Ormiston Gorge is one of our favourite places in the West Macs and it just seems to tick all the boxes. It’s one of the furthest stops in the park, around 1 hour 30 minutes from Alice Springs, but it’s definitely worth it. The gorge has a small swimming hole that’s only a 500m walk from the carpark. Our favourite part about this spot is that it almost feels like a little secluded beach. The sandy riverbed winding through the towering red cliffs makes it one of the most unique places for a swim in the middle of the outback.

If you don’t feel like swimming, you can do the short hike to the top of Ormiston Gorge Lookout for some epic views. The lookout is on the Ghost Gum Walk Loop, where you can continue further or just check out the lookout and head back. The loop will take around 1 hour, otherwise it’s just 15 minutes to the lookout.

There’s also a cheap campground at Ormiston Gorge, which is a great spot to spend the night in the West Macs. Park entry fees apply, so make sure you buy a Northern Territory Parks Pass before you go. A day pass is $10 per person, or you can grab a two-week pass for $30. The same pass gives you access to most Northern Territory parks.