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Simpsons Gap

Simpsons Gap is one of the most famous sights along the West MacDonnell Ranges . Set in the tranquil surrounds of a permanent waterhole shaded by towering cliffs and ghost gums, we guarantee it will become a destination you will never forget.

The traditional owners of the land, the Arrarnta people, have lived in the region for at least 30,000 years and regard Simpsons Gap (also known as Rungutjirpa) as the spiritual site of the Dreamtime stories of the giant goanna ancestors as well as the eagle and rock wallaby.

Things to know about Simpsons Gap 

Located only 18 kilometres from Alice Springs , Simpsons Gap is the perfect getaway for a quick but encompassing experience of the incredible West MacDonnell Ranges.

You can visit the area at almost any time of the year, as it remains relatively shady in summer and cool year-round, especially compared to the famously hot tip of the Northern Territory . However, the best time to visit Simpsons Gap is always early in the morning or in the late afternoon when the incredibly deep reds and oranges of the outback come to life across the horizon.

When visiting, it is important to know that all historic and cultural items, as well as the wildlife of Simpsons Gap are protected. This means that visitors are not allowed to swim in the waterhole and must always get permission before taking photographs of others.

Local wildlife to Simpsons Gap

Simpsons Gap has some of the most plentiful and rare vegetation within the West MacDonnell Ranges, with large stands of mulga, and over 40 different varieties of rare and relict plants Water flows through a small gap in the ranges providing a sheltering haven for a range of native wildlife like the resident black footed rock wallabies which playfully hide among the rocks.

AAT Kings’ tours that visit Simpsons Gap

West MacDonnell Ranges – Full Day Tour

On our full Day Tour, a knowledgeable guide will share with you the history and cultural significance of the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges, a truly unique part of outback Australia.

The West MacDonnell Ranges are enormous and stretch across 600 kilometres east and west of Alice Springs. Aside from Simpsons Gap, the Full Day Tour also visits the beautiful Standley Chasm , a geological marvel, where a narrow gap, 80 metres high of quartzite rock, was formed through a steady stream over thousands of years.

On top of that you will also visit the Ellery Creek Big Hole, the Ormiston Gorge, the Ochre Pits and enjoy a bushman’s lunch at the Ellery Creek Gorge. If you’re short on time but would like to see as much of West MacDonnell Ranges as possible, this is the tour for you.

View the full itinerary for the West MacDonnell Ranges Full Day Tour .

Outback Adventure – 15 Day Guided Holiday

For those who have always wanted to discover the central gateway of Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin , then there is no better way than on our 15 Day Outback Adventure Guided Holiday.

The tour starts in South Australia , famous for their incredible food, wine, and splendorous natural environment. First off you will enjoy their finest food, with an expert guide, at the Adelaide Central Market and then on to tasting the world-class wines in Clare Valley. Afterwards you’ll see more of the great Australian outback by exploring Wilpena Pound and discovering the opals at Coober Pedy.

Next off you will arrive in the iconic Red Centre , spending three days awe-struck by the beauty of Uluru . Along this stretch there are many other day trips in the Alice Springs surrounds, including famous locations like the West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon .

The final section of your Guided Holiday will explore Australia’s Top End, where you’ll experience the natural wonders of the Litchfield National Park and Kakadu National Park .

View the full itinerary for the Outback Adventure 15 Day Guided Holiday .

Outback Safari – 11 Day Guided Holiday

The 11 Day Outback Safari Guided Holiday is perfect for those looking to tick off a visit to the sacred sites of the Northern Territory from their bucket list in style.

The Guided Holiday starts from the base of Central Australia, at Australia’s most famous natural icon – Uluru. From there, the itinerary will take you through the best that the Northern Territory has to offer, including the 36 mystical domes of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and the fabled Yellow Water Billabong which is located within Kakadu National Park.

Our friendly Travel Directors and Driver Guides enrich your experience with their deep knowledge of the area as you enjoy the scenery from within a fully air-conditioned luxury coach.

