Ormiston Pound Day Circuit
A flower-filled valley, rocky gorge, sandy river, hidden pool, vast plain and lookout views: this spectacular day hike truly is a mini-Larapinta
A beautiful rock pool is just one of many stunning features you’ll experience on this day hike.
The Ormiston Pound hike is a splendid 8.5km Grade 3 circuit that is described as taking 3-4 hours, but which will take slower hikers 4-5 hours, longer if you decide to swim in the rockpool or linger on its sandy banks.
It is a truly exceptional hike and, after completing the Larapinta Trail, we can confirm that it is indeed a mini-version, ideal for people who would like a taste of what the trail offers. One local we met described it as his favourite day hike in the West McDonnells, better than the Sonder climb because of the extraordinary variety packed into such a short distance.
Only a tiny proportion of people who visit Ormiston Gorge hike the Pound Circuit — we saw just two other couples and were there in peak season with convoys of buses arriving daily at the kiosk — so you can expect a delightfully secluded walk, unless you meet one of the tour groups (some include this in their Larapinta Highlights package). If you are in the region of Alice Springs and visiting other sights — Redbank Gorge, Simpson’s Gap, Standley Chasm, Mt Sonder — set aside time for this outstanding hike.
A classic circuit route that you are requested to hike anticlockwise.
The walk leaves from the Visitor Centre eastwards along the Larapinta Trail (Section 9), but you branch north after 500m onto the Pound circuit. After climbing from the valley you pass through a wide gully that’s a carpet of golden wattle after rain, before reaching a saddle and a lookout with expansive views over the entire Pound, comprising an amphitheatre encircled by the Chewings and Heavitree Ranges.
You descend into the Pound, passing a deep rock pool — a perfect place for second breakfast with countless birds singing in the surrounding trees — and then cross the plain of the pound with its rich array of wildflowers quite different to those in the hills you traversed earlier. Finally you enter Ormiston Gorge, becoming ever more rocky and narrow with alabaster ghost gums on red rock walls. A short swim or wade and an easy scramble bring you to the permanent waterhole busy with tourists on the southern bank. Alternatively, you can climb out of the gorge and return via Ghost gum walk, a smaller circuit that provides elevated views down into the gorge and across the complex.
If you are a Larapinta hiker, schedule the Pound Circuit into your itinerary. Fast west to east Larapinta hikers will be able to complete it in the afternoon they arrive in Ormiston Gorge from Finke River, but we strongly recommend that slower hikers spend two nights at Ormiston, and hike the circuit on their “rest” day. Order your pies or sausage rolls before you leave on your hike because they will have sold out by the time you return!
When to Hike
May-August are best, with June-July peak season.
How to Get There and Accommodation
Fly or drive to Alice Springs from any capital city.
Larapinta hikers will simply divert from the trail on their rest day, but day hikers and travellers staying in Alice Springs can reach Ormiston Gorge via one of several tour companies, a hire car or via the sealed road in their own car. There are car camping facilities in Ormiston Gorge should you wish to stay overnight.
Bookings and Park Passes
You’ll need a parks Pass and, if you are staying in Ormiston Gorge overnight, a camp booking is required.
Safety and Tips
There is no phone reception on the track. Carry plenty of water, a first aid kit and wear protective clothing (eg hat), sensible footwear and sunscreen. Avoid hiking in very hot weather as there is little shade on the trail until you reach the gorge. Consider hiring a PLB before your central Australian trip if you plan on doing less populated hikes. The trail is well signposted but always carry an offline digital and/or electronic map (Avenza, Alltrails etc).
The trail is very rocky in parts — notably the gorge — but is well marked other than in the gorge where it becomes a route, and you simply follow the creek bed, zig-zig-zagging across and between rock pools until you reach the main waterhole and exit via its eastern side.
Walk with Us:
Scroll through for plenty of images to give you a good idea of what the track and terrain are like, and whether they suit your ability.
You initially follow the Larapinta Trail east from the car park. The Larapinta and Pound Walks are marked with blue and orange triangles respectively.
Typically rocky trail
Bush tomato (Solanum sp). There are a number of species within a group of very similar ones.
You initially follow Ormiston Creek…
… before you cross and leave the valley.
It’s a steep climb initially, but with steps to ease your way.
Brilliant Wickam’s Grevillea (G. wickhamii) makes splashes of red on rocky hillsides.
Spinifex and Curry Wattle (Acacia spondylophylla) carpet the hillsides here.
The trail is well graded and contours across the slopes: rocky, but not steep.
Beautiful central Australian landscape, with the red rock contrasting with the greens and greys of the vegetation.
Up a wide gully through a sea of curry wattle to a saddle.
From the saddle you take a short spur trail to the lookout for expansive views of Ormiston Pound:
Ormiston Pound with the Chewings Range and Ormiston Creek snaking its way across the plain. The Gorge is far left.
Down through more curry wattle and spinifex towards the pound…
… you can just make out the trail skirting the base of the hill through the gap.
A beautiful female Australian Golden Orbweaver (Trichonephila edulis), with her small male partner hiding nervously but hopefully nearby.
Emerging from the Range, the rock glowing red in the midday sun.
Onto the Plain with completely different plants to those you’ve seen in the hilly country.
Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) is perfectly camouflaged and disappears into the rock the moment it stops moving.
A gall on a bloodwood. Inside is an edible insect, prized by the Traditional Owners as a nutritious source of protein and fat.
Those who keep their eyes peeled will spot this beautiful pool a little off the track as you cross the creek, with many birds flitting amongst the rocks and chattering in the trees nearby.
A little later you cross the creek for a second time. Without recent rain, we were able to rock hop and keep our feet dry.
This Native Scurf Pea (Cullen australasicum) looks for all the world like a salvia or plant in the mint family. It is likely convergent evolution to trick insects that would normally feed on the nectar secreted by that family (peas leave their visitors hungry, but still need to attract them!).
Approaching Ormiston Gorge: it is spectacularly enticing terrain.
The trail has been very well marked up until now: you are unlikely to lose your way.
Cassia Butterfly Bush (Petalostylis cassioides)
When you reach the gorge, the trail becomes undefined because high flows jumble the rocks and erase any trail. Not to worry, there is only one way forward, and you won’t be able to leave the gorge except at the other end via Ghost Gum Walk, or beside the permanent waterhole.
You have plenty of rocks to traverse both at the northern end of the gorge…
… as well as further in.
It is spectacular even though we are here after midday, when the sun directly overhead sets the entire gorge alight with red and orange.
You’ll also cross sandy patches beside pools at the base of the cliffs. I’ve included several similar images mainly so that you can see the kind of terrain you’ll traverse.
The pools and boulders grow larger as you go deeper.
You will need to wade or swim through this permanent pool, depending on recent rains.
Crossing the pool.
Drying feet after the water crossing, river crossing sandals foreground. You’ll still need your boots as there is a little scrambling yet.
And finally you emerge from the gorge near that sandy spit centre back (unless you’ve taken the Ghost Gum route) to arrive back at the Waterhole, serene on the surface but an extraordinary 14m deep.
