Description of the attraction
Finke Gorge National Park is located 138 km west of Alice Springs. The name of the park was given by the first European who visited these places - Stuart McDougall, who was so grateful to his sponsor William Finke that he decided to name the discovered river and the surrounding areas after the patron.
The main attraction of the park, created in the 1920s and covering an area of 456 square kilometers, is the impressive desert oasis of Palm Valley - home to a huge variety of plant species, including such rare ones as the Red Cabbage palm, which grows in abundance only here. This palm oasis is the remains of an ancient rain forest that grew here 60 million years ago. Also, the Finke River basin is one of the oldest in the world - it was formed over 350 million years ago. The park and the surrounding area are of great cultural importance to the Western Arrernte Aborigines.
From the Finke Gorge itself, the road begins along the river of the same name to the Illamurta Springs and the Vatarrka National Park. Several tourist routes have been laid through the park. Particularly popular is the 20-minute climb to the Kalaranga observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of the rocky amphitheater surrounded by steep cliffs. Walking along the Mpaara trail, you can get acquainted with the myths of the local aborigines. And in the Palm Valley, the Arancaya trail and the longer Mpulungkinya meander among lush, graceful palm trees, overlooking a picturesque plateau.
Not far from the park is the town of Hermannsburg, an old mission founded by the Lutherans. Many Aboriginal people were baptized here, including the renowned artist Albert Namatira. Several historical buildings have survived since ancient times - a school, a church, a canteen. There is a museum in the church today. South of Hermannsburg, the road begins to the Finke Gorge.
