Country Guides: Australia - A Guide to the Red Centre

Written by Gapyear.com

In association with Northern Territory Tourism (Tourism NT)

Introduction

Introducing the Red Centre. An area recognised as quintessentially Australian and of exceptional natural and cultural significance.

From hiking the spectacular Larapinta Trail, camping under a million-star sky, connecting with the oldest culture on earth, or nurturing your wellbeing, the Red Centre is a different kind of experience. Much more than you ever might have imagined.

The Red Centre is an opportunity to embark on a journey of self discovery - to discard the everyday, reawaken your senses, warm the heart, enrich the spirit. To get centred.

Situated in the heart of Australia’s outback, the Red Centre has at its core the legendary town of Alice Springs. Traversing east and west are the ancient MacDonnell Ranges. Head southwest and take in Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park, the World Heritage Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the earth’s oldest river, the Finke.

The Red Centre is an opportunity to embark on a journey of self - to discard the everyday, reawaken your senses, warm the heart, enrich the spirit. To get centred.

Sacred Places

Connect with the oldest living culture on earth or lend an ear to a local for a story of pioneering days gone by.

Bushtucker Central Australia

The spinifex-covered hills, sand plains, open woodlands, limestone ridges, watercourses and swamps of Central Australia’s Northern Territory contain a variety of plants and animals that have sustained the lives of Aboriginal people for generations.

An intimate knowledge of the diverse range of flora and fauna is vital to support life in the remote areas of this harsh desert landscape. This knowledge has lead people to water supplies and the understanding of the medicinal properties of plants has assisted in healing injuries and ailments for thousands of years.

Uluru walking trails

Uluru is 440 kilometres south west of Alice Springs, fascinates and inspires people from around the world. Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have great cultural significance for the Anangu traditional landowners, who lead walking tours that inform about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories of the area.

The Anangu people prefer visitors don’t climb Uluru because it’s a sacred site, so nowadays many visitors choose to do the Uluru base walking trails instead.

Alice Springs

Aboriginal art is a thriving industry in Alice Springs, known as the Aboriginal art capital of Australia.

In some art centres visitors can watch the artist at work and buy pieces direct.

Contact the art centres for more information before travelling. Some are remote and may have limited facilities and a permit may be required to visit.

Map of the Red Centre

Get Adventurous

If your desire is the freedom of the open road, a physical challenge, or the thrill of an adrenalin rush, we’ve got the complete spectrum of adventures.

In the early days, only the most adventurous pioneers travelled to Australia’s interior. Today, the rugged backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges makes Alice Springs a great base for modern adventurers.

The spinifex plains, gorges, peaks and chasms surrounding the town set the scene for a variety of activities, from hot air ballooning to quad-bike riding, bushwalking to camel-riding.

Relive an exotic part of outback history atop a camel. Join a one hour sunset tour and ride a camel through the Ilparpa Valley, up close to the MacDonnell Ranges or go for a half day ride to spend more time getting to know your camel and enjoying the Red Centre’s spectacular scenery.

Quad bikes are another unique form of transport perfect for outback conditions. Join a safari on these sturdy little vehicles to ride along bush tracks, over dams, alongside mountain ranges and through dry, sandy, river beds.

Similarly, four-wheel-drivers are spoilt for choice in the Centre with a range of exciting and scenic desert tracks and dedicated bushwalkers will love the Larapinta Trail; a world class 223-kilometre trek through the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Drive the Red Centre Way

An adventure into the heart of this ancient land, the Red Centre Way drive navigates through Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges and Alice Springs.

See the sights at your own pace, connect with the changing desert landscape and the different stories as you travel through the Red Centre.

The Red Centre Way is the gateway to an abundance of natural and aboriginal attractions through the ancient heart of the Australian outback.

Allow a minimum of 5 to 7 days for this journey through red desert sands, spinifex and mulga forest.

Remember to travel the Red Centre Way in a high clearance 4WD if taking the Mereenie Loop from Kings Canyon to Glen Helen.

Larapinta Trail

Running 223 kilometres along the spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges, from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder, is the Larapinta Trail. This walk weaves itself amongst some of the world’s most ancient metamorphic and igneous rock and boasts nearly 600 species of rare flora.

