Overview
Immerse yourself in this ancient land by taking the time to experience the natural wonders of the red centre, away from the crowds. This is a land of colour; rich red ochre cliffs and rocky gorges contrast the azure skies. Brilliant greens dot the outback landscape and the startling whites of the ghost gums reflect into crystal clear waterholes.
At the major sites of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), you’ll walk and explore, enjoying our knowledgeable guide’s in-depth interpretation of these special places. Hike glorious Watarrka (Kings Canyon) and skirt the rim of the canyon before descending into the lush Garden of Eden. After walking these iconic places, we’ll take you to our favourite sections of the Larapinta Trail in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Walk in awe at Mt Sonder and Ormiston Pound, while marvelling at the rich red walls at Serpentine Gorge.
Every last detail is taken care of so you can fully experience this extraordinary Red Centre landscape stress free. At night, freshen up and settle in at your comfortable accommodation. The chef prepared breakfasts and dinners make indulgent bookends to each day. And with two outstanding guides looking after you, you can pace yourself because we can offer a choice of easier or harder walking options along the way.
GROUP-GUIDED
Trip Length
Days
From
$
per person twin/double shareSingle Supplement
$595
per person
Single Supplement
Australian hotel accommodations charge the same price per room regardless of whether there is one or two people occupying it.
In order to cover the cost of the accommodation when occupied by one person we need to charge the single supplement fee, a cost that we make no margin on.
Grade
Moderate
Grade 3 – Moderate
Short, steep hill sections. Moderate active lifestyle and some walking experience recommended.Data required for rest of form
Walk Type:
Walk Length: Days
Departure Date:
Person Single Cost: $
Single Supplement: $
Workbooks ID:
DAY 1
Start at 8.30am at The Mercure in Alice Springs. A visit to the Alice Springs Desert Park provides an excellent introduction to the unique flora and fauna of the Red Centre. The raptor display will have you on the edge of your seat.
‘Red Centre’ is an aptly named description for this area because of its location within Australia and also because of the vivid red colour everywhere you look. The iconic colouring comes from iron in the soil and rocks. It’s a landscape made famous by Albert Namatjira, hailed as one of Australia’s greatest artist and pioneer of Aboriginal art. You’ll be surprised by how many magnificent trees, shrubs and grasses grow in the bush here.
Travel to Curtin Springs for the night. This outback cattle station of over a million acres is a real remote experience.
Walking: Easy / 6 km / 3 hrs
Meals: Lunch and a la carte three course dinner in the Bough Shed
Accommodation: Curtin Springs outback station with ensuite rooms
DAY 2
Travel to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) for the first of our Red Centre walks along the Valley of the Winds trail. The gigantic domes, towering rock walls and array of fascinating plants feel surreal.
After lunch at the Cultural Centre it’s on to Uluru. For most people, the first glimpse of Uluru is a spiritually uplifting experience that never fades. The massive monolith gradually reveals numerous interesting rock formations as you walk around it, gullies, caves and crevices, each of which plays an important role in Aboriginal stories. You will learn about the special Aboriginal connection with this place as you walk around the base of the rock.
In the evening sit back and sip champagne under the Southern Cross whilst the sun sets over this evocative landscape and the dingoes howl in the distance. Uluru reveals its true self as the sun begins to go down. Witness a display of colours from gentle, dusky blues and purples to fierce oranges and reds, glowing with the last remnants of the day – with champagne in hand, of course.
Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 6 hrs / easier option available
Meals: Cooked breakfast prepared by in-house chefs, lunch and a chef prepared a la carte three course dinner in the Bough Shed
Accommodation: Curtin Springs Outback Station with ensuite rooms
DAY 3
Travel to Kings Canyon (Watarrka), one of nature’s finest creations. This Red Centre walk meanders through this inspirational landscape, skirting the rim of the canyon then descending into the lush Garden of Eden. During the afternoon, travel to remote Erldunda, another working cattle station.
Central Australia also has a rich Aboriginal culture, with people and the land peacefully co-existing for many thousands of years. Along the way you’ll learn about the Aboriginal culture, from the early days to the first settlers. You’ll stay in remote working cattle stations, each an oasis in the outback that stands as testament to the ingenuity of early settlers.
Walking: Moderate / 10 km / 4 hrs / easier option available
Meals: Cooked breakfast prepared by in-house chefs, walkers lunch and a chef prepared three course dinner in the Motel restaurant.
Accommodation: Erldunda with ensuite rooms
DAY 4
Today we leave the tourists behind and travel to the more remote West MacDonnell Ranges. Our first trek will be to Simpsons Gap where rock wallabies frequent. Your guides will provide an insight into the spectacular geology and landforms of the West MacDonnell Ranges. We’ll walk at Serpentine Gorge to a lookout high above the valley floor and then back down into the gorge itself to view the waterhole. For the next two nights, we’ll stay at our favourite remote outback station. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink watching the setting sun turn the cliffs vivid orange. Surely there could be no better place in the world to view the thousands of stars in the night sky.
Walking: Moderate / 10 km / 5 hrs / easier option available
Meals: Cooked breakfast prepared by in-house chefs, walkers lunch and a chef prepared two course dinner in the resort restaurant.
