Mount Sonder Lookout

A 16km return summit climb to the fourth-highest peak in the Northern Territory, in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. Six to eight hours, hard grade, with most walkers leaving Redbank Gorge before sunrise to catch the sunrise from the summit. Section 12 of the Larapinta Trail — the final stretch for end-to-end walkers. Painted repeatedly by Albert Namatjira from the Hermannsburg perspective. Best walked April to September; closed when forecast temperatures exceed 36°C.

Reaching the summit means walking Larapinta Trail section 12 — 15km, around six hours, graded 4 and a genuinely hard climb. Walk it between April and September; dangerously hot weather still occurs inside that window. If you are starting before dawn for sunrise, carry a headtorch and spares. Go with at least two other people so an injured walker is never left alone, carry a satellite phone or personal locator beacon, and sign the trailhead logbook.