Larapinta Trail support vehicle access
You should only need one support vehicle and driver with each group.
In some cases the support vehicle will only be able to pick-up and drop-off walkers at trailheads, in others the driver must drop off walkers, park the vehicle and walk to the campsite.
This table has information on support vehicle access for the Larapinta Trail.
| Section | Location | Two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive access | Vehicle-based camping | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telegraph Station | Two-wheel drive | No | No camping |
| 1 | Wallaby Gap | High clearance four-wheel drive | No | Pick up, drop off and resupply only. Key required to access Wallaby Gap. Contact the Tourism Central Australia visitor centre to borrow a key. |
| 1/2 | Simpsons Gap | Two-wheel drive | No (see alternative option) | Vehicles can be left in the Simpsons Gap car park overnight. Support vehicle drivers can walk to the Larapinta Trail campsite to stay with walkers. |
| 2/3 | Jay Creek | High clearance four-wheel drive | No (see alternative option) | There is no vehicle or pedestrian access to the Jay Creek Trailhead from the Hamilton Downs Youth Camp road. This means section 2 and 3 is only accessible via Simpsons Gap or Standley Chasm. Walker access to and from the Jay Creek Trailhead is only permitted in case of an emergency. |
| 3/4 | Standley Chasm | Two-wheel drive | Yes | Privately owned and operated. Contact Standley Chasm to make arrangements. |
| 4/5 | 4/5 Junction | High clearance four-wheel drive | Yes | You can camp with your vehicle at Birthday Waterhole only restricted to one support vehicle and the driver. Hikers can walk to Birthday Waterhole and join the driver or the driver can walk about 1km to the Section 4/5 junction and camp with walkers. |
| 5/6 | Hugh Gorge | High clearance four-wheel drive | Yes | Camping with a vehicle restricted to one support vehicle and the driver. |
| 6/7 | Ellery Creek North Ellery Creek South | No vehicle access to trailhead Two-wheel drive (gravel road) | Yes | You can camp with your vehicle at the Ellery Creek Big Hole campground (camping fees apply). |
| 7/8 | Serpentine Gorge | Two-wheel drive (gravel road) | No | Support vehicle can be parked overnight at the Serpentine Gorge carpark. The driver can walk to the Larapinta Trail campsite and camp with walkers. No camping permitted at the Serpentine Gorge car park. |
| 8/9 | Serpentine Chalet Dam | Four-wheel drive to the car park or two-wheel drive to Serpentine Chalet bush camp | No (see alternative options) | Hikers can walk from the trailhead to the car park to camp with their support vehicle or the driver can walk in and camp at the trailhead (about 1km). Alternatively the support vehicle and driver can camp at Serpentine Chalet bush camp. |
| 9/10 | Ormiston Gorge | Two-wheel drive | Yes | Support vehicle must park in the day-use car park or in the vehicle-based camping area (camping fees apply). |
| 10/11 | Finke River | No vehicle access to trailhead. Two-wheel drive access to Glen Helen. High clearance four-wheel drive access to Finke River Two-Mile. | No (see alternative options) | No support vehicle access to the trailhead, but walkers can walk to Glen Helen or the driver can walk to the trailhead (about 4km). Finke River Two-Mile camping area is on the dry bed of the river. Walkers can follow the river about 2km south, downstream, of the trailhead to meet up with their support vehicle at Finke River Two-Mile. |
| 11/12 | Redbank Gorge | Four-wheel drive recommended | No (see alternative options) | Camping is not permitted in the car park but you can camp with your vehicle at the Woodland or Ridgetop campsites (camping fees apply). |
Contact
If you have any questions, see Larapinta Trail contacts.
Last updated: 20 February 2024
Give feedback about this page.
Share this page:
URL copied!