Pick out your stop

West MacDonnell Ranges camping: where to pitch and what it costs

Brief answer

West MacDonnell Ranges camping is only in designated campgrounds, with Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge reachable by 2WD and Redbank Gorge by 4WD.

Camping essentials

  • Ellery Creek is 88 km out by 2WD gravel3
  • Ormiston: first come, paid at the kiosk13
  • Camping outside designated sites is illegal2

Check out 51 stops

The West Macs, pin by pin

Choose a route and tap a pin or stop to see its note and open it in Google Maps.

Map of camping areas in the West MacDonnell Ranges

  1. Ellery Creek has ten designated sites, booked online, at AUD 4 per adult.

    Google Maps

  2. Serpentine Chalet bush camp is reached by four-wheel drive only.

    Google Maps

  3. Ormiston Gorge campsites are first come, first served and paid at the kiosk.

    Google Maps

  4. The Finke 2 Mile campground sits on the Finke River near the Mt Sonder Lookout, around 130 km west of Alice Springs.

    Google Maps

  5. Woodland is one of the two Redbank Gorge campgrounds; bring your own water, gas and firewood.

    Google Maps

  6. Ridgetop is the other Redbank Gorge campground, a base for the Mount Sonder climb.

    Google Maps

  7. Camping at Standley Chasm includes entry to the chasm during your stay.

    Google Maps

  8. The rooms and campground at Discovery Parks - Glen Helen are currently closed, so check before planning a night there.

    Google Maps

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

West MacDonnell Ranges camping ranges from a campground with hot showers to a 4WD-only riverbed with nothing at all. Here is each one, with its rules.

Editorial team, westmacdonnellrangestour.top · Updated November 8, 2026 · 7 mins to read

Essentials

  • Where allowedOnly in designated areas; unstructured camping is illegal in the NT.1,2
  • Easiest siteEllery Creek: 88 km out by a 2WD gravel road, with showers.3
  • Most popularOrmiston Gorge: hot showers, a kiosk and ranger walks.4,5
  • FeesFrom AUD 4 an adult at Ellery and Redbank; AUD 6.60 at Ormiston.6,7,8
  • RoomsThe only rooms, at Glen Helen, are listed as closed.9

How camping works in Tjoritja

Camping in the West Macs is generous but organised. Tourism NT says the park has many places to camp, that camping fees apply and that overnight visitors should bring their own water.10 In the Northern Territory you may only camp in designated areas, and Tourism Central Australia states plainly that camping in unstructured sites is illegal.1,2

Most camping areas in national parks around Alice Springs are booked online for a fee.11 The exceptions matter: Tourism Central Australia lists Glen Helen, Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge as privately run and booked directly with their operators.12 At Ormiston there is no booking at all; sites go first come, first served, with payment at the kiosk.13

You need no permit for a designated campsite. A permit is needed only if you camp outside one in a national park or bushwalk overnight.14 Dogs and cats are not allowed in any national park, so travellers with pets should base themselves in Alice Springs.15 Fires belong in the pits provided, and any extra firewood must be collected outside the protected parks.16

Side by side

West Macs campgrounds compared

CampgroundAccessFeeBooking
Ellery Creek Big Hole2WD gravel3AUD 4 an adult6Online, before arrival23
Ormiston GorgeSealed28AUD 6.60 an adult8First come, at the kiosk13
Standley ChasmSealed33AUD 25.50 a person34Direct with the site12
Redbank GorgeHigh-clearance 4WD35AUD 4 an adult7Online, before arrival36
Finke 2-Mile4WD only37No facilities37Check before you go11

Fees as Tourism NT and Tourism Central Australia list them; confirm current rates when you book.6,8,34

The 2WD campgrounds: Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge

Ellery Creek Big Hole is the easiest campground to reach. It sits 88 km west of Alice Springs, at the end of a gravel road a 2WD can manage, with free gas barbecues, shade shelters, picnic tables, a shower and toilet block and an emergency telephone.3 It has ten designated sites, and its fees are AUD 4 an adult, AUD 2 a child and AUD 10 a family.21,6

