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Chambers Pillar
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Chambers Pillar

Difficulty: Trek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD AWD Camper Bike 
Chambers Pillar is a natural sandstone formation used by our famous early explorers as a navigational point. You can still read their signatures and inscriptions carved into the rock. It is also a beautiful photographic subject in a remote 4WD area.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesAlice Springs
Trek
FinishChambers Pillar
Distance160.93 kmMinimum Days1
Average Speed62.13 km/hrDriving Time2 hr 35 min
Article By: ExplorOz - Michelle Martin   Updated: 22 Nov 2007
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 Description

This trek starts at Alice Springs and travels south on the Old South Road taking in some ruins along the way to the small town of Maryvale. It then heads south east to Chambers Pillar which is an amazing rock formation in the Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve. This part of the trek is extremely scenic and is a good introduction to the type of scenery you would see in the Simpson Desert although the route runs between dunes and is relatively easy.

The track to Chambers Pillar is officially not recommended for trailers but other than a bit of sand, a rocky low range 2nd steep descent and patches of corrugations, it is straightforward and many people do bring them. There are red dunes on either side of the track, bits and pieces of historic ruins, and not a car in sight. The track is mostly sand and has good drainage when wet.

You can climb up to the base of the vertical section of Chambers pillar to view the inscribed names of the famous explorers who passed here before the Telegraph and Ghan was built and there's a nice walk around the base of Castle Rock. Late afternoon is the best time to view the rainbow colours of the ridge that glow vibrantly when struck by the golden rays of the setting sun.

 Interactive Route Map

Alice SpringsEwaninga RuinOoraminna RuinOld South Rd & Phillipson Stock RouteOld South Rd & Hugh River Stock RouteBokhara RuinMount MadiganMaryvaleHugh River, Chambers Pillar RdChambers Pillar Historical ReserveCastle RockChambers Pillar
Alice Springs
The name of this city comes from it's humble beginnings when a small settlement was built along a waterhole called Alice Springs in 1872. Today, Alice Springs is the largest town in Central Australia with a population of around 24,000.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 133.8836ºE   23.6975ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Ewaninga Ruin
Distance: 32.08km
Average Speed: 71.5km/h
Ewaninga Ruin
Ewaninga Rail Siding. The Fettlers Cottage was constructed in 1929 & housed the fettlers who maintained the narrow gauge section of the Old Ghan Rail line. The last Ghan train passed through here at approx 9.40pm on 26th November, 1980 on its way to Adelaide.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 133.9326ºE   23.9780ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Ooraminna Ruin
Distance: 34.17km
Average Speed: 73.2km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 134.0335ºE   24.2601ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Old South Rd & Phillipson Stock Route
Distance: 6.66km
Average Speed: 84.45km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 134.0571ºE   24.3158ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Old South Rd & Hugh River Stock Route
Distance: 11.2km
Average Speed: 74.55km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 134.0223ºE   24.3977ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Bokhara Ruin
Distance: 10.3km
Average Speed: 79.58km/h
Bokhara Ruin
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 134.0431ºE   24.4854ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mount Madigan
Distance: 12.75km
Average Speed: 78.57km/h
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 134.0811ºE   24.5901ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Maryvale
Distance: 9.78km
Average Speed: 65.86km/h
Maryvale
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceCamp Free Fuel Food,Shopping
Position: 134.0721ºE   24.6741ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Hugh River, Chambers Pillar Rd
Distance: 4.73km
Average Speed: 51.2km/h
Features: River Crossing
Position: 134.0361ºE   24.6853ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve
Distance: 37.16km
Average Speed: 43.97km/h
Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve
Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve lies 160km south of Alice Springs, along the Old South Road on a turnoff to the west of Maryvale Station. The road is unsealed and may be closed after rain.
Features: National Parks,Reserves
Position: 133.8197ºE   24.8656ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Castle Rock
Distance: 1.21km
Average Speed: 39.95km/h
Castle Rock
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 133.8312ºE   24.8710ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Chambers Pillar
Distance: 0.88km
Average Speed: 20.58km/h
Chambers Pillar
The best photos of Chambers Pillar are taken at either sunset or sunrise. Experiment with angles and remember that photos with the pink and blue sky are taken by facing east rather than west into the setting sun.
Features: Camp Free
Position: 133.8251ºE   24.8761ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

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 Permits

Chambers Pillar lies in an Historical Reserve and you do not need permission to enter it. Also, you do not need an Aboriginal Land Permit because you won't be passing through any restricted land.

