Glen Helen Gorge, where the ancient Finke River carves through the West MacDonnell Ranges, is among the region’s most photogenic stops. Its resort and camping ground have been closed intermittently since 2023 due to water supply issues, so check online (discoveryholidayparks.com.au) before planning an overnight stay. Once here, stroll past boggy reed beds and tall eucalypts to the cool, permanent waterhole framed by towering red cliffs that blaze in the afternoon light. Swimming is permitted but the water is often icy, even in summer. Facilities include toilets, shaded picnic areas and gas BBQs near the car park. The site is accessible by 2WD year-round, though care is needed after rain.
A kilometer beyond the Glen Helen turnoff, a signed access road climbs to the Mt Sonder Lookout, where sweeping ridgelines and the snaking Davenport Creek sprawl below. The view is superb at sunset, and photographers often linger as the ranges turn gold to crimson. There’s space for parking larger vehicles and interpretive panels explaining the area’s geology and Indigenous significance.
