Heavitree Gap Yeperenye Circuit (3.0km)

Emily and Jessie Gaps, 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.

Nestled between the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, ‘The Alice’ (Alice Springs) is famous for its beautiful desert landscapes, colourful outback characters, opportunities for adventure and a strong Aboriginal culture. Alice Springs is a remote town in Australia’s Northern Territory, halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, both 1,500km away. It’s a popular gateway for exploring the Red Centre, the country's interior desert region.