1 day Alice Springs to Palm Valley Tour

With an early start to the day we leave Alice Springs and head west along the ranges, past scattered housing set amongst the natural bushland, which are home to the traditional owners of the land and are part of the outstation movement.

These ‘outstation’ houses are found throughout Central Australia and provide modern accommodation for people wishing to stay on their land.

For those who love Australian history we cross Owen Springs Cattle Station and learn of Sir Sidney Kidman ‘The Cattle King of Australia’ and the events and history of the cattle industry in Central Australia. Owen Springs was recently purchased by the Northern Territory Government to enable extension of the West MacDonnell National Park.

Passing Hermannsburg we enter the Finke River, which is regarded as one of the longest and oldest rivers, still following its original course, in the world. This ancient river meanders its way through the James and Krischauf Ranges on its way south east into the Simpson Desert.

Negotiating this usually dry river bed with its white sandy floor and towering red cliffs that funnel the runoff water from the rains is a magnificent experience.

As we venture through Palm Creek the features of the landscape become prominent with the blood red colouration, the smooth rounded rocks and the deep green vegetation.

Palm Valley as the name suggests is home to some 3000 Red Cabbage Palms (Livistona Mariae) which have found favourable conditions in a small 50 hectare site and are now considered vulnerable. These plants along with the more robust Cycad (Macrozamia macdonnellii) make for an interesting and exotic eco system found in Australia’s very own backyard.

Palm Valley offers several walking experiences where you have the option to walk along the floor among the palms and prolific birdlife or if you value spectacular views walk along the ridge overlooking the valley and surrounding landscapes. Kalarranga Lookout offers a scenic experience into Palm Pound and brings to life the Mpaara story of the region.

Retracing our steps along the Finke River to Hermannsburg we visit this fascinating historic town with its religious connection to the Lutheran community and the starting point of the lasting relationship between western and traditional cultures.

Hermannsburg is where from 1872 Lutheran Missionaries learnt the local Western Arrente dialect to create the first dictionary for an Aboriginal language. They were responsible for carefully documenting the Arrente traditions and for translating the German Bible for the Arrente people.

Within the Historical Precinct we will view a permanent display of local art from the Hermannsburg school of water colour including work by Albert Namatjira.

It is then that time to say farewell and we hope you enjoyed a taste of Australia’s outback.