Mission Australia Together we Trek: Larapinta 2022

Imagine a journey that takes you right into the heart of Australia, across the vast and ancient landscape of the Red Centre.

The Larapinta Trail is regarded as one of Australia’s premier walking tracks. Together we Trek will take you along the iconic Larapinta Trail, which winds from the old Alice Springs Telegraph Station to the peak of Mount Sonder, stretching 223 kilometres along the backbone of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Over 5 days of trekking, you will cover more than 60 kilometres of this iconic track, stand on ancient escarpments and gaze out upon the ochre-coloured landscapes of Central Australia.

You’ll experience the diversity of desert habitats and visit sites sacred to the Arrernte people during the day, before falling asleep to the sounds of native wildlife under a blanket of stars.

You will also have the opportunity to visit a local Mission Australia service in Alice Springs to see firsthand how together we’re helping to reduce homelessness and strengthen communities.

Every step you take and every dollar you raise on our Larapinta Trail adventure will directly help vulnerable young people through our brand new mobile outreach service Missionbeat NT.

It’s a tragedy and a national embarrassment that young people in the Northern Territory are more likely to be homeless than any other group of people across Australia.

Shockingly, almost 1 in 10 young people aged 12-18 in the NT will be homeless tonight.¹

Statistics like this are the reason we started our Larapinta Trail fundraising adventure, Together we Trek, in 2018. Our goal was to raise enough funds to launch a new Missionbeat service to provide urgently needed support to young people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage in the NT.

Incredibly, thanks to the passion and generosity of two small groups of supporters who took up the challenge to join our trek, together we raised the money required to make Missionbeat NT a reality in just two years!

We’ve been overwhelmed by the determination of everyday Australians to create change in the lives of young people in the NT, and the support shown for our past two treks.

Now we need your help to keep the wheels turning on this vital service!

Every step you take and every dollar you raise on our Larapinta Trail adventure will directly support vulnerable young people through Mission Australia’s mobile outreach service, Missionbeat NT.

You’ll be supporting young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, disengagement and mental health issues in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country.

The money you raise will ensure these vulnerable young people have immediate help in times of crisis, and access to ongoing support through our existing services, helping them take positive steps towards lives of independence.

As well as contributing vital funds, our hope is that you’ll come away from the trek with a richer understanding of Aboriginal culture and Central Australia, and will continue to advocate for vulnerable Australians for many years to come.

“I’ve been awestruck by the commitment shown by the groups to raise money for Mission Australia. At times on the trek, I found myself quite emotional as I watched people pushing themselves through physical barriers of discomfort and near exhaustion to raise money to help disadvantaged and vulnerable young Australians.”

– James Toomey, CEO Mission Australia, who completed the first trek in 2018

References: ¹ ABS 2018 Census of Population and Housing: Estimating Homelessness, 2016

Want to learn more? Enter your details in the form to instantly receive your information pack.

Ready to register? Click on the Register Now button to secure your spot on the team.

Questions? Give us a call on 1300 905 188.