Larapinta Trail - part 1 - Professional Writing Services

Image: Sunset at Camp 2.

27 July 2025
Post 2 of 3

The plan, food, camping and people on our flash hiking tour

Nic, Em and I were all a bit nervous about the 9 days of walking ahead of us – had we done enough training, did we have enough first aid gear for all the things that could go wrong, did we have the right combination of clothes packed, we were carrying enough water and what exactly had we signed up for!

Our tour guides – Zoe and Michael – picked us up from our Airbnb at 7:30am on a wet and windy morning. We were the first of the 10 person group in the mini-van so we got to observe (and judge) our fellow walkers as we stopped at each hotel and people juggled with their luggage and chose seats in the vehicle. We were Helen and Cathy from Tasmania, Helen from Sydney, Helen from Victoria, Jenn and Ned from Sydney and their friend Aysha from Texas. So we had two blokes – Michael and Ned, 3 Helens and us three were the youngest by a decade or two.

10 hikers posing outside on a cold early morning for a group photo with a mountain range in the distance — *Tour group and guides and Mount Sonder*

A mini-van parked near a tree on a dry river bed and people standing beside it, getting ready to hike for the day — *Our van and the group waiting to get started*

Across the 9 days we walked 117kms of the total 221kms of the Larapinta Trail, which runs from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder. The trail is made up of 12 sections, with our 9 day adventure consisting of a patchwork of sections rather than a long connected path, designed around which sections of the trail were most accessible. Interestingly, each day was very different – vistas, terrain, fauna, flora, ascents and descents, chasms, waterholes and weather. The guides took it in turn walking with us with one staying back at camp during the day to clean and cook.

We stayed at Camp 1 near Standley Chasm for 2 nights and 6 nights at Camp 2 near Ormiston Gorge. We had a tent each which was tall enough for me to stand up in and housed a stretcher bed with a swag on it, a bedside table and a camp stool. We were encouraged to wee in the bush and keep our poos for the eco loos (better than a compost toilet), which were built away from the camp kitchen and tents with great views from the throne. A solar powered hot water tank meant we could fill up a big bowl with hot water and have a fancy bird bath in the strategically placed outdoor showers, where the showerer had ultimate privacy but with all their bits open to the elements (so good).

A group of tents set up facing different ways to maximise privacy of the residents in long grass in a valley surround by low rocky outcrops — *Camp 1 tents*

Inside a tent, a picture of the stretcher bed with a swag on it — *inside the tents*

A wooden platform next to a rock ledge in a small canyon which is used as a shower — *Shower Camp 1*

A wooden box with a toilet seat attached, acting as the Eco Loo for a camp. A box of toilet paper sits on one side of the box and a bucket of woodchips on the other side — *inside the Eco Loo*

Standing on a path leading through tall grass to a small bamboo walled structure with a tin roof housing the toilet — *The path to the Eco Loo at Camp 2*

All our meals were provided, were totally scrumptious and were all gluten free! None of us lost any weight on the walk because we ate TOO well. Breakfasts included steaming porridge, cereal, toast, yoghurt, fruit, plunger coffee and a plethora of teas.

For lunch each day, the guide carried tomato, cheese, avocado, sandwich meat, capsicum, carrot, cucumber, beetroot, lettuce, dips, wraps and a giant block of Whittakers chocolate, and prepared the food at the designated lunch spot – usually at the top of a hill. Every day we would come across people walking the Larapinta Trail independently and so the lucky few that happened to lunch near us were offered our fresh food leftovers which were immensely appreciated.

A tour group sitting around a rock — *Day 1 – Michael preparing lunch on the picnic blanket*

Every afternoon after our showers, we filled up a snap-lock bag (given to us at the start of the trip) to carry on our walk the next day filled with goodies from the fabulous “snack box” – full of fruit, muesli bars, M&Ms, trail mix, protein balls and liquorice.

Dinner was different every night and included damper, bruschetta, cheese platters, kangaroo backstrap, goat curry, Mexican and lasagna. Only Em, Nic and I registered that all the food was gluten free – everyone else happily consumed the tasty meals without complaint. To make sure we were really full, we also enjoyed a daily dessert including a birthday cake for No.1 Helen (our favourite Helen), poached pears and chocolate covered strawberries – fancy!

A high bench with two bowls set into for washing up under a tarpaulin structure, part of an outdoor kitchen — *Camp 1 kitchen*

Three friends sitting on camp chairs out in the open with plates of food on their laps, smiling at the camera — *dinner Camp 1*

An outdoor kitchen protected by 2 large tarpaulins held up by tree trunks — *Camp 2 kitchen*

Two women cooking a few dozen eggs at the camp kitchen stove — *Nic & Zoe in Camp 2 kitchen*

Most days, we were driven to the start of our walk and picked up from the finishing spot. We’d be given instructions at dinner each night on what tomorrow’s walk involved, what time breakfast would be available (usually a window of 20mins) and what time the van would be leaving camp (about 10mins after breakfast finished). It was up to us to work out what time to wake up which was usually before 6am when it was still dark. Back at camp at the end of the day, we’d take it in turns having a shower then sit around the campfire chatting, watching the sun set, doing our stretches and enjoying dinner. Most nights by 7pm, Em, Nic and I were the last ones around the campfire cause everyone else had said goodnight and wandered off to their tents. We were tired!

A group of people seated in a circle around a campfire outdoors with long shadows forming as the sun sets — *Campfire group daylight*

Early morning view of a still river with reeds and rocks creating beautiful shadows — *Ormiston Creek – Camp 2 overlooked this scene*

We generally enjoyed the company of the group and had time to get to know everyone during the tour. But being part of a tour group had its drawbacks. One woman seemed incapable of breathing without talking and was traveling with her friend who seemed incapable of listening – obviously a good pair. The talker was shocked by how much walking we were doing each day – she thought it was perfectly normal that she hadn’t done any reading or training in preparation for the 9 day hike. The non-listener also didn’t seem to turn her brain on cause she walked off the path most days, and on Day 2 almost walked off a cliff cause she thought that was where the path went. Having three Helens was obviously confusing – one we named Selfie Helen because we spent much time waiting for her to finish her selfie photo shoots at every lookout. On the hikes, Em, Nic and I tended to hang well back from the group so that we couldn’t hear the talker and instead could focus on enjoying our surroundings, including spotting birds, flowers, interesting plants and (rarely) wildlife.

In the next post I’ll tell you about the hikes and the landscape and more about why it was a great holiday!