Larapinta Trail, S4: Standley Chasm to Birthday Waterhole

Starting from the kiosk at the end of Standley Chasm Road, Hugh, this walk takes you to the Birthday Watherhole via the Larapinta Trail (Section 4), visiting Bridle Path Lookout and Brinkley Bluff Summit along the way. This is the fourth section of the 223km long Larapinta Trail. The Brinkley Bluff will surely dazzle you with the breathtakingly picturesque views it offers, and that’s when you’ll know why the Larapinta is amongst the best hikes you can do in the whole world. Besides the eye-candy, the remoteness of the experience coupled with the challenge of steep ridges and the dry environment makes this hike an epic journey. Stuart’s Pass (named after explorer John McDouall Stuart) features a soft and sandy campground that is located on a riverbed, yet you may want to consider camping at Brinkley Bluff just for the views and the general experience. Customize your journey and plan well to not be beaten by the quartzite ridges of Chewings Range. Keep in mind that you’ll need a 4WD vehicle to access the Birthday Waterhole trailhead. For your information, the actual Birthday Waterhole is 900 metres down south of the said trailhead. Let us begin by acknowledging the Arrernte people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

Warning
This journey requires significant bushwalking experience, specialised equipment and navigation skills.
Please ensure you and your group well prepared and equiped for this journey.

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Full Journey	Larapinta Trail
Start	(-23.7219607,133.4694608)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Telegraph Terrace, 87 Turn on to 6 then drive for 25 m Continue onto Larapinta Drive, 6 and drive for another 850 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Larapinta Drive, 6 and drive for another 880 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Larapinta Drive, 6 and drive for another 38.1 km Turn right onto Standley Chasm Road and drive for another 9.3 km Turn left and drive for another 20 m
Finish	(-23.7185171,133.3481562)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (Keep in mind that you’ll need a 4WD vehicle to access the Birthday Waterhole trailhead.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Standley Chasm Kiosk, head south as you move away from the chasm, keeping the road to your left. Shortly after, turn right at the 3-way intersection. About 290 metres later, keep right at another 3-way intersection. Start following the creek bed in the distance as you stay on the marked track to continue along Larapinta Trail, S4: Standley Chasm to Birthday Waterhole.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. There is a toilet (about 95 m back from the start). Standley Chasm (about 80 m back from the start). W: T:+61 8 89567440 Standley Chasm (about 30 m back from the start). Find the Standley Chasm Kiosk at the start. W: T:+61 8 89567440 Find the Larapinta Trail Information at the start.
	After another 20 m turn right, to head along Scenic Loop Walk.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This little side trip takes you to a lookout where you can get great southerly views over the land. Expect 5 minutes of moving time out & back. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 275 m continue straight, to head along Scenic Loop Walk. After another 275 m cross the ford.
	At the intersection of Larapinta Trail Section 4 & Scenic Loop Walk turn sharp right, to head along Larapinta Trail Section 4. After another 295 m cross the ford. After another 265 m cross the ford. After another 90 m cross the ford.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This optional but recommended side trip takes you to the Bridle Path Lookout. Expect impressive views of rockfaces and the valley below. To start this optional side trip turn sharp left here. On returning from this side trip continue straight when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 3.1 km veer right, to head along Larapinta Trail Section 4. After another 560 m come to the "Reveal Saddle" (5 m on your left). After another 4.5 km come to the camp site (5 m on your right). After another 10 m pass the "Brinkley Bluff" (on your left).
	After another 2 km continue straight, to head along Larapinta Trail Section 4. Keep left. After another 730 m continue straight, to head along Larapinta Trail Section 4. After another 310 m cross the ford (about 35 m long) After another 10 m find the "Stuart's Pass Campsite" (6 m on your left). Stuart's Pass Campsite A basic campsite that offers you no amenities, so you need to be self-sufficient. The ground is soft and sandy as the campsite is along a riverbed. The place is named afterJohn McDouall Stuart, who was an explorer that passed through here in 1860.
	After another 2.8 km veer right, to head along Larapinta Trail Section 4. After another 350 m continue straight, to head along Larapinta Trail Section 4. After another 360 m pass the water tap (on your right). Then pass the shelter (on your right). A toilet. About 15 m past the end is "Section 4/5 Junction".
	The end.

This little side trip takes you to a lookout where you can get great southerly views over the land. Expect 5 minutes of moving time out & back.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 115 m come to "Standley Chasm lookout".
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 115 m to the main route.

This optional but recommended side trip takes you to the Bridle Path Lookout. Expect impressive views of rockfaces and the valley below.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 110 m come to "Bridle Path Lookout".
	Continue another 0 m to find Bridle Path Lookout at the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 110 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Larapinta Trail, S4: Standley Chasm to Birthday Waterhole

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	16 km
Time	8 h 30 min to 2 days

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Very steep and difficult rock scrambles (5/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There are 4 on route, on average they are 3.2 km apart with the largest gap of 9.4 km.

Shelter: There is one 16 km from the start.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 5.4 km apart with the largest gap of 16 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-93 m	[toilet]
Camp site	-82 m	Standley Chasm
Camp site	9.4 km	[camp site]
Campsite	12.4 km	Stuart's Pass Campsite
Shelter	16 km	[shelter]
Toilet	16 km	[toilet]
Camp site	16 km	Section 4/5 Junction

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Queanbeyan Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Tuesday 15 October
  
  17°C
  Cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, becoming less likely in the afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the northwest. Winds easterly 25 to 35 km/h decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h in the late evening. Daytime maximum temperatures between 13 and 18.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:20am to 4:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 8 [Very High]
  
  Wednesday 16 October
  
  5°C → 20°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers in the north, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h tending northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 17 and 20.
  
  Thursday 17 October
  
  6°C → 26°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
  
  Friday 18 October
  
  12°C → 23°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  5 → 20mm
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 11 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
  
  Saturday 19 October
  
  10°C → 20°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy.
  
  Sunday 20 October
  
  5°C → 23°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Monday 21 October
  
  6°C → 23°C
  Partly cloudy.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- NT Parks alerts
  When planning and before starting your trip please check the NT parks alerts pages for anything that may impact on your plans.
  Regions
  Darwin
  Katherine
  Tennant Creek and Barkly
  Alice Springs

Weather Forecast

Alerts