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Finke Gorge National Park

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Finke Gorge National Park covers an area of 46,000ha, including the impressive prehistoric-feeling Palm Valley. The park and nearby areas hold cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people and evidence of early European settlement of Central Australia.

The Finke River is one of the largest in central Australia, and has long been cited as the world's oldest river.

Palm Valley is home to a diverse range of plant species, many of which are rare and unique to the area, including the Red Cabbage Palm for which the park is well known. This species of palm is restricted to this area, having a population of approximately 3000 adult plants.

For the experienced four-wheel drivers, the popular four-wheel-drive route down the Finke River to Illamurta Springs and Watarrka National Park begins at the Finke Gorge. Bush walking on one of the marked walking trails is another popular activity. Kalaranga lookout is an easy 20 minute climb, with spectacular views of the rock amphitheatre encircled by rugged cliffs.

Finke Gorge National Park
© Tourism NT

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Further Information: How can it be the world's oldest river?? The Finke flows through deeply incised meanders, which only form on flat plains, so the river must have formed before the ranges were pushed up. This happened in a mountain building event referred to as Alice Springs Orogeny which peaked between 400 and 300 million years ago - therefore, some parts of the river's course must have been already in existence around this time. Parts of the river are much younger.
Getting There: * 138km west of Alice Springs * Turn south off Larapinta Drive just west of Hermannsburg * Access along the last 16km of track, part of which follows the sandy bed of the Finke River, is limited to high-clearance 4WD vehicles only * Heavy rains may make the Finke River section of the track impassable * Commercial tour operators regularly visit the park from Alice Springs

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Location

via Larapinta Dr
Hermannsburg NT

Getting There* 138km west of Alice Springs * Turn south off Larapinta Drive just west of Hermannsburg * Access along the last 16km of track, part of which follows the sandy bed of the Finke River, is limited to high-clearance 4WD vehicles only * Heavy rains may make the Finke River section of the track impassable * Commercial tour operators regularly visit the park from Alice Springs