View the full itinerary for the Outback Safari 11 Day Guided Holiday .

Browse our tours below to learn more about experiencing Simpsons Gap.

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Start planning your Simpsons Gap tour

Discover the most famous gap in the west macdonnell ranges, simpsons gap will take your breath away.

Travel just 18 kilometres west of Alice Springs and you’ll discover the towering red rock cliffs of Simpsons Gap. Located in the Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, Simpsons Gap is a place of rare beauty with an abundance of wildlife to look out for. Rock wallabies can be spotted along the walking tracks and large areas of mulga are dotted with ancient plants native to the area.

Simpsons Gap is known as Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte Aboriginal people and is the mythological home of giant goanna ancestors. This makes the area an important spiritual site.  The canyon’s rich colours of ochre and red, and picturesque waterhole will leave you wanting more. So with its proximity to Alice Springs, Simpsons Gap is a great place to start your West MacDonnell Ranges adventure.

Come and discover Simpsons Gap on a Fun Over Fifty tour

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Look for rock wallabies and ancient flora

On arrival, you’ll find the Visitor Information Centre just past the entrance gate. Displays here provide a good introduction to help you plan your visit. Self-guiding pamphlets are available. You’ll need to follow the road a further 6km from the info centre to reach the car park. It’s then a 15-minute walk to the Gap. There are plenty of facilities onsite including barbeques, picnic areas, shelters and toilets.

You can choose from several Simpsons Gap walks offering views of the gorge and a chance to spot rare flora and fauna. All walks are well-marked. Walking at dawn or dusk will give you the greatest chance of spotting the black-footed rock wallaby.

Something for everyone

The short 15-minute Ghost Gum walk focuses on native plants of the area. Whilst the longer Cassia Hill walk (1.7km/1 hour) delivers elevated views of Simpsons Gap. For walking enthusiasts, there’s the Woodland Trail (17km) to Bond Gap, and the infamous long-distance Larapinta Trail also passes through this way. Note that camping at Simpsons Gap is only available to those walking the Larapinta Trail.

If you’d like to join a Simpsons Gap tour, Fun Over Fifty includes visits on all of our packages staying in Alice Springs. From Simpsons Gap, we continue into the West MacDonnell Ranges to visit Ormiston Gorge and Ellery Creek Big Hole .

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit simpsons gap.

Simpsons Gap is accessible all year round however you’ll find the cooler months from April to September are the most pleasant.

What should you pack before travelling to Simpsons Gap?

As with all travel in outback Australia, you should be prepared with sunscreen, water, and a hat, and plan to visit during the cooler hours of the day.

How do you get to Simpsons Gap?

You can reach Simpsons Gap by sealed road along Larapinta Drive, west of Alice Springs. There is also a cycling path covering the 17-kilometre journey.

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A Guide to Simpsons Gap

The West MacDonnell Ranges / Tjoritja has several scenic gaps, and one of the most prominent ones is Simpsons Gap . The gap has been carved out of the ranges by Roe creek, and here water flows through the small gap in the MacDonnell Ranges. Located just 18 kilometres from Alice Springs, this permanent waterhole is home to resident plants and wildlife, including the black-footed-rock wallaby.

Simpsons Gap is a spiritual place for the local Arrente aboriginal people, calling it Rungutjirpa. A lot of dreaming stories and trails cross this site.

The gap also lies on the Larapinta Trail and is a major attraction for tourists interested in hiking, and short tours. You can enjoy many short walks that pass through native plants like ghost gums and enjoy the spectacular view of the range.

The Northern Territory Government and traditional Aboriginal owners manage the Simpsons Gap area to provide the best facilities to make your tours and trips memorable. Some of the facilities you can enjoy here include:

• Picnic tables: There are shady picnic areas near Simpsons Gap and the ranger station
• BBQs: You can take advantage of free gas barbeques and cook your lunch or dinner
• Clean, flushing toilets behind the carpark
• Drinking water and handwashing facilities
• Parking for coaches and cars

For a map of the park,  click here . Use the  Avenza Maps App  to track your walk on the interactive park map.

