Things to do in Hugh

The West MacDonnell Ranges are home to an incredible array of desert plants and animals. This group of ranges in the Northern Territory is affectionately known as the West Macs and its isolated beauty is captured in the artworks of its most famous past resident, indigenous painter Albert Namatjira. Hike the ranges on the Larapinta Trail. Cool off in waterholes in deep gorges or take the scenic bike trail from Alice Springs to Simpson’s Gap.

See the best spots in the West MacDonnell Ranges on the Larapinta Trail. Immerse yourself in the rugged habitat of black-footed rock-wallabies and the enormous wedge-tailed eagle along the 223-kilometre (140-mile) hike. Each night you’ll be camping beneath stars that seem amplified by the desert dark. Wake up to the spectacular colours of the ranges in the morning light.

In the Alice Springs Desert Park, just outside Alice Springs, you’ll discover the birds, reptiles and mammals of Central Australia. Learn about the living culture and history of the Arrernte indigenous people who have interacted with these animals, plants and landscapes for thousands of years.

Float on your back in the Ormiston Gorge waterhole to take in the beauty of the red cliffs and the timelessness of this wild place. Bring your camera to capture the reflection of the cliffs and trees in the tranquil water. The gorge is an important habitat for native wildlife, including reptiles, dingoes, rock-wallabies, wedge-tailed eagles and populations of two marsupials thought to have disappeared from Central Australia.

Walk through this towering red-sandstone gorge carved out by floods to discover a rich array of native flowering plants, ancient cycads and diverse bird species.

A 50-metre (164-foot) high pillar of sandstone juts out of the salt bush-covered desert plains of Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve. The Chambers Pillar is at its best at sunrise and sunset when it glows red with the colours of the sinking sun. Don’t forget to bring a camera.