Owen Springs Reserve
Owen Springs Reserve, Access formerly Owen Springs cattle The Reserve is an approximately Safety and Comfort station, was purchased by the 40 minute drive southwest of Alice • Observe park safety signs. Northern Territory Government Springs and can be accessed via • Carry and drink plenty of water. in 2000 and opened in 2003. two routes: • Wear a shady hat, sunscreen, The 1570 km2 Reserve has fast insect repellent, suitable • via Larapinta Drive, 50km west become a favourite location for clothing and footwear. of Alice Springs; and 4WD visitors seeking quiet bush • Avoid strenuous activity during camping without facilities. • via the Stuart Highway, 66 the heat of the day.
Fact Sheet kilometres south of Alice Springs. The area protected within the • Consider your health and fitness when choosing a walk. Owen Springs Reserve is steeped A high clearance 4WD is in Territory history. The main essential. Some sections of Please Remember access track through the Reserve the track follow the sandy river • Keep to designated roads closely follows John McDouall bed and drivers should engage and tracks. Stuart’s route through Central 4WD to minimise the risk of • All historic, cultural items and Australia. His explorations becoming bogged. These sandy wildlife are protected. between 1860 and 1862 opened river beds may be impassable after • Dead fallen wood may be the area to white settlement. rain. Vehicles are required to keep collected from the riverbanks as to the main track except to access firewood in the Reserve and Stuart, William Kekwick and campsites in designated areas used sparingly for small fires in Benjamin Head were the first along the river. the camping areas only. white men to travel through this • Wood must not be taken out country. On 11 April 1860, while What to Do of the Reserve. Help protect making their way northwards For almost its entire course habitat for wildlife. along the Hugh River, they through the Reserve, the Hugh • Bins are not provided, please discovered a waterhole that River has considerable scenic take your rubbish with you. Stuart named Ewart Springs. and recreational appeal. There • Dogs are only permitted The waterhole was later renamed are numerous, attractive stretches south of the Waterhouse Owen Springs by Stuart’s of river with broad sandy banks Range (refer to map). financial backer, James Chambers. lined with shady River Red Gums • A permit is required for Drone (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). use – conditions apply and it One of the immediate results must be obtained prior to your of Stuart’s explorations was In several places large waterholes arrival in the Reserve. construction of the Overland remain long after rain and present Telegraph Line that originally outstanding opportunities for facilities provided and visitors followed the Hugh River bush camping, picnicking, nature should bring their own drinking through Lawrence Gorge in the observation and photography. water requirements. Waterhouse Range. The appeal of the Hugh River is Stop and walk around the enhanced by the scenery of the Even before the Line was historic Old Owen Springs adjoining rocky gorges and red completed in August 1872, Homestead ruins. cattleman William Gilbert was on sand country. A Self-drive Information Sheet his way from South Australia to Camping is allowed is available from the information establish a cattle station here. The between the signposts shelter when you enter the Old Owen Springs Homestead within Lawrence Gorge and near Reserve. ruins is the site of the first station Redbank Waterhole (this is a homestead built in Central temporary waterhole which will Australia. dry up if the river has not flowed Visitors with a sharp eye might spot one for some time). There are no of the Bustards that inhabit the park
Parks & Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory Simpsons Gap Ranger Station Regional Office - Arid Zone Research Institute Ph: (08) 8955 0310 South Stuart Highway ALICE SPRINGS NT 0870 PO Box 1120 ALICE SPRINGS NT 0871 www.nt.gov.au/parks Ph: (08) 8951 8250 Fax: (08) 8951 8290 Owen Springs Reserve
Hugh Gorge
Standley Chasm Birthday Waterhole
To Alice Springs
ee
T / W (Red Centre Way) N P Larapinta Drive To Glen Helen & Ormiston Gorge
Namatjira Drive (Red Centre Way)
a
4.0 km
Way)
(Red Centre
13.8 km Larapinta Drive
e e S To Hermannsburg e tea
ate h e 5.4 km a te ee e a e ce e 2.7 km a e
W
Highway e a
Stuart
4.0 km e a ate h e
2 km
N P To Alice h a e Springs 66 km
C a e
W T a a
0 0 T / W To Stuart’s Well N P & Erldunda
A/02/2020PWCNT Fact Sheet For more information visit www.nt.gov.au/parks or contact Tourism Central Australia 1800 645 199 or (08) 8952 5800 www.discovercentralaustralia.com