Challenge yourself and join us on a 5-day trek immersed in Arrernte Country and culture on sections of the beautiful Larapinta Trail, while raising vital funds for the work we do with First Nations’ communities at Community First Development.
Experience the rich history and culture
of Arrernte Country with Community First Development and local Custodians as you trek sections of the beautiful Larapinta Trail .
Sit around the campfire each night to learn, connect and yarn.
Two nights accommodation at a quality hotel in Alice Springs pre and post hike.
Fully functional base camps throughout your travel, where you will have access to hot showers and toilets.
The Larapinta Trail crosses a variety of terrain. Most sections of the walk are Grade 3 to Grade 4 (moderate to difficult) suitable for those with a confident level of fitness. Less strenuous alternatives are available during trek days, should the need arise.
Raise vital funds to support First Nations’ communities on projects that achieve transformative goals in the areas of youth & education, health, environmental protection, economic outcomes, and more.
Our team will support you with your fundraising efforts.
A 7-day experience, a 5-day walk with a day of travel either side (12 - 18 August 2024)
We’ve partnered with Indigenous-owned and operated 100% Finke River Culture and Adventure to bring you this unique experience.
Local Custodians will lead the tour through their Country, connecting participants to story, Place, and deep knowledge that spans more than 60,000 years.
You will walk sections of the 223 kilometre Larapinta Trail in Central Australia with Community First Development and experience the breadth and depth of Arrernte Country and culture.
Your base camp accommodation will include access to hot showers and on-site camp style toilets so you can head to bed each night warm and clean. Dietary requirements are also catered for.
The nights around the campfire will serve as a special opportunity for attendees to engage in meaningful conversations to learn, share and yarn with our team, local Custodians, and communities we partner with.
What’s included in the trek package:
Cultural connections and engagement.
Two nights accommodation at a quality hotel in Alice Springs the night before and after the trek (Incl. breakfast).
Ground transportation in Alice Springs including airport transfers.
All payments required for trekking the Larapinta Trail, this includes permissions from the traditional landowners to pass through their lands.
All meals on the trail (Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner) - prepared by on-site camp cook.
A professionally trained guide and logistics team.
Your own four-person size tent (including swag).*
Thorough medical evacuation plan with satellite links to both the logistics team and emergency services.
* You may opt to share a tent with another person (individual costs will remain the same).
The package does not include:
Travel to and from Alice Springs.
Food and beverages (other than breakfast) at the hotel.
Travel Insurance, if desired (recommended for your protection).
Individual snacks for between meals whilst trekking.
Laundry costs.
Personalised items for sleeping (i.e. sleeping bag & pillow), hiking (i.e. walking poles, gaiters etc.), or medical stores (the onus is on the participant to provide items they want used on themselves).
$3,300 trek package
The trek package (see above for details) will cost $3,300.
A deposit is required before we can secure your spot.
Travel to and from Alice Springs will need to be arranged separately.
We recommend setting up alerts for flights to get the best fares.
We also ask that you do your best towards raising
$3,000 to support First Nations’ communities.
Our skilled team is here to support you and we will provide you with tips and guidance to help you reach and even exceed your target! Once you are on board, you will also be assigned a dedicated fundraising platform.
An independent study found that every $1 donated to Community First Development produced $3.73 in health, social, and economic benefits to First Nations’ communities.
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On arrival in Alice Springs (Mpartnwe), you will be picked up from the airport and delivered to your hotel in town. The evening will provide an opportunity to meet the whole trekking group and Community First Development staff - this is your chance to ask any questions you have about your adventure and your days ahead.
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You will travel through the Tjoritja/ West MacDonnell Ranges to Ormiston Gorge where you still start the Ormiston Pound walk. This is a 9km loop walk and considered one of the best day walks in the West MacDonnell Ranges. The walk starts along a ridge, and up to a saddle where you will witness panoramic views of the pound. You will then make a gradual decent into the pound meandering along spinifex and open plains where you will make the final leg back through the spectacular Ormiston Gorge.
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Today’s walk covers section 3 of the Larapinta Trail from Fish Hole to Standley Chasm. This section is approx. 11.8 km and is slightly more challenging with some steeper sections. It will take you through Tangentyere Junction, Millers Flat through rocky terrain onto Standley Chasm. Standley Chasm is called Angkerle Atwatye meaning Gap of Water.
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Today’s walk is another challenging one (approx. 15km) and covers Section 5 of the Larapinta Trail. Departing from Hugh Gorge you will initially climb and then walk along the Linear valley, through Rocky Saddle, Razorback Ridge, Windy Saddle, Spencer Gorge and onto Birthday Waterhole. The evening will be spent at base camp 2 and will include a special guest from one of the community organisations we have worked with.
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Today’s trek is approx. 17km and covers Section 4 of the trail - from Birthday Waterhole to Standley Chasm. The starts with a climb through Stuart’s Pass and up to Brinkley Buff at an altitude of 1209m. You will follow the Briddle Path, over Reveal Saddle and make a steep descent back to Standley Chasm.
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Today is our final day of walking and is one of the most spectacular. A 2am start will be required to capture the sunrise view on Mount Sonder. After breaking camp, we will depart from Redbank Gorge where we will start the climb. Mt Sonder, at an elevation of 1380 meters, is one of the highest peaks affording spectacular (and rewarding) views. The return trip is at the final stage (Section 12) of the Larapinta Trail and is considered by many to be one of the highlights.
After completing this 16km walk, you will journey back to Alice Springs enjoying the views along the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Tonight will be a group dinner to celebrate and say our goodbyes. -
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport where you will be on the last leg of your journey home.
Community First Development is a First Nations’ community development and research organisation that creates positive change with and for First Nations’ communities.
We work in partnership with communities, only at their invitation. We ensure that every project we undertake is 100% owned and driven by the community itself.
Your kindness and support enables our team to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities with access to expertise, resources, and opportunities to create transformative change in the areas of:
youth & education
Country & cultural connections
health & safety
economic outcomes
governance & self-determination
environmental protection
