Why the Larapinta Trail?

The Larapinta Trail spans 230 km along the West MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia and is located on the traditional lands of the Arrernte people. I had heard about the Larapinta Trail before, but it wasn’t until a year prior, while I was camping in the Northern Territory, that I knew it was where I wanted to spend more time connecting with the land. After seeing the beautiful and rich landscapes of Nitmiluk, Edith, and Jabiru, I was excited to spend time on the trail and be fully immersed. When I returned home, I got the guidebook and started planning.

What unique planning challenges did this trip present?

There were three key considerations when planning for the Larapinta:

• Its remoteness: Despite its beauty, the Larapinta Trail is known for being rugged and remote, so I did as much research as possible beforehand. I packed an inReach that sent waypoints and allowed for communication if needed, and I downloaded maps since there are very few points on the trail with reception.
  
  
• Water availability: Water was one of the biggest considerations. I made sure I could carry up to 7-8 litres and mapped out where water would be available along the track, checking in advance whether the water tanks still had supply. In some sections, we camped on high points where there was no water access, so we carried two days' worth of water for cooking, rehydrating, and drinking.
  
  
• The weather: The trail is most commonly hiked from April to September when the weather is cooler, but it can still reach extreme heat during the day and drop below 0°C at night. I packed light, sun-protective layers for the day and merino base layers for the evenings, along with a buff, gloves and beanie. I even used a Nalgene bottle as a hot water bottle at night. 
  
  Other planning considerations included timing (we went in June), trip length (12 nights on trail), and shuttle logistics, since the trail runs point-to-point.

What were the major considerations for packing?

• Packing for both hot days and cold nights: Temperatures reached up to 30°C during the day and dropped to 0°C at night, so I packed light, sun-protective layers for daytime and warm layers for the evenings. I wore the Zorali Merino T-shirt and Venture Pants or Shorts during the day, and slept in my Zorali Long Sleeve Thermal and Thermal Pants.
  
  
• Flies: I’d heard the flies could be pervasive. Luckily, winter’s cold mornings kept them mostly at bay, but we still used fly nets in the afternoons.
  
  
• Keeping it light: We were on the trail for 12 days with no resupply (friends joining us midway brought our dehydrated dinners). I shared a tent, which helped us keep weight down, our two-person Summit Seeker tent was only 1.8 kg, and my sleeping mat (the Trek Ultralight Sleeping Pad) weighed just 322g.

Best thing you packed and why?

Tea! We stopped for so many tea breaks just to soak in the landscape. It became something we looked forward to every day. It made the trip special and helped us slow down and be present.

Biggest surprise along the way?

The night sky. It made the trip special in a whole new way. Some nights we walked under moonlight or by head torch and were captivated by the starts, the deep conversations that followed under that endless sky. 

Favourite trial treats?

Wallaby bites, dehydrated apple, and chocolate-loaded trail mix! 

Number one reason you'd recommend Larapinta?

Hiking the Larapinta is an incredible way to reconnect with the land, reconnect with yourself and embark on a truly timeless journey. It's been a hike like no other!