4 Wild Swimming Holes in The Red Centre (You Need to Jump in)

Water deep enough to swim in in the middle of the desert is a tricky concept to grasp. But these four swimming holes in the West MacDonnell ranges, west of Alice Springs will have you jumping for joy!

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on Arrente Nation, the traditional Country of the Arrente people who have occupied and cared for this land and water for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Wild swimming holes in The Red Centre? Yeah, is that before or after my beach escape to Alaska? Ah wait, no, I’m busy backcountry skiing Sudan then.

The concept of paddling in the outback is understandably confusing. It’s a camel-packed desert after all, with summer mercury levels often tickling 45 degrees celsius. But the world is full of surprises.

The West MacDonnell Ranges extend west from Alice Springs and lay host to a number of extraordinary swimming holes.

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes

We recently travelled through The Red Centre with Tourism NT and as experienced wild swimmers, our snouts were attuned to all manner of wild waterholes to cool off in.

What we found completely blew us away. Here are our favourites:

1. Udepata / Ellery Creek Big Hole

A special meeting point for the Arrernte people on the fish and honey ant dreaming trail.

Nestled within the wild swimming wonderland of the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park, Udepata / Ellery Creek Big Hole is remarkable. With plenty of places to chill and relax within the towering red cliffs that surround the waterhole, it’s somewhere you could easily wallow away a day doing some hardcore chilling (there’s also a campground here).

Don’t try and swim to the bottom though, rumour has it it’s over a kilometre deep. #holdontoyourgopro

How To Get There

You’ll find Udepata roughly 40 minutes (88km) west of Alice Springs, off Namatjira Drive (the 1km gravel road to the car park is 2WD accessible) within the West MacDonnell National Park.

2. Yapalpe / Glen Helen Gorge

Named by the Arrernte Aboriginal people, who referred to the Finke River as ‘Larapinta’ meaning ‘serpent’.

This swimming hole pole-vaults the concept of a roadhouse into road-tripping Narnia. A short stroll from the car park and accommodation guides visitors to Yapalpe / Glen Helen Gorge, a serene hideaway on the Finke River, with shaded banks set beneath huge quartzite cliffs that transform in colour as the sun does her thing.

You’ll share the spot with a throng of birds, reptiles and marsupials. For the tough-fingered there are deep-water soloing opportunities, as well as a secret beach if you swim through to the right.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

How To Get There

Glen Helen is located 1.5 hours (132 km) west of Alice Springs on Namatjira Drive within the West MacDonnell National Park

3. Kwartatuma / Ormiston Gorge

A sacred site of the Western Arrernte people.

Only 500m from the car, Kwartatuma / Ormiston Gorge has a large open beach that’ll make you think you’re on the coast, not in The Red Centre. A huge pool surrounded by sandy verges creates the perfect opportunity for a group charge into the water.

You can rely on this one to deliver the goods all year too: it’s a permanently filled waterhole.

To truly earn a dip though, you should attempt the 3-4 hour Ormiston Pound Walk, a loop hike from the car park.

How To Get There

Drive 1.5 hours (135km) west of Alice Springs. Located within the West MacDonnell National Park

4. Yarretyeke / Redbank Gorge

Yarretyeke’s dreaming story is connected to the Euro (a small kangaroo) but further information is restricted to initiated Aboriginal men.

If you’re starting to get a little picky on your magical mystery swimming hole tour, then maybe a slot canyon would tickle your fancy? There are plenty of hiking and camping options nearby too so give yourself ample time here to discover the area.

Yarretyeke / Redbank Gorge is also a bird-watching paradise – Grey honeyeaters and German backpackers are seen here on occasion.

Hot tip! Pack some kind of floatation device (preferably in the shape of an obscure tropical fruit) and let the good times roll.

How To Get There

Drive 1hr 45min (156km) west of Alice Springs via Larapinta and Namatjira Drives and you’ll find Yarretyeke / Redbank Gorge at the base of Rrewtyepme / Mt Sonder located in the West MacDonnell National Park.

Explore deeper into the heart of Australia – Get Out There into The Red Centre!