About Palm Valley

Palm Valley Finke Gorge National Park covers an area of 461 square kilometres and lies approximately 138 km west of Alice Springs. The valley contains approximately 1,200 mature and 3,000 immature Red Cabbage Palms (Livistona Mariae) and the MacDonnell Range cycads (Macrozamia MacDonnelli) both are endemic to the region. These plants are all that remain of a lush and tropical environment of approximately 15,000 years ago, when the whole of Central Australia was thick with wet tropical forests. Rock pools and white sands create an oasis surrounded by the harsh desert, a stark reminder of Central Australia’s past.

This significant area is of particular interest to naturalists and photographers, the National Park has 460 documented plant species including daisies, grevilleas and the beautiful Sturt Desert Rose. Eucalypts flank the wide sandy Finke River bed, including river red gums and bloodwood trees, their hollows providing homes for the many species of birdlife including mulga parrots, Port Lincoln Parrots, Rainbow Bee-eaters and Yellow Throated Minors. The park is home to a variety of native mammals. Many reptiles including Goannas, bearded dragons, geckos and skinks can be spotted. Several species of inland fish are found in the waterholes as well as Sand Frogs.

The Finke River is more than 250 million years old, one of the world’s oldest rivers. The river has followed its present course for more than 100 million years, through the present valleys of the park. Rising in the West MacDonnell Ranges the Finke River meanders along the usually dry riverbed between the Krischauff and James Ranges, south east into the Simpson Desert.

The Finke River bed was the route taken by early inland explorers such as Ernest Giles who, in 1872, discovered Palm Creek.

An area within the park known as Kalarranga Lookout provides breathtaking views of both Palm Valley and the ancient sandstone escarpments and valley floor, known as the Amphitheatre. Continuing along the riverbed is Cycad Gorge, part of Palm Creek, the entry point to Palm Valley.

Ochre coloured gorges with their rugged escarpments border Palm Valley and enrich the palate of the existing rich green colours featuring in the landscape.

Parks and Wildlife NT website.

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