Ellery has two weaknesses. Natural shade is limited, so bring your own, and sites must be booked online before you arrive.22,23 Its reward is the waterhole on your doorstep, Udepata, whose permanent water made it a meeting place on the fish and honey ant dreaming trails.24 Tourism NT warns that the water stays cold even on the hottest days, and a 3 km Dolomite walk loops through rock that floods carved.25,26,27

Ormiston Gorge, 135 km out on sealed roads, is the more comfortable choice, with gas barbecues, shade shelters, picnic tables, hot showers and toilets.28,4 The overnight fee is AUD 6.60 an adult, AUD 3.30 a child and AUD 15.40 a family.8 It is popular in the cooler months, so arrive early, and treat tank or surface water before drinking it.4 A staffed ranger station runs guided walks and talks from April to October.5

How far out

Campgrounds by distance from Alice Springs, km

  • Standley Chasm50
  • Ellery Creek88
  • Finke 2 Mile130
  • Glen Helen132
  • Ormiston Gorge135
  • Redbank Gorge156

Approximate distances from town, per the Northern Territory tourism bodies.29,3,30,31,28,32

Standley Chasm: a private campground with gate hours

Standley Chasm runs its own campground inside a reserve that local Arrernte people manage privately.41 The camping fee includes entry to the chasm, and Tourism NT lists overnight camping at AUD 25.50 per person.42,34 Facilities include toilets, hot showers, a free washing machine, a camp kitchen and barbecue areas.43

It is not a caravan park, and it says so. There is no potable water refill and no caravan water or wastewater connection, so arrive self-sufficient.40 There are 6 powered campsites, with limited availability, so a caravan should book well ahead and arrive with full tanks.39 No pets or alcohol are allowed on the site, which keeps the evenings quiet and the creek bed clean for the wildlife that comes down at dusk.44

The gate is the rule that catches people out. Gates open at 8:00 am and shut at 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday, or at 2:00 pm on Sunday, and after closing they are locked so that nobody can get in.45,18 Arrive in daylight, and the reward is a chasm that falls quiet when the day visitors leave, with the walls glowing in the last light.

Your campground

Where should you pitch?

Say what you need from a night out and see which site fits.

  • If I have a small 2WD car

    Ellery or Ormiston

    Ellery is on a 2WD gravel road and Ormiston on sealed roads.3,28

  • If I want hot showers

    Ormiston Gorge

    Its campground has hot showers, gas barbecues and shade shelters.4

  • If I want to climb Mt Sonder

    Redbank Gorge

    Camping for the climb is only at its two designated campsites.38

  • If I travel in a caravan

    Standley Chasm, self-sufficient

    It has 6 powered sites but no water refill or wastewater connections.39,40

  • If I want no camping at all

    Stay in Alice Springs

    The day trip picks up from 22 listed places to stay in town.

Three good bases

Easy, comfortable or private

Easiest to reach

Ellery Creek Big Hole

88 km from Alice

  • Access2WD gravel road
  • SitesTen, booked online
  • ExtraEmergency telephone
See the day trip

Most comfortable

Ormiston Gorge

135 km from Alice

  • AccessSealed road
  • ShowersHot
  • RangersApril to October
See the day trip

Chasm after hours

Standley Chasm

Private campground

  • EntryIncluded
  • Power6 powered sites
  • GatesLocked after hours
See the day trip

Where to camp in the West MacDonnell Ranges with a 4WD

With a high-clearance 4WD, the far west and the bush camps open up. Redbank Gorge has two campgrounds, Woodland and Ridgetop, reached by high-clearance 4WD on unsealed roads.35 Spaces are limited and fees apply, and like most park campgrounds around Alice Springs they are booked online; the rates are AUD 4 an adult, AUD 2 a child and AUD 10 a family.36,11,7

Redbank campers should bring their own water, gas and firewood, though a ranger-maintained water tank stands in the Redbank Gorge car park.98,102 These are the only places to camp for the Mt Sonder climb: camping is permitted only at the two designated campsites there.38 So where to camp in the West MacDonnell Ranges for a summit dawn is settled before you start.

