Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve

Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve is a protected area south of Alice Springs featuring distinctive sandstone cliffs layered in shades of red, orange, and yellow. The rock formations create a striking display as they rise from the desert floor, defining the landscape.

The area contains more than 40 Aboriginal archaeological sites with rock carvings, stone tools, and quarries spanning thousands of years. These findings reveal how long the Twertentyeye and their ancestors have been connected to this place.

The Twertentyeye group of Upper Southern Arrernte people know this land as Imarnte and actively shape how it is cared for today. You can see their ongoing involvement in how the place is managed and protected.

Two camping areas inside the reserve provide gas barbecues, fire pits, picnic tables, and basic toilet facilities for staying overnight. Visits are more comfortable during the cooler months when walking around the valley becomes easier.

The reserve protects the Rainbow Valley Eremophila, a rare plant species that grows nowhere else in the world. This flower thrives only here, making the place one of the most important locations for protecting this particular plant.