East MacDonnell ranges is part of the MacDonnell National Park, located just 20 minutes drive from Alice Springs, Northern Territory. It is less popularthan it’s cousin (West MacDonnell ranges), however if you have a day to spare, it is still an interesting place to explore. Like the rest of MacDonnell National Park, East MacDonnell ranges has lots of bush walking and four wheels drive trail, towering gorges and massive rocks, swimming waterholes and aboriginal rock arts.

I spent a full day exploring some of the East MacDonnell attractions:

• Emily Gap (part of Emily & Jessie Gaps Nature Park) – I experienced Aboriginal Rock Paintings on the gorge walls. We had to walk across the waterhole (sometimes you may have to swim) to see the paintings.

Aboriginal Rock Arts/Paintings at Emily Gap

Rock Paintings were found on the wall of Emily Gap Gorge

I had to cross the waterhole (not unusual to swim across) to see the rock paintings on the other side of the waterhole

• Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve – I walked around the massive base rock.

Cooroboree Rock - I walked around the base of this giant rock

• Trephina Gorge Nature Park - I took a quick walk passing the gorge. The waterhole is a very popular swimming hole but I decided not to take a dip since there was not enough water. However, the view was spectacular.

A walk around Terphina Gorge

Trephina Gorge waterhole - a very popular swimming hole

Trephina Gorge waterhole view

Related posts:

1. West MacDonnell Ranges – Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
2. Alice Springs Reptile Park – Northern Territory, Australia
3. Uluru (Ayers Rock) Base Walk – Australian Northern Territory
4. Kings Canyon, Northern Territory
5. Litchfield National Park – Northern Territory, Australia