There are four-wheel drive access points to each of the 12 sections along the trail, some require high clearance vehicles.

While the overall trail has been designed for experienced walkers, selecting a different starting point can vary the difficulty and length of your experience. Guided walking tours, food drops and transfers can be arranged.

The Larapinta Trail has acquired an international reputation as a tough challenging trek, prompting National Geographic to number it among the top 20 trekking experiences to be had on the planet.

Get Natural

Whether it be swimming in one of the waterholes, surrounding yourself with jaw-dropping vistas or camping under million star night skies.

Desert Landscapes

An Alice Springs resident for more than 30 years, historian Dick Kimber explains what is awe-inspiring about the outback.

He says it’s defined by a vastness of land and sky, the brilliance of the stars, endless change of colours and silence of scuttling lizards. It’s a friendly place where even the locals are awe-struck by the dramatic changes in tone from morning to night. Take a deep breath and enjoy space of the Australian desert.

Ellery Creek Big Hole

High red cliffs, a large waterhole & a sandy creek fringed by gums make this one of the most popular and picturesque picnicking spots in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Much more than just a popular place for the locals to take a refreshing dip, Ellery Creek Big Hole is also recognised as an internationally significant geological site.

A three kilometre Dolomite walk provides an opportunity for visitors to explore some of the interesting formations.

The West MacDonnell Ranges are the source of the water that has collected in a deep pool. Red River and Ghost Gums shelter the picnic area located nearby. Camping is permitted (fees apply).

Ellery Creek Big Hole is located 126 kilometres along the Larapinta Trail starting from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station and is the Trailhead for Sections 6 and 7 of the trail. Section 6 of the Larapinta Trail is graded as medium - a narrow track which may be rough in places, with some climbing and descending, suitable for people who walk regularly. Section 7 of the Larapinta Trail is graded as hard - a rough and narrow track with some steep and/or long climbs and descents, suitable for fit people with previous bushwalking experience.

Get Cultural

Whether it be reconnecting with yourself, or loved ones, discovering ancient healing methods, or simply getting out of the mobile phone range, the Red Centre is destined to enrich your spirit.

Alice Springs - The Town

Framed by the MacDonnell Ranges and an intense desert landscape, the township of Alice Springs is Australia’s most famous outback town.

Called Mpwante by the traditional owners, the Arrernte people, and situated just 200 kilometres north of the geographic centre of Australia, the town of Alice Springs began as a repeater station along the Overland Telegraph Line.

The introduction of camels, development of pastoral industry and discovery of alluvial gold, combined with the town’s secluded location, has lead to the creation of an unrivalled community identity and a wealth of quirky festivals and events.

Alice Springs desert climate and landscapes encourage a healthy outdoor lifestyle and sets a great scene for outback adventure. Quad and mountain-bike riding, trekking along the Larapinta Trail, four-wheel driving, bush camping and swimming in lush waterholes are popular activities.

The stories of Australian history and heritage overflow in Alice Springs, with a rich cast of characters, Afghan cameleers, flying doctors and outback explorers.

Today, Alice Springs is a colourful, bustling outback town, and is known as the Aboriginal Art Capital of the World. Walk through one of the many Aboriginal art galleries for a sneak peek into the traditions and stories of the Arrernte people Explore the range or venture into the colourful desert landscape to a community art centre.

Uluru / Kata Tjuta National Park

The Anangu people are the custodians of Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. They have a complex system of beliefs known as ‘Tjukurpa’ (pronounced ‘chu-ka-pa’) and for which there is no direct English translation that encompasses religion, law and the relationship between people, plants, animals and the landscape.

Anangu guides lead walking tours around the base of Uluru Ayers Rock sharing stories, bush food and discussing the symbolism of various aboriginal rock art.

An indigenous guide is accompanied by an interpreter and these walks provide a rare insight into how the Anangu have lived, and continue to live, in this arid environment.

Make sure you begin any exploration of Uluru and Kata Tjuta at the Park’s Cultural Centre, located about a kilometre from the Rock itself, where an informative introduction to Tjukurpa and other points of interest are covered in educational displays.

The Cultural Centre also hosts aboriginal art and craft demonstrations, bush tucker sessions, walks and cultural presentations.