For true bush camping, the Finke 2-Mile spot on the Finke River is 4WD only with no facilities, around 130 km from town near the Mt Sonder Lookout.37,30 The Serpentine Chalet bush camping area is also basic and 4WD only.103 At the Hugh River camping area there are no facilities, and dingoes come to drink after rain: keep your distance and never feed them.101

A night at a gorge

From booking to the dawn walk

  1. Before you go

    Book and buy the pass

    Book online and buy an NT Parks Visitor Pass.11,17

  2. Afternoon

    Arrive in daylight

    Standley Chasm locks its gates after hours.18

  3. Evening

    Cook at the pits

    Light fires only in the pits provided.16

  4. Night

    Rug up

    Expect 0°C or colder on winter nights.19

  5. Dawn

    Walk early

    In hot weather, walk at first light and stop by noon.20

Accommodation in the West MacDonnell Ranges beyond a tent

Rooms are scarce. Tourism Central Australia says Glen Helen Gorge holds the only rooms in the ranges, and lists them as temporarily closed.9 Its two-day guide gives the Glen Helen stay 25 motel rooms and a large camping ground, also marked currently closed.104 Tourism NT still describes a lodge campground there with powered sites, a pool, a bar and a restaurant.105

Two official pages disagree, so check the current state directly before you build a trip around Glen Helen. If it is open, it is a useful base: Tourism NT says the night there is worth spending rather than passing through.106 If it is closed, Ormiston Gorge, a short spur road off Namatjira Drive close by, is the natural substitute for a western base, 135 km from town against Glen Helen's 132 km.28,31

Accommodation in the West MacDonnell Ranges can also simply mean Alice Springs. The day trip this site books picks up from 22 listed places to stay in town, including hotels, motels, hostels and caravan parks, and you are back in town by about 5:30 pm. For many visitors a town bed and a 9-hour day out is the easiest way to see the ranges.

Video

Camping at Serpentine and Ormiston gorges

The Lifestyle Pioneers on YouTube · The clip loads only after you tap play.

Please note that it is illegal to camp in unstructured sites in the Northern Territory.
Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com)2

Camp kit

Your West Macs camping checklist

Bookings3

  • An NT Parks Visitor Pass for each camper17
  • Ellery or Redbank booked online first23
  • Arrive at Standley Chasm before the gates lock18

Water and warmth3

  • Your own water, and treat tank water4
  • Warm layers for nights at 0°C or below19
  • Your own shade at Ellery Creek22

Rules3

  • Fires only in the pits provided16
  • No pets in the national park15
  • Never feed dingoes; keep your distance101

Cold nights, hot days: camping by season

Tourism NT rates April to September as the best camping months around Alice Springs, with mild days and chilly nights that can dip below zero.107 In winter it regularly reaches freezing, sometimes with frost, so pack warm clothing, blankets and ground cover.108 A sleeping bag rated for a cold night is worth more than any other piece of kit.

From October to March the problem flips. Daytime temperatures can pass 35°C and nights stay warm, with rain more likely, so shade and shelter matter.109 On some routes, closures kick in when the forecast passes 36 degrees Celsius, so camp near water and walk at dawn.20 Summer also brings fewer crowds and perfect swimming weather.110

Free roadside rest areas exist outside Alice Springs, but they are for one night only, not an extended base.111 For a West Macs stay, the park campgrounds are the right choice: they put you beside the water, inside the walking network and away from the highway. Waking at a gorge, with the first light on the walls and no one else on the track, is the main reason to stay out rather than drive back to town.

What to pack for a night in the ranges

Water first. Overnight visitors are asked to bring their own, Ormiston's tank water should be treated, and Standley Chasm has no refill service.10,4,40 Each walk calls for two-and-a-half litres a person as a floor, plus a spare supply in the vehicle.112 In the heat the official guide is about one litre an hour, so a long day at camp can easily need more water than you expect.113

Then warmth and shade. Nights in winter can fall to 0°C or below, while summer days are fierce, so bring both warm layers and your own shade structure.19,22 Add sunscreen, a hat, sturdy walking shoes, a first aid kit and swimwear, the basic kit Tourism NT lists for the ranges.114 A head torch, a gas stove and a cool box round it out, since fires are allowed only in the pits provided and firewood must be gathered outside the park.16

Finally, the booking and the pass. Each camper needs an NT Parks Visitor Pass; adults pay AUD 10 a day or AUD 20 for a 3-day pass.17,115 Book Ellery and Redbank online before you arrive, and reach Standley Chasm before its gates close.23,36,18 Ormiston takes no bookings, so on a busy winter weekend have a second campground in mind in case its sites are full when you arrive.13,4

FAQ

Quick questions get quick answers.