Simpsons Gap is just 20 minutes drive from Alice Springs, along sealed road. However, if you want to enjoy cycling, there is a sealed 17kms one-way bicycle path that begins opposite Flynn's Grave. The Grave is 7kms from Alice Springs CBD along Larapinta Drive. If you and your family members are confident bike riders, this can be a pleasant ride for the whole family.

Don't forget to take your helmet, plenty of water, and snacks. Be sun smart, use sun protection, and choose the coolest part of the day for this ride.

See our guide to the cycling path

There are several walking opportunities within the Simpsons Gap area. All these walking paths have well-marked directions signs. The prominent walks are:

Ghost Gum Walk

Ghost Gum walk is less than a kilometre walk behind the ranger station. It's an easy walk of about 15 minutes. This nature trail introduces you to the flora, fauna, and geology of the surrounding area, including ancient Ghost Gum or Corymbia aparrerinja.

Cassa Hill Walk

The Cassa Hill Walk is a 1.5km short and steady loop walk, and it takes about one hour to finish this walk. After following creek beds, you will reach the top of a small hill where you can enjoy unparalleled vistas of the MacDonnell Ranges and the Simpsons Gap area.

Woodland Trail 

In this 17km easy walk, you will reach some lesser-visited sections of Simpsons Gap. You walk out to the Bond Gap on the Woodland Trail and return through section 2 of the Larapinta Trail. After another few kilometres, you will reach the Gap itself. The Gap has a narrow cleft with ice-cold water. You may spot small black-footed rock wallabies here on the rocky slopes. Though they blend with the rocks, you may be lucky to see the gorgeous small creature if you keep your eyes open. This Simpsons Gap walk also displays different examples of Mulga woodland.

Larapinta Trail

The Larapinta Trail is an adventurous 223km long hiking track through the West MacDonnell Ranges. This walking track has 12 sections, and Simpsons Gap is part of sections 1 and 2. If you want to complete the whole track, you need 1/2 days to complete each section. 

Section 1 and 2 are moderate-to-difficult in walking as they have some steep ascents. Section 1 starts from Alice Springs Telegraph Station ending at Simpsons Gap and is a 24.7km walk. Trekking on this path can give you views of Alice Springs and good birdwatching opportunities. Section 2 is a 26.2km walk that starts with Simpsons Gap and ends at Jay Creek. You can enjoy walking through the home of brushtail possum colonies. Also, don't forget to explore and enjoy the rock outcrop landscape here, which is around 2 billion years old.

Camping at Simpsons Gap is reserved for Larapinta Trail hikers only.

Simpsons Gap FAQ

What is simpsons gap's aboriginal name, can you swim at simpsons gap, is the road to simpsons gap sealed, how do i get to simpsons gap, what is there to do at simpsons gap.

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Simpsons Gap

Top ways to experience Simpsons Gap and nearby attractions

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Simpsons Gap

Things to do alice springs , alice springs , northern territory.

Simpsons Gap is one of the most prominent gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Located just 18 kilometres from Alice Springs, it features the towering cliffs of Simpsons Range, a permanent waterhole and opportunities to spot resident wildlife.

At dawn and dusk you might see Black-footed Rock-wallabies along the walking track into the gap. Vegetation typical of the MacDonnell Ranges is found in the area, including large stands of Mulga and over 40 rare and relict plants.

There are several short walks that pass the native plants including ancient Ghost Gums and/or with views of the range. Simpsons Gap is also located on the Larapinta Trail, a 231 kilometre walking track through the West MacDonnell Ranges. From Simpsons Gap you can walk Sections 1 or 2 of the trail.

Known as Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte Aboriginal people, Simpsons Gap was the mythological home of a group of giant goanna ancestors. Several dreaming trails and stories cross at this important spiritual site.