Aboriginal art produced in the region is distinctive, though styles and mediums vary. Carved woodwork and dot paintings are popular souvenirs, but there is an opportunity to invest in some original and truly unique pieces at galleries in the Cultural Centre and Ayers Rock Resort.

Get Revitalised

Outback Ballooning Adventure

Taking to the air gives you a new angle on the sheer size of the outback; in a hot air balloon you can also enjoy its serenity.

An early morning balloon ride provides the perfect light for photography and peaceful reflection. For those who prefer flying with an engine, a scenic flight in a light aircraft or a helicopter is an awesome way to experience this region from above.

Hot-air balloon pilot Byron Hall has been soaring above the ridges of the outback all his life. Just like the watercolours of Albert Namatjira, an outback sunrise from aloft is like viewing a painting of pastel blues, purples and yellows.

The early start is rewarded with a silent journey across the expansive semi-arid landscape, waiting as the sun spreads its rays between desert oaks and mulga scrub.

The trip ends with images of the Australia’s outback crowding your mind.

Sounds of Silence Dinner

Enjoy uninterrupted 360 degree view of the Red Centre landscape. In front of you is Uluru, behind are the domes of Kata Tjuta. Dine under the canopy of the desert night and be left enchanted by stories and stargazing.

MacDonnell Ranges

The East and West MacDonnell Ranges stretch out for hundreds of kilometres on both sides of Alice Springs.

The traditional owners of the Alice Springs area, the Arrernte people, believe giant caterpillars called the Yeperenye became the Ranges - they entered this world through one of the dramatic gaps in the escarpments of the area.

The panoramic landscapes of the West MacDonnell Ranges are easily accessed from Alice Springs. Each of the West MacDonnell’s chasms and gorges has its own unique character and scenery. Simpsons Gap sports a permanent pool and rock wallabies live in the gap’s rocky ridges. Standley Chasm lights up in fiery colours reflected by the overhead sun at midday.

Picturesque swimming holes such as Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge and Redbank Gorge offer refreshing relief on a scorching day. It is also possible to visit the Ochre Pits that desert Aboriginal people once used as a quarry for ochre pigments.

The East MacDonnell Ranges provide beautiful scenery for bush walking, camping and four-wheel-driving. Visit Arltunga, a ghost town that was the site of a gold rush in the 1930’s.

Other places of spectacular natural beauty like Trephina Gorge, make a trip to the East MacDonnells more than worthwhile.

Finke National Park

Located 125 kilometres along Larapinta Drive from Alice Springs is the Aboriginal Community of Hermannsburg and just beyond it, the stunning expanse of Finke Gorge National Park.

Hermannsburg was the German name chosen by the Lutheran pastors who established a small mission for the Aranda Aboriginal people here in the 1880s.

Hermannsburg is best known as the birthplace of artist Albert Namatjira whose house, three kilometres west of Hermannsburg, is today open to visitors.

It is also possible to organise day tours from Alice Springs however a campsite and basic accommodation are located in Hermannsburg.

Camping facilities are also available at the nearby Palm Valley in the Finke Gorge National Park.

The Finke River is thought to be one of the world’s oldest water ways but the National Park is best known for Palm Valley, which contains groves of unique and beautiful cabbage palms - botanic remnants from millions of years ago, when Central Australia was lush with tropical forests.

Further west along the Mereenie Loop Road is the fascinating Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve, the site of a huge crater and subsequently a place of international scientific interest as well cultural significance to the Western Aranda Aboriginal people.

Watarrka National Park

Watarrka National Park is best known as the home of Kings Canyon, a mighty chasm cleaving the earth to a depth of 270 metres.

It is situated on the western edge of the George Gill Ranges, 300 kilometres to the north east of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It is 310 kilometres west of Alice Springs via the Red Centre Way or 470 kilometres on the sealed Stuart, Lasseter and Luritja Highways from Alice. Drivers can reach Kings Canyon from Uluru in three hours by taking the Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road. Those with a four-wheel-drive and at least a day’s travelling time can take the unsealed Mereenie Loop from Alice Springs.

Watarrka is an important conservation area with rock holes and gorges providing refuge for over 600 species of plants and many native animals.