Accommodation: Glen Helen Homestead with ensuite rooms
DAY 5
A major highlight today is climbing Mt Sonder at the western end of the Larapinta Trail. From the summit, you can see for hundreds of miles in all directions. This is truly remote and rugged walking through outback wilderness. Note that we will also offer an easier option including Mt Sonder Lookout and the stunningly beautiful Redbank Gorge.
Walking: Moderate to challenging / 16 km / 7-8 hrs / easier option available
Meals: Cooked breakfast prepared by in-house chefs, walkers lunch and a chef prepared two course dinner in the resort restaurant
Accommodation: Glen Helen Homestead with ensuite rooms
DAY 6
Today’s hike is the Ormiston Pound loop on the Larapinta Trail. This dramatic gorge country usually contains deep permanent waterholes. The ochre coloured cliffs of the gorges contrast with the shimmering white of the ghost gums, made famous by Aboriginal artist, Albert Namatjira. We will then head over to explore the Ochre Pits to learn about the significance of this area to the local indigenous people. In the evening, we’ll visit the Desert Park again to observe nocturnal animals in the wild on a private tour and enjoy a gourmet dinner.
Walking: Moderate / 14 km / 5 hrs / easier option available
Meals: Cooked breakfast prepared by in-house chefs, walkers lunch and a chef prepared two course dinner at the Desert Park restaurant
Accommodation: The Mercure Alice Springs with ensuite rooms
DAY 7
Though the holiday finishes in Alice Springs after breakfast, we highly recommend you extend your holiday and enjoy the many sights that Alice Springs has to offer as well.
Walk Grading
The tracks are well graded except for small sections where the walks are rocky. However, all the tracks are still easy to negotiate. Full day walks average about 14km. There are great opportunities for really fit walkers to challenge themselves on some of the days.
*Walk grading and map are not to scale and indicative only.
Walking Track
- Genuine all inclusive pack free walking holiday
- 2 engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
- 6 nights’ comfortable ensuited accommodation
- Cooked breakfasts, a la carte dinners and comprehensive walkers lunches
- All transport from Alice Springs including luggage transport
- Desert Park entry tickets and National Park admission
- Champagne sunset at Uluru
- Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, lunch bag and container
Our first accommodation is at Curtain Springs, a working cattle station of over a million acres. The station amazingly owns Mount Conner a mountain rock outcrop that is much larger than Uluru but often mistaken for it. We get to admire the sunset over their vast property and really experience what it is like to live out here.
We also stay at Glen Helen Lodge the only accommodation located within the Tjoritja – West MacDonnell Ranges National Park, 130km west of Alice Springs. This extraordinary landscape is 800 million years old and has been home to the Western Aranda Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. We get to enjoy the comfort provided by the lodge with Glen Helen Gorge and the national park right at your doorstep.
Erldunda Roadhouse is officially the centre of Australia literally and is a one of a kind experience not to be missed. The Mercure in Alice Springs is a good quality hotel in an excellent location. It’s a big property with plenty of room to relax either by the pool, in the garden or in the many other facilities that it offers.
More importantly, all the accommodations we use are very comfortable and provide a great place to relax after a day on the track. All the rooms have ensuites and reflect the region’s character and are in unforgettable locations.
All of the a la carte two course dinners and breakfasts are prepared by professional in-house chefs. There’s an emphasis on Australian game meat, Top End fish, tropical fruit and bush tucker.
The packed lunches and picnics complete the circle ensuring that your appetite is always satisfied. In fact, you can look forward to having lunch on a daily basis at some of the most incredible locations the Red Centre has to offer. A walkers lunch may include a high protein type salad, a roll or a wrap, a muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit. Each day is slightly different. Lunch is always augmented by Auswalk’s trail mix.
Importantly, you start each day with a cooked breakfast, all expertly prepared by the in-house chefs. This is a great way each day to ready yourself for the upcoming walk.
Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).
The tracks are dry and firm but can sometimes be rocky under foot. Most of the walks are easy to moderate. The walks at Uluru are flat and easy. The easy walks are great for first timers. However, the walk does save some challenging walking of up to 7 hours each day, across very rocky terrain and ridgelines, with ascents and descents, so the experienced hikers won’t be disappointed. The walks at the West MacDonnell Ranges are more remote and therefore the tracks are less maintained. Most of the tracks in central Australia are a bit rocky so sturdy footwear is necessary.
This trip operates with two experienced and knowledgeable guides so we can offer easier and harder walk options along the way.
Pre and post tour accommodation: There are many good hotels in Alice Springs, however we pick up and drop off at one central hotel the Mercure (formerly the Chifley), Alice Springs. The tour starts at the Mercure at 8.30am and includes the final night at the Mercure on return.
For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.
WEATHER
This environment is most suitable to walk from May to September, as it is generally too hot at other times. Nights are significantly cooler than day time temperatures, so please ensure you bring warm clothing for the evenings. The climate is marked by very low humidity. It is essential you have at least 2L capacity for water on the walk.
See the Bureau of Meteorology for information about temperatures and rainfall ahead of time to ensure proper clothing.
INSURANCE
We strongly recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy as we charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your Auswalk holiday after we have confirmed it. We want to help make insurance more affordable by offering you a discount on policies purchased through NIB Insurance. This applies to any NIB policies issued via this link. Get an instant quote and purchase online now.
INFORMATION PACK
For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.
CONTACT
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.
