東麥克唐奈爾山脈 （East MacDonnell Ranges）

Below is a list of camping spots in the East MacDonnell Ranges with various facilities:

- Arltunga Hotel (not an operational hotel)

- Ross River Homestead

- Hale River Homestead

- Trephina Gorge Nature Park

- Gemtree Tourist park

- Ruby Gap Nature Park (4WD only)

- The Spotted Tiger campground – Harts Range

- N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park

To get to the East MacDonnell Ranges, head south from Alice Springs on the Stuart Highway, through Heavitree Gap and continue onto the Ross Highway which is sealed and accessible via 2WD vehicles.

The Yeperenye, Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Park is located just 15 minutes’ drive from Alice Springs via the Ross highway. At the nature park, you can have a picnic, watch native wildlife, or follow the walking tracks. One of the gaps, the Anthewerrke (Emily Gap) has a large rock painting there that portrays the Caterpillar Dreamtime story. Not far away is the Corroboree Rock, a spectacular cluster of dolomite pillars that holds scared importance to traditional owners. A further 30 km along Ross highway is Trephina Gorge Nature Park where you can explore its wide range of walks and other attractions such as swimming, camping, wildlife spotting and 4WD tracks. If you continue down Ross Highway (110 km from Alice Springs), you will come across the Arltunga Historical Reserve that is officially Central Australia’s first ghost town.

Although the East MacDonnell Ranges (‘East Macs’ to the locals) are lesser known than the West MacDonnell Ranges, it’s splendour is equally as intriguing with many natural beauties such as Trephina Gorge, the ghost mining town Arltunga along with many camping spots, walking trails, geological formations, Aboriginal art and four-wheel-driving tracks.

The Arrernte people (Traditional owners of the Alice Springs area) tell a fascinating Dreamtime story about a caterpillar who became the ranges.

As the Red Centre has four seasons (Summer, autumn, winter and spring) you’ll find it warmer in summer from December to February and cold in winter from June to August. March, April, May, September, October and November generally bring warm days and cooler nights. For more weather information click here.

The East MacDonnell Ranges stretches for 150km east of Alice Springs and takes just fifteen minutes to drive to Emily Gap.

The obvious place to explore would be Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges which is home to attractions such as Simpson Gap, Ochre Pits, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen.