Honeymoon Gap facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Honeymoon Pass |
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 Location in Northern Territory
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| Location | Hugh |
| Range | West MacDonnell Ranges |
| Coordinates | 23°44′26″S 133°44′34″E / 23.74048°S 133.74266°E |
Honeymoon Gap is a small, special place in Australia's Northern Territory. It's located about 20 kilometers west of Alice Springs, near a road called Larapinta Drive. This beautiful gap is found on Roe Creek, right opposite Simpsons Gap.
Even though its official name is Temple Bar Gap, almost everyone calls it Honeymoon Gap. This name actually refers to the pass that goes through the gap.
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How Honeymoon Gap Got Its Name
Honeymoon Gap was first named Temple Bar by early explorers. These were surveyors who were working on the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. Two men, Gilbert McMinn and William Mills, camped there on February 17, 1871. They likely named it after the famous Temple Bar in London.
At first, McMinn thought this gap would be the main way for the telegraph line to pass through. But just a few days later, they found the wider Heavitree Gap. This is where the telegraph line eventually went.
A Special Place for the Arrernte People
Honeymoon Gap is very important to the Arrernte people. They are the traditional owners of this land. It is said that a respected Arrernte elder, Unchalka (also known as Ntyarlke or 'King Charlie'), was at the gap when the first non-Indigenous people arrived. He met them in a friendly way.
The Honeymoon Story
The name Temple Bar Gap slowly changed to Honeymoon Gap because of a sweet story. In 1942, Robert (Bob) and Victoria (Vicky) Darken got married in Alice Springs. They decided to spend their honeymoon camping at the gap.
Bob was given a week off from the army. The couple borrowed a car and a tent for their trip. But their honeymoon wasn't quite perfect! They had problems with the car, and it rained for most of the week.
Friends of the couple were worried about them. So, they decided to visit them regularly. When they went, they would say they were "going to see the honeymooners." Or they would say they were "going to honeymoon gap." This is how the name became popular!
Official Name Change
It wasn't until 1981 that the name of the pass was officially changed to Honeymoon Gap. However, in 2004, the Northern Territory Place Names Committee decided that the official name of the gap itself should still be Temple Bar Gap, even if it's not commonly used.
