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Highlights of the Red Centre Self Drive

From £1084

Excluding Flights

4 Nights

Year Round

Overview

Explore the iconic highlights of the Red Centre on this compact self-drive holiday through the central Australian outback. Designed to be taken as part of a tailor made holiday, travel by 4WD from Alice Spring to explore the striking natural geological formations of this territory – Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon.

Discover the history of Alice Springs, one of Australia’s most iconic outback towns, before exploring the dramatic landscape of the West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon.

Walk the renowned Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta and marvel at the panoramic views and native flora and fauna of the region before continuing on to see the pinnacle of Australia’s Outback, Uluru.

You’ll also drive one of the Northern Territory’s most exhilarating roads – the 4WD only Mereenie Loop Road and enjoy the magic of fine dining under the Southern Desert sky whilst staying at Uluru.

Itinerary

After collecting your 4WD rental car, spend the day at leisure in Alice Springs, the gateway to exploring Central Australia. See the Old Telegraph Station which used to relay messages from Darwin to Adelaide up until 1932 before visiting the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base to learn about medical care in the Central Australian outback. Visit the School of Air, the first school of its type in Australia which broadcasts lessons to children over an area of 1.3 million sq km or drive the short distance out of town to the Alice Springs Desert Park, which is home to a staggering array of native central Australian wildlife. For a tremendous sunset view walk up Anzac Hill and admire the 365-degree view over the town and MacDonnell Ranges in the distance.

Optional Experiences

Outback Ballooning, Alice Springs

Appreciate a birds-eye view of the Australian Outback from the air on this 60 minute exhilarating hot air balloon ride.

Rise early and commence your drive towards Kings Canyon. Spend the day traversing this iconic route enjoying a plethora of natural attractions on the way. From Alice Springs, take the Namatjira drive that snakes alongside the West MacDonnell Ranges before taking a break to enjoy a short swim at Ellery Creek Big Hole, a natural waterhole nestled into a gorge before continuing to Ormiston Gorge, one of the most impressive chasms in the West MacDonnells. Take a short walk around the gorge, marvelling at the plethora of ghost gum trees, wildlife and of course spectacular views before continuing to Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park.

Optional Experiences

Light-Towers Experience at Kings Canyon

An enchanting experience admiring the striking art installation “Light-Towers” by Bruce Munro.

Perhaps enjoy a short hike around the base of Kings Canyon in the morning or the slightly longer Scenic Rim Walk, a 6km loop that skirts the canyons rim before descending down wooden stairs to the Garden of Eden, a lush pocket of ferns and wild flowers around a tranquil natural pool. Admire the giant sandstone domes and weathered cliff faces before continuing to the World Heritage-listed Kata Tjuta National Park and the burnished orange site of Uluru. Spend the evening admiring the ever changing colours of this monolithic rock at the incredible Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner. Set upon a dune with magnificent views of Uluru and the distant domes of Kata Tjuta, this unique experience combines delicious food with an innovative sound and light show. Choreographed drones, lasers and projections illuminate the desert sky to bring to life a fascinating chapter of the Mala story.

australia wintjiri wiru light show

Wintjiri Wiru Experiences, Uluru

A dazzling new interpretation of an ancient story passed on for thousands of generations

Spend the day exploring the ancient landscape of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Rise early and witness the first rays of sunshine light up Uluru as you enjoy a guided excursion out into the desert. After enjoying a bush breakfast you will visit the Mutitjulu Waterhole and Cultural Centre to learn about the traditions and belief systems of the national parks careholders, the Anangu people. After lunch you could continue on to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), a series of 36 striking rock domes huddled together a short distance from Uluru. Enjoy a challenging but rewarding walk along the Valley of the Winds trail taking in the native wildlife, creek beds and of course multiple panoramic views.

australia nt red centre desert awakenings sunrise lrg

Desert Awakenings, Uluru

A memorable experience that has guests heading out into the desert well before dawn, this is an excursion for those who want to get more than a couple of drinks out of their nights in Australia.

Optional Experiences

australia uluru field of light sunset

Night at Field of Light, Uluru

Spend a magical evening under the stars admiring the remarkable art installation by Bruce Munro known as the "Field of Light".
australia kata tjuta helicopter flight

Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Lake Amadeus Scenic Flight, Uluru

See the beauty of the desert as you take in the vast splendour of Lake Amadeus, whilst looking for camels roaming where the salt lake meets the sand. Then fly to the majestic Uluru and Kata Tjuta, realising their powerful presence amongst the ancient sand dunes covering our red centre.
australia northern territory sounds of silence dinner

Sounds of Silence Dinner, Uluru

Enjoy canapés and champagne as you watch the sun set in a hue of red and orange over the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park whilst listening to sounds of the didgeridoo filling the air.

In the morning depart Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and return to Alice Springs for your onward journey.

Prices & departures

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom

  • Car rental throughout

  • Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner

  • Desert Awakenings Excursion

  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday

  • No surcharge guarantee

  • Full financial protection

From £1084 Excluding Flights

4 Nights

Year Round

Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.

Make this trip yours

Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.

Gary
5

Times visited New Zealand

6

Continents visited

We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch. 

Experts with real experience