MacDonnell Region

A vast region covering the Red Centre of the southern Northern Territory, home to both Uluru and Kings Canyon.

The MacDonnell Region is a huge local government area in the south of the Northern Territory, surrounding the Town of Alice Springs and made up mainly of desert, mountains and Aboriginal communities. It includes the World Heritage–listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where you can watch the monolith at sunrise and sunset and walk the Valley of the Winds; the Kings Canyon Rim Walk in Watarrka National Park is spectacular; and the East and West MacDonnell Ranges are full of gorges. April–October is the best time to visit. The gateways are Ayers Rock Airport (Yulara) and Alice Springs Airport, and driving distances are long.

Destinations

• Uluru-Kata Tjuta
• Kings Canyon (Watarrka)
• Alice Springs

Itineraries

• Red Centre Sealed Road Loop – Depart from Alice Springs and travel entirely on sealed roads to explore Uluru, Kings Canyon, and the West MacDonