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West MacDonnell NP Travel Articles

Our articles have been grouped into locations so you can better read about what there is to see and do in a town.

It's easy, start by picking a location. Each article has a link to an RvTrips' web page containing more detailed information, photos and maps.  


Glen Helen     Read more ...

Glen Helen Homestead Lodge is located in the West MacDonnell Ranges - about 130 kilometres west of Alice Springs. This is a place to stay and eat while exploring the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park - an iconic place in the Northern Territory.

This resort was a bit old and tired but offers accommodation – camping, permanent tents and motel rooms. They have a restaurant overlooking the cliffs and this seemed to be very popular with visitors to the area - almost booked out for the evening. They have bar facilities and we called in for a cold drinks after our day trip along Namatjira Drive.

Some features of Glen Helen Homestead Lodge area:

  • an award winning restaurant and gallery - Namatjira
  • beer garden and barbeque
  • live entertainment
  • pool
  • fuel
  • tours and helicopter flights

It is only a short 10 minute walk takes past the Finke River and waterhole to view rock formations that look like organ pipes on the side of the cliff.  The Finke Rivers wetland area in front of the Homestead is a refuge for a number of water birds. 

Contact details

Namatjira Drive
Via Alice Springs NT 870
E: res@glenhelen.com.au
P: 08 8956 7489

Standley Chasm     Read more ...

During a day trip from Alice Springs to the West MacDonnell Ranges we called in to look at Standly Chasm (Angkerle Aboriginal Corporation) along Larapinta drive towards Ormiston Gorge. There is a cafe at the entrance and a large covered outdoor eating area.

We paid a fee of 1$0 per head to walk the trail towards the Chasm. This is quite an easy walk with a clearly defined path. You are unable to walk all the way through the Chasm due to rock falls but you can easily see the high sandstone wall on either side.  The Chasm appears very different as various times of the day when the sun streams in – apparently an hour either side of noon creates a dramatic effect on the sheer walls – they seem to glow as the sun hits the quartzite.

The walk was about 30 minutes return – 1.2 kilometres each way.

You can camp at Standley Chasm and the fee was $15pp for the first night and $10 for subsequent nights (entry to the Chasm is included in camping fee). There are a couple of powered sites available near the toilet block. Toilets were basic but clean and there are a couple of showers available for campers – no doors only curtains.  Grassed with a picnic table and barbeque areas are provided.

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RvTrips v4.03 - Last updated: 18-04-2025  
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2025 Robert Tibbett and Associates P/L, All rights reserved - PO Box 323 Forster NSW 2428
West MacDonnell NP Travel ArticlesArticle, RvTrips, a social meeting place for caravan, camping and motorhome owners exploring, holidaying or touring regional and outback Australia.
RvTrips v4.03 Updated: 18-04-2025
© 2014 - 2025 Robert Tibbett and Associates P/L,
All rights reserved.
PO Box 323 Forster NSW 2428