Highlights of The Red Centre

The fiery landscape that gives this region its name is as rich in cultural significance as it is in vibrant hues. It is full of natural wonders and enchanting narratives. Read on for some of the highlights you can expect to unearth in the Red Centre during your Northern Territory tour.

Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park

Officially held by the traditional owners, the Pitjantjatjara and Yankuntjatjara Aboriginal peoples (who refer to themselves as Anangu), the national park holds deep cultural importance. It is home to two major sites – Uluru and Kata Tjuta. According to geologists, the creation of these formations began 550 million years ago. Their age is just the beginning of their extraordinary attributes.

Uluru

Uluru is a sandstone jewel crowning the Red Centre. Towering 348 metres above the vast plain that it calls home, it rests majestic and imposing in its stillness. Learn about the sacred sites, the cultural narratives, and the geological transformation of this celebrated Australian icon. Watch its colours dance in time with the sun’s journey across the sky and marvel at the sheer enormity of Uluru – both in size and in sentiment.

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

Explore the captivating domes of Kata Tjuta strung along the landscape, the tallest of which rises 546 metres from the savannah below. 36 boulders stand side-by-side with deep ravines furrowing between them like cavernous wrinkles in the smooth rockface. Meander through Walpa Gorge as you follow the creek twisting between two of the tallest domes, or perhaps take a helicopter flight to witness the immensity of these intriguing patterns from the sky.

Watarrka National Park

Sitting 450 kilometres southwest of Alice Springs is Watarrka National Park, home to rugged landscapes, plunging gorges, towering ranges, pockets of forest, and an abundance of flora and fauna. Encompassing the western divide of the George Gill Range, home to the famous Kings Canyon, the National Park is a major attraction. Take a scenic walk, find a peak to take in the views, or simply marvel at the rugged ranges framing the horizon.

Kings Canyon

Engraved in Watarrka National Park is King’s Canyon, a deep gorge sliced into the earth. The red rock face skirting the sides of the ravine is as striking in colour as it is in magnitude and casts shadows over the lush forest 100 metres below, where the harsh desert environment can’t penetrate. Stroll through the sheltered centre or climb to the Canyon rim to drink in the spectacular views.

Simpsons Gap

The West MacDonnell Ranges are lined with gullies cutting through the stone. One of the most prominent is Simpsons Gap, where a permanent waterhole sits amidst the striking landscape and towering precipices. Watch the rock wallabies bounding past as you take a short bushwalk, learn about the ecology of the region, and discover the native plant life during your exploration of the Red Centre.

Angkerle (Standley Chasm)

Catch the walls of Standley Chasm awash with sunlight by visiting an hour either side of midday, when reflective rays bathe the rock face in a red glow. Nestled in a reserve owned by the Iwupataka Land Trust and operated by direct descendants of the Aboriginal people that have called this land home for thousands of years, a visit sheds light on more than just the chasm walls.