Australia’s Most Iconic Walk
The Larapinta Trail is an extended walking track in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its total length covers 223 kilometres (139 mi) from east to west, with the eastern end at Alice Springs and the western end at Mount Sonder, one of the territory’s highest mountains. It follows the West MacDonnell Ranges, sometimes along the ridge line, other times on the plain below, in the West MacDonnell National Park.
The walk harbours many Aboriginal sacred sites of the Arrernte people, who have permitted tourists to visit the sites. In the 1990s the walk was only half as long, with the section between Mount Sonder and Ellery Big Hole completed at the turn of the millennium. Presently, the Northern Territory government is advertising the walk as Australia’s best extended walk.
The trail is very well marked with kilometre posts marking both the distance to the next campsite or section as well as the total length of the walk to go. There is a published leaflet that details the requirements and attractions of completing each of the twelve sections and notice boards at the transition of each section. These notice boards also show elevation graphs of the walk and alert walkers to potential dangers.
The Challenge
To complete this travel challenge you have to trek the full Larapinta Trail from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder!
If you want you can also share your health stats for the days, your overall time in days, your experience and adventures along the way as well as tips and information to help others complete this travel challenge.
Tag @travelmedals on Instagram or Facebook on each picture.
After completing the challenge you can reward yourself with a Larapinta Trail Travel Medal! Good luck!
This is the initial design for the medal and it is available on request. It will be an Oak Veneer, Hand Varnished, Laser Cut wooden medal. If you are planning a trip to the walk the Larapinta Trail and would like this medal, please get in touch through our Facebook or Instagram pages!
Additional Information
There are a lot of resources available to anyone researching this trail. The first stop for information should be the Larapinta Trail site. It has everything required from a break down of the 12 sections, planning your trek, getting to the trail and anything else you would need to know. For official advice and information from the Northern Territory Government visit their page on the Larapinta trail. It has safety information and advise on the current conditions of the trail. Finally, for not just information on Larapinta but on various walking trails around the country visit Great Walks of Australia.
Trek the Larapinta Trail
This video produced by World Expeditions is the perfect introduction for someone considering taking on this trail. They advise that a trek on the Larapinta Trail is an experience like no other, and can leave an impression on travellers long after they return home. From sweeping views across the sunburnt landscape, to fresh-water gorges that provide the ultimate refreshment, and sunrises that bathe the sky in vibrant hues of pink, orange and deep purple, it is an experience you simply must do!
