The Ochre Pits of the West Macdonnell Ranges offers a chance to view a quarry that has been used for thousands of years by the Western Arrernte aboriginal people.
Although Ochre is found throughout Australia, the quality of this particular ochre meant that the Western Arrernte people could trade this valuable resource. Aboriginals would travel hundreds of kilometres to obtain the high quality ochre and trade items such as picturing (bush tobacco), spears, boomerangs or down feathers.
The western Arrernte people would crush the ochre, mix it with animal fat and water to make a paste. It would then be used for ceremonies, medicines and paintings.
Ochre Pits
The different colors of ochre in these pits are caused from different amounts of iron oxide present in the ochre. The higher the iron oxide, the darker the ochre.
White and yellow ochres are mainly used for decoration. The ochre is made into a paste and smeared on the body. Charcoal or ash would be used as well in the body painting.
The red ochre was used for medicinal purposes where it was made into a paste and rubbed into sore muscles. The Mungo Man was found covered in Red Ochre who was buried at Lake Mungo 42,000 years ago.
History of the Ochre Pits
Ochre has always been an important part of Aboriginal culture and can be seen in the earliest drawings of Aboriginal arrival in the Kimberley’s, Arnhem Land and Kakadu. There is a drawing of the now extinct megafauna species Genyornis in Arnhem Land that is dated to over 40,000 years ago.
Ochre has been used for many thousands of years with the earliest evidence of man using ochre found in South Africa and dated to around 75000 years ago.
Trip Standard
The Ochre Pits of the West Macdonnell Ranges are located west of Alice Springs along the sealed Larapinta Drive.
Best time to visit the Ochre Pits
The best time to visit is in the cooler months between April to October. The walking track from the car park would only be a hundred meters then a small set of wooden stairs are provided for access into the dry creek bed. The ochre pit is 50m to the right of the stairs.
Camping at the Ochre Pits
Although there is no camping allowed at the Ochre Pits, you don’t need to travel too far.
Nearby camp options from the CampsAustralia books:
Neil Hargrave Lookout – Camps Australia 7:44, Camps Australia 6:48
Serpentine Chalet Bush Camping – Camps Australia 7:45, Camps Australia 6:49
Ellery Creek Big Hole – Camps Australia 7:43, Camps Australia 6:47
Ormiston Gorge Campground – Camps Australia 7:47, Camps Australia 6:51
Redbank Gorge Campground – Camps Australia 7:49, Camps Australia 6:53
What the travel brochure doesn’t mention about the Ochre Pits
The main ingredient of Ochre is Iron Oxide and is non toxic
It’s requested that ochre is not removed from the site
Lots and lots of flys, with the odd wasp thrown in as well looking for a drink.
What to pack when visiting the Ochre Pits
Make sure you have water, hat and most importantly, a fly net to cover your face.
Although we weren’t supposed to take ochre from the pits, the kids couldn’t resist by putting some water on the ochre and painting their faces.