The turn off to Simpsons Gap is along the Larapinta Drive. The Gap can also be reached by cycling 17 kilometres one-way along the Simpsons Gap Bike Path. Camping is permitted at Simpsons Gap for Larapinta Trail walkers only. Multi-day walker fees and camping fees apply. Multi-day trail use and campsites must be booked online before you arrive.

Park entry fees – Parks Pass applies. (NT residents exempt).

Camping and extended walk fees apply to all visitors.

Nearby Things to Do

Old Timers Traeger Museum

Kilgariff, Alice Springs

Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park

Alice Springs

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Simpsons Gap

A short 17 km drive out of Alice Springs is Simpsons Gap, located in the West MacDonnell National Park.

If you haven’t got much time in Alice Springs, this is the perfect place to visit to give you a taste of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Entry is free and there’s lots to see and do.

Simpsons Gap is a stunning gorge carved out of the West MacDonnell Ranges by Roe Creek, where water flows through a small gap in the range.

The Gap is a sacred site to Central Arrernte Aboriginal people, and is called Rrengetyirpe (Rrung-GAH-chip-uh – trill the double ‘r’ as in Spanish) the local language. It’s a place that’s associated with Perentie (goanna), Eagle and Rock Wallaby Dreamings.

This page tells you how to get there, what to do and when to visit!

Side note , as of April 2023 a NT Parks Pass is now required to enter most parks run by the NT Government. This does not include Uluru or Kakadu as separate passes are required as these are run by the Federal Government.

Getting there

Turn onto Larapinta Drive from the Stuart Highway in Alice Springs , and head west for 17km (about 15 minutes drive).

Along the way, you’ll pass the Alice Springs Desert Park , Flynn’s Grave and Honeymoon Gap .

Suggested Itineraries

Simpsons Gap is ideal if you don’t have long to spend in Alice Springs, but you’d like to get a taste of the West MacDonnell Ranges or combine it with a few other Alice Springs highlights.

Itinerary 1:

Time needed: 1 hour

Drive out to Simpsons from Alice (15 minutes), walk down into the Gap itself and return to your vehicle (half an hour), drive back to Alice Springs (15 min).

Itinerary 2:

Time needed: 3-4 hours

After the Desert Park, drive west for 2 minutes and stop at Flynn’s Grave. You can read more about the history of this memorial here .

Leaving Flynn’s Grave, head west once more for about 10 minutes. Turn right at the Simpsons Gap sign, and call in at the small visitor’s centre. After this, head straight down to the Gap itself, in time for some great late afternoon photography.

Things to Do

The Gap itself is located at the end of Darken Drive, 6 km from the intersection with Larapinta Drive.

As you drive in, you’ll come to the ranger station and a small information centre with toilets.

Stop here and read about the park and chat to the rangers if they’re about.

There’s a short walk behind the ranger station called the Ghost Gum Walk , which is very easy and only takes about 15 minutes. Essentially, it’s a nature trail that introduces you to the flora, fauna and geology of the area.

Back on the road, after crossing Roe Creek again, you’ll come to carparks marking the trail heads of the Woodland Walk and Cassia Hill Walk.

The Cassia Hill Walk is a short loop walk of about 1.5km. It takes you through a variety of outback habitats onto a small hill, where you can take some fantastic photos of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

The Woodland Walk is 17 km return. It’s a very easy walk that takes you into some lesser-visited sections of the Park. The walk takes you out to Bond Gap, and returns via Section 2 of the Larapinta Trail.

Read the info on the signs at the beginning of these walks and always be prepared with adequate water, a hat and sturdy shoes.

Another few kilometres along the road and you’ll reach the Gap itself.

A short stroll takes you down to the Gap and the waterhole where you can marvel at the geology of this place. You can’t swim in the waterhole, but it’s a great place to hang out on a hot day, as the narrow gorge is shady and cool.

Keep your eyes ready, because small black-footed rock wallabies live all around the rocky slopes on either side of the creek.

They blend in with the rocks, but if you’re patient and willing to wait, you’ll be rewarded with a photo of one of these gorgeous little creatures.

