Finke Gorge National Park is located 138 kilometres west of Alice Springs. The name of the park was given by the first European who visited these places, Stuart McDougall, who was so grateful to his sponsor William Finke that he decided to name the discovered river and the surrounding areas after the patron.
The main attraction of the park, established in the 1920s and covering an area of 456 sq km, is the spectacular desert oasis of Palm Valley - home to a huge variety of plant species, including such rare ones as the Red Cabbage palm, which grows in abundance only here. This palm oasis the remnants of an ancient rainforest that grew here 60 million years ago. Also, the Finke River basin is one of the oldest in the world - it was formed more than 350 million years ago. The park and its surrounding areas are of great cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people.
From Finke Gorge itself, a road begins along the river of the same name to the Illamurta Springs Illamurta Springs and Watarrka National Park. There are several hiking trails through the park There are several hiking trails through the park. Particularly popular is the The 20-minute climb to the Calaranga Lookout, which offers a beautiful view of the rock amphitheatre surrounded by steep cliffs. A walk along the Mpaara Trail, you can learn about local Aboriginal myths. And in Palm Valley, the Arankaya trail and the longer Mpulungkinya wind through lush, graceful palm trees, overlooking a picturesque plateau.
Not far from the park is the town of Hermannsburg, an old mission, founded by Lutherans. Many Aboriginal people were baptized here, including the famous artist Albert Namatira. There are a number of historic buildings historic buildings - a school, a church, a canteen. The church today houses a museum. South of Hermannsburg begins the road leading to the Finke Gorge.