The sheer red rock face of Kings Canyon soars over 100 metres above dense forests of palms, ferns and cycads; sheltering them from the surrounding desert conditions. A moderately challenging six-kilometre walk takes in magnificent views of the Canyon rim, the weathered, buttressed domes of ‘the Lost City’ and the ‘Garden of Eden’ - a sheltered valley with permanent waterholes and lush vegetation. The walk is suitable for fit, relatively experienced walkers and can be completed in about three to four hours. For the less energetic, the shorter and easier Kings Creek walk leads into the centre of the Canyon.

Derived from an Aboriginal word referring to the umbrella bush that thrives here, Watarrka National Park has been home to the Luritja people for more than 20,000 years. The area was little known to Europeans until recently; Ernest Giles being the first white man to explore the area in 1872. Accommodation (ranging from motel-style to campsites) is available at the Kings Canyon Resort, seven kilometres from the Park, where there’s also a service station and a shop. Kings Creek Station, 35 kilometres from the Park also has campsites and budget style accommodation.

Alice Springs

Alice Springs - The heart of Central Australia is comprised of cavernous gorges, boundless desert landscapes, remote Aboriginal communities and a charming pioneering history. Alice Springs was established by the early explorers and remains as the centre of activity in this region. From the early 1900s, the vast desert of Central Australia was explored for its promise of rubies and gold.

Today, north of Alice Springs is an adventure travel destination where visitors can still fossick for gems and explore the Australian desert while trekking, camping or four-wheel driving.

North-west of Alice Springs, along the Tanami Track and south of Alice Springs in the Simpson Desert, the art styles and stories of the Aboriginal people give meaning to the surrounding landscape.

The most well-known natural highlights of Alice Springs are the East and West MacDonnell Ranges that straddle Alice and run for hundreds of kilometres.

Visitors to the NT’s Red Centre can enjoy views of dramatic scenery, bushwalking, swimming, four-wheel driving or quad-bike riding.

Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park

Situated 462 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is connected to Alice by networks of sealed roads and has its own airport, with flights to and from Alice Springs, Melbourne, Sydney, Cairns, Perth and Darwin.

40 kilometres to the west of Uluru/Ayers Rock sits Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas - a massive pile of ancient rock domes. The Uluru and Kata Tjuta you see today are the remains of erosion that began around 500 million years ago. Like icebergs, both formations are but visible tips of enormous slabs of rock that extend as far as six kilometres into the ground.

Archaeological work suggests that Aboriginal people have lived in the area for at least 22,000 years. The Anangu people are Uluru’s traditional custodians but until recently, the famous monolith was known as Ayers Rock, named after former Chief Secretary of South Australia Sir Henry Ayers by European explorer William Gosse, who first sighted the rock in 1873.

Uluru was returned to the care and ownership of the Anangu in 1985 and they now jointly manage the national park with Parks Australia.

There is a $25 entry fee into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park which allows multiple entry for three consecutive days. A range of accommodation from camp sites to five-star luxury is available at the Ayers Rock Resort in the township of Yulara, purpose built to service travellers to the Park.

The Yulara Visitors Centre provides information on local history, geology, flora, fauna and culture and sells souvenirs and educational gifts.

Getting to the Red Centre

The Red Centre is accessible via Air direct from most Australian Capital Cities to Alice Springs and Yulara, by road and via the legendary Ghan passenger train which travels into Alice Springs from either Adelaide in South Australia or from Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory.

Flights to the Northern Territory

Qantas

Qantas is widely regarded as the world’s leading long distance airline and one of the strongest brands in Australia. Qantas operates regular flights into Alice Springs and Darwin from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns. There are also a number of direct flights to Yulara from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Cairns.

In addition Qantas offers daily flights within the Northern Territory, connecting Darwin, Alice Springs and Yulara.

Tiger Airways

Tiger Airways is a low-cost airline providing regular flights to the Territory. The company’s majority owner/operator is Singapore Airlines.

From Overseas

Darwin is increasingly popular as a traveller’s gateway between Australia and Asia. Our visitors are now choosing to fly to Singapore and catch the short flight down to Darwin. If you fly from the Americas and enter another Australian city, just jump on a domestic airline to Darwin, Alice Springs or Yulara, the location of Uluru/Ayers Rock. Either way, the Northern Territory is an easy destination to get to and a great place to visit.