Back at the carpark are toilets and a great picnic area with water, shelter and free gas bbqs.

Apart from the short walk down to the gap there are a few walks back down the road where you can get a better appreciation of the area.

If you’re out for a little more exercise and you have a bicycle, then an exceptional track runs 17km between Flynn’s Grave and Simpsons Gap. Lots of people ride this track even during a full moon!

When to Visit?

Because it’s so close to Alice Springs, Simpsons Gap is somewhere you can visit at almost any time of the year, and at any time of the day.

Even in the summer, it’s cool and shady, and is a very popular place for local to have dinner or evening drinks.

However, the best time to visit is either in the late afternoon or early morning, when the incredible reds and oranges of the sun on the ranges makes for some of the most incredible photographs you’ll ever take.

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My wife and I visited simpsons Gap on our trip to the area way back in 2004 (I think it is time for us to return – camping this time). What struck me about Simpsons Gap was the feel of the rock especially on the left side of the gap. The wind, and other elements I assume, had polished the rock to a very smooth finish. It actually had a shine to it in parts. An awesome place to visit.

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small group tours specialising in art

We travel to some of the best and most remote places in the Red Centre to make art outdoors, and to experience the wilderness landscapes intimately in low impact groups, all while learning from the oldest continuous culture in the world. 

The landscapes of Central Australia are special. They have the unique ability to inspire artists and art lovers, and help us to connect to the ancient history of humanity that exists here.

We visit Aboriginal artists and cultural experts for authentic first hand knowledge sharing experiences,  and explore the ancient desert to learn about the unique flora and fauna.

Art Tours of Australia run small group tours in Central Australia that specialise in making art outdoors. We run trips with workshops for beginner artists, and help established artists with the logistics of making art outdoors in remote locations.

Adventure is at the centre of our philosophy, you can find us in the Art Tours of Australia 4WD, or camping out in swags around a campfire. 

J oin us for a small group tour specialising in ART. 

WHERE WE GO

We are based in Central Australia, on Arrernte Country, and run the majority of our trips here (although we do have some new itineraries in the works for 2024!).

We go to stunning natural landscapes near Alice Springs / Mparntwe, and travel into the West MacDonnell Ranges / Tjoritja.

Some of our regular trips go as far south as Uluru on Anangu Country. We are open to charter tour requests from art groups, and can take you more or less anywhere in Central Australia with our off-road camping set up. 

Lots of our trips focus on art making and camping, but we also run trips for art lovers and

people who prefer looking at and buying art, rather than make it themselves. These trips are ideal for people who want to learn more about Aboriginal art and Culture, and who want to buy authentic Aboriginal art from trusted art centres, and in some cases, directly from artists. 

*Art Tours of Australia never takes a commission on Aboriginal art sales. 

5 Day Art & Culture Trip

Simpsons gap sunset - watercolour painting class, private charter tours.

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• +61 (0)477 223 011
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Art Tours of Australia predominantly operates on Arrernte, Anangu, and Luritja country. We acknowledge Elders past, present, and emerging, and the unwavering care taken for country, Culture, and language. 

Discovering Simpsons Gap on the Ghan Train Journey

• Last Updated: May 27, 2019

The train rolled in to Alice Springs, Australia’s iconic outback town in the Northern Territory. Dusty outcrops and sprawling desert had made up the sparse journey from Adelaide, and suddenly being in a vibrant city we had heard so much about was incredibly splendid.

The first day on The Ghan had been a relaxed affair; conversations with the other passengers flowed as smoothly as the drinks from the open bar. This 3-day train ride from Adelaide to Darwin dissects the nation’s centre, and has been attracting travellers from around the world for years. Now it was our turn, and we happily embraced the impeccable experience.

A few hours earlier we had welcomed the new day during our sunrise breakfast in Marla, the tiny outback station in the middle of South Australia. To break up the 54-hour ride, Great Southern Rail include a number of opportunities to disembark.

We had already fallen in love with Rawlinna when we crossed Australia from east to west on the Indian Pacific , and couldn’t wait to reach Marla.

