1. Why should I go?
The Larapinta Trail takes the walker deep into the astonishingly beautiful red-heart of Australia. It weaves its way through spectacular gorges, climbs over rugged peaks, drops into green oases and follows the meanderings of ancient rivers.
The Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges is one of the oldest places on earth and when you look out upon these red-purple rounded ranges you feel their ancient ancestry. The indigenous owners of this land, the Arrernte, have a history dating back at least 40,000 years, one of the longest continuing cultures on the planet. Many of the sites you pass on the trail are sacred to the Arrernte people, who graciously allow walkers access to their country.
The Larapinta Tail has good facilities, with water, toilets and picnic tables at many campsites, a number of large shelters and USB charging points at several camps. The waymarking is good. The trail is mostly easy to follow although at times you have to keep your eyes open.
The trail has many access points (some 4WD only) making shorter trips easy to organise and allowing food drops for longer trips. Ormiston Gorge and Ellery Creek have lockable storage rooms. Standley Chasm will store food and containers can also be left at other locations.
Private companies provide supported tours and will also arrange transport and food drops for self-supported walkers.
2. Where is the Larapinta Trail?
The Larapinta Trail traverses the land of the Arrernte people following the spine of the Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges for 225 kilometres eastwards from Redbank Gorge to Alice Springs in the red-heart of Central Australia.
The Larapinta Trail can be walked in either direction, depending on your preference for walking towards Redbank Gorge/Mt Sonder or Alice Springs. We took 16 days to walk from end to end. Others allow more, or less, time. While walking the entire trail is a special experience, any amount of time will reward the walker with spectacular scenery. Many people enjoy day walks or multi-day walks on the trail.
3. When should I go?
May to August is the sweet spot for walking, with May and August being the best months in our opinion.
May and August average maximum temperatures hover around 24c with minimums of 5-8c. June and July have cooler days, about 20c, and nights around 3-4c. However, these averages will vary considerably and you need to consider if you’d prefer hotter days or freezing nights. Do not even consider the summer months when the daytime temperatures can reach 45c.
You’ll need a sunhat (and sunscreen) all year and to be aware of dehydration symptoms. Rain protection is also recommended with drizzle more likely in the winter and flooding possible in the summer.
See the Bureau of Meteorology’s climate statistics for detailed information.
4. How do I plan for my trip?
- The official Larapinta Trail Information Pack is excellent with 12 detailed maps and information on the environment. It’s probably all you’ll need to navigate the trail.
- If you like a paper guidebook then John and Monica Chapman’s Larapinta Trail Guidebook is well regarded. Or if an App is your preference then Farout Guides are also well regarded.
- The Northern Territory Government website has good information on the latest conditions, water points, facilities, trail access, etc. The park rangers were very helpful when we wanted to clarify some details about our trip.
- The Larapinta Trail Website has some more detailed information than the NT government site.
- For additional inspiration, the Larapinta Dreaming foldout map/artist diary is a delightful work of art by illustrator, cartographer, adventurer and observer of small details, Alex Hotchin.
SAFETY
The Larapinta Trail is located in rough, rocky country. It’s remote and often out of mobile phone range. You need to carry a first aid kit and be able to treat water (sterilising tablets, a filter pump, by boiling).
5. How do I find out what walking the Larapinta Trail is like?
If you haven’t already read our story of walking the Larapinta Trail, then click here. We hope you’ll be inspired by our blog to start planning your own trip. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
We’ve also listed some places below where you can find the practical information you’ll need to walk the trail safely.
Carrying a Personal Locator Beacon or satellite phone is recommended. The Aust Maritime Safety Authority (Central Australia was once covered by an inland sea) has useful information on beacon types and models. PLB’s and satellite phones can be purchased or rented.
As well as carrying the official maps, a smartphone GPS App can be very useful. We use Gaia GPS (the paid version is essential so as to download the maps) and appreciate the quality of their maps and customer service.
Read the official Larapinta Trail safety advice and carry a copy of the Safety Information Sheet with you.
You might also be interested in…
- Taking a look at our Larapinta Trail blog (again) to get a feel for the experience of walking the trail. Hopefully, it will inspire you to start planing today. You might also be interested in looking at other walks we’ve done including:
- The Jatbula Trail, a five-day walk in the Northern Territory.
- 55 days walking the Heysen Trail in South Australia.
- Walking The Lycian Way along Turkey’s south-west coast.
– – –
Disclosure
We do not receive payments, commissions, or freebies. If we mention a specific product/service or link to another website, it’s because we think it might be useful in planning your walk. There are likely to be alternatives to the products and services that we mention and we suggest that you assess the best options for your needs.
