Larapinta Trail

The Larapinta Trail is a 223 km point-to-point trail in Australia's Northern Territory, gaining roughly 6,500 m of cumulative elevation over 12 to 16 days. Rated strenuous (Grade 3 to Grade 5), it traces the rugged quartzite spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs to the 1,380 m summit of Mount Sonder, threading desert gorges, ridgelines and spring-fed waterholes.

About the Larapinta Trail

The Larapinta Trail runs 223 km through Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, west of Alice Springs in Australia's arid centre. It is part of the National Walking Network (NWN) and ranks among the country's premier long-distance bushwalks. The route is divided into 12 sections, each finishing at a designated bush camp with a steel water tank and basic shelter, so walkers can tackle individual day sections or commit to the full end-to-end traverse.

The trail was conceived in the late 1980s and completed in 2002, built largely by Parks and Wildlife crews to link a chain of waterholes, gorges and ridge crests carved into rock more than 800 million years old. Most thru-hikers walk east to west, starting at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station and finishing with a dawn ascent of Mount Sonder (1,380 m), the fourth-highest peak in the Northern Territory. Walking westward keeps the rising sun at your back through the brightest hours.

Expect genuine remoteness. Sections cross 20 km or more of waterless terrain, mobile coverage is patchy outside trailheads, and daytime ground temperatures can swing 25°C between dawn and midday even in winter. This is a self-reliant desert walk where water planning and heat management matter as much as fitness. If you have only walked European long-distance routes such as the Theth to Valbona crossing in Albania, the Larapinta's lack of villages and resupply points is a real adjustment.

The landscape carries deep cultural significance for the Arrernte people, the traditional custodians of this Country, and many landmarks along the route hold sacred status. Walkers are asked to respect signed restricted areas, camp only at designated sites, and treat the waterholes — which sustain black-footed rock-wallabies, dingoes and more than 170 recorded bird species — with care. The route follows the Heavitree Range and parallel ridgelines for much of its length, so navigation is rarely complex, but the relentless rock underfoot punishes worn footwear and unconditioned ankles. Plan for an average moving pace of just 2.5 to 3 km per hour across the rougher ridge sections, slower than almost any green-lane European trail.

Route Overview & Stages

The 12 official sections vary from 7.4 km to 31.2 km. Distances and difficulty grades below follow Parks and Wildlife Northern Territory classifications, where Grade 3 is moderate and Grade 5 is the hardest. Cumulative ascent figures are approximate per-section estimates.

The final section is walked as an out-and-back, adding roughly 7 km of return distance to the 7.4 km ascent. Most parties summit Mount Sonder before dawn to catch first light over the ranges, then descend and arrange a pickup at the Redbank Gorge car park.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Mount Sonder (1,380 m) — the trail's literal high point and emotional finish, reached by a pre-dawn climb for a sunrise across the West MacDonnell ranges.
• Brinkley Bluff — a 360-degree ridge-top campsite in Section 4 that ranks among the most exposed and spectacular tent spots in central Australia.
• Counts Point — a Section 8 lookout where the quartzite ridgelines of the Heavitree Range march away to the horizon in parallel folds.
• Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye) — a vertical sandstone slot, privately managed by the Iwupataka Aboriginal Land Trust, that glows orange at midday.
• Ellery Creek Big Hole — a permanent, deep waterhole at the end of Section 6, a classic and bracing cold swim after the longest day.
• Ormiston Gorge & Pound — a near-permanent waterhole ringed by red cliffs, with a kiosk and the only mid-trail spot to buy a cold drink.
• Hugh Gorge — narrow chasms and stepping-stone waterholes in Section 5, framed by the demanding Razorback Ridge.
• Simpsons Gap (Rungutjirpa) — a wildlife-rich gap close to Alice Springs where black-footed rock-wallabies shelter at dusk.

Best Time to Hike the Larapinta Trail

The Larapinta Trail is a winter walk. The viable season runs from May to August, when daytime highs sit between 18°C and 25°C and overnight lows hover near 0°C to 5°C, occasionally dipping below freezing on exposed ridges like Brinkley Bluff. Outside this window the desert is dangerous: from October to March daytime temperatures routinely exceed 35°C and water sources shrink, so Parks and Wildlife actively discourages summer thru-hikes.

June is the single best month to hike the Larapinta Trail. It offers the most reliable cool, dry, stable weather, the longest stretch of clear skies and waterholes still topped up from any late-summer rain. July is marginally colder and a touch busier, while May and August carry slightly higher odds of a warm spell. As of 2026, the trail remains free to walk but requires registration at each campsite, and shoulder-season heat events are becoming more frequent, so checking current conditions before you commit is essential. Whichever month you choose, plan to be on the trail by 6 am and aim to finish the day's walking before the early-afternoon heat peaks.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The trail is camping-based. Each of the 12 sections ends at a trailhead campsite with a rainwater tank, composting toilet and basic shelter; these are free but must be booked through the Parks and Wildlife online registration system. You carry your own tent and sleeping system throughout. The only premium campsite is Standley Chasm, which is privately run and charges roughly €10–€18 per person per night for its powered and unpowered sites.

