Ruby Gap sits about 150km east of Alice Springs in the East MacDonnell Ranges, at the end of a track that keeps most people out. Red quartzite walls, the Hale River sand, and often nobody else there. It is one of the genuinely remote camping spots you can still reach in a day from town.
Getting there
High clearance four wheel drive only. The last stretch runs in the riverbed itself, which is soft sand and can be slow going, and recovery is your own problem out there. NT Parks and Wildlife publishes access conditions, and the track can be closed after rain.
Camping
Camping is bush camping with no facilities. Carry all your water, take everything out, and check current arrangements with NT Parks and Wildlife before you go.
Corrugations work your mounts loose
This is the maintenance that actually matters out here. Re-torque the mounting bolts on your rack, tub rack or canopy before you leave, check them after the first day of dirt, then every few days. An On The Horizon rooftop tent weighs between 80kg and 120kg depending on the model, and that weight is working on the mounting every kilometre of corrugation. There is more on this in Roof Load Limits Explained.
Dust
A hard shell earns its money on Territory roads. The canvas travels folded inside a closed aluminium lid rather than strapped under a cover collecting bulldust, so the tent you open at the end of the day is the one you closed that morning. That is one of the clearest practical differences between hard shell and soft shell.
Desert nights get cold
Central Australia swings hard. Hot days and nights near freezing in winter, and people pack for the day they arrived. Every On The Horizon rooftop tent has winter insulation built in rather than sold as an add-on, plus a moisture barrier and an anti-condensation pad. Ventilate anyway, because sealing the tent shut on a cold night is what produces damp bedding by morning.
Choosing a tent for Territory touring
On The Horizon hard shell rooftop tents run from $3,290 to $3,990 and set up in 30 to 60 seconds, which matters when camp moves most nights. The 1.4 is 80kg, and the 1.9 Penthouse is 120kg and sleeps three to four. Check your rack's dynamic load rating against that before you order, and if you are not sure, send us what you are running.
Common questions
Do you need a 4WD for Ruby Gap?
Yes, high clearance four wheel drive only. The final section runs in the sandy bed of the Hale River, roughly 150km east of Alice Springs, and there is no recovery service out there.
Can you camp at Ruby Gap?
Yes, bush camping with no facilities. Carry all your own water and take everything out with you. Check current conditions with NT Parks and Wildlife.
Why is a rooftop tent good for Ruby Gap?
You are camping on river sand, which is a poor surface for pegs and for sleeping on. A rooftop tent puts you above it and sets up in 30 to 60 seconds at the end of a slow drive in.
Related guides
Ruby Gap Rooftop Tent Touring Guide: East MacDonnell Ranges
Ruby Gap sits about 150km east of Alice Springs in the East MacDonnell Ranges, at the end of a track that keeps most people out. Red quartzite walls, the Hale River sand, and often nobody else there. It is one of the genuinely remote camping spots you can still reach in a day from town.
Getting there
High clearance four wheel drive only. The last stretch runs in the riverbed itself, which is soft sand and can be slow going, and recovery is your own problem out there. NT Parks and Wildlife publishes access conditions, and the track can be closed after rain.
Camping
Camping is bush camping with no facilities. Carry all your water, take everything out, and check current arrangements with NT Parks and Wildlife before you go.
Corrugations work your mounts loose
This is the maintenance that actually matters out here. Re-torque the mounting bolts on your rack, tub rack or canopy before you leave, check them after the first day of dirt, then every few days. An On The Horizon rooftop tent weighs between 80kg and 120kg depending on the model, and that weight is working on the mounting every kilometre of corrugation. There is more on this in Roof Load Limits Explained.
Dust
A hard shell earns its money on Territory roads. The canvas travels folded inside a closed aluminium lid rather than strapped under a cover collecting bulldust, so the tent you open at the end of the day is the one you closed that morning. That is one of the clearest practical differences between hard shell and soft shell.
Desert nights get cold
Central Australia swings hard. Hot days and nights near freezing in winter, and people pack for the day they arrived. Every On The Horizon rooftop tent has winter insulation built in rather than sold as an add-on, plus a moisture barrier and an anti-condensation pad. Ventilate anyway, because sealing the tent shut on a cold night is what produces damp bedding by morning.
Choosing a tent for Territory touring
On The Horizon hard shell rooftop tents run from $3,290 to $3,990 and set up in 30 to 60 seconds, which matters when camp moves most nights. The 1.4 is 80kg, and the 1.9 Penthouse is 120kg and sleeps three to four. Check your rack's dynamic load rating against that before you order, and if you are not sure, send us what you are running.
Common questions
Do you need a 4WD for Ruby Gap?
Yes, high clearance four wheel drive only. The final section runs in the sandy bed of the Hale River, roughly 150km east of Alice Springs, and there is no recovery service out there.
Can you camp at Ruby Gap?
Yes, bush camping with no facilities. Carry all your own water and take everything out with you. Check current conditions with NT Parks and Wildlife.
Why is a rooftop tent good for Ruby Gap?
You are camping on river sand, which is a poor surface for pegs and for sleeping on. A rooftop tent puts you above it and sets up in 30 to 60 seconds at the end of a slow drive in.
Related guides