Ochre Pits, Aboriginal ochre mine in West MacDonnell National Park, Australia.

Ochre Pits is a quarry of layered rock in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, on Arrernte land about 110 kilometres west of Alice Springs. Its exposed strata run from white through earthy browns to yellow, orange and red, with sharp colour differences between the layers. The site is the only Central Australian ochre quarry open to visitors where traditional owners still collect ochre.

Before Europeans settled the area in 1880, only certain Arrernte men were permitted to collect ochre at these pits. The pigment was ground and mixed with emu fat for ceremonial body painting, and it was traded with neighbouring groups across large parts of Australia. The right of the traditional owners to keep taking ochre here is protected by the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976.

The Arrernte people still take ochre from these pits, a right protected by the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976. Mixed with emu fat, it is used for body decoration in dances and ceremonies; mixed with eucalyptus leaves, it serves as an ointment for congestion. Ochre also ornaments spears and is believed to ward off termites and improve hunting success.

The pits sit about 110 kilometres west of Alice Springs, just off the Larapinta Trail in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. A short walk leads from the car park to the quarry face. There is little shade, so carry water and wear a hat; the access track can be affected by rain and heat.

This is the only location in Central Australia where visitors can actively collect ochre and watch traditional owners continue their mining practices firsthand. The site connects living craft traditions with open public access.