Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park
Explore the majestic beauty of this park. The cool scenic gorges are refuges for plants and animals unique to here.
Heat warning
Temperatures across the Northern Territory can be very hot between October and April.
It can exceed 40 degrees Celsius in some locations. High humidity in the Top End can also make you tire easily.
Check forecast temperatures before you visit. Find out how to prepare and stay safe in the heat.
The Aranda people refer to the West MacDonnell Ranges as Tjoritja (pronounced Choor-it-ja).
In their lore and culture, the landscape was created by ancestral beings during a mythological time, the foundation of their spiritual beliefs and identity.
It's home to threatened species including the central rock-rat and long-tailed dunnart as well as other species like the black-footed rock-wallaby and MacDonnell Ranges cycad.
The park is located west of Alice Springs and stretches 161km.
Some of the sites you shouldn't miss on a journey here include:
- Simpsons Gap
- Ochre Pits
- Standley Chasm - privately operated - fees apply
- permanent waterholes at Ellery Creek Big Hole
- Ormiston Gorge
- Glen Helen.
This park requires visitors to the NT to have a parks pass.
Get the Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park fact sheet and map PDF (1.1 MB).
Check if the park is open
Parks may close unexpectedly due to bushfires, flooding or park maintenance.
Before you go, check if the park is open.
Prepare and stay safe
To enjoy your trip, find out about safety and rules in the park.
Places to go
Other activities
If you're planning to fly your drone, you must get permit before you arrive. Read about rules around flying your drone.
How to get there
From Alice Springs, access the Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park's many visitor areas along Larapinta Drive and Namatjira Drive.
From Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) access the park on the unsealed Red Centre Way (Mereenie Loop). You need a permit to access this road.
Check road conditions before you go.