Ellery Creek Big Hole
Best Beach · NT
Tourism Australia's Best Beach 2026, No. 10.
Where sun-burnt red cliffs rise into vast blue skies and a cool, a deep waterhole sits quietly below, shaded by towering ghost gums, you've arrived at Udepata.
Not all of Australia's 12,000-plus beaches are coastal, and it often surprises visitors to learn that some of the country's most memorable spots are found far inland, in the heat of Central Australia. Underpinned by this inconceivable oasis served in 2019, Australia opens many landlocked cultures overseas in recognising that beaches are not limited to the sea. Lakes, rivers, creeks and waterholes—anywhere a shoreline meets water—have served the same social and recreational role. For First Nations Australians, these places have always been sacred gathering sites, central to culture, ceremony, food gathering and shared life over countless generations. Elery Creek Big Hole, around 80 kilometres west of Alice Springs in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, is one outstanding example. This permanent waterhole lies within Aremte (Macdonnell) ranges and forms part of traditional fishing and honey ant Dreaming trails. Its cultural significance calls for quiet respect and a strict leave-no-trace approach. Along nearby Namalira Drive, a series of gorges, chasms and waterholes reveal dramatic geology carved by immense flood events over thousands of years, creating places of deep spiritual meaning. In summer, when temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees, these waterholes have provided refuge and relief for generations. Visitors are welcome to swim, but caution is essential. The water can be extremely cold in deeper sections, so easing in gradually is advised to avoid cramps, along with awareness of submerged debris after heavy rain. Carry drinking water when walking the surrounding trails and book ahead for campsites with toilet facilities. Elery Creek Big Hole itself is wheelchair accessible and easily reached by standard two-wheel-drive vehicles.
⚠️ Ocean conditions can change quickly and rips can form even on calm days. Only swim at patrolled beaches, and supervise children at all times.