Ross River Resort
The Ross River Resort is set amongst the awe inspiring East MacDonnell Ranges at the end of the Ross Highway, only an hours drive from Alice Springs. The drive holds many spectacular attractions including, Jessie and Emily Gap, Corroboree Rock, The John Hayes Waterhole and Trephina Gorge.
The Resort itself is located on over 3000 acres of land. The historical Homestead was built in the 1890’s by the pioneering Bloomfield family as part of a working cattle station. The main homestead is still standing and is now used as the bar and restaurant. The inside of the homestead gives a reminder of the days gone by with lots of photographs and memorabilia from when the property was first built and operated as a cattle station.
The Ross River twists its way through the property and is surrounded by many spectacular cliffs and gorges; it is also home to lots of wildlife and nature and makes for some amazing walks all within minutes of the homestead.
N’dhala Gorge is only 10km up the river and is an important site for the eastern Arrernte people known as the Irlwentye. The Gorge contains several art sites including over 5,900 individual petroglyphs (rock engravings) and can be accessed by 4WD, foot or from the air in either our Bell 47 or Kawasaki KH4 helicopter.
Ross River has many accommodation options from rustic ensuite cabins with air-conditioning to bunkhouse’s to the spacious campsite with powered and unpowered sites. They also offer several more remote campsites for the more adventurous traveller such as the top of “Contiki Hill” where you can make the most of the amazing outback sunrise and sunsets over the entire property while being completely isolated from the rest of the world.
Apart from the friendly staff and great service at the Stockman’s Bar and Restaurant, Ross River also offers a pool, spa, Wifi access, bar meals with EFTPOS, conference facilities and group catering. The whole area is thriving with birdlife offering great bushwalks and 4WD tracks.
Trephina Gorge Nature Park, which is only a 15min drive from the resort, is noted for its sheer quartzite cliffs and the river red gum lined watercourses. The area has 2 spectacular gorges; Trephina and John Hayes both offer marvellous photographic opportunities with towering cliffs, beautiful waterholes and a diverse range of birdlife.
Ruby Gap Nature Park is a little bit further from the homestead and probably more suited to a helicopter adventure rather than risking the 4WD track. Ruby Gap is linked to the first mining rush in Australia when miners came across what they thought were rubies in the river bed but ended up being high grade garnets. Also known as the jewel of the desert it’s definitely worth a visit to see the jewel encrusted river bed of the Hale River.
From the air the whole area changes again, with flights starting from as little as $55 you can see everything from huge rock formations known locally as “The Sphinx” and the “The Great Wall of China” to the beautiful Trephina Gorge.
If the drive to Ruby Gap is a bit too challenging, take a private charter to marvel at the gem encrusted ground around the amazing Ruby Gap. There is also the possibility of landing and having a picnic before soaring back to Ross River over the vast East Mac Donnell Ranges. All our flights are done in either the Classic Bell 47 or the Kawasaki KH4 giving views through the bubble unmatched by any other machine.
Flights options
RRR 1 N’dhala dreaming - $55p/p approximately a 5 minute flight
RRR 2 Aussie Ancient Wonders - $95p/p – approximately 10 minute flight
RRR 3 Trephina Twilight - $180p/p – approximately 20 minute flight
RRR 4 Ruby Gorge - Jewel of the desert - POA
Private Charter POA
The Resort itself is located on over 3000 acres of land. The historical Homestead was built in the 1890’s by the pioneering Bloomfield family as part of a working cattle station. The main homestead is still standing and is now used as the bar and restaurant. The inside of the homestead gives a reminder of the days gone by with lots of photographs and memorabilia from when the property was first built and operated as a cattle station.
The Ross River twists its way through the property and is surrounded by many spectacular cliffs and gorges; it is also home to lots of wildlife and nature and makes for some amazing walks all within minutes of the homestead.
N’dhala Gorge is only 10km up the river and is an important site for the eastern Arrernte people known as the Irlwentye. The Gorge contains several art sites including over 5,900 individual petroglyphs (rock engravings) and can be accessed by 4WD, foot or from the air in either our Bell 47 or Kawasaki KH4 helicopter.
Ross River has many accommodation options from rustic ensuite cabins with air-conditioning to bunkhouse’s to the spacious campsite with powered and unpowered sites. They also offer several more remote campsites for the more adventurous traveller such as the top of “Contiki Hill” where you can make the most of the amazing outback sunrise and sunsets over the entire property while being completely isolated from the rest of the world.
Apart from the friendly staff and great service at the Stockman’s Bar and Restaurant, Ross River also offers a pool, spa, Wifi access, bar meals with EFTPOS, conference facilities and group catering. The whole area is thriving with birdlife offering great bushwalks and 4WD tracks.
Trephina Gorge Nature Park, which is only a 15min drive from the resort, is noted for its sheer quartzite cliffs and the river red gum lined watercourses. The area has 2 spectacular gorges; Trephina and John Hayes both offer marvellous photographic opportunities with towering cliffs, beautiful waterholes and a diverse range of birdlife.
Ruby Gap Nature Park is a little bit further from the homestead and probably more suited to a helicopter adventure rather than risking the 4WD track. Ruby Gap is linked to the first mining rush in Australia when miners came across what they thought were rubies in the river bed but ended up being high grade garnets. Also known as the jewel of the desert it’s definitely worth a visit to see the jewel encrusted river bed of the Hale River.
From the air the whole area changes again, with flights starting from as little as $55 you can see everything from huge rock formations known locally as “The Sphinx” and the “The Great Wall of China” to the beautiful Trephina Gorge.
If the drive to Ruby Gap is a bit too challenging, take a private charter to marvel at the gem encrusted ground around the amazing Ruby Gap. There is also the possibility of landing and having a picnic before soaring back to Ross River over the vast East Mac Donnell Ranges. All our flights are done in either the Classic Bell 47 or the Kawasaki KH4 giving views through the bubble unmatched by any other machine.
Flights options
RRR 1 N’dhala dreaming - $55p/p approximately a 5 minute flight
RRR 2 Aussie Ancient Wonders - $95p/p – approximately 10 minute flight
RRR 3 Trephina Twilight - $180p/p – approximately 20 minute flight
RRR 4 Ruby Gorge - Jewel of the desert - POA
Private Charter POA