Owen Springs Reserve is popular with four-wheel drive visitors seeking a quiet bush camp.
The Hugh River runs the length of the Reserve and offers many great places for camping, picnicking, birdwatching and swimming.
Discover the rocky gorges and red sandy country surrounding the river with its stretches of broad sandy banks lined with shady River Red Gums, and the large waterhole after which the Reserve takes its name. Camping is allowed within Lawrence Gorge and near Redbank Waterhole. Camping fees apply and campsites must be booked online before you arrive.
The Reserve is rich in colonial exploration and pastoral history. Follow the main access track through the Reserve and you are retracing John McDouall Stuart's route through the MacDonnell Ranges in 1860, which opened Central Australia to white settlement.
The construction of the Overland Telegraph Line and the establishment of a cattle station followed soon after exploration. Wander around the ruins of the Old Owen Springs Homestead, the first station homestead built in Central Australia.
Access to the Reserve is via Larapinta Drive, 50 kilometres west of Alice Springs, or via the Stuart Highway, 66 kilometres south of Alice Springs. A high clearance four-wheel drive is essential to negotiate the track through the Reserve.
Pass information
If you’re a visitor to the NT, you need an NT Parks Visitor Pass to visit most national parks and reserves. The pass allows you to visit all parks and reserves managed by the NT Government within your valid dates.
|
Pass type
|
1-day pass | 3-day pass | 2-week pass | 1-month pass | Annual pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult 18 years and over | $10 | $20 | $30 | $45 | $60 |
| Child 5 to 17 years | $5 | $10 | $15 | $22 | $30 |
| Family 2 adults and 4 children | $25 | $50 | $75 | $110 | $150 |
| Concession Holders of Australian Government issued Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card or DVA Card. | $8 | $16 | $24 | $36 | $48 |
NT residents don't need a visitor pass but may be asked to show proof of residency, such as a valid NT driver licence.
Buy your pass online or find out more about passes & permits in the NT.
Opening times
Open daily, 24 hours.
Entry cost
- Indicative Prices tickets from $10 to $60
Park entry fees - NT Parks Visitor Pass applies (NT residents exempt). Camping fees apply to all visitors. - Child tickets from $5 to $30
Park entry fees - NT Parks Visitor Pass applies (NT residents exempt). Camping fees apply to all visitors.
Facilities
- Caravan / camper trailer / campervan sites / campsites
Activities
- Four-wheel driving
- Camping
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