Red Centre: Outback Wanderings

Arrive into Alice Springs where a warm A&K welcome awaits. You are privately transferred to your hotel before an afternoon town tour with your fellow travellers. Your tour takes you first to ‘Anzac Hill' from where you can enjoy spectacular views of ‘the Alice' and surrounding MacDonnell Ranges before continuing to the iconic School of the Air and the historic Telegraph Station, which marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs.

Visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service, where you will hear how essential medical aid reaches those who live in the remote outback. You'll also visit the Alice Springs Reptile Centre, where you can see up-close and maybe touch some of the lizards and snakes of Central Australia's semi-arid desert. Tonight join your group for a welcome dinner, feast on modern Australian fare with a hint of the outback. Stay: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters (D)

Rise early this morning and experience the breathtaking feeling of floating silently above the outback in a hot air balloon, as the morning light begins to illuminate the MacDonnell Ranges. Finish with light refreshments and sparkling wine.

Continue your journey west to Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park, with a stop for a picnic lunch en-route. Sitting at the western end of the George Gill Range, Kings Canyon is approximately midway between Alice Springs and Uluru. This ancient formation of tall red rock faces that soar above dense palm forests is an important conservation area and refuge for more than 600 species of native plants and animals, many unique to the area. Upon arrival into Kings Canyon, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Stay: Kings Canyon Resort (B/L)

Head out this morning on a guided scenic rim walk of Kings Canyon, an ancient rock formation which towers over a dense palm forest below. The six-kilometre hike offers spectacular views of the gorge and surrounding landscapes with options of strolling around the top of the canyon or taking the stairs down to the picturesque Garden of Eden filled with lush greenery. If you'd prefer a more relaxed pace, you can also choose an optional 2km creek-bed walk.

Return to the lodge with the afternoon at leisure to cool off in the pool, enjoy a game of tennis, or just relax amidst the surrounding natural beauty. This evening, savour a five-course feast under the southern stars, enjoying locally sourced produce with paired wines. Stay: Kings Canyon Resort (B/D)

After a leisurely morning, depart Kings Canyon and transfer to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and your luxurious tented lodgings at Longitude 131°.

On the way, lunch is at Curtin Springs Station, home to the Severin family since 1956. Kick back in true Aussie-style at a barbecue lunch before enjoying a 1 hour tour to learn about the wonders and history of the station, the surrounding landscape, connection to the land, and how they harvest native grasses to produce a diverse range of papers.

Later stop to view Atila (Mt. Conner), often mistaken for Uluru, before arriving at your accommodation to a warm signature welcome. Settle into the relaxed luxury of the surrounds and savour the magnificent views from your balcony as the light shifts and changes over Uluru.

Dinner tonight is in the picturesque Dune House with ever-changing views of the monolith as your backdrop. Stay: Longitude 131° (B/L/D)

Today's adventure reveals the very best of the Red Centre. Activities include a visit to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre where informative and interactive displays showcase the spiritual and cultural meanings of the impressive ochre-coloured rock formations. You will also enjoy the opportunity to admire Uluru up close as you walk around the base with your guide. See areas which are surprisingly green and lush, providing plenty of wildlife and bush tucker spotting opportunities, while other parks feel vast and open, with little shade. Wander through acacia woodlands and grassed claypans and encounter bloodwoods, native grasses, and many waterways and waterholes.

Enter Kantju Gorge at dusk, the rock walls ablaze with the light of the setting sun. Experience the renowned Field of Light, before a 4-course dinner and listen to Longitude's resident astronomer as the southerly constellations are illuminated. Stay: Longitude 131° (B/L/D)

Rise early and discover Mutitjulu Waterhole and the sacred site of Kuniya Piti as the sun lights up the ancient monolith. After breakfast, transfer to Ayers Rock Airport for your onward flight. (B)