Hermannsburg / Finke National Park
Situated along the Mereenie Loop Road, 130 kilometres south west of Alice Springs is the Aboriginal community of Hermannsburg and just beyond it, the stunning expanse of Finke Gorge National Park.
Hermannsburg was the German name chosen by the Lutheran pastors who established a small mission for the Arrernte Aboriginal people here in the 1880s. It is best known as the birthplace of artist Albert Namatjira whose house, three kilometres west of Hermannsburg, is today open to visitors.
It is also possible to organise day tours from Alice Springs however a campsite and basic accommodation are located in Hermannsburg. Camping facilities are also available at the nearby Palm Valley in the Finke Gorge National Park.
The Finke River is thought to be one of the world's oldest water ways but the National Park is best known for Palm Valley, which contains groves of unique and beautiful cabbage palms - botanic remnants from millions of years ago, when Central Australia was lush with tropical forests.
Further west along the Mereenie Loop Road is the fascinating Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve, the site of a huge crater and subsequently a place of international scientific interest as well cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people.
Hermannsburg was the German name chosen by the Lutheran pastors who established a small mission for the Arrernte Aboriginal people here in the 1880s. It is best known as the birthplace of artist Albert Namatjira whose house, three kilometres west of Hermannsburg, is today open to visitors.
It is also possible to organise day tours from Alice Springs however a campsite and basic accommodation are located in Hermannsburg. Camping facilities are also available at the nearby Palm Valley in the Finke Gorge National Park.
The Finke River is thought to be one of the world's oldest water ways but the National Park is best known for Palm Valley, which contains groves of unique and beautiful cabbage palms - botanic remnants from millions of years ago, when Central Australia was lush with tropical forests.
Further west along the Mereenie Loop Road is the fascinating Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve, the site of a huge crater and subsequently a place of international scientific interest as well cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people.
Images with thanks to Google Images
