Owen Springs Reserve, formally Owen Springs Cattle Station, opened in 2003 and is fast becoming a favourite location for four-wheel drive visitors seeking quiet bush camping without facilities. The main access track through the reserve closely follows the route of John McDouall Stuart through the MacDonnell Ranges.

The Old Owen Springs Homestead (now ruins), was the first station homestead built in Central Australia. The Hugh River, which runs through almost the entire course of the reserve has considerable scenic and recreational appeal. There are numerous, attractive stretches of river with broad sandy banks lined with shady River Red Gums. Suggest you see Ossies Outback 4WD Tours

How to Get There

A four-wheel drive is essential to access the Owen Springs Reserve.

The Owen Springs Self Drive takes you along a 50km stretch of road, steeped in pioneering history. You can either start from Larapinta Drive and head south, or begin from the Stuart Highway, and make your way north through the Reserve. Each point of interest is clearly marked on the map, and the drive takes about 1½ hours one-way to complete.

The Reserve is located a short drive southwest of Alice Springs and can be accessed via a number of routes:

• via Larapinta and Namatjira Drives northward along the Hugh River to the Alice Valley;
• southward along the Hugh River from Larapinta Drive, 50 kilometres from Alice Springs;
• and via the Stuart Highway, 66 kilometres south of Alice Springs. A four wheel drive is essential.

A 4WD is essential. Some sections of the track follow the sandy bed of the river and may be impassable after rain.

Drivers should engage 4WD to minimise the risk of becoming bogged. These sandy river beds may be impassable after rain. Vehicles are required to keep to the main track except to access campsites in designated areas along the river.

Recreational Activities

For almost its entire course through the Reserve, the Hugh River has considerable scenic and recreational appeal. There are numerous, attractive stretches of river with broad sandy banks lined with shady River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis.) In several places large waterholes remain long after rain and present outstanding opportunities for camping, picnicking, birdwatching and swimming. The appeal of the Hugh River is enhanced by the scenery of the adjoining rocky gorges and red sand country.

North of Larapinta Drive, you can camp along the Hugh River as far as Reedy Waterhole and at Birthday Waterhole. Improved orientation signs have been installed in this area.

South of Larapinta Drive access is along one track between Larapinta Drive and the south Stuart Highway. Stop and walk around the historic Old Owen Springs Homestead. Camping is allowed between the signposts within Lawrence Gorge and near Redbank Waterhole.

Within Lawrence Gorge are a number of sacred sites that are important to Aboriginal custodians. They ask that visitors remain in the creekbed and not climb the hills or disturb rocks in the area.

To See

Wildlife Watch

• Red-tailed Black Cockatoos flying overhead
• Reptiles like the Centralnetted Dragon sitting on an old wooden post
• Euros on the rocky slopes of Lawrence Gorge
• Budgies flying at high speed in the open grasslands
• A Perentie sunning itself on the warm track
• Major Mitchell Cockatoos perched up high on an Acacia Bush
• If you’re really lucky you might even see a well camouflaged Australian Bustard

Photographs Courtesy Of: NTTC - Northern Territory Tourism Commission.
Maps Courtesy Of: NTTC - Northern Territory Tourism Commission.
Photographs Courtesy Of: PJ B & M Hutchinson Private Collections
Information courtesy of Parks and Wildlife Service NT for the promotion of tourism for the Larapinta Trail.

Photographs Courtesy of NTTC - Northern Territory Tourism Commission
Information courtesy of Parks Northern Territory

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East MacDonnell National Park and West MacDonnell National Park
in the MacDonnell Ranges in Northern Territory, Central Australia
A tourist selfdrive tourist guide and travel information

East MacDonnell National Park and West MacDonnell National Park in Central Australia
• West MacDonnell Map • West MacDonnell National Park • East MacDonnell National-Park
• East MacDonnell Map

West MacDonnell National Park and surrounding areas
• Larapinta Trail • Glen Helen Gorge • Glen Helen Lodge accommodation • Ellery Creek Big Hole • Ochre Pits • Ormiston Gorge • Redbank Gorge Waterhole • Roma Gorge • Serpentine Chalet • Serpentine Gorge • Simpsons Gap • Standley Chasm • Honeymoon Gap • Palm Valley

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East MacDonnell National Park and surrounding areas
• Arltunga Historical Reserve and hotel or camping • Trephina Gorge • Emily Jessie Gap • Corroboree Rock • Ross River Resort • Ruby Gap • N'Dhala Gorge Nature Reserve • Gemtree • Chambers Pillar • Rainbow Valley

Other Highways, Scenic Routes, Ways, offroad 4wd Tracks and Roads in Central Australia
• The Mereenie Loop • Red Centre Way • Explorers Way • Stuart Highway • Ernest Giles Road • Namatjira Drive • Larapinta Drive • Luritja Road • Lasseter Highway • Binns Track

Top End - Natures Way in Northern Territory Australia
• Darwin • Tropical Darwin • Map of Northern Territory • Katherine Gorge • Tennant Creek • Devils Marbles • Kakadu National Park • Natures Way Top End • Katherine Gorge • Litchfield National Park

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Kings Canyon
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Remote access sites
• Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve • Gosse Bluff Tnorala Tylers Pass • Haasts Bluff - lkuntji

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