Sipping on coffees and snacking on bacon and egg sliders by an open fire was the perfect way to wake up. We watched as the thick blackness of day transformed into dawn, the never-ending sky opening up as the sun made its way towards the horizon.

The time went by quickly before we jumped back on board for the stretch to Alice Springs.

After a proper breakfast in the dining cart we retired to our cabin to gaze out the window at Australia’s infinite landscape. Just after lunch we crossed into the Northern Territory and arrived in Alice Springs .

We had 4 hours to enjoy the city, with a range of off-train excursions available to the passengers. Some had opted for a city tour, while others chose to visit the Alice Springs Desert Park, boasting a hands-on experience to learn about life in the desert.

Being more drawn to nature and hiking, we skipped these two options and immediately signed up for the Simpsons Gap Discovery Walk.

Just outside of Alice Springs is one of the region’s most important watering holes. A number of towering cliffs carve their way through the West MacDonnell Ranges, forming spectacular splits in the rocks.

Simpsons Gap, only 18km from the city, is the most popular and arguably the most impressive of these formations.

Our group of active hikers loaded up the bus and traversed our way towards the national park. At the entrance was a ranger’s station and the start of an informative walk that ventured between the soaring ghost gums the area is famous for.

These magnificent trees stand tall over the terrain, nourishing the surrounding flora and fauna.

A licensed guide accompanied us, explaining the difference in the plants and the importance of each one to the local Arrernte Aboriginals, the area’s traditional land owners. The entire circuit only took 15 minutes, and we jumped back on the bus to head for a more challenging trail.

The Cassia Hill Walk is a steady loop of 1.5km, following creek beds before eventually climbing to the top of a small hill for unparalleled vistas of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

This required a bit more effort, and while far from being strenuous the pounding heat in the middle of the day ensured everyone took their time.

Watching our footing on the uneven ground we marched to the viewpoint and basked in our first glimpses of true Northern Territory splendour.

While Australia is a truly diverse nation, there’s something special about being in the Red Centre, enveloped with rising gorges and peppered in resilient flora.

Soon enough we made it back to the bus, taking a small water break before heading for the day’s real highlight – Simpsons Gap.

The rest of the tour was taken at our own leisure, and Alesha and I trekked straight into the heart of Simpsons Gap. Roe Creek trickled its way through the centre, the source of the natural carvings that had been occurring for millennia.

Rock Wallabies leaped between boulders high above us, curiously watching our every step. Far from being barren, shrubs and trees flourished in the Gap, casting shadows and creating a lush ambiance on the edge of the creek.

It only took 15 minutes or so to reach the end of the trail in Simpsons Gap. Here Roe Creek took up the entire width of the gorge, blocking any further casual access.

We snapped our photos and quickly retreated, escaping the bombardment of mosquitos in the stagnant water.

By the time we made it back to the bus it was time to return to Alice Springs and embark on the rest of our journey towards Darwin. Before we made it back to The Ghan one final stop was calling – a brief detour to Anzac Hill, the historic viewpoint that looked out over the city.

For a city that is essentially remote and quite literally in the middle of nowhere, we couldn’t believe just how sprawling and bustling Alice Springs was.

1200km from the nearest ocean and 1500km from the two closest capital cities, Alice Springs is located almost in the exact centre of Australia.

The Arrernte Aboriginal people have called Alice Springs home for thousands of years, with Europeans only moving in during the mid-19th century.

Originally founded as a telegraph station, over the years Alice Springs has developed on the back of communications, mining, and most recently tourism. Travellers flock to the desert town to experience a destination that is booming, despite being in an apparently inhospitable region.

The sun was beginning to set and we returned to the glistening train. We still had over 24 hours before The Ghan would arrive in Darwin on the far north coast, and we couldn’t wait to make the most of the onboard luxury.

The wheels started turning and the tracks led us out Alice Springs. Simpsons Gap would soon be a fond memory, and proved to be a marvellous first experience of the Northern Territory.

