Red Centre

Start at 8.30 am 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 artists and a 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

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

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 a 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

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 or Aurora in Alice with ensuite rooms

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 the 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 or Aurora in Alice with ensuite rooms

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 enjoy our final dinner of the tour at our accommodation in Alice Springs.

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 Mercure

Accommodation: Mercure Alice Springs with ensuite rooms

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.