Location of Glen Helen
From
Hermannsburg, 30.45kms N (165kms, 2hrs 9mins driving)
From
Papunya, 94.13kms SE (115kms, 2hrs 26mins driving)
From
Alice Springs, 123.17kms W (133kms, 1hr 53mins driving)
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Description of Glen Helen
Glen Helen (including
Ormiston Gorge and Pound National Park)
One of the most beautiful gorges in
Central Australia.
Glen Helen is located 133 km west of
Alice Springs at the end of the sealed section of road known as Namatjira Drive. No one knows who named the region but it was one of the first pastoral leases in
Central Australia. The first owner, Alan Braeden, overlanded stock over 2000 km and built a house, Munga Munga, on the bank of
Ormiston Creek. It is now nothing more than a pile of rubble.
Today the term Glen Helen is applied to the lodge, the gorge near the lodge and the surrounding 368 hectare Nature Park controlled by the Conservation Commission of the
Northern Territory. Glen Helen Lodge offers
accommodation, water, fuel,
camping and picnic facilities as well as a licensed bar and restaraunt. It is a beautiful place set against the background of a stunning gorge and large waterhole in the Finke River. The lodge itself is an old carefully restored homestead after fire had destroyed the original buildings. The setting is inspiring, rooms are comfortable and affordable, the hospitality is courteous and warm and the meals are delicious.
Camping fees do apply. You can also pick up the required pass to travel on the
Mereenie Loop Road to Wattarka (
Kings Canyon). If you are considering staying here, you can make this Glen Helen the base to explore one of the most spell-binding regions in the Territory.
The
Glen Helen Gorge is formed from quartzite.
Sandstone was deposited in the area some 500 million years ago when it was a huge inland sea. It was subsequently tilted and uplifted. As this uplift was occurring the Finke River slowly eroded its way through the mountain range.
Glen Helen is known to local Aborigines as Yapalpe and the Finke River is Larapinta which means 'serpent'. It was a favourite meeting place for the Aboriginal people from the West and Central
MacDonnell Ranges.
The rocky slopes around the gorge are home to a colony of black-footed rock wallabies which sometimes appear in the late afternoon and early evening to feed on grass, herbs, leaves and fruits.
Things to see:
Glen Helen Nature Park
The Glen Helen Nature Park is located on the headwaters of the Finke River and offers visitors spectacular views of the gorge which has been cut by the river. Of particular note is the large waterhole near the Glen Helen Lodge which can have a depth of over 30 metres. It is important to the Aboriginal mythology of the area as it was from this waterhole that some of the creatures of the Dreamtime emerged.
Ormiston Gorge and Pound National Park
The park has a number of signposted walks ranging from a short, 100 metre blindfold sensory walk (a unique way of experiencing the desert) near the Information Centre to a three day walk to Mount Giles. Perhaps the most popular, and most practical, walk is the 1-2 hour Ghost Gum Walk (so named because of the single Ghost Gum which stands like a sentinel above the gorge) which traverses the gorge and passes the near-permanent waterhole at the southern end of
Ormiston Gorge.
Accommodation at the 4655 hectare
Ormiston Gorge and Pound National Park is restricted to a small
camping area. For those wanting something a little more sophisticated it is necessary to travel on to the Glen Helen Lodge.
Cloudy's Restaurant., Glen Helen Homestead Lodge
Namatjira Dve
Glen Helen NT 0870
Telephone: (08) 8956 7489
Images of Glen Helen
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Weather & Climate for Glen Helen
Closest Weather Station
Papunya at 15:00 08 Nov CST
Distance from Glen Helen 93.96km NW
| Temperature | Feels Like | Rel. Humidity | Dew Point | Pressure | Rainfall | Wind Direction | Wind Speed | Gusts |
|---|
| 38.5°C |
39.4°C |
29% |
17.5°C |
-hPa |
0.0mm |
SE |
9km/h
5knots |
-km/h
-knots |
Closest Climatic Station
Alice Springs Airport
Distance from Glen Helen 124.26km E
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Mean Max. °C |
36.3 | 35.1 | 32.7 | 28.2 |
23.0 | 19.9 | 19.6 | 22.6 |
27.1 | 30.9 | 33.7 | 35.4 |
| Mean Min. °C |
21.4 | 20.8 | 17.5 | 12.6 |
8.3 | 5.1 | 4.0 | 6.0 |
10.2 | 14.8 | 17.9 | 20.2 |
| Mean Rain mm |
38.0 | 42.3 | 31.9 | 16.8 |
19.4 | 14.4 | 14.7 | 9.5 |
8.3 | 21.9 | 26.7 | 37.5 |
What Others Say about Glen Helen
Treks passing Glen Helen
West MacDonnell Ranges
The West MacDonnell Ranges in the heart of Australia's red centre stretch for 400km from east-west as a series of parallel ranges. Within the ranges are magnificent gaps and gorges, dramatic scenery, great bush camping and walks.
[Feature Story]
Recommended Reading for Glen Helen
Natmap Digital Maps 2008
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SF5313 Hermannsburg
This 1:250K topographic paper map covers an area about 150km from east to west and 110km from north to south (1.5 degrees longitude by 1 degree latitude). The map contains natural and constructed features including road and rail infrastructure, vegetation, hydrography, contours (interval 50m), localities and some administrative boundaries.
Australia Aus Tour DVD
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Red Centre - Alice Springs to Uluru
This map outlines all sealed and unsealed roads, four-wheel drive tracks and roads requiring permit access. Camping sites, accommodation, fuel supplies, emergency services and local attractions are all marked and National Park and Aboriginal land boundaries are clearly outlined.
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This map pack includes the six Great Desert Tracks Maps, together with the Simpson Desert map, all packaged in a hard-cover folder with clear pockets.
This map pack is designed to offer an additional benefit to the constant map user by providing better value than buying the maps individually.
Great Desert Tracks of Australia NC
This map is just one of the set of 6 maps comprising the Great Desert Tracks Map Pack. This particular map covers the Tanami Track, Red Centre, Gary Junction Road and Sandy Blight Junction Track and includes Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Warbuton, Halls Creek, Finke.
Outback Central and South Australia
This map features a detailed road map on one side whilst on the other side information on the history of the areas covered, places of interest, travel information and illustrations.
Important Notes
 | Whilst indicating location of water supplies, ExplorOz makes no recommendation with regard to the quality of water for drinking purposes. We strongly recommend that when travelling you take ample supplies of water from reliable drinking water sources. |