In Alice Springs, budget hostels start around €25–€35 per night and mid-range motels run €70–€110, useful for the night before you start and after you finish. A handful of commercial operators run fully catered, semi-permanent eco-camps for guided groups, but independent walkers should plan to be entirely self-sufficient with a quality four-season-capable tent and a sleeping bag rated to at least −5°C.

Getting There & Back

The gateway is Alice Springs Airport (ASP), about 15 km south of town and served by direct flights from Melbourne (roughly 2 hours 50 minutes), Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin. From the airport a shuttle or taxi into town takes about 20 minutes. The eastern trailhead at the Telegraph Station is a 5 km, 10-minute drive north of the town centre.

The western end at Redbank Gorge is around 160 km from Alice Springs, a 2-hour drive with no public transport, so most walkers pre-book a private transfer or shuttle (commonly €60–€120 one way) with a local operator to be collected after the Mount Sonder summit. Several companies also run food-drop and section-transfer services along Namatjira Drive, which lets you cache resupplies rather than carry 14 days of food at once.

Permits & Fees

No paid permit is needed to walk the Larapinta Trail, but every overnight walker must register their itinerary and each campsite online through Parks and Wildlife Northern Territory before setting out — this is free and supports search-and-rescue. A refundable key deposit of around €35 (AUD 60) applies if you use the secure food-storage rooms at trailheads for resupply caches. Fires are banned at all trail campsites; you must cook on a fuel or gas stove. Always carry and treat your own water, as tank levels are not guaranteed.

Gear & Packing List

The Larapinta demands a desert kit that handles both near-freezing nights and hot, sun-blasted days. Carry capacity for at least 5–6 litres of water, sun protection, and a stove are non-negotiable, while a warm sleeping bag and a wind-resistant tent earn their place on exposed ridge camps.

For a self-supported thru-hike with food drops, a 50–60 litre pack is ideal: the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L keeps weight low while carrying bulky water reserves, and the ventilated Osprey Atmos AG 50 suits walkers who prefer a supportive harness for long, hot days. If you are running shorter sections or using a fully catered camp, the lighter Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider is a durable Dyneema option. For more pack comparisons, see our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026. Because hot-weather walking burns through energy and salts fast, plan your daily food carefully — our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you size resupply drops without overpacking.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Larapinta's remote, multi-day character appeals, Australia offers other world-class long walks with similar logistics and self-reliance. The Tasmanian alpine country is a strong contrast to the central desert, swapping red quartzite for glacial tarns and rainforest while keeping the same hut-and-camp rhythm.

• Overland Track section 6 (Australia) — a temperate, hut-served alpine traverse in Tasmania's Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, ideal if you want a cooler, wetter alternative to the outback.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Larapinta Trail?
Hike between May and August, the cool dry season, when daytime highs sit around 18–25°C and water sources are most reliable. June is the single best month for stable clear weather and full waterholes. Avoid October to March, when daytime temperatures regularly top 35°C and the desert becomes genuinely dangerous for multi-day walking.

How difficult is the Larapinta Trail?
It is strenuous, rated Grade 3 to Grade 5 by Parks and Wildlife Northern Territory. The trail is rocky and exposed, with steep ridge climbs like Razorback Ridge and Brinkley Bluff, long waterless stretches, and big daily temperature swings. You need solid fitness, navigation confidence and careful water planning. It is best suited to experienced, self-reliant hikers.

How many kilometres per day will I walk?
The full 223 km trail is usually completed in 12 to 16 days, averaging 14 to 18 km per day. Daily distances vary widely by section, from the 9.9 km Section 10 to the grueling 31.2 km Section 6. Most hikers plan shorter days around the toughest ridge climbs and longer days on flatter, faster terrain.

Where do you sleep on the Larapinta Trail?
You camp in your own tent at designated trailhead campsites that mark the end of each of the 12 sections. Each has a rainwater tank, composting toilet and basic shelter, and is free but requires online booking. The privately run Standley Chasm site charges roughly €10–€18 per night. Carry a tent and a sleeping bag rated to at least −5°C.

Do I need a permit to hike the Larapinta Trail?
No paid permit is required, but every overnight walker must register their itinerary and campsites for free through Parks and Wildlife Northern Territory before starting, which supports search-and-rescue. A refundable deposit of around €35 applies if you use trailhead food-storage rooms. Open fires are banned, so you must cook on a gas or fuel stove throughout.

Authoritative planning resources: the official Larapinta Trail website and Tourism Northern Territory's Larapinta Trail page carry current section notes, registration links and seasonal closures.