Robert Posted on 10 September 2025

Camping within coo-ee (200km) of Alice Springs

Words Robert Crack Pics: Matt Williams and Robert Crack

In the first part of our focus on Alice Springs, we discovered why Alice is unlike any other town in Australia. In this second part, we explore some of the places and campgrounds within 200km of the town.

Red cabbage palms (Livistona mariae), Palm Valley, Finke Gorge National Park (Credit: Robert Crack)

Orange sand. Ancient rock. Campfires under a billion stars.

That’s the Red Centre in a nutshell. Remote camping here isn’t just about pitching a tent — it’s about stepping into timeless country, rich with story, culture and outback grit. Pack your camera, drop your tyre pressures and get ready to explore a bunch of camping locations that deserve a place on your bucket list.

Owen Springs Reserve

Once a 1570sq km cattle station, Owen Springs Reserve is now a reserve full of history, wildlife and brilliant bush camps.

The 50km self-drive route (north to south) is as close as you can get to explorer John McDouall Stuart’s route from the 1860s. It takes you past the Old Owen Springs Homestead ruins (the first station homestead built in the Red Centre) and stockmen’s quarters, through the Waterhouse Range and on to Lawrence Gorge. Camping is allowed only within the signposted gorge area or at Redbank Waterhole.

A high clearance 4WD vehicle is essential to access this camping spot, and you’ll also need an air compressor and tyre gauge. There are no facilities whatsoever, so you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient when it comes to food, fuel, water and firewood. All bookings must be made online before arriving and fees apply.

P: 08 8951 8250

W: nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/owen-springs-reserve

Old Owen Springs Homestead (Credit: Matt Williams)

Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve

Rising from the desert like a giant sentinel, Chambers Pillar is both geological wonder and cultural landmark. Explorer John McDouall Stuart named it in 1860 after James Chambers, one of the sponsors of his expedition. Many early explorers and settlers engraved their initials or names on the sandstone, including ‘A.G.’ (Alfred Giles) and ‘J Ross’ (John Ross, the leader of the Overland Telegraph Line exploration party).

Chambers Pillar (also known as Idracowra or Etikaura) is a sacred site to the local First Nations people and is believed to be Iterrkewarre, the knob-tailed gecko ancestor, turned to stone. Make sure you bring your camera along to capture the pillar at sunrise and sunset when the stone glows red and gold.

There are two campgrounds here: Pillar Campground and Bush Campground. Pillar Campground is unsuitable for caravans or camper trailers; if you’re towing then we recommend heading to Bush Campground. You will need to organise an NT Parks Pass (NT residents are exempt) and pay the required camping fees online. Facilities include pit toilets, fire pits and a picnic area.

It’s an off-grid camp, so you’ll need to bring your own food, water and firewood. Basic supplies can be purchased at Titjikala Community Store a little over 40km away. Note that trading hours are limited.

Be sure to take all your rubbish out with you when you leave. Pets, firewood collection, drones and generators are not permitted.

The road into the reserve can be rough and a high clearance 4WD is essential to traverse the jump ups and sand drifts, and if you’re towing you’ll want to be offroad-ready. Always check road conditions before you depart.

P: 08 8951 8250

W: nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/chambers-pillar-historical-reserve

Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve (Credit: Matt Williams)

Palm Valley (Finke Gorge National Park)

Palm Valley sits deep in Finke Gorge National Park, home to the rare red cabbage palms (Livistona mariae) found nowhere else in the world.

Getting there is half the fun — the track from the park entrance requires a high clearance 4WD, lowered tyres and patience with the deep Finke River sand. The track from the picnic area/campground to Palm Valley is not suitable for caravans or camper trailers.

An NT Parks Pass is a must (NT residents are exempt) and you must book and pay the required camping fees online before arriving. Facilities include flushing toilets, solar showers, LPG barbecues and communal fire pits. Pets, firewood collection and generators are not permitted. Drones require a permit, which must be obtained before arriving in the national park. Be sure to take all your rubbish out with you when you leave as bins are not provided. You will need to be fully self-sufficient here when it comes to food, water and firewood. There’s a campground host site open during the peak season (May–September).

From the campground you can tackle two excellent walks. The 2km Arankaia Walk hugs the valley floor among the palms before climbing to a sandstone plateau. For more adventure, the 5km Mpulungkinya Walk climbs higher for sweeping views across Palm Paddock.

Don’t miss nearby Kalarranga Lookout for sunset panoramas of weathered red hills. Or stretch your legs on the 5km Mpaara Walk, which brings Dreamtime stories alive as you follow the tale of Mpaara, the Tawny Frogmouth-man.

P: 08 8951 8250

W: nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/finke-gorge-national-park

Kalarranga Amphitheatre, Finke Gorge National Park. For perspective and scale, those figures in the far left of the photo are people. (Credit: Robert Crack)

Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

Around 4700 years ago, a meteorite travelling 40,000km/h shattered the earth here. The impact left 12 craters still visible today, sacred to the Arrernte people.

A short, corrugated track off Ernest Giles Road leads you to the campground and walking trail. Explore the craters, but remember — meteorite fragments are protected, so leave them where they lie.

Non-NT residents will need to have an NT Parks Pass to access the reserve and campground and all bookings must be made online (camping fees apply). Facilities include a pit toilet, wood barbecues and shaded picnic tables. Pets are permitted only in the carpark and must be on a leash and under control at all times.

You’ll need to be self-sufficient and bring your own food, water and firewood. Firewood collection and generators are not permitted. Drones are not allowed without a permit, which must be organised before arriving in the conservation reserve. Be sure to take all your rubbish out with you when you leave as bins are not provided.

A high clearance 4WD is required to access to the reserve.

P: 08 8951 8250

W: nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/henbury-meteorites-conservation-reserve

Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve (Credit: Matt Williams)

Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve

Approximately 97km south of Alice Springs, Rainbow Valley bursts into life as the sandstone cliffs glow ochre, orange and purple in the setting sun.

Boardwalks guide you across the salt pan to the best vantage points. Stay the night and you’ll have front-row seats to one of the Red Centre’s finest light shows.

For the Upper Southern Arrernte people the reserve is known as Wurre, a place of teaching and country. Please respect the land, stick to the tracks and leave no trace.

An NT Parks Pass (NT residents are exempt) is required, and camping must be booked and paid for online. Facilities include communal gas and wood barbecues, picnic tables and pit toilets. Pets, firewood collection, drones and generators are not permitted. Bring your own food, water and firewood.

The final 22km leg of the journey to the reserve is an unsealed access road, and 4WDs are recommended.

P: 08 8951 8250

W: nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/rainbow-valley-conservation-reserve