Great Southern Rail’s amazing staff entertained and cared for us the rest of the way, and we gorged ourselves on the tasty delicacies from the local area. The impeccable service continued and made the journey all that more comfortable.

Culture and nature had come together in perfect harmony during our Simpsons Gap Discovery Walk. The ability to explore one of Central Australia’s most spectacular sights was deeply appreciated by everyone who ventured there.

All that was left to do now was sit back, relax and watch the rest of Australia pass us by…

[box type=”info” size=”large” style=”rounded” border=”full”] We were invited onboard The Ghan by Great Southern Rail as part of their #JourneyBeyond media campaign. All thoughts, opinions and mosquitos swatted are, as always, our own.  [/box]

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

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Why You’ll Never See This ‘Simpsons’ Episode on Disney+

A poorly aged cameo has left a gap in 'The Simpsons' long run.

The Big Picture

• Disney+ excludes "Stark Raving Dad," an iconic episode of The Simpsons , due to Michael Jackson's controversial reputation following allegations of sexual abuse.
• The decision to remove the episode could be seen as a publicity move, considering the presence of other problematic content on Disney+.
• Despite its exclusion, the episode remains well-regarded for its creative storytelling, humor, and catchy original song. Fans can still enjoy the other 747 episodes on the streaming platform.

In its 35-season run, The Simpsons has made its fair share of mistakes. From the now-retired stereotype of Apu ( Hank Azaria ) to the infamously homophobic episode "Homer's Phobia," the animated comedy has more than a few moments and elements that have aged poorly. Nevertheless, when Disney+ launched in 2019, the streaming platform still elected to make every episode of the show available on the new streaming site — except for one.

The longest-running scripted primetime television series, The Simpsons has been airing since 1989. However, it only became a Disney property in March 2019, when the company bought 20th Century Fox and thus acquired its television division. Not long after, Disney announced that their forthcoming streaming site would include the show's entire library of 500-plus episodes, much to the delight of lifelong fans. If they were planning to binge-watch the entire show, though, they would only get so far before noticing a conspicuous gap in the series' beloved canon .

The Simpsons

The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.

'The Simpsons' Season 3, Episode 1 Is Missing From Disney+

"Stark Raving Dad" is the first episode of The Simpsons ' third season . Kicking off the season on September 19, 1991, it is a widely cherished entry from the show's early years , an episode that fans will recognize, reference, and quote without mistake. Likewise, they will recognize when the episode is missing, as it isn't on Disney's streaming site for a very specific reason.

In the episode, Homer ( Dan Castellaneta ) finds his white shirt turned pink after it's gone through the wash with Bart's ( Nancy Cartwright ) red hat. To his own chagrin, Homer wears the pink shirt to work, where Mr. Burns ( Harry Shearer ) immediately labels him as a "free-thinking anarchist" and demands he take a psychiatric exam. Too lazy to fill out the exam himself, Homer has Bart do it for him. Bart, however, paints an inaccurately poor image of his father, so when the results come back, Homer is sent to a mental institution .

While the gendered stereotypes and exaggerated portrayals of mental health are executed with the expected levels of winking humor for The Simpsons , it is neither of these elements that make "Stark Raving Dad" taboo. Instead, it is the guest star who plays Homer's roommate in the mental hospital that has rendered the episode so controversial.

Predictions from 'The Simpsons' Can Actually Be Explained

This celebrity cameo made "stark raving dad" a controversial 'simpsons' episode.

When Homer arrives at the asylum, he is thrown in a room with a man who introduces himself as Michael Jackson . However, the character is not the famous singer, but a large white man who believes himself to be the King of Pop. His only real resemblance to Jackson comes in the form of his falsetto voice, which the real Michael Jackson provided in an uncredited cameo .

When the episode debuted in 1991, Michael Jackson was an esteemed celebrity . This makes it all the funnier when Homer doesn't recognize the name and takes his roommate's assumed identity for granted. Come 2019, however, Jackson's posthumous reputation had shifted drastically, taking a stark turn for the worse just a few months before Disney+'s launch.

