Desert Art, Gardens and Culture in Central Australia

Arrive in the remote Northern Territory town of Alice Springs, where you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. Meet fellow travellers and your Botanical Guide at a welcome dinner this evening in the hotel. Stay Four Nights: Alice Springs, DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs (D)

Depart on foot from your hotel this morning to the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, developed by Miss Olive Pink in the 1950s as a reserve for arid-region flora. There are over 600 plant species represented in the gardens, 145 of which occur naturally within this area. Look for the Mallees with their distinctive flower and seed capsules and the numerous acacias. These plants are renowned for their range of uses in indigenous culture. Spend the afternoon at the Araluen cultural precinct, which is home to significant works by celebrated Indigenous watercolourist, Albert Namatjira. Enjoy the opportunity to view works from other Aboriginal artists on display here. You will also get the opportunity to visit the Museum of Central Australia, which follows the region's unique natural history. Tonight you have the option of joining a Nocturnal Desert Park Tour at the Alice Springs Desert Park to see the endangered bilby, mala and echidna. (B)

Enjoy a morning town tour of Alice Springs, including the School of the Air, Telegraph Station, The Residency and Anzac Hill. In Todd Mall today you will have free time to purchase lunch and to browse the galleries if you are interested in buying ethically sourced Indigenous artwork. This afternoon we delve further into the art scene of central Australia with a visit to RAFT artspace, which is committed to exhibiting contemporary work of local Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists. Gardening in the Red Centre can present a unique set of challenges – visit a local community garden project in Alice Springs to learn about what it means to garden in such a harsh climate. (B)

Today, journey to Tjoritja, also known as the West MacDonnell Ranges. Once here, head to Simpsons Gap, a sacred scenic area that's an important spiritual site to the Arrernte people. This is the site where several Dreamtime stories are said to have taken place. Among the towering cliffs rests a permanent watering hole, which makes for excellent wildlife viewing. Keep an eye out for black-footed rock-wallabies. View some iconic desert plants such as the desert oak (Allocasuarina decaisneana), compact tussock grass (Triodia brizoides) or the desert raisin (Solanum centrale). Continue to Angkerle and follow a creek where spring-fed pools attract a variety of unique birdlife. Its European name, Standley Chasm, is a tribute to Ida Standley, who became the first school teacher in Alice Springs in 1914. Afterwards, visit Ormiston Gorge, where you can pause to take a moment to sketch your surrounds with the help of your Botanical Guide. Dinner tonight is at the Tinh and Lan Alice Vietnamese Restaurant, on the outskirts of town. Walk through a tranquil garden setting before entering the restaurant area. (B/L/D)

Depart your hotel this morning and travel to Hermannsburg Historic Precinct, famously known as the home of artist Albert Namatjira. Visit the Hermannsburg School, an art school founded by Namatjira, as well as his house. The ghost gum (Corymbia aparrerinja) will leave a lasting impression when viewed in the landscape Namatjira famously painted. Silhouetted against the brilliant blue sky of the desert, it is an integral and spiritual part of the ecosystem of this arid land. Continue on to Palm Valley, a place indicative of central Australia's tropical past, and the only known place in Central Australia where red cabbage palms (Livistona mariae) survive. Arrive late this afternoon at Kings Canyon Resort. Stay Two Nights: Kings Canyon Resort, Resort Room (B/L/D)

Spend the full day at majestic Kings Canyon, with the morning spent hiking the six-kilometer circuit around the rim of the 300-metre-high sandstone walls. Descend into the Garden of Eden, a permanent waterhole that brings abundant life to the area; the lush greenery of which casts a stark contrast against the orange rock formations. This afternoon back at your resort you can choose to spend sketch booking the surrounds with your Botanical Guide, take an optional scenic helicopter flight (at own expense), or simple relax by the resort pool. (B/D)

Travel this morning to Uluru, where we enjoy a casual lunch at our accommodation and time to explore the Cultural Centre. Late this afternoon enjoy a short walk to Mititjulu Waterhole at the base of Uluru before taking in the sunset over Uluru. Be amazed as you witness the different colours that appear on the monolith as the sun sets. Stay Two Nights: Sails in the Desert, Superior Room (B/L/D)

Rise early this morning and enjoy breathtaking views of Kata Tjuta as the sun rises. Enjoy a light breakfast before embarking on the Valley of the Winds walk, a challenging but rewarding trek through Kata Tjuta's domes to view stunning Mars-like scenery. Your afternoon is free to relax before enjoying a farewell dinner at the Sounds of Silence, a dining experience like no other under the stars of the outback. Finish the evening with the critically acclaimed Field of Light display, created by celebrated artist Bruce Munro. Be immersed into a fantasy garden of 50,000 spindles of light, stretched across an area the size of more than seven football fields. (B/D)

Your tour concludes after breakfast this morning. (B)