The Red Centre 8 Day

Tour Features

Day 1 - Arrive Alice Springs
Day 2 - Alice Springs at Leisure
Day 3 - West MacDonnell Ranges
Day 4 - Palm Valley
Day 5 - Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
Day 6 - Kings Canyon to Uluru
Day 7 - Kata Tjuta to Alice Springs
Day 8 - Depart Alice Springs

What's Included 6 days touring, 4 meals, 5 refreshments, 7 nights accommodation, entry fees, on board library, naturalist tour guide, small group (min 2), luxury expedition vehicle.

Departs Daily upon arrival into Alice springs, for some departures the order of touring may change, however the inclusions will remain the same

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Arrive Alice Springs • Day 1

Welcome to Alice Springs! On arrival, you will be met by an Alice Springs Holidays representative for a complimentary transfer to your hotel. Enjoy an introductory orientation of the town enroute to your accommodation for the next 4 nights. The rest of this day is at leisure. Following check in, you might like to take the Alice Explorer, a “hop – on – hop off” town tour (entry fees own expense) which operates on a continual loop. It visits major attractions, and is an excellent way to explore and be introduced to The Alice in comfort, and at your own pace. Overnight: Alice Springs

Alice Springs at Leisure • Day 2

A day to relax or extend your exploration of this desert oasis. Your greatest challenge will be to choose from the vast array of attractions catering to all tastes and interests. Will it be the exhilaration of a hot air balloon flight at sunrise, or an early morning relaxing game of golf? What about investigating the Alice Springs Desert Park, including its world renowned nocturnal house wildlife display, or a adventure into the Simpson Desert to Chambers Pillar? Perhaps your interests lie in Art and Culture. A visit to the Cultural Precinct, or the many fine Art Galleries, may tempt you. Then of course, there is Todd Mall, with its shops and cafes. For tonight we suggest The Sounds of Starlight theatre, before dining at one of the many popular restaurants adjacent to Todd Mall. Overnight: Alice Springs.

West MacDonnell Ranges • Day 3

Today we venture west to experience the magnificence and grandeur of the vast West MacDonnell Ranges. It is a day of panoramic mountain scenery, tranquil waterholes, and rocky gorges. Our tour will take us to Simpson’s Gap, an area that is home to the local species of Black footed Rock Wallaby. Then on to the breathtaking Standley Chasm, a cool, shady retreat filled with cycads, ferns and graceful red river gums. We will visit the dry river bed, water hole and rock formations of Ormiston Gorge. There will be time to swim in cool waterholes and explore walking trails, with your guide on hand. A stop at the Ochre Pits where a rare palette of coloured ochre lies exposed in a dry creek bed, offering a fascinating insight into a source of the natural pigments that feature in Aboriginal culture and art. The grave of Flying Doctor pioneer Rev John Flynn provides a poignant reminder of the remoteness of Central Australia, and the vastness of this land. Returning to Alice in time to relax with a drink or take a swim before dinner. Overnight: Alice Springs. Included: Lunch, Refreshments.

Palm Valley • Day 4

Your Red Centre experience continues with a day of adventure, exploring the Finke Gorge National Park. On route we will see much of the natural landscape that inspired Albert Namatjira, the first of the modern indigenous painters. Making our way along the mostly dry bed of the Finke River, you’ll marvel at the dramatic evidence of its awesome flood history. Further along the track, the magnificent Amphitheatre at the Kalarranga lookout provides a stunning opportunity for photography, before finally reaching Palm Valley itself. Experience a walk amongst the rare Red Cabbage Palms, relics of a previous climate many millions of years past. We travel back along the track to the sealed road to visit the Hermannsburg Historic Precinct, founded by Lutheran missionaries in 1877, and birthplace of watercolour painting in the region. Returning to Alice Springs in the glow of the late afternoon sun. Overnight: Alice Springs. Included: Lunch, Refreshments.

Alice Springs to Kings Canyon • Day 5

Leaving the Alice, main highways and settlements behind, we travel through mountain valleys to the Wallace Rockhole aboriginal community. Here experience a rock art and culture tour with a local guide. Visit the gallery, which provides an opportunity to purchase a variety of local art. The adventure continues on the 4WD track into the Gosse Bluff comet impact crater. Not just an astro-geological wonder, but also a fantastic setting for our a stroll to admire the towering crater walls. We return to the dirt road traversing the Mereenie Wilderness Area, where mountain valleys give way to open plains, before arriving at the Kings Canyon Resort in the late afternoon. Overnight: Kings Canyon Resort. Included: Lunch, Refreshments. Optional: Sounds of Firelight Dinner.

Kings Canyon to Uluru • Day 6

We begin our day with an exploration of the majestic Kings Canyon, with a choice of activities. The energetic will find the hike around the Canyon rim a stimulating option, offering panoramic views and in parts steep climbs. Alternatively, experience a gentler stroll through the Canyon floor, amid abundant bird life and ancient cycad plants. Our next stop is Uluru, and enroute we pass through expansive terrain, featuring vast salt lakes and the mesa-like formation of Mt Connor. Arrive Ayers Rock Resort and check into your hotel. This afternoon we visit the Uluru - Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, followed by an exploratory tour with your guide, of the base of this unique monolith. The crowning touch to the day is a champagne sunset, featuring fine Australian foods and sparkling wine. Overnight: Ayers Rock Resort. Included: Lunch, Refreshments.

Kata Tjuta to Alice Springs • Day 7

An early departure to enjoy the morning solitude and tranquillity as the subtle colours of another day dawning, wash over Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Your guide will take you for an informative walk around the massive domes of Kata Tjuta, a site of significance to the local Anangu people. Hear of the geology, history and ecological significance. We return to the resort in time for lunch (own expense) before our departure for Alice Springs, where we arrive late afternoon. Overnight: Alice Springs. Included: Refreshments.

Depart Alice Springs • Day 8

This morning is free to avail yourself of any last minute shopping, maybe that last sleep in or even a game of golf before being transferred to your departure point for your homeward journey or onto your next adventure.