Located 10 km east of
Alice Springs, the Park is an easy 15 minute drive along the sealed
Ross Highway. These small Gaps in the Heavitree Range are the first features you see on your arrival in the East MacDonnell Ranges. They contain
Aboriginal paintings significant to the Eastern Arrernte Aboriginal people. Many
places in the landscape form a ‘dreaming trail’. Emily and Jessie Gaps are associated with the caterpillar trail with
Emily Gap the most significant.
Emily Gap is a registered sacred site. A large
rock painting depicts the caterpillar dreaming. Please do not touch any Aboriginal art.
The first European sighting of Emily and
Jessie Gap was believed to be in 1871. It was thought that ‘Emily’ and ‘Jessie’ were the daughters of Sir Charles Todd, but this was found to be untrue. The basis on which the names are derived is unknown.
The Park is accessible all year round. The cooler months (April to September - dry season) are the most pleasant times to visit. Recreational activities such as picnicking and nature observation, with short
walking tracks leading into both Emily and
Jessie Gap. There are picnic tables and fire-pits at
Jessie Gap. Camping is not permitted in the Park. Camping is available in
Alice Springs, and both Trephina and N’Dhala Gorges.