Hiking Australia’s Northern Territory

The terrain of the Larapinta, Kings Canyon, and Kata Tjuta is extremely rocky. Some trails are not “groomed” but follow the natural contours of the land and are therefore uneven. Some sections of trail are on uneven stairs built out of natural rocks, other sections are across smooth and solid rock, so it’s important to have good boot traction. Above-the-ankle boots and hiking poles are strongly recommended. There is one brief section of Valley of the Winds hike (Kata Tjuta) that is a particularly steep incline up a rock face. On Day 9’s hike through Ormiston Gorge, there is a required river crossing. The water is cold and waist-deep at the deepest section and we will have to carry our boots and daypacks over our heads as we cross the river. Bring a swimsuit or suitable under layers for this day. Teva-type sandals are good for this river crossing. The Ormiston Gorge hike is one of the very best along the Larapinta Trail, so wading the river is entirely worth it and it adds an element of adventure to the trail.

We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercise. Stair climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. For the most part, you can hike at your own speed because we always have a staff member hiking in the lead as well as one behind with the slowest hiker in our group.

The Darwin/Kakadu/Litchfield portion of the trip will be hot and humid, ranging from high 80s/low 90s in the day to mid-60s/low 70s in the evenings. The Outback portion of the trip (Alice Springs and Yulara/Uluru) is an arid environment, and it will be winter. The evenings and mornings will likely dip below freezing, so it important to bring multiple light layers to add/remove, especially for the nights of camping, stargazing, and pre-dawn hiking. Daytimes will typically be very mild in the mid-60s, but the sun will still be strong. Lightweight, long, sun-protective layers and wide-brimmed hats are encouraged.

We stay in excellent hotels throughout the trip. However, there are two special overnights while we are on the Larapinta that are at an eco-camp in the outback: Sonder Camp. This camp will be reserved for our group alone and operates with sustainable technologies such as composting toilets, solar lighting, and a hybrid grey-water disposal system designed for the arid environment. The camp is semi-permanent, and taken down off-season to allow the land to recover. Sonder Camp’s tents are large enough to stand up in. There are two cots per tent, each with a foam mattress, sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, and a pillow. Nights are cold in camp, but the sleeping bags are very effective. The camp’s bathrooms are shared, and have a composting toilet with sinks and soap nearby. There are two one-person shower tents at the camp. Hot water for the shower is heated using a “Donkey” hot water boiler, and guests have a bucket of warm water to use in the shower, enough water to run for about two minutes. At the communal dining area, set on a raised platform, restaurant-style gas burners provide heating at night, along with the open fire traditionally lit outdoors at the camps. There are eight USB 12V camera/phone battery charging ports in the communal couch area, powered through our solar system. There is no cell phone reception.

Meals will be taken at the hotels and camps where we are staying or at restaurants in nearby towns. Australian cuisine includes a lot of grilled meats but there is also a huge Asian influence and well as a British influence. Breakfasts at hotels will generally be very familiar cuisine, and on the Larapinta trail will mostly be yogurts, granola, oatmeal, bagels, eggs, etc. Lunches on the trail are typically sandwiches with chutney, veggies, and sliced meat, as well as a variety of salads such as Asian noodle or quinoa/chicken/spinach.

Our transport during the trip will be in a comfortable 20-passenger bus that is fitted for rugged dirt roads and has large windows for viewing scenery and wildlife. There will be water and snacks available in our vehicle when we are traveling, and on travel days, we’ll make stops at points of interest along the way. Our support vehicle will transport the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.).