By Road

From South Australia

Driving north from South Australia you’ll take the Explorer’s Way (Stuart Highway) from Adelaide through Coober Pedy into the Northern Territory. In the NT, you’ll drive through the major centres of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin.

From Western Australia

There are a few access points from Western Australia, including the Savannah Way (Victoria Highway) and Butine Highway in the north and the Tanami Road that runs across the Tanami Desert in the south

From Queensland

When driving west from Queensland, the most easily accessible route is the fully-sealed Overlander’s Way (Barkly Highway) from Mt Isa. Alternatively travellers can drive the Savannah Way from Cairns, which contains unsealed sections. A 4WD is recommended!

Heading north of the Red Centre...

...to Tennant Creek and the Barkly region

Tennant Creek in Central Australia sits on the Explorer’s Way, 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs and 1000 kilometres south of Darwin.

The town is surrounded to the east by the Barkly Tablelands - a huge expanse of land that supports some of Australia’s premier outback cattle stations.

Tennant Creek is also known as the Territory’s heart of gold; a reference to the friendliness of its people and the area’s gold mining history. Australia’s last gold rush took place here in the 1930s, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn about it at attractions around the town. Visitors can even try fossicking for their own gold.

Prior to the gold rush era, Tennant Creek’s first European residents were workers on the Overland Telegraph Line, which established a communication link between Australia and the rest of the world. The Telegraph Station was built in 1872, and this historical collection of stone buildings can be explored today.

Aboriginal culture is strong in Tennant Creek. The traditional land owners of this area are the aboriginal Warumungu people, and they recognise a number of sacred sites in the area, including the region’s most famous landmark - Karlu Karlu (the Devils Marbles) - which is about 100 kilometres south of the town.

The Nyinkka Nyunyu Culture Centre in Tennant Creek is an award-winning aboriginal attraction that showcases the people’s stories and art.

Climate

The Red Centre has hot summer days from December to February and surprisingly cold nights from June to August. Spring and autumn are warm throughout the day and cool at night.

The following chart outlines Alice Springs’ monthly climate averages as an indicator for the Red Centre.

March - May

Min average temperature - 12C (55F)

Max average temperature - 27C (82F)

June - August

Min average temperature - 3C (37F)

Max average temperature - 20C (68F)

September - November

Min average temperature - 14C (57F)

Max average temperature - 30C (86F)

December - February

Min average temperature - 20C (69F)

Max average temperature - 35C (95F)

Events in the Red Centre

1. Desert Mob

XX September 2010 - XX October 2010

Share the story and history of the Aboriginal arts phenomenon in Central Australia.

Desert Mob is an Aboriginal art and festival event, held in Alice Springs, that celebrates and defines a living art movement that is expressed through the heritage values of the oldest living culture in the world.

The art is diverse and complicated, vibrant and intense, and reflects the expansive cultural landscape that is the inspiration of the stories.

The annual exhibition, presented by the Araluen Art Centre at the Araluen Cultural Precinct, features art works from Aboriginal art centres in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia, which are Aboriginal owned and governed, non-profit organisations.

The exhibition gives visitors a complete overview of the work by Aboriginal artists in this vast region and the opportunity to purchase artworks from both new and established artists all in one place, directly from the art centres.

Nearly every year, a new art centre has emerged and developed, which adds new energy and dimension to the exhibition.

Entry fees apply

2. Alice Springs Cup Carnival

10th April 2010 - 3rd May 2010

Join in the excitement of horse racing in the heart of Central Australia.

The Alice Springs Cup Carnival is a program of five race days over a four-week period. The food and wine day heralds the start of the cup carnival, followed by Young Guns Day, where revellers mix and mingle in the party marquee with live music, games and loads of prizes. On Ladies Day the fairer sex can show off their finery, while lunching in The Pavilion overlooking the magnificent MacDonnell Ranges.

Family Fun Day is all the fun of the fair for the kids with pony rides, jumping castles, face painting, prizes and a kids Fashion of the Field. The XXXX Gold Alice Springs Cup Day features the AUD80,000.00 XXXX Gold Alice Springs Cup and is a lively and colourful day full of fun, food, fashion with live racing action broadcasted Australia-wide on TVN. Cup weekend also hosts the popular XXXX Gold Alice Springs Cup Luncheon, the spectacular Red Centre Yearling Sale and Gala Black Tie Ball.

