Stage 8 of the Larapinta Trail covers 13.2 km from Rocky Gully to Ellery Creek North, with 93 m of ascent and 187 m of descent. The highest point is 800 m. Allow about 4.5 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Category B drive-in campground beside the permanent Ellery Creek Big Hole waterhole, about 0.7 km off the main trail on the alternative route, with toilets, gas barbecues and a food-drop storeroom (key from Tourism Central Australia). Boil the water; the waterhole is very cold.
NT Parks walkers-only trailhead campsite at the Section 6/7 junction, with a shelter and a water tank; no vehicle access, and the toilets are closed in 2026. Ellery Creek Big Hole and its food-drop storeroom are about 1 km south.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or in guides but could not be checked on an official page. There are no huts on the Larapinta Trail: you camp in your own tent, and every night must be booked and paid online at parkbookings.nt.gov.au before you go. Check which campsites have a water tank and carry enough water to reach the next one.
Emergency: call 000 (112 from a mobile). Carry a PLB. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.