 Things to See & Do
Castle Rock   
Point of Interest 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve   
National Parks,Reserves 
Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve lies 160km south of Alice Springs, along the Old South Road on a turnoff to the west of Maryvale Station. The road is unsealed and may be closed after rain. After the Maryvale turnoff, a 4WD is required to negotiate the deep sand drifts and steep jump ups.
Ewaninga Ruin   
Point of Interest 
Ewaninga Rail Siding. The Fettlers Cottage was constructed in 1929 & housed the fettlers who maintained the narrow gauge section of the Old Ghan Rail line. The last Ghan train passed through here at approx 9.40pm on 26th November, 1980 on its way to Adelaide. Vandals badly damaged the cottage when it was set on fire in 1985.
Ooraminna Ruin   
Point of Interest 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Bokhara Ruin   
Point of Interest 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Mount Madigan   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolAlice Springs, Maryvale Diesel4cyl 21 litres * ULP4cyl 26 litres LPG4cyl 32 litres
6cyl 25 litres6cyl 32 litres *6cyl 28 litres
8cyl 26 litres8cyl 27 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Closest Climatic Station

Alice Springs Airport
Distance from Trek Mid Point 55.46km N
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 36.335.132.728.2 23.019.919.622.6 27.130.933.735.4
Mean Min. °C 21.420.817.512.6 8.35.14.06.0 10.214.817.920.2
Mean Rain mm 38.042.331.916.8 19.414.414.79.5 8.321.926.737.5
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Alice Springs, Maryvale

 Camp Sites & Accomodation
Chambers Pillar   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Camp Free 
The best photos of Chambers Pillar are taken at either sunset or sunrise. Experiment with angles and remember that photos with the pink and blue sky are taken by facing east rather than west into the setting sun. The camp sites are excellent - great views of both Castle Rock and Chambers Pillar, free gas BBQs, hotplates, fire pits and large picnic tables.
Alice Springs   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
The name of this city comes from it's humble beginnings when a small settlement was built along a waterhole called Alice Springs in 1872. Today, Alice Springs is the largest town in Central Australia with a population of around 24,000. Although it is indeed a city, it is more accurately described as an outback town with a country lifestyle for locals and visitors.
Maryvale   
Populated Place Camp Free Fuel Food,Shopping
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
The camp sites are excellent - great views of both Castle Rock and Chambers Pillar, free gas BBQs, hotplates, fire pits and large picnic tables. The camp sites are not ideal for campertrailers or caravans with bollards making sites better suited to tent campers. Although you can camp in the shade your vehicle certainly won't be. This is a consideration in hotter weather as there is no power to keep fridges or batteries charged.

 Driving Directions
Time
Direction
Distance
Alice Springs to Ewaninga Ruin 32.08 km S 171° 26 min
Ewaninga Ruin to Ooraminna Ruin 34.17 km S 162° 28 min
Ooraminna Ruin to Old South Rd & Phillipson Stock Route 6.66 km S 159° 4 min
Old South Rd & Phillipson Stock Route to Old South Rd & Hugh River Stock Route 11.2 km S 201° 9 min
Old South Rd & Hugh River Stock Route to Bokhara Ruin 10.3 km S 168° 7 min
Bokhara Ruin to Mount Madigan 12.75 km S 162° 9 min
Mount Madigan to Maryvale 9.78 km S 186° 8 min
Maryvale to Hugh River, Chambers Pillar Rd 4.73 km W 251° 5 min
Hugh River, Chambers Pillar Rd to Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve 37.16 km SW 227° 50 min
Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve to Castle Rock 1.21 km SE 117° 1 min
Castle Rock to Chambers Pillar 0.88 km SW 227° 2 min
Alice Springs to Chambers Pillar 160.93 km     2 hr 35 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

 Trek Feedback
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What Others have Posted

rredbeak : 13 Aug 08 13:10
hi again,travelling south from alice on the highway [main highway] i...
rredbeak : 12 Aug 08 22:47
out for an afternoon drive this afternoon saw us visit maryvale,afte...
Steve from Top End Explorer Tours : 24 Jan 08 14:52
Many people have asked the question about Chambers Pillar to Rainbow...
Jenko : 16 Jan 08 06:40
Dirt road from Maryvale to Chambers Pillar good condition. Small sa...
Member - Kiwi Kia : 15 Nov 07 14:33
The camp area at Chambers Pillar is rather small. Only room for abou...

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