Red Centre

Australia's famous 'Red Centre' certainly lives up to its reputation, with vast amounts of red soil and sparse greenery amongst its landscape.

A trip here cannot be missed as the area holds something different to the rest of Australia.

The main town in Central Australia is Alice Springs, which is surprisingly larger than you imagine. There is a large shopping centre and plenty of accommodation to choose from. Nearby the spectacular MacDonnell Ranges are well worth driving through. The Western MacDonnell Ranges head west from Alice and the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges head east. The scenery is fantastic in both and offer a great opportunity to explore the area.

Alice Springs Todd MallIf the Red Centre has a capital, it is Alice Springs, just less than 1500 kilometres south of the Northern Territory's capital, Darwin. It is an ideal starting point or base for a journey to the Red Centre.

Central AustraliaHeading south from Alice to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, home to Uluru/Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta/The Olgas, the quickest way is along the Stuart Highway.

There are plenty of tracks leading off of this road although most are 4WD tracks, however they do let you see some wonderful places.

One of the first tracks heading off, leads along the Old Ghan Road to Ewaninga, home to some marvellous rock carvings. Continuing south along this track you will reach the large Chambers Pillar which has the names of the early explorers to the area carved into it. The Aboriginal people believe this to be an ancestor of great strength named Itirkawara. The track leading to the pillar from Maryvale Station is by 4WD only, and although you can camp you should bring your own supplies, including water.

Plumed PigeonsFurther south again along this track you will come to the once busy town of Finke. There is an arts centre here and also a fuel station. Heading east from here you will arrive at Old Andado, and heading west you will reach the Stuart Highway hear the turn-off for Uluru. One thing you shouldn't miss in this area is Lambert Centre, which is the geographical centre of Australia, marked by a matching flag to the one on Parliament House in Canberra.

Kings CanyonSouth from Alice along the highway you will come across Stuart's Well. A little further south from here you will reach the Ernest Giles Road, which is a quicker although not as smooth road to Kings Canyon. Even if you don't want to take this route to Kings Canyon you should visit the site of the Henbury Meteorite Craters. The largest of the 12 craters is 180m across and 15m deep. You can walk around the craters and there are signs pointing out various features.

If you want a better road to Kings Canyon then you should follow the route to Uluru, along the Lasseter Highway. Along this road you will pass through Mt. Ebenezer and Curtin Springs, two small villages with a service station. You will also spot Mt. Connor, which you may mistake for Uluru. It is a similar shape, although it has a flatter top and curved sides. The lookout is fabulous and you can get some great photographs. From here there is little else than fantastic scenery until you reach Yulara and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.


Destinations within Red Centre

Yulara
Ayers Rock Uluru
Other Red Centre Destinations
Aileron Alice Springs Barrow Creek
Hermannsburg Ti Tree Wauchope

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