A 2019 Documentary Made Michael Jackson's Already Ruined Reputation Even Worse

Michael Jackson faced numerous allegations of pedophilia during his lifetime, mostly throughout the mid-nineties and early-2000s. All of these cases were settled out of court, though Jackson's reputation was forever tarnished due to the controversy. In January 2019, HBO released the documentary Leaving Neverland , where main subjects Wade Robson and James Safechuck once more accused Jackson of sexually abusing them when they were child actors. Although the allegations had already caused his general demise in the public eye decades prior, Leaving Neverland was the cherry on top of Jackson's already ruined reputation .

The documentary met immense acclaim, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary among other accolades. At the same time, the film also reintroduced the world to the dark side of Jackson's life. While the Jackson estate condemned the doc for supposed inaccuracies , as well as incongruities with the subjects' original testimonies under oath, many others became even more adverse to the singer's music and celebrity status after seeing the film. Among Jackson's new adversaries was Simpsons showrunner Al Jean , who told The Daily Beast that Jackson could have used his "Stark Raving Dad" cameo to capture a younger generation and "groom boys." Shortly thereafter, Simpsons co-creator James L. Brooks announced that the episode would be pulled from syndicated television , FXX's "Simpsons World" on-demand site, and future DVD sales of Season 3. Evidently, the programmers at Disney followed suit, and when the show found its new streaming home on Disney+, "Stark Raving Dad" was nowhere to be found.

Is 'The Simpsons' "Stark Raving Dad" Really Worse Than Other Programs on Disney+?

Disney's rationale for excluding "Stark Raving Dad" from the streaming service is sound . After all, Disney+ is primarily targeted at children, and The Simpsons already presses a few boundaries when it comes to age appropriateness. That being noted, it does seem like somewhat of a timely P.R. move to leave out "Stark Raving Dad" when one considers some of the other episodes still available on the site. As aforementioned, much of the early Simpsons has aged dubiously , and yet, all of the Apu episodes are featured on Disney+, as is "Homer's Phobia." Meanwhile, Jackson is far from the only Simpsons celebrity guest star to have garnered a controversial reputation since appearing on the show. Other episodes feature voices from Mel Gibson , Elon Musk , and Rupert Murdoch , all portraying their now-contentious selves.

This is not even to mention the hoards of problematic content in Disney+'s library as a whole . Going all the way back to the 1920s, the Walt Disney Company has produced numerous shows, films, and shorts depicting racist stereotypes. Disney+ at least has the decency to leave out the worst of these, like Song of the South and Donald Duck's anti-Japanese World War II propaganda reels . However, the site still includes classics like Dumbo , Peter Pan , The Three Caballeros , and The Lady and the Tramp , despite them containing offensive representations of Black, Native American, Latinx, and Asian people, respectively. Even more contemporary movies like Pocahontas and Aladdin have aged dubiously through a lens of diversity and representation, and one could fill a book with the outdated gender roles depicted in practically every Disney princess movie from Snow White to The Little Mermaid . These are all available to stream, albeit with disclaimers noting that they were products of their time and may contain offensive content.

All of this is not to suggest that "Stark Raving Dad" should be put on Disney+, but rather to explain that the decision to exclude it could be multifold, and perhaps born of publicity just as well as morality . The episode seems far from the most upsetting thing Disney, or even just The Simpsons , has created. Opinions on Jackson aside, the episode is a strong one. It was one of the show's first major guest appearances, and they used Jackson's character in a creative, narratively purposeful, and (at the time) funny way. The episode's climax even features Jackson and Bart performing a heartfelt original birthday song for Lisa — an admittedly catchy one that has been stuck in some fans' heads for the past thirty-two years. Still, it's highly unlikely that "Stark Raving Dad" will ever join The Simpsons library on Disney+. But fret not, because even though there are 748 episodes of the show, subscribers will still have access to 747.

The Simpsons is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.

Watch on Disney+