Entry fees apply

3. Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race

11th June 2010 - 14th June 2010

Alice Springs to Aputula Aboriginal Community at Finke and return.

Come and experience a truly unique outback event.

The Tattersalls Finke Desert Race is Australia’s premier off-road racing event that attracts bike, car and buggy entries from around Australia and overseas. It is a multi-terrain, two-day race through desert country from Alice Springs to the small Aputula (Finke) Community and is reputed to be one of the most difficult off-road races in one of the most remote places in the world. The Finke, as the event is commonly known, is run along sections of the Old Ghan Railway service track, adjacent to the railway line, along a winding corrugated track, which snakes through typical outback terrain of red dirt, sand, spinifex, mulga and desert oaks.

The Finke enables people from all walks of life to become involved. For 3 days, it is estimated that more than 12,000 people camp beside the racetrack, sleeping under the stars in tents and swags.

Entry fees apply

4. Lions Imparja Camel Cup

10th June 2010

The quirky, annual Lions Imparja Camel Cup attracts visitors to Alice Springs from all over the world.

While camels may have a reputation as dedicated ‘ships of the desert’, these magnificent beasts are certainly not short on personality. Racing them can prove a nightmare for riders and handlers but fantastic viewing for spectators. Entertainment is assured, with nine unique races scheduled around the dusty outback track throughout the day.

There is lots of action between races, too. Belly dancers, rickshaw races, ‘Kids Kamel Dapers’ hobby camel races, rides, Mr and Miss Camel Cup challenges, food stalls and bars will add to the carnival atmosphere.

The cup is held in its own arena at Blatherskite Park, a section of the Central Australian Show Society grounds.

Entry fees apply

5. ASSA ABLOY Henley-On-Todd Regatta

21st August 2010

A boat race with a unique difference - on the dry sands of the Todd River.

The ASSA ABLOY Henley-On-Todd Regatta is a day of fun where teams and individuals race ‘boats’, in the dry bed of the Todd River in outback Alice Springs. Have fun and enjoy the hilarity as you watch seemingly sane people race in bottomless ‘eights’, ‘oxford tubs’, ‘bath tubs’ and ‘yachts’ through the deep coarse sand.

The event has its origins in 1962, when Reg Smith, an Alice Springs local, and his work colleagues proposed holding a regatta based on the famous Henley-on-Thames, a race between Cambridge and Oxford Universities. The idea was taken up by the Rotary Clubs of Alice Springs and the fact that the town was 1,500 kilometres from the nearest large body of water was never seen as a problem. So the ASSA ABLOY Henley-On-Todd was born.

Food and drink stalls are available, with all proceeds going to the three local Rotary clubs in Alice Springs, and ultimately back to the Alice Springs Community.

Must-do Experiences in the Red Centre

Top 5 Experiences in Alice Springs

• Visit the attractions - Take a tour or do your own thing. The Best way to get to know Alice is to see what has made her what she is today. Great place to start is the RFDS Visitor Centre, Alice Springs Telegraph Station where Alice the town began, The Reptile Centre - get familiar with what you might come across in the desert and the School of the Air - see how children in remote places go to school.
• Ride a bike - whether on a tour or getting about. A spectacular ride is on the bike path to simpsons gap
• Explore the Aboriginal Art Capital of the world - visit the many Aboriginal art galleries in and around Alice Springs - every region has its own story to tell. Araluen Cultural Precinct is a great place to get some background knowledge about the local Aboriginal art
• Take a Balloon Ride - what an awesome way to see the sunrise in the Red Centre
• Enjoy a Camel Ride - enjoy these incredible animals meandering through the desert landscape

Top 5 Experiences in the MacDonnell Ranges & Finke Gorge National Park

• See Standley Chasm light up at Midday
• Plan a to walk a section of the Larapinta Trail
• Take a swim in Ellery Creek Big Hole on a hot summer Day
• Visit Hermannsburg - have a slice of their famous apple studel.
• Walk amongst some of the most ancient Palm trees on earth at Palm Valley.

