Ormiston Gorge

A deep red-rock gorge in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, 135km west of Alice Springs along Larapinta Drive. The waterhole at the gorge entrance holds water year-round, fed from springs deeper in the system. Ghost gums on the orange escarpment walls, painted to canvas hundreds of times by Albert Namatjira. The Pound Walk loops 7.5km up onto the rim and back through the gorge floor — best done clockwise to descend rather than climb the steep section. Section 9 of the Larapinta Trail.

The waterhole sits 500m from the visitor centre and reaches about 14m deep at its southern end. Like most waterholes out here it is extremely cold, and long exposure can bring on hypothermia even in summer — watch for submerged logs and rocks, and don't jump or dive in. Access is by sealed road. The Pound Walk runs 13km one way to the base of Mt Giles and takes six to seven hours. There are showers, flush toilets and a kiosk at the campground.