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Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve

Situated 75 kilometres south of Alice Springs, the scenic sandstone bluffs and cliffs make for excellent photographic subjects, particularly late in the day in winter (in summer the sun is too far south) as the setting sun highlights the rainbow-like rock bands.

Information signs at the site explain how the coloured rock bands in the sandstone cliffs were formed 20-80 million years ago. Something to do with the amount of iron, silica and water in the rocks and how these dissolve and are drawn to the surface in dry periods. The darkest colours are the hardest, have the most iron and silica, the least water and erode more slowly.

The area is normally in drought, but occasional heavy rain fills the claypans, which would provide for much better photos.

From the Stuart Highway, there is a 22 km, unsealed 4wd track leading to the reserve. The road has a number of sandy patches, which caused the van to slip and slide a bit, but nothing too serious.

The reserve has a camping ground with basic facilities - fees payable on-site. There is a 40-minute walk to Mushroom Rock, but you can spend as much time as you like getting a close-up view of the cliffs and rocks.