Top 5 Experiences in Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park)

• Quad Bike riding on the privately owned Kings Creek Station
• The Rim Walk - Walk the rim of the Canyon - guided can provide just that little more insight
• Helicopter Flight - Walking not your style see the Canyon in a chopper instead
• Take a Ranger guided creek walk - discover some of the many species of plants unique to the area
• Kathleen Springs walk

Top 5 Experiences in Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park

• The first time you sight Uluru - Magnificent
• Visit the cultural Centre - it provides amazing cultural insight and stories about these amazing formations
• Walk - take the 9 kilometre journey around the base of Uluru. The Valley of the Winds is a gorgeous walk in Kata Tjuta
• Sunrise & Sunset - see the amazing colours of Uluru change and glow
• Learn how to Dot Paint with Anangu teachers

Top 5 Experiences in Tennant Creek & the Barkly Region

• Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) - marvel at these boulder formations
• Take the underground Mine tour - some of the equipment still works!
• Nyinkka Nyunyu Aboriginal Art & Cultural Centre - Tells the story of the local Warumungu people
• Winanjikari Music Centre - see Indigenous musicians play and record modern music, sometimes in language
• Visit the Julalikari Arts - affectionately known as the Pink Palace, Tennant Creek artists have their own unique style

Tours to the Red Centre

The most popular way for backpackers to see the Red Centre is to take a tour, mainly from Alice Springs.

Most tours will also show you around other top sites in the Northern Territory.

For more information go to:

http://www.gapyear.com/australia

Tours Companies

Adventure Tours offer a variety of tours from short 4WD breaks to the Red Centre to 3 week tours which will take you across Australia. ATA offer camping and accommodated soft adventure tours and package travel deals which cater for backpackers and budget travellers. (www.adventuretours.com.au)

The Rock Tour was created in 2006 and has very quickly become the first choice for budget conscious travellers and International Backpackers visiting Alice Springs. The Rock Tour Departs Daily from Alice Springs at 6:00am. Our tours book up very fast so try to book at least a week in advance.

(www.therocktour.com.au)

With Connections Safaris you can choose from a variety of travel experiences that explore the Red Centre with like-minded active travellers, in small groups and comfortable vehicles. From a quick look at Kings Canyon on our 1 1/2 Day Safari, to our popular 5 Day Red Centre Safari that takes in all the icons, there’s an awesome touring option to suit your budget and adventure level.

(www.connectionsadventures.com.au)

Wayoutback Desert Safaris is a 4WD adventure tour specialist operating in Central Australia since 1999. Our mission is and has always been to give our customers an opportunity to not just visit the Red Centre, but to really experience the desert. To achieve this, there are a number of factors that combine so you begin to feel part of the desert, its massive expanse and the timelessness it engenders. (www.wayoutback.com.au)

Groovy Grape Getaways caters to the backpacker market who want fun informative adventurous trips. They are a young, active and energetic tour company whose tours and passengers reflect this. You will not only experience the outback way of life, but get up close and personal with the many wonders of native wildlife that inhabit this vast expanse of beauty.

(www.groovygrape.com.au)

Wayward Bus tours are designed to see what is best about a region and to accommodate most travel schedules. Most tours include all meals and accommodation is included on all trips. Often there are optional highlights you can choose from on tour as well. There’s something for everyone!

(www.waywardbus.com.au)

Accommodation in the Red Centre

There is a wide variety of accommodation through the Red Centre from up market hotels through to Backpackers and camping under the stars. Here are some examples. For all your accommodation options in the Red Centre log onto australiasoutback.com.

Alice Springs: Alice Lodge Backpackers

Alice Lodge Backpackers offerings home-style comfort in the Red centre and is close to the Alice Springs Town centre.

Alice Springs: Haven Backpacker Resort

Haven backpackers is Alice Springs newest backpackers resort and is stylish & funky. Located a 5 minute walk to town with easy access to the cafes, shops and nightlife. They offer complimentary transfers from the train, bus and airport.

West MacDonnell Ranges

There are many places to camp in the MacDonnell Ranges National Park. Also available is Glen Helen Resort which is 130 Kilometres West of Alice Springs on Namatjira Drive. Glen Helen offers meals, motel style rooms, budget accommodation and camping facilities.

East MacDonnell Ranges

There are many camping facilities in the East MacDonnell Ranges. If you make a prior booking, the Ross River Homestead has cabins and camping facilities. If you have a 4WD you may like to travel further onto Old Ambalindum Station where you can stay in the Old Homestead, in the bunkhouse rooms or set up camp in the camping facilities.

