Napwerte / Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve

Ewaninga (Napwerte) is a small but culturally rich site about 40 km south of Alice Springs, preserving fine examples of Central Australian Aboriginal rock engravings. On a low sandstone ridge above a claypan, ancient artists have pecked and incised a variety of symbols into the rock surfaces. These rock carvings (petroglyphs) include concentric circles, animal tracks, and sunburst patterns whose meanings relate to Dreaming stories of the Arrernte people – particularly the Perentie (goanna) and other important Creation ancestors. The site is still of deep significance to Arrernte elders and is treated with respect (visitors are asked not to touch the engravings). A short walking trail (approximately 600 m loop) with informative signs guides you among the outcrops and identifies some key motifs and their possible interpretations. The engravings are estimated to be thousands of years old and have survived in the arid climate, though they are best seen in the raking light of early morning or late afternoon when shadows make them stand out clearly. Boardwalks and viewing platforms help protect the most fragile carvings while allowing close viewing. Aside from the petroglyphs, the reserve offers a tranquil desert scene with spinifex, desert oaks, and often birdlife around the claypan (after rain it may hold water, attracting waterbirds and kangaroos). The site has a small carpark and picnic table but no water or other facilities. Ewaninga is easily visited on a half-day trip from Alice Springs and provides a fascinating insight into the rich spiritual and artistic heritage of the region’s first peoples. It is one of the few publicly accessible rock art sites in the Alice area and affords a special opportunity to contemplate symbols that have been part of the landscape for countless generations.