Can you camp anywhere in the West MacDonnell Ranges?
No.

Camping is only allowed in designated areas; unstructured camping is illegal in the NT.1,2

How much does camping cost?
From AUD 4 an adult.

Ellery and Redbank charge AUD 4 an adult; Ormiston AUD 6.60.6,7,8

Do I need to book a campsite?
Mostly, yes.

Ellery and Redbank are booked online before arrival; Ormiston is first come, paid at the kiosk.23,36,13

Which campground has hot showers?
Ormiston Gorge and Standley Chasm.

Both list hot showers among their facilities; Ellery Creek has a shower and toilet block too.4,43,3

Can I camp with a 2WD?
Yes, at Ellery and Ormiston.

Ellery is reached by a 2WD gravel road and Ormiston on sealed roads.3,28

Is there hotel accommodation in the ranges?
Only at Glen Helen, listed as closed.

Tourism Central Australia lists Glen Helen as the only rooms, temporarily closed.9

How cold does it get at night?
Below zero in winter.

In winter the thermometer can sit at 0°C or lower overnight.19

Can I bring my dog?
Not into the national park.

No national park allows dogs or cats, and Standley Chasm bans pets.15,44

Sources

  1. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  2. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · Camping ↩
  3. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  4. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  5. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  6. Tourism Central Australia · Everything You Need to Know About Ellery Creek Big Hole ↩
  7. Tourism Central Australia · Your Guide to Redbank Gorge ↩
  8. Tourism Central Australia · How to experience all of Ormiston Gorge ↩
  9. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · West MacDonnell Ranges ↩
  10. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park ↩
  11. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  12. Tourism Central Australia · Things to Do in the West MacDonnell Ranges ↩
  13. Tourism Central Australia · How to experience all of Ormiston Gorge ↩
  14. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  15. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · Safety & Health Information ↩
  16. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · Safety & Health Information ↩
  17. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park ↩
  18. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye (official site) · Overnight Camping Standley Chasm ↩
  19. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · Safety & Health Information ↩
  20. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · Visiting the Red Centre in Summer ↩
  21. Tourism Central Australia · Everything You Need to Know About Ellery Creek Big Hole ↩
  22. Tourism Central Australia · Everything You Need to Know About Ellery Creek Big Hole ↩
  23. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Ellery Creek Big Hole ↩
  24. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Ellery Creek Big Hole ↩
  25. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  26. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · A 48-hour West MacDonnell Ranges adventure ↩
  27. Tourism NT · Ellery Creek Big Hole ↩
  28. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · A 48-hour West MacDonnell Ranges adventure ↩
  29. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · 10 Red Centre adventures you did not know you needed this summer ↩
  30. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park ↩
  31. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Glen Helen Gorge ↩
  32. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · A 48-hour West MacDonnell Ranges adventure ↩
  33. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye (official site) · Plan Your Trip to Standley Chasm ↩
  34. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Standley Chasm - Angkerle Atwatye ↩
  35. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  36. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Redbank Gorge ↩
  37. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  38. Tourism Central Australia · A Guide to Hiking Mount Sonder ↩
  39. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye (official site) · Overnight Camping Standley Chasm ↩
  40. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye (official site) · Overnight Camping Standley Chasm ↩
  41. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Standley Chasm - Angkerle Atwatye ↩
  42. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye (official site) · Overnight Camping Standley Chasm ↩
  43. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye (official site) · Overnight Camping Standley Chasm ↩
  44. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye (official site) · Plan Your Trip to Standley Chasm ↩
