The Ruby Gap Nature Park is cut in two by the Hale River. Glassy red stones line the creek bed and were once mistaken for rubies during the gold rush. Prospectors were disappointed to find they were garnets and zircons and left the site soon after. Today Ruby Gap Nature Park is known for its remoteness. Visit to get a real taste of the rugged wilderness of Central Australia with few others around. The garnets of the riverbed mirror the deep red of the gorge walls at sunset.
There aren’t any marked walking trails in the park. Those with some hiking experience can bring comfortable shoes and a sense of adventure to enjoy feeling like a pioneer of the bush. During the dry season you can follow the sandy bed of the Hale River just over 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) to Glen Annie Gorge. Here you’ll see the bush headstone of one of the prospectors, J.P Fox, who killed himself after discovering that the “rubies” were actually garnets. Many of his fellow miners moved on to become gold prospectors at Arltunga. Bring a swimsuit to go swimming in some of the waterholes throughout Glen Annie Gorge.
Many artists visit Ruby Gap Nature Park from Alice Springs to capture the beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Look for wildlife including curlews, brush-tailed possums, wallabies and waterbirds.
The drive to Ruby Gap Nature Park from Alice Springs requires an experienced off-road driver and a high-clearance four-wheel drive. It is not advisable to enter the park after or during rains. The road to Ruby Gap starts near Arltunga Historical Reserve, 150 kilometres (93 miles) east of Alice Springs. Bring a tent, food and water to camp in several areas around the park. There are no facilities provided, as this is remote “bush camping” at its best.
