MacDonnell Ranges

Outback Australia. The Northern Territory. West MacDonnell National Park covers a vast and spectacular part of the MacDonnell Ranges west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Joe Mortelliti captures the heart of the area with his camera. Just have a look at the magnificent photo of the dawn sun on Mt Sonder in the first picture on this page.

Aussie Stories - telling about Australia in words and pictures Joe Mortelliti‘s life long love, from when he was first given a Brownie camera as a boy, was photography. It was the focus of his work life for many years. He loved to travel with his wife Marion to as many parts of Australia as he could. He had the ability to ‘see’ the beauty of our land in such a way that he could photograph it for the delight of others. These photos are a legacy that he has left us. Used by permission and with appreciation.
Aussie Stories - telling about Australia in words and pictures

Dawn on Mt Sonder, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Dawn on Mt Sonder, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. WOW! Magnificent, strong photo of Mt Sonder at dawn. July 2005.

Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography

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Purple tones, Mt Sonder, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Purple tones, Mt Sonder, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. Taken at sunrise, these captured purple tones of Mt Sonder can be seen in many Albert Namatjira paintings of this district. July 2005.

Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography

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MacDonnell Ranges, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia.
MacDonnell Ranges, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. Located west of Alice Springs, is an outstanding example of an ancient landscape sculptured over time by climatic elements. July 2005.

Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography
Storm coming, Glen Helen Homestead, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia.
Storm coming, Glen Helen Homestead, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. The storm about to hit. Spectacular clouds are the omen of very heavy rain. Pictured from the Glen Helen Homestead Lodge resort. Dramatic weather in the Northern Territory! March 2016.

Copyright © Glen Helen Homestead Lodge
Finke River, after rain, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia.
Finke River, after rain, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. After last nights storm we woke up this morning to the beautiful Finke River in full flow. March 2016.

Copyright © Glen Helen Homestead Lodge
Finke River flowing through Glen Helen Gorge, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Finke River flowing through Glen Helen Gorge, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. Photo taken from our outside seating area out the back of our homestead. March 2016.

Copyright © Glen Helen Homestead Lodge

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Flooded crossing, Finke River, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia.
Flooded crossing, Finke River, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. After the storm, the floods. Dramatic weather in the Northern Territory results in flooding rains. Roads are closed because crossings are flooded. This is the Finke River crossing near the Glen Helen Homestead Lodge resort. March 2016.

Copyright © Glen Helen Homestead Lodge

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Hermannsburg, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Hermannsburg, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. This is the landscape that inspired Albert Namatjira to paint what are now famous landscape painting works of this region. July 2005.

Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography

In 1934 a Western Arrernte Aboriginal man by the name of Albert viewed an art exhibition at the Lutheran Mission of Hermannsburg, Central Australia. The exhibition was arranged by mission superintendent Pastor F.W. Albrecht and featured the works of traveling artists Rex Battarbee and John Gardner. Over the two day exhibition more than 300 Aboriginal people attended. They stood enchanted and amazed at the sight of their tribal lands as portrayed by the European artists.

The exhibition fired Albert’s imagination and interest in painting. He endeavoured to learn the new craft. It would bring him fame, but ultimately despair as he discovered the hypocrisies with which it came. His success challenged naïve philosophies of the time and helped pave the way for freedom for his people and respect for their culture in a rapidly changing world.

More info on Hermannsburg at The Hermannsburg School

Aussie Stories - telling about Australia in words and pictures

Tnorala, Gosse Bluff, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Tnorala, Gosse Bluff, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. This feature was created by a huge comet which struck Central Australia leaving one of the largest impact structures in the world, measuring roughly 25 kilometres in diameter. The ring of hills is 50-100 metres high. July 2005.

Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography

Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve is a place of great cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people, as well as one of international scientific interest. More info on Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) at The West Macs

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Ochre Pit, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Ochre Pit, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. Ochre has been used all over the world for decoration and painting since pre-historic times. The Ochre Pits are still used as a source of ochre by the local Arrernte people. July 2005.
Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography
Standley Chasm, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Standley Chasm, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. The Standley (not Stanley) Chasm is an example of the long-term erosive work of streams in the MacDonnell Ranges. July 2005.
Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography

More info on Standley Chasm at Standley Chasm
Palm Valley, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Palm Valley, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. It is striking to see how trees grab a foothold in these rock faces and flourish. July 2005.
Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography

To purchase a Hema map of Central Australia, click here

Palms, Palm Valley, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Palms, Palm Valley, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. Set in the Finke Gorge National Park, it is an oasis of lush vegetation including Livistona Mariae Palms, reputed to be thousands of years old. The Valley was discovered by Ernest Giles in 1872 during his explorations of The Centre. The Finke Gorge National Park lies within the James and Krichauff Ranges, mostly along the Finke River. July 2005.
Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography

Purchase your Australian Road and 4WD atlas here. Comprehensive touring information for all of Australia.

Ormiston Gorge, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
Ormiston Gorge, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. Ormiston Gorge is probably the most spectacular of the gorges in the range and the adventurous can spend many hours exploring the pound which runs east from the large waterhole at the gorge. The area is rich in flora and fauna. July 2005
Copyright © Joe Mortelliti Photography

Aussie Stories - telling about Australia in words and pictures

Aussie Stories - telling about Australia in words and pictures

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Although many of our contributors use professional camera equipment such as the Nikon Coolpix 1000, at ThisisAustralia we usually use our mobile phone cameras. A Samsung Galaxy Note 10 +, which has been great, and we will continue to use. We have also just purchased a Samsung S21 Ultra. This has been described as an ‘insanely brilliant camera with a phone attached’. So we are expecting some really good quality pics! Some of our contributors have also used the iPhone 13 with good success.