A tranquil, clear green waterhole reflects towering red-orange cliffs under a bright blue sky, with a sandy bank and eucalyptus trees surrounding the water.

    Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.

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    Ellery Creek Big Hole

    Landmark

    Ellery Creek Big Hole is a permanent waterhole carved into a gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges of Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, about 80km west of Alice Springs. The main pool lies below steep rocky walls and is reached by a short walk from the car park, with surrounding tracks providing views of the creek and range landscape. The combination of deep water, rock walls, reflections, and desert vegetation provide varied landscape compositions.

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    Gallery

    A tranquil, clear green waterhole reflects towering red-orange cliffs under a bright blue sky, with a sandy bank and eucalyptus trees surrounding the water.

    Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Austral…

    Wide waterhole cut through a desert gorge with sheer red cliffs and sparse bush under a deep blue sky in the Northern Territory.

    Wide view across Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern T…

    Green waterhole with visible aquatic plants flowing past a sandy bank and towering red-orange cliffs under a bright blue sky.

    Ellery Creek Big Hole, featuring aquatic plants and a sandy bank, in the West Ma…

    Midday sun streams between towering red-orange cliffs, illuminating a calm waterhole lined with green eucalyptus trees under a blue sky.

    Bright sun over Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Te…

    Sheer red-orange rock walls of a narrow outback gorge create a perfect reflection on the calm, glassy surface of the nature waterhole landscape.

    Towering rock walls of Ellery Creek Big Hole in West MacDonnell National Park, N…

    People enjoy swimming in the deep blue waterhole of a famous outback oasis, bordered by a sandy beach and large white-barked eucalyptus trees under a clear sky.

    Visitors swimming at Ellery Creek Big Hole in West MacDonnell National Park, Nor…

    Unidentified people sit by the clear, calm waters of a scenic outback lake and waterhole, framed by sandy shores and tall eucalyptus trees under a clear blue sky.

    Visitors relaxing at Ellery Creek Big Hole in West MacDonnell National Park, Nor…

    A woman in a red shirt stands next to massive white-barked eucalyptus trees, highlighting the grand scale of the towering red cliffs and sun-drenched outback nature landscape surrounding the waterhole.

    Tourist exploring Ellery Creek Big Hole in West MacDonnell National Park, Northe…

    Quick Facts

    Access

    Short Walk

    5–15 min

    Elevation Gain

    5 m

    Best Light

    Morning
    Golden Hour

    Low-angle light brings out texture in the gorge walls, while reflected light from the water adds detail beneath the darker rock faces.

    Why This Light

    Low-Angle Relief
    Reflections

    Season

    Seasonally Distinct

    Summer can bring stronger green vegetation around the permanent waterhole, with storm clouds and changes in water conditions following rainfall. Winter brings drier surrounding vegetation, clearer skies, and stronger definition in the exposed rock formations.

    Crowds

    Busy Midday

    Restrictions

    Fee Common

    Access is via Larapinta and Namatjira Drives, with the final 2km unsealed. The main waterhole is approximately a five-minute walk from the car park. Roads can become temporarily impassable after heavy rain. An NT Parks Visitor Pass is required for Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park; camping at the designated campground requires advance online booking and payment. Current park status should be checked before travel.

    Photography Notes

    The main pool provides a natural foreground for compositions looking into the gorge, with rock walls and desert vegetation forming layers behind it. Wide-angle lenses can include the full relationship between water and surrounding cliffs, while standard focal lengths can isolate reflections, rock textures, and vegetation. Low viewpoints beside the water emphasise the pool's depth and reflections; higher positions along the surrounding tracks provide broader context. After rainfall, cloud and greener vegetation can add tonal variation.
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