  45. Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye (official site) · Plan Your Trip to Standley Chasm ↩
  46. Tourism NT · Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges
  47. Tourism NT · John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve
  48. Tourism NT · Simpsons Gap
  49. Tourism Central Australia · A Guide to Simpsons Gap
  50. Tourism Central Australia · Things to do at Standley Chasm
  51. Standley Chasm (Angkerle Aboriginal Corporation) · Our Story
  52. Tourism Central Australia · Everything You Need to Know About Ellery Creek Big Hole
  53. Tourism NT · Serpentine Gorge
  54. Tourism Central Australia · Must-Do Stops in Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park
  55. Tourism NT · Ochre Pits
  56. Tourism NT · Ormiston Gorge
  57. Tourism NT · Ormiston Gorge
  58. Tourism NT · Glen Helen Gorge
  59. Tourism NT · Glen Helen Gorge
  60. Tourism NT · Redbank Gorge
  61. Tourism NT · Redbank Gorge
  62. Tourism NT · Ormiston Gorge
  63. Tourism Central Australia · How to experience all of Ormiston Gorge
  64. Tourism Central Australia · How to experience all of Ormiston Gorge
  65. Tourism Central Australia · Ormiston Pound & Gorge Walk
  66. Tourism NT · Finke River Trailhead
  67. Tourism NT · Finke River Trailhead
  68. Tourism NT · Glen Helen Gorge
  69. Tourism NT · Mt Sonder (Rutjupma)
  70. Tourism NT · Simpsons Gap Bicycle Path
  71. Tourism NT · John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve
  72. Tourism NT · Simpsons Gap
  73. Tourism Central Australia · A Guide to Simpsons Gap
  74. Tourism Central Australia · Everything you need to know about the Larapinta Trail
  75. Tourism Central Australia · Everything you need to know about the Larapinta Trail
  76. Tourism Central Australia · Things to do at Standley Chasm
  77. Tourism NT · Insider guide to hiking the Larapinta Trail
  78. Tourism Central Australia · Everything you need to know about the Larapinta Trail
  79. Standley Chasm (Angkerle Aboriginal Corporation) · The Larapinta Trail
  80. Tourism Central Australia · Swimming and Waterholes
  81. Tourism Central Australia · Everything you need to know about the Larapinta Trail
  82. Tourism NT · Ellery Creek Big Hole
  83. Tourism NT · Serpentine Gorge
  84. Tourism NT · Serpentine Chalet Dam
  85. Tourism NT · Finke River Trailhead
  86. Tourism NT · Finke River Trailhead
  87. Tourism Central Australia · A Guide to Hiking Mount Sonder
  88. Tourism NT · Simpsons Gap
  89. Tourism NT · Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye
  90. Tourism NT · Ellery Creek Big Hole
  91. Tourism NT · Serpentine Gorge
  92. Tourism Central Australia · Indigenous Culture in the West MacDonnell Ranges
  93. Tourism Central Australia · How to experience all of Ormiston Gorge
  94. Tourism Central Australia · Your Guide to Glen Helen Gorge
  95. Tourism Central Australia · A Guide to Hiking Mount Sonder
  96. Tourism NT · Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges
  97. Tourism NT · Redbank Gorge
  98. Tourism Central Australia · Your Guide to Redbank Gorge ↩
  99. Standley Chasm (Angkerle Aboriginal Corporation) · Camping
  100. Tourism Central Australia · Your Guide to Glen Helen Gorge
  101. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  102. Tourism Central Australia · A Guide to Hiking Mount Sonder ↩
  103. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  104. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · A 48-hour West MacDonnell Ranges adventure ↩
  105. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  106. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Drive the Red Centre Way from Alice Springs ↩
  107. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  108. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  109. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  110. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · Visiting the Red Centre in Summer ↩
  111. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Camping around Alice Springs ↩
  112. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · Visiting the Red Centre in Summer ↩
  113. Tourism Central Australia (discovercentralaustralia.com) · Safety & Health Information ↩
  114. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park ↩
  115. Tourism NT (northernterritory.com) · Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park ↩

Related guides

More to read before the ranges

GuideWest MacDonnell Ranges tours: half day, full day, pricesGuideWest Macs, East Macs or Kings CanyonGuideDriving the West MacDonnell Ranges yourselfGuideOne, two or three days in the West Macs

Before you go

Hold a seat now, pay later.

Reserve now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Your available dates and today's price show in the booking box below.

Pick a date