Red Centre & Uluru Explorer


Spend six days exploring the best of Australia’s Red Centre on a culturally rich and naturally wonderful small group adventure. From Yulara, admire Uluru at a number of times during the day, seeing the colour of this sacred rock change as day turns to night. Explore the depths of Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta National Park and the West MacDonnell Ranges, stopping by gorges and pristine waterholes for a walk and swim. With First Nations culture, comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable leader, this Red Centre adventure is the whole package.

6 days, from

$1,742

per person

GROUP SIZE

16 people max

ACTIVITY LEVEL

3
Trip code: POKR
Style: Original
Theme: Explorer

Details

Countries Visited:  Australia
Accommodation: Permanent furnished tented camp (with shared facilities) (2 nights), Hotel (3 nights)
Transportation: Private vehicle
Included Meals:

  • 3 breakfasts
  • 3 lunches
  • 1 dinners

Group size: Minimum 1, Max 16

  • Take part in a Welcome or Acknowledgement of Country at the beginning of your adventure to recognise the land of the Anangu – the First Nations custodians of this area.

  • See the sacred wonder of Uluru at multiple angles and at different points of the day. Embark on a walk around its base, and enjoy a spread of locally sourced produce at sunset, watching the rock change as dusk breaks.

  • Gaze up at the constellations on a special stargazing experience and bush tucker dinner. The night sky comes alive in the Red Centre, with no pollution to impede your view.

  • Tour a wide range of landscapes around the Red Centre, including the West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon.

  • Hike through the otherworldly Walpa Gorge and to several viewpoints for spectacular vistas of Kata-Tjuta, the towering domes that form something akin to a forest of rounded rocks.

Itinerary

Show Full Itinerary

Day 1: Yulara / Uluru

Welcome to Yulara, located on Anangu land in the red centre of Australia. You are welcome to arrive at any time today before an important welcome meeting at 5pm, where you will meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Although being deep in the outback, Yulara is surprisingly accessible, with flights arriving from major Australian cities. As part of your meeting your leader, or when available, a First Nations guide, will present a Welcome or Acknowledgement of Country. This practice occurs all across Australia to understand and recognise the land that you find yourself on – land of immense significance to First Nations communities. Reconvene with your crew for a memorable sunset viewing of Uluru and take the time to understand the importance of this sacred rock to the local Anangu people. Later, spend the night enjoying an Outback barbecue dinner under the stars, then maybe swap stories sitting around the campfire. There's the option to sleep under the stars in a swag for a true Aussie experience, or otherwise, enjoy a comfortable permanent tented room with a bed and light.

For those who would prefer to join the trip from Alice Springs, we offer a transfer to Yulara departing at 9:30am. Please contact us to book this transfer no later than 7 days prior to your trip.

Day 2: Kata Tjuta / Uluru / Yulara

Rise and shine nice and early for some spectacular sunrise viewing as you make your way to Kata Tjuta, where you’ll embark on the Walpa Gorge walk. Sandstone cliffs rise high above as you continue through the gorge, shrouded by shadows and full of First Nations history. Walpa Gorge is also one of the few places in Kata Tjuta where you might see kanyaḻa, or common wallaroo hopping around the domes. Return to camp for lunch. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon – perhaps book yourself on an outback ride on a bike or a camel through the Resort. Tonight, enjoy your own dinner at one of the on-site restaurants then retire to your accommodation, or for those who have pre-booked, witness the Field of Lights before heading off to bed.

Day 3: Uluru / Kings Canyon

Get up with the sun and embark on the base walk around Uluru at sunrise, watching as the colours of the rock shift as night turns to day. No two angles of the sacred monolith are the same and its sheer size will leave you marvelling. Join an Anangu guide for a walk to the beautiful Mutitjulu Waterhole at the base of the rock. Your guide will explain what makes this waterhole sacred while sharing stories of the incredible landscape and its connection to the Anangu people. Afterwards, stop by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to continue immersing yourself in First Nations culture. Continue on to Kings Canyon – where you will spend the night. Snack on a packed lunch on the way and enjoy a walk and talk to discover the bush tucker and bush medicines used for spiritual and healing purposes by the Luritja and Pertame (Southern Arrernte) people. When you arrive in Kings Canyon this afternoon, soak up the views and the last of the daylight with the group at the perfectly positioned sunset viewing platform, before your optional dinner tonight.

Day 4: Kings Canyon / Alice Springs

Get ready for another day of sun-soaked scenery in Australia’s outback. Join your group for the Kings Canyon rim walk in Watarrka National Park. The walk starts with a difficult climb to the top of the canyon to take in unrivalled views. Admire the marbled red cliffs as they plummet to the forest floor from up above. Discover its Amphitheatre, Lost City, North and South Walls and the surprisingly lush Garden of Eden, which owes its cycads and plant life to a permanent waterhole down in the canyon. After the walk we continue on our way to Alice Springs (Mparntwe in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which Alice Springs is now located). Sit back, relax and watch the desert scenery roll by your window. Once there, perhaps join your travel pals for dinner at a local pub tonight.

Day 5: West Macdonnell National Park / Alice Springs

Spend today exploring the outback scenery of Tjoritja - West Macdonnell National Park. Head to Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge for a swim (or just a toe dip in winter - the water can be freezing cold!) and relax on the beaches by the waterholes, or perhaps take a hike to check out more of the area. These two stops are traveller's favourites – not only for the swimming options available, but the incredible outback scenery that greets you at every turn. In the afternoon, make your way back to Alice Springs, and after freshening up at your accommodation, enjoy a memorable bush tucker and stargazing experience. Under a blanket of stars, follow the constellations above as you listen to expert guides tell the stories of the ground beneath your feet and the heavens above. Afterwards, head back to your accommodation in town for your final night.

Day 6: Alice Springs

With no activities planned for today, you are free to depart at any time.