Finke Gorge National Park Park

Address: Finke Gorge National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Website: https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit/finke-gorge-national-park

Admission: Park entry fee may apply; check Northern Territory Parks for current fees

A protected national park in the Northern Territory of Australia containing distinctive sandstone gorges and the inland palm oasis known as Palm Valley. It preserves significant geological features and rare plant communities.

The area has long cultural significance for local Aboriginal peoples and contains rock art and other cultural sites. European recognition of the valley’s botanical uniqueness led to its protection as a national park to conserve both natural and cultural values.

Located in central Australia within the Northern Territory, the park sits to the west of Alice Springs and is accessed from the Stuart Highway via unsealed roads; the nearest service centres are Alice Springs and the community of Hermannsburg.

• Access: Access to the park’s interior requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and unsealed tracks; some walks are only suitable for experienced drivers or guided tours.
• Distance and cultural significance: The park lies roughly 140 kilometres west of Alice Springs and contains important Aboriginal cultural sites associated with the local Arrernte people.

What to See#

• Palm Valley: A sheltered palm-filled gorge known as Palm Valley supports a relict population of the red cabbage palm, a species not found elsewhere in central Australia.
• Finke River gorge: The channels and gravel beds of the Finke River cut through sandstone country and expose ancient river terraces and rock formations.

Finke Gorge National Park is west of Alice Springs. Access requires a 4WD from Hermannsburg (Ntaria) via the Larapinta or via the Finke River track; parts of the park and Palm Valley are only accessible on designated 4WD roads. Check Northern Territory Parks for road conditions and permit requirements.

• Hire a 4WD tour from Alice Springs or Hermannsburg - roads inside the reserve are rough and require a high-clearance vehicle.
• Visit Palm Valley at sunrise for dramatic light on the red rocks and to avoid heat later in the day.
• Respect local Anangu and Western Arrernte cultural protocols; book guided tours led by Traditional Owners when possible.