Yeperenye / Emily and
Jessie Gaps Nature Park
Fact Sheet
These small Gaps in the Heavitree
Range are the first features you
come to on your trip into the
East MacDonnell Ranges. They
contain interesting Aboriginal
paintings and are important
spiritual sites to the Eastern
Arrernte Aboriginal people.
Many places in the landscape
are associated with the same
dreamtime story. Together these
places form a ‘dreaming trail’.
Emily and Jessie Gap are both
associated with the caterpillar
trail. Emily Gap is probably the
most significant, as this is where
the caterpillar beings of Mparntwe
(Alice Springs) originated. These
caterpillars formed Emily Gap and
many of the topographic features
around Alice Springs, then radiated
out to the edge of the Simpson
Desert.
Emily Gap (Anthwerrke) is a
registered sacred site. A large rock
painting depicts the caterpillar
dreaming. Please respect the site
and do not touch any Aboriginal art.
The first European sighting of
Emily and Jessie Gap was 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.
Access
Located 10 km east of Alice
Springs, the Park is an easy 15
minute drive along the sealed Ross
Highway.
When to visit
The Park is accessible all year
round. The cooler months (April to
September) are the most pleasant
times to visit.
Parks & Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory
nt.gov.au/parks Regional Office - Arid Zone Research Institute
South Stuart Highway
PO Box 1120 ALICE SPRINGS NT 0870
ALICE SPRINGS NT 0871 Ph: (08) 8951 8250
What to do
Picnicking - This Park Safety and Comfort
offers recreational activities • Observe park safety signs.
such as picnicking and nature • Carry and drink plenty of water.
observation. There are picnic • Wear a shady hat, sunscreen,
tables and firepits at Jessie Gap. insect repellent, suitable
clothing and footwear.
Walks - There are short
• Avoid strenuous activity during
walking tracks leading into
the heat of the day.
both Emily and Jessie Gap. You
• Consider your health and fitness
can also walk between Emily and when choosing a walk.
Jessie Gaps along the Yeperenye
Trail.
Please Remember
• Keep to designated roads and
Yeperenye Trail (shared use
tracks.
walkers and cyclists)
(Grade 3, 8.2 km, 2 hours one • All historic, cultural items and
wildlife are protected.
way on foot, 1 hour one way by
bicycle). • Traditional Owners ask that
visitors do not climb the rocks
This gentle track takes you along in the Gaps or on the north side
the foothills of the range, allowing of the range.
you to explore the local flora and • It is requested that you do not
fauna. It is wheelchair accessible take photos inside Emily Gap or
(with assistance) for 500m from of the rockart.
Emily Gap. You can also ride your • Firewood collection is not
bike along the trail. permitted in the park.
Camping - Camping is • Fires are only permitted in
designated firepits.
not permitted on the Park.
There are many opportunities • Bins are not provided, please
take your rubbish with you
for camping in Alice Springs
• Pets are not permitted.
and further east at Trephina and
• Drones are not permitted.
N’Dhala Gorge.
• Camping is not permitted within
Some activities such as events and
the Park.
gatherings may not be appropriate
within Emily or Jessie Gap. Please
phone Parks and Wildlife on (08)
8951 8250 for information about Telling the story of the
permitted activities. Caterpillar Dreaming
Anthwerrke Interactive
Experience - The Traditional
Owners have developed an App
that allows them to share some of
the cultural values of the park.
There is limited phone reception at
Emily Gap, so it is a good idea
to download it prior to your
visit. For more information visit
www.sitesandtrails.com.au
 Yeperenye / Emily and
Jessie Gaps Nature Park

Alice Springs Region Alice Springs

Telegraph
To Darwin
Arltunga
Trephina
Redbank Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Station Gorge
Gorge Ormiston National Park Yeperenye / Ruby Gap
Simpsons Emily & Nature Park
Gorge Standley
Ochre Gap Jessie
y
N’Dhala
0 Hw
50 100 Tnorala Ellery Crk Chasm Gorge
Pits Gap
(Gosse Bluff) Glen Big Hole Corroboree
Kilometres Conservation Helen Na m Ro ss Rock
atji ra D
r ive John Flynn’s
Reserve
La
ra Hermannsburg e Grave ALICE
pin r iv
SPRINGS

ay
ta Drive D

hw
Palm Valley Lara p i nta
Owen

H ig
Springs
Watarrka Finke Gorge Reserve Rainbow Valley
National Park National Park Conservation
Kings Canyon Kings Canyon Reserve
Illamurta Springs
Resort Stuarts Well
Conservation
Reserve
On Park Locality Kings Creek
Off Park Locality Station
Sealed Road e st Giles R o ad
E rn Henbury
Unsealed Road Meteorites
Road

4WD Track Conservation

Reserve
Park Boundary

Stu art
Chambers Pillar
Historical Reserve
L uritja

Uluru - Kata Tjuta

National Park Mac Clark
(Acacia peuce)
Yulara Erldunda Conservation
Mt Ebenezer
r w ay Reserve
H igh
e
et

s
Curtin as
Uluru L
Springs
To Adelaide

To Alice Springs
YEPERENYE / EMILY AND
JESSIE GAPS NATURE PARK
Park Map
0 2.5 5

Kilometres Park Boundary

Heavitree Gap

0 0.5 1
Emily Gap
Kilometres Jessie Gap
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Emily Gap
E mily

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To Alice Springs Cr
10 km ee
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Ros s
a y
hw
Hig To Trephina Gorge
& Arltunga

Emily and Jessie Gap - Facilities & Activities

Yeperenye Trail
Parking Area Aboriginal Art Sites ! ! !
(shared use)
Toilets Short Walks Drainage

Picnic Facilities No Fires Sealed Road

Wood BBQ No Camping Park Boundary

A/10/2022PWCNT F a c t S heet
For more information visit nt.gov.au/parks or contact Tourism Central Australia 1800 645 199 or (08) 8952 5800 discovercentralaustralia.com