In part one of our series on Alice Springs, we uncovered what makes the town truly unique. Now, we’re heading beyond the town limits to explore some of the best campgrounds and hidden spots within 200km, where the Red Centre’s landscapes come alive.
Red sand stretching to the horizon, rock formations weathered by millennia and nights lit by countless stars … that’s the Red Centre for you. Camping here isn’t just about pulling up at your site, it’s about immersing yourself in this ancient country that’s rich with culture, unique wildlife and outback grit. Grab your camera and walking shoes, let some air out of your tyres and get ready to discover five great caravan-friendly campgrounds that belong on your Red Centre bucket list.
1. Ormiston Gorge Campground (Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park)
Central Australia is renowned for its rugged red dirt landscapes, gorges and waterholes. And if you’re looking for a caravan-friendly campsite that ticks all those boxes, Ormiston Gorge Campground in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park should be on your list. Located on the Red Centre Way, 135km west of Alice Springs, the road in is fully sealed and delivers you to what’s often called Central Australia’s ‘beach’. Towering red cliffs surround the near-permanent waterhole, making it the perfect spot to swim, relax or simply soak up the West MacDonnell views. Known as Kwartatuma to the Western Arrernte people, the gorge is a sacred site and loved by many for its beautiful scenery.
Ormiston Gorge Campground is simple but practical, with around 20 unpowered sites, toilets, showers and gas barbecues. The sites are all first-come, first-served and vary from flat to sloped. Bookings are essential and must be made online before arriving (fees apply) and an NT Parks Pass is a must if you’re a non-NT resident. Fires are not allowed, but drones are as long as you have a permit (these are free, but can take a few days to be processed). All rubbish should leave with you. The campground can get busy between June and August, so plan accordingly.
Ormiston Gorge, Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park)
Ormiston Gorge Campground
Like the road in, the campground is 2WD-friendly, with a large car park near the kiosk and a short walk to the gorge and natural waterhole. The waterhole is inviting with its large stretches of sand to bask on, but the water itself is extremely cold even in summer. Rangers warn that extended exposure can lead to hypothermia, so keep your swims short.
Make sure you bring your walking shoes and hats along, with plenty of walking tracks to choose from. The tracks range from the short and easy Waterhole Walk (300m) to moderate trails like the 2.5km Ghost Gum Walk, which leads to a lookout with sweeping views. Longer hikes include the 9km Ormiston Pound Walk or multi-day treks like the 30.6km Mount Giles route. Sunrise and sunset are magical here, and Ghost Gum Lookout is particularly spectacular at sunset, while the Ormiston Pound lookout is great at both ends of the day as long as you’re ready for the longer trek.
Free ranger-guided walks run from May to August, sharing insights into the area’s history and Red Centre wildlife.
2. Palm Valley Campground — Finke Gorge National Park
Around 138km west of Alice Springs, Finke Gorge National Park hides one of Central Australia’s real treasures: Palm Valley. This pocket of green is the only place in the world where the rare red cabbage palms (Livistona mariae) grow, standing out against the rugged sandstone country.
Reaching Palm Valley is an adventure in itself. From the national park entrance, the track runs through soft Finke River sand and over rocky sections, so you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD and offroad van, lowered tyre pressures and a patient approach. Caravans and camper trailers can be towed as far as the main campground and picnic area, but they can’t continue along the track into Palm Valley itself.
A high clearance 4WD vehicle is necessary to access Palm Valley
You’ll need an NT Parks Pass (NT residents are exempt), and camping fees must be booked and paid online before you arrive. Facilities at the campground are basic but comfortable, with flushing toilets, solar showers, gas barbecues and shared firepits. Pets, generators and firewood collection are not allowed. Drones are by permit only (organise before arriving/flying), and you’ll need to carry out all your rubbish. Campground hosts are usually in place during the peak season from May to September.
Red cabbage palms (Livistona mariae) Palm Valley Finke Gorge National Park (Image Robert Crack)
Palm Valley in Finke Gorge National Park
There are two great walking options from the campground. The Arankaia Walk (2km) follows the valley floor, shaded by the palms, before rising up to a sandstone plateau. For a longer trek, Mpulungkinya Walk (5km) climbs higher and rewards those who make the effort with sweeping views across Palm Paddock.
Beyond the valley, it’s worth heading to Kalarranga Lookout at sunset to see the glowing red hills. The nearby Mpaara Walk (5km) also offers a cultural experience, weaving the Dreamtime story of Mpaara, the Tawny Frogmouth-man, into the landscape.
3. Trephina Panorama Campground — Trephina Gorge Nature Park
Trephina Gorge Nature Park is the quiet gem of the East MacDonnell Ranges, about 85km east of Alice Springs. With its sheer quartzite cliffs, sandy creek beds and big desert skies, it offers the same rugged Central Australian beauty as the West Macs, but with fewer visitors.
Getting to Trephina is straightforward: follow the Ross Highway east for 77km, then turn off and drive another 9km into the park. The final 5km is unsealed but usually in good condition and 2WD friendly in dry weather.
Two gorges cut their way through the range: Trephina, with its sweeping views and sandy creek bed, and John Hayes Rockhole with its steep cliff walls. John Hayes Rockhole can only be accessed on foot or via 4WD, but it’s worth the visit if there has been rain recently — gird yourself for the cold water though!
