Tourists can now drive regular vehicles to experience the rock art and dot-painting tours offered in the Wallace Rockhole community, situated in MacDonnell Regional Council, Northern Territory.
This is possible due to the completion of Council’s upgrade of the access road linking Wallace Rockhole to Larapinta Drive.
Wallace Rockhole has an established history as a friendly community and has been running its own tourism operations for several decades.
The recently completed road upgrade will provide greater access for all tourists and operators.
Situated approximately 120km from Alice Springs, Wallace Rockhole has long been considered the hidden gem of the West MacDonnell Ranges cultural tourism.
As well as offering cultural tours, Wallace Rockhole community runs an art centre featuring a pottery studio and a small general store offering souvenirs, food and refreshments.
The upgrade raised and reformed the road, making it safe for two-wheel-drive vehicles to access the cultural tourism opportunities provided by the community. As well as providing greater access for tourists the improved road conditions will also make for more convenient and safer travel for Wallace Rockhole residents.
Earlier this year the work passed all its Roughometer and Compaction Tests after all defects had been identified and corrected.
Speed restriction signs, animal warning signs and drive to condition signs as well as with the community’s 4 Gold Star Tourism Award signage has since been installed, meaning Wallace Rockhole is officially open for business.
Following his announcement in April that MacDonnell Regional Council was to invest $400,000 to upgrade the 18km dirt access road from Larapinta Drive to the Wallace Rockhole community, CEO Jeff MacLeod reflected with pride on Council’s decision, “The completion of the 18km road upgrade is a significant milestone in a very rewarding twelve months for Wallace Rockhole.”
He acknowledged the Federal Government’s support of MacDonnell Regional Council’s road development program.