Kings Canyon: Kings Creek Station

Located 36 Kilometres from Kings Canyon is a working Cattle Station and offers meals, activities, Safari Cabin accommodation and camping facilities.

Kings Canyon: Kings Canyon Resort

Located only a few kilometres from Kings Canyon, the resort offers Spa hotel rooms right through to Lodge rooms and camping facilities.

Yulara: Ayers Rock Resort

This is located just outside the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and offers 5 star right through to budget accommodation and camping facilities. The Outback Pioneer offers motel style rooms through to dormitory style rooms for the budget conscious.

Guide to Aussie Strine!

To help the Poms and those not familiar with our lingo, we’ve put together a little guide to ensure you know your billabongs from your thongs, your muddys from your bushies!

It’s a bit of fun, but they do actually use a lot of these words over here so you might find some of them useful. Strewth - we’re teaching you some Strine!

Terms & phrases you might hear in the Northern Territory

Billabong: a watering hole / ox-bow river

Bities: biting insects

Bitzer: mongrel dog

Blowie: blow fly

Bogged: Vehicle stuck in mud or deep sand

Boomer: large male kangaroo

Brumby: wild horse

Bunyip: mythical outback creature

Bush: the Outback / hinterland, anywhere that isn’t in town

Bush telly: campfire

Bushie: someone who lives in the Bush

Click: kilometre - ''it’s 10 clicks away''

Cockie: cockatoo, cockroach or farmer

Corroboree: a ceremonial meeting of Australian Aboriginals

Damper: bread made from flour and water

Fossick: to prospect, e.g. for gold

Fossicker: prospector, e.g. for gold

Jackaroo: a male trainee station manager or station hand (See ‘Station’ below)

Jillaroo: a female trainee station manager or station hand (See ‘Station’ below)

Joey: baby kangaroo

Jumbuck: sheep

Matilda: swagman’s bedding, sleeping roll

Mob: family of kangaroos

Mozzie: mosquito

Muddy: mud crab

Muster: a round up of sheep or cattle

Never Never: remote Outback of Australia

Road train: huge truck pulling many trailers

Roo: kangaroo

Roo bar: bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also known as a bull bar)

Servo: petrol station

Station: a big farm or a grazing property

Top End: far north of Australia’s Northern Territory

Tucker: food

Tucker bag: food bag

Ute: utility vehicle, pickup truck

Walkabout: a walk in the Outback by Aborigines that lasts for an indefinite amount of time

Yabby: inland freshwater crayfish found in Australia

Other Australian words & expressions

Arvo: afternoon

Beaut, beauty: great, fantastic

Bonzer: great, ripper

Boozer: a pub

Cobber: friend

Coldie: a beer

Dag: a funny person, nerd

Dinkum / Fair dinkum: true, real, genuine (''I’m a dinkum Aussie''; ''is he fair dinkum?'')

Dummy, spit the: get very upset at something

Dunny: outside lavatory

Footy: Australian Rules football (not your European rubbish!)

G’Day: hello!

Galah: fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same name because of its antics and the noise it makes.

Heaps: a lot, e.g. ''thanks heaps'', ''(s)he earned heaps of money'' etc.

No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I’ll do it)

Pom, pommy, pommie : an Englishman

Ripper : great, fantastic - ''it was a ripper party''

Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - ''we rocked up at the party''

She’ll be right : it’ll turn out okay

Shoot through : to leave

Strewth : exclamation, mild oath (''Strewth, that Dave is a bonzer bloke'')

Strine : Australian slang and pronunciationv

Clothes

Bathers : swimming costume

Cozzie : swimming costume

Daks : trousers

Strides : trousers

Sunnies : sunglasses

Thongs : cheap rubber backless sandals

Togs : swim suit

Trackie daks : tracksuit pants

Food & drink

Amber fluid : beer

Avos : avocados

Billy : teapot, container for boiling water

Esky : large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc.

Flake : shark meat (sold in fish & chip shops)

Snag : a sausage

Stubby : a 375ml bottle of beer

Stubby holder : polystyrene insulated holder for a stubby

Tallie : 750ml bottle of beer

Tinny : can of beer or a small aluminium boat