Entrance to Trephina Gorge
Trephina Gorge’s red rock vistas
There are four campgrounds in the park — Gorge, Bluff, John Hayes Rockhole and Panorama — but only Panorama is caravan-friendly. Its facilities include toilets, potable water, gas and wood barbecues and picnic tables. It’s essential to book online before arrival, as you can’t pay at the site. Non-NT residents will need a Parks Pass. Fires, pets, drones, generators and collecting firewood are not permitted.
There’s plenty to keep you busy in the park. Walking trails range from short strolls like the Gorge Walk to the longer Ridgetop Trail, which links to John Hayes Rockhole. A park highlight is Australia’s largest ghost gum (Corymbia aparrerinja), estimated to be more than 300 years old and standing over 30m tall. In the afternoon light, it’s an impressive sight. Keep an eye out for river red gums, rock wallabies and birdlife from zebra finches to red-browed pardalotes.
The cooler months from April to September are best for exploring the East Macs, with seasonal ranger-guided walks adding more insight. For caravanners, Panorama Campground makes Trephina Gorge an easy and rewarding base to experience the East MacDonnell Ranges.
4. Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve
Around 97km south of Alice Springs, Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve is a photographer’s dream and just as vibrant as its name suggests. The reserve features beautiful, weathered sandstone cliffs that glow in shades of ochre, orange and purple as the sun rises and sets, and if you’re lucky enough to visit after there’s been rain, the nearby claypans create reflective surfaces that double the visual impact. For the Upper Southern Arrernte people, the reserve is known as Wurre, a place of cultural teaching and significance, so visitors are asked to respect the land, stay on marked tracks and leave no trace (which we trust you do no matter where you travel).
The road to the reserve is mostly along the Stuart Highway, but the final 22km is along an unsealed road with some sandy sections. We recommend having a 4WD and making sure your caravan or camper is offroad ready. Once inside, boardwalks and walking loops guide you through the area’s highlights. The roughly 1.5km Mushroom Rock Walk leads you past the uniquely shaped sandstone formation that has been shaped over millions of years, while the 1.6km Claypan Walk winds along the edge of the claypans, with viewing platforms offering the best perspectives on the cliffs and valley.
Rainbow Valley (Image Matt Williams Photography)
Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve camping area (Image Prue and Colin Kerr)
The rainbow-like bands on the cliffs are the result of millions of years of water exposure and weathering. Iron-rich layers dissolved during wetter periods and were drawn to the surface in dryer seasons, creating a hard, dark red cap. Beneath this, softer pale sandstone eroded more quickly under wind and rain, forming the steep bluffs, squared towers and sculpted ridges seen today.
There are two designated campgrounds within the reserve, with around 15 sites total. Facilities include communal gas and wood barbecues, picnic tables and pit toilets. Visitors must bring their own food, water and firewood. Pets, drones, generators and firewood collection are not permitted. An NT Parks Pass is required for non-residents, and all camping must be booked and paid online before arrival.
A rock wallaby in the cliffs at Rainbow Valley (Image Prue and Colin Kerr)
While you could make Rainbow Valley a daytrip out from Alice, visiting overnight is highly recommended — the cliffs take on an unforgettable glow at sunset, and the star-filled desert sky adds the perfect finishing touch.
5. Woodland Campground, Redbank Gorge — Tjortija / West MacDonnell National Park
Sitting at the base of the impressive Mount Sonder (or Rutjupma, the ‘pregnant lady’ to the Western Arrernte people) Redbank Gorge is a favourite stop along the Red Centre Way, around 156km west of Alice Springs. The drive out is sealed, but the last 5km into the gorge is on an unsealed track that can get rough — a high-clearance vehicle and offroad-ready van is recommended.
The gorge itself is a striking chasm that not only looks dramatic but also shelters a range of threatened plants and animals. A permanent waterhole sits just over a kilometre from the car park, and it’s icy cold year-round. Bring your pool noodles and soak up the sun, but don’t stay in the water too long. And no jumping into the water, as there may be submerged logs and rocks.
Exploring Redbank Gorge in Tjortija / West MacDonnell National Park
Redbank Gorge
The walk to the waterhole is fairly easy, starting on a defined path before following the sandy creekbed. It’s unmarked and often uneven, so bring sturdy shoes, plenty of water in warm weather and allow some time to take it slow on the sand.
If you’re up for a longer bushwalk, the 5km return walk up to Mount Sonder Lookout offers spectacular views but does come with some steep stone steps. The Larapinta Trail also passes right through here, so you’ll likely cross paths with multi-day hikers.
There are two campgrounds in Redbank Gorge: Ridgetop and Woodland, but caravans are only allowed at Woodland. Facilities are simple: toilets, picnic tables, firepits, gas barbecues and untreated water (boil before drinking). It’s a peaceful base with plenty of shade, perfect for relaxing between exploring the gorges and nearby walks.
A Parks Pass is required for anyone who isn’t an NT resident, and campsites must be booked and paid for online before you arrive.
Keep exploring the Red Centre
These are just a handful of the caravan-friendly campgrounds to be found near Alice Springs. If you’re after more ideas or are travelling with a camper trailer or just your 4WD (which opens up even more options) check out the full Parks NT campground list here.
To make sure you don’t get lost reaching camp, here are some handy maps from Hema to keep you on track:
Return for part three
Our Alice Springs series isn’t over yet! Come back soon for part three.
THE NEXT STEP
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5 campgrounds within 200km of Alice Springs