 Finke Gorge is a feast for lovers of beautiful landscapes. Good rainfall creates stretches of mirror-like water and beaches of ochre sand, fringed by long-limbed gums, silver against the rich red backdrop of the gorge. Palm Valley lies here, and is home to elegant stands of red cabbage palms and a diverse range of plant species, many unique to the area.
This is the home of part of the revered Finke River, which some have claimed is the oldest river in the world. It probably gets this title because of the land it runs through - some of the areas around it are dated at 350 million years old. The 46,000 hectare national park is around two hours' drive west from Alice Springs.
The local Aboriginal people call the Finke River 'Larapinta', meaning serpent, and you can see why. It emerges in the MacDonnell Ranges and flows for 1,000 kilometres, dispersing as so many Northern Territory rivers do, into Lake Eyre.
It is a culturally rich land, cherished by the western Arrernte Aboriginal people. It also holds signs of early European settlement.
The Finke Gorge lies around 138 kilometres, or two hours' drive west of Alice Springs. If you love a challenging adventure in a four-wheel drive vehicle, this is a journey for you. Experienced four-wheel drivers will like the track to Boggy Hole which goes through to the Ernest Giles Road and Watarrka. Or if you'd prefer, commercial tours leaving from Alice Springs regularly visit the park.
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