LARAPINTA TRAIL FOOD DROPS

Standley Chasm - Private Facility

$60

Per 50lt container, per drop*

Food drops are placed at Standley Chasm , a private enterprise. We will organise all the permissions and coordination of food drop on your behalf. There is a timing restriction for accessing your container here. You need to be at the kiosk between 830am-430pm. Outside those times the kiosk is closed and you wont be able to access your container.  The storeroom key is not required here.

2020 Update: The kiosk has introduced a $5 food drop fee payable by hikers on container collection.

Ellery Creek South - Official Storeroom

$60

Per 50lt container, per drop*

Official NT Parks and Wildlife Food Storage Point located at Ellery Creek, a major visitation area in the West MacDonnell National Park. Storage room is located in the ablution block building and is locked. You need your storeroom key to access this facility. Accessed 24/7.  A CCTV camera is located at this location for improved security. 

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Serpentine Gorge - Official Storeroom

$80

Per 50lt container, per drop*

New for 2020, this is an official NT Parks and Wildlife Food Storage Point located at the Serpentine Gorge area. The sea container is located about 1km south from the Serp Gorge Shelter or about 170m south west from the car park. This food drop option is mainly for hikers opting to walk the new re-routed Section 7 and using the new Ellery Creek Shelter (Ellery Creek North). For Trek Packages, a food drop here instead of Ellery Creek South is an extra $20 per container.

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Ormiston Gorge - Official Storeroom

$60

Per 50lt container, per drop*

Official NT Parks and Wildlife Food Storage Point located at Ormiston Gorge, a major visitation area in the West MacDonnell National Park. Storage room is located in the main building area where the kiosk is located. You need your storeroom key to access this facility. Access is 24/7. A CCTV camera is located at this location for improved security. 

Alternate Food Drop Point

SIMPSONS GAP 

Food drop point is at the SG shelter or its vicinity. We'll place the containers in the shelter cupboards which aren't secure, meaning the cupboards can be opened by anyone. We can cache the containers nearby but you'll need to know how to read a map and use a GPS.

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$50 per 1x50lt container

Alternate Food Drop Point

BIRTHDAY WATERHOLE

This is a remote area food drop and requires a high clearance 4WD to get out there. Food drop point is at the Birthday Waterhole 4WD campsite, about 900m south of Section4/5 Shelter. All food drops here are cached nearby but you'll need to know how to read a map and use a GPS. 

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$500 for up to 2x50lt containers (same price for just one container)

Alternate Food Drop Point

SERPENTINE CHALET DAM

This is a remote area food drop and requires a high clearance 4WD to get out there. Food drop point is at the Serp Chalet Dam 4WD campsite, about 900m south of shelter. All food drops here are cached nearby but you'll need to know how to read a map and use a GPS. 

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$350 for up to 3x50lt containers (same price for just one container)

Alternate Food Drop Point

MOUNT ZEIL

​Food cache placements at Mt Zeil. These are field cache food drops. You will need to know how to navigate and use a GPS - with precision. Enquire about availability. 

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$450 for up to 3x50lt containers ( same price for one container)

Alternate Food Drop Point

JAY CREEK

This is a remote area food drop and requires a high clearance 4WD to get out there. Food drop point is at the JC shelter or nearby. We'll place the containers in the shelter cupboards which aren't secure, meaning the cupboards can be opened by anyone. We can cache the containers nearby but you'll need to know how to read a map and use a GPS.

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$450 for up to 2x50lt container (same price for just one container)

Alternate Food Drop Point

HUGH GORGE

This is a remote area food drop and requires a high clearance 4WD to get out there. Food drop point is at the Hugh Gorge 4WD campsite, about 700m south of shelter. All food drops here are cached nearby but you'll need to know how to read a map and use a GPS. 

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$550 for up to 2x50lt containers (same price for just one container)

Alternate Food Drop Point

REDBANK GORGE

Food drops here are most commonly used by hikers completed the Larapinta Trail End to End Return (E2ER) or are completing Mt Razorback. Food drops are are at different locations but all are in the bush and away from high use areas.

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$100 for 1x50lt container  or $160 for a 100lt container

Alternate Food Drop Point

CHEWINGS RANGE/MT GILES

​These are heli-based food drops in remote locations. Service is subject to approval from NT Parks. These are field cache food drops. You will need to know how to navigate and use a GPS - with precision. Enquire about availability.

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Prices vary but don't expect anything less than $800 per drop

GEAR RETRIEVAL

Gear Brought Back from the Field

This add-on service includes retrieving the trek containers ( with whatever items in your container you want returned) from the food storerooms or from a cache along the Larapinta Trail. Once retrieved, the containers are secured in LTTS storerooms in Alice Springs and then delivered directly to your accommodation reception/storeroom at the completion of your trek. This service can be added on during the booking process or can be requested during your trek. 

EMERGENCY FOOD DROPS

2-5 hour response turn around

Emergency food drops are placed on the Larapinta Trail within 2-5 hour notice window anytime within a 24 hour period.  This option is most commonly used when the replacement of food is an immediate requirement and without the resupply would result in the the trek being cancelled or severely delayed. Extra cost service.

COMMERCIAL TREK FOOD

Buy dehydrated food

We sell Backcountry Cuisine, Campers Pantry, Outdoor Gourmet and range of other commercially packed and sold trek food. You can order these online from our store.

FOOD CACHING

Remote or fixed locations

Caching food allows hikers to nominate specific points along the trail to have their food cached at convenient locations rather than relying on fixed trailhead locations. Food caches are hidden at either pre-designated locations set by LTTS or at locations set by the hiker. Food caching suits off track hikers requiring re-supply in remote off track areas. This option requires hikers to have competent map, navigational and GPS skills (day/night). Service is dependent on availability of vehicles and staff. Extra cost service.

STORAGE REFRIGERATION

Keeping food refrigerated before placement

We can store your food containers or specific foods from your food drops in refrigerated storage (4-6 deg C), giving you the option of pre-packing fresh food for your food drops. This option does not include us buying any food. Once you have packed your containers during pre-trek, the containers sit in the refrigerated storerooms until the time of trail placement. Service is dependent on availability of vehicles and staff. Extra cost service.

SHORT NOTICE FOOD DROPS

8-12 hour response turn around

Short Notice food drops are placed on the Larapinta Trail within a 8-12 hr notice window anytime within a 24 hour period. This is most commonly used if hikers have overused their food, or had lost or spoiled their food or in very rare instances, had food pilfered by other hikers or wildlife. This service is also popular with hikers who have had unplanned extensions to their trek or delays. Service is dependent on availability of vehicles and staff. Extra cost service.

FRESH FOOD DROPS

Fruit, Vegetables, Juices and Vegan Foods

We offer the pickup and trail placement of pre-ordered fresh food ( fruit, vegetables), juices, non alcoholic drinks, and specific dietary foods which hikers pre-pay & pre-order ( the food/drink list and placement dates). All fresh food orders are bought or picked up on the afternoon before or on the actual day the food is placed on the Larapinta Trail. Fresh food is stored in cooler bags and placed in the containers. Service is dependent on the availability of vehicles and staff.