A LAND LOST IN TIME
The Northern Territory’s Red Centre is the epitome of ‘outback’ in all the ways that term conjures up – vast desert country, sprawling and ancient mountain ranges, secluded waterholes, rich Indigenous culture. What some visitors may not know is that it’s also home to what’s believed to be one of the world’s oldest waterways – the Finke River. This claim to fame suggests an incredibly remote, hard-to-reach historic location, which is true – but only to a point.
It flows through Finke Gorge National Park, just 140km west of the Red Centre capital, Alice Springs. But the road trip to reach it is for experienced four-wheel-drive tourers and a 4WD is essential. If you don’t have one, you can join a guided tour out of Alice Springs. Finke Gorge NP is the focal point of a perfect two-day, off-road escape, looping out from and back to Alice Springs, with the Finke River 4WD Route a highlight. (Travelling this route with another vehicle, for additional safety, is highly recommended.)
The 46,000ha national park holds myriad places that perfectly portray the outback. Follow the sandy paths of Ellery Creek and the Finke River,
