail as well as some extra special spots not seen or known by many. The guides have over 30 years of experience walking in the ranges so know all there is to know. Group size is 4–12 guests and a mix of campgrounds which you’ll most likely have to yourself.

The 6 Day 4WD Uluru Red Centre Desert Dreaming Tour offered by Wayoutback Australian Safaris, soaks up the wonders of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon as well as the experience of desert driving on dirt roads. Get away from the crowds and sleep in remote private bush camps under the stars in a swag or permanent tent. You’ll experience, rather than just see, the icons of the Red Centre.

Mulgas Adventures 4 Day Rock-to-Rock Tour is an adventure of a lifetime that starts in Alice Springs and goes through Uluru, Kata Tjuta, George Gill Range, Kings Canyon, Salt Lakes and camping under the stars at Kings Creek Station and the private bush camp at Curtin Springs Station. Sleep in swags in the outback and eat dinner at an Aussie campfire BBQ.

The 1 night Million Star Camp Out offered by Finke River Adventures is an exclusively catered overnight camp in the outback. Travel on a guided tour with local Aboriginal guides in ATV buggies to incredible locations on private tracks. See stunning dry river beds, amazing rock formations and secluded water holes. Hearty campfire meal and drinks before snuggling in your swag to soak up more of the million stars view.

Make use of the bins provided at your campsite. If there are none, take the rubbish with you and find a roadside stop or shelter with bins provided.

Fires are not permitted to be lit in any National Park except in designated areas located in campgrounds. Where campgrounds allow fires to be lit, those fires must be contained to the fire pit and should only be lit during the cooler months.

Firewood must not be collected from inside National Parks unless it’s signed as a designated area. Firewood can be purchased from hardware stores or camping supply stores across Alice Springs. Bringing firewood into a national park from other areas is a potential biosecurity hazard.

Pets are not allowed in national parks. Exemptions are available for guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs kept on a leash of no more than 3m long.

Each campground has its own rules about pets staying on their site so it’s best to check with them first. If you’re camping in a pet-friendly campground but heading into a national park for the day, you can negotiate with a fellow camper to swap dog-minding duties. Dogs should not be left in campgrounds on their own.

If you’re driving, make sure you understand the challenges of driving in remote locations and learn the essential road safety tips to stay safe on our roads.

Camping in the Outback can be an amazing experience but it can be isolated with very challenging weather conditions. Make sure you tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back, carry more water than you think you need, and seek shade where possible. If you can, carry an EPIRB or satellite phone to make sure you can call for help if you need it.