Whether you’re looking for adventure, journeys, nature, great food and wine, events and culture, islands and beaches to relax on or to connect with the oldest culture on earth, there’s nothing like a holiday in Australia.
Alice Springs – known to locals as simply “Alice” – is the beating heart of Australia’s Red Centre.
Surrounded by red dirt and hauntingly beautiful mountain ranges you’ll find Alice Springs, a city of arts and events. It’s a great base for exploring the natural wonders of the Northern Territory’s outback, including Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges and their iconic Larapinta Trail, the red sands of the Simpson Desert and the haunting sight of the Devils Marbles. It’s also a fascinating spot to explore Australia’s Aboriginal culture.
Uluru
Appearing out of nowhere and changing colour with the light, Uluru, also known as Ayer’s rock, is one of the world’s natural wonders; once seen it will never be forgotten.
Almost everyone who comes face to face with mighty Uluru says it’s an emotional experience. This enormous rock formation burns a fiery red at sunrise and sunset, and keeps watch over the desert at night. Explore the surrounding landscape and don’t forget to visit Uluru’s big sister, Kata Tjuta: this awesome collection of enormous sandstone rock formations is 500 million years old and it’s bigger, longer and wider than Uluru. Visit the quirky Devils Marbles (also known as Karlu Karlu), a photogenic collection of oversized spheres which look like perhaps they’ve been dropped from the sky by the gods (or a devil), during a game of marbles!
Australian Aboriginal art is the oldest ongoing art tradition in the world. Early Aboriginal stories and culture were expressed in rock carvings, body painting and ground designs. Today artworks are displayed in galleries across Alice Springs, such as the Papunya Tula gallery, owned and directed by traditional Aboriginal people from the Western Desert. The Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise that takes basket weaving to the next level.
Stretching out hundreds of kilometres each side of Alice Springs are the caterpillar-like East and West MacDonnell Ranges. They’re full of incredible views, hiking, 4WD tracks, freshwater swimming holes and camping spots. Spend a day in the West MacDonnell Ranges (home to the Larapinta Trail) to discover Simpsons Gap and black-footed rock wallabies. See the soaring red cliffs and swimming holes at Ormiston Gorge and Pound, or visit Finke Gorge National Park.
Climb to the top of Anzac Hill for sweeping views over Alice Springs and the distant MacDonnell Ranges.
Experience an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime magical holiday at Australia’s Red Centre.
