Ormiston Pound Walk: Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park guide

The Ormiston Pound Walk is a half-day circuit in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, about 135 km west of Alice Springs. It leaves Ormiston Gorge, climbs over red-rock ridges to a lookout above Ormiston Pound, drops onto the pound's flat floor and returns through the gorge past a near-permanent waterhole. Tourism Central Australia lists the walk at about 9 km, Grade 3 moderate, with 3 to 4 hours walking. It suits walkers with reasonable fitness who are steady on uneven rock and happy to cross a cold, deep waterhole near the end, rather than anyone after a short stroll or a dry-feet walk.

The West MacDonnell Ranges are Western Arrernte country, and Tjoritja is the Arrernte name for the range. The park is jointly managed with Traditional Owners. The NT Parks and Wildlife Ormiston Gorge page carries the official track notes and current alerts, including waterhole crossing conditions, and should be checked before you drive out from Alice Springs.

Quick route overview

• Distance: about 9 km circuit
• Time: allow 3 to 4 hours
• Grade: Grade 3 (moderate)
• Route type: circuit, usually walked anticlockwise
• Terrain: formed track over red-rock slopes and ridges, a sandy creek bed, then rock-hopping through the gorge and a waterhole crossing
• Start: Ormiston Gorge car park, near the visitor centre, Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park
• Access: sealed roads all the way from Alice Springs; conventional 2WD vehicles fine

What to expect

The walk starts at the walks information shelter near the visitor centre and heads east through woodland, following the orange arrows of the Pound Walk anticlockwise. It shares the first section with the blue-arrowed Larapinta Trail, then veers left and climbs over a series of red-rock slopes and gullies to a saddle. A short side track leads to a natural lookout on a quartzite ridge, where the full sweep of Ormiston Pound opens out below. Mount Giles (1389 m) stands to the east across the Chewings Range, and Mount Sonder (1380 m) and the higher Mount Zeil (1531 m, the Northern Territory's highest peak) sit to the north-west.

From the saddle the track descends onto the flat floor of the pound, then follows Ormiston Creek downstream through acacia and bloodwood woodland to a chain of tree-lined waterholes. The route then enters the gorge itself, where the walls rise close to 250 m and the walking turns to rock-hopping over water-smoothed stone and sandy patches. Ghost gums grow from narrow rock shelves above the water. Near the end the track meets the main waterhole, which can be deep and cold enough to require a short swim to pass. The same point is the finish of the short Waterhole Walk, and from there it is a few minutes back to the visitor centre.

Safety and conditions

• Check the Ormiston Gorge page and the weather before you leave. Conditions in the ranges change quickly and the page carries current alerts, including the waterhole crossing status.
• The gorge return crosses the main waterhole. Depending on water level this can mean wading thigh-deep or a short swim through deep, cold water. Do not start the circuit if you are not prepared to get wet, and turn back at the waterhole if you are unsure.
• Carry plenty of drinking water and treat any tank or surface water before drinking. The visitor centre supply is limited.
• The waterholes are extremely cold. Prolonged exposure can cause hypothermia even in summer. Do not jump or dive into the waterholes; submerged logs and rocks are not visible.
• Summer heat is the main hazard. Start early or pick another walk on hot days, and carry sun protection and extra water.
• Mobile reception is poor and variable on the circuit. NT Parks recommends carrying a satellite phone or personal locator beacon and leaving your route and expected return with a reliable contact who can raise the alarm.
• Wear sturdy footwear with grip. The rock is slippery when wet and the gorge section is uneven underfoot.
• Dogs and other pets are not permitted in the park.

Practical tips

Interstate and overseas visitors need an NT Parks Visitor Pass for most NT parks, including Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. NT residents are exempt but may be asked for proof. A 1-day pass is $10 for an adult, $5 for a child (5 to 17), $25 for a family (2 adults and 4 children) and $8 concession; longer passes run to a $60 annual pass. Buy online at parkbookings.nt.gov.au before you go. The pass covers entry only - camping is booked and paid separately.

From Alice Springs, drive 47 km west on Larapinta Drive, turn right onto Namatjira Drive for 81 km, then turn right into the Ormiston Gorge Access Road for the final 7 km to the car park. Allow about 90 minutes each way. The road is sealed to the car park, but check the park page for any temporary road alerts after heavy rain.

The visitor area has toilets, picnic tables, barbecues and limited drinking water, and a kiosk that opens seasonally - check the park page for current hours. The Ormiston Gorge campground is a category B site with more facilities than other West MacDonnell campgrounds; book ahead online. There are no toilets or water on the circuit itself.

The walk is most comfortable from late autumn to early spring, when the heat is lower and the days are long enough for a relaxed circuit. Winter days are short and the gorge is cold and shaded, so carry a warm layer. Summer brings extreme heat and high fire risk, so start before dawn or choose a different walk on hot, windy days.

Shorter options at Ormiston Gorge suit walkers with less time. The Waterhole Walk is a 300 m paved path to the main waterhole (Grade 1, wheelchair accessible to the end of the path). The Ghost Gum Lookout is about 1.5 km return with a short climb to a viewing platform over the gorge, and the Ghost Gum Walk is a 2.5 km loop of about 1.5 hours that returns through the gorge. The Larapinta Trail passes through the area on sections 9 and 10. The Central Australian Bushwalkers Association is the Alice Springs club and runs regular walks in the West MacDonnell Ranges if you want company or local knowledge.

For another Red Centre gorge walk on a similar graded track, the Kings Canyon Rim Walk in Watarrka National Park is a shorter, steeper circuit over a canyon rim. For a longer gorge day walk in a very different climate, the Carnarvon Gorge Main Track in Central Queensland shares the pattern of a creek-side walk past waterholes and sandstone walls.