N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park Hale, Northern Territory
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
N'Dhala Gorge
N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park Location in Northern Territory
Nearest town or city	Alice Springs
Established	21 December 1962 (1962-12-21)
Area	5.01 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory Traditional Owners
Website	N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park
See also	Protected areas of the Northern Territory

N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park is a special protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia. It has sandy areas and rocky hills. This park is about 90 kilometers east of Alice Springs. It is most famous for its thousands of ancient rock carvings made by Indigenous Australians.

Exploring N'Dhala Gorge

N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park is found in the eastern MacDonnell Ranges. This amazing place holds about 6,000 stone carvings. These carvings are also known as petroglyphs. The park is also home to many rare Australian plants.

The Arrernte People and Their History

The Eastern Arrernte people have used this gorge for a very long time. They call the area Ilwentje. The gorge has important sacred sites for men. It also has places where people lived and made art.

Ancient Rock Carvings

The 6,000 stone carvings are very old. Experts believe they were made during two different times. The first carvings are about ten thousand years old. The second group was made about three thousand years ago.

People created these carvings using two main methods. One way was by hitting a rocky surface with another rock. This made a pounded design. The other way was a fine pecking technique. This created more detailed patterns.

Unique Plants of the Gorge

N'Dhala Gorge is also special for its plant life. Some important plants found here include the undoolya wattle. Another unique plant is the peach-leafed poison bush. These plants add to the park's natural beauty.

Gallery of Rock Carvings