Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve

About Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve

Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve is a things to do venue in Alice Springs, Northern Territory.

It spans over 24.83 km2 (9.59 sq mi) and was established in 1990 to protect the unique sandstone formations and the Aboriginal art, artifacts, and sacred natural objects within the area. The reserve is jointly managed by the Twertentyeye, the local Aboriginals, and the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory (PWCNT).

The reserve can be accessed through an unsealed dirt road that heads east then southeast for 22 km (14 mi) to a parking lot on the west side of a claypan that extends northwest from the base of the main sandstone formation. While the road is declared “suitable for conventional vehicles driven with care,” 4WD is still recommended, particularly for the final 1.4 km (0.87 mi) around the claypan.

Visitors are required to pay a camping fee to access the reserve. The nearest place with official records, Alice Springs, has a median annual rainfall of 286 mm (11.3 in) and an evaporation rate of more than 3,000 mm (120 in) per year.

The cliffs and rocky outcrops in Rainbow Valley are composed of 350 million year old Hermannsburg Sandstone, where various exposed sandstone joints, eroded honeycomb holes, iron-stained sandstone, and fossils are found. Climbing on or disturbing the formations is prohibited to protect their delicate state.

The coloured bands in the rock layers of Rainbow Valley were created during a much wetter time in the history of this dry region. The formations’ red-orange hues of

Good to know

• Type: Things to Do
• Area: Alice Springs, Northern Territory
• Phone: (08) 8951 8250
• Website: visit ↗

Frequently asked questions

Find more things to do in Alice Springs or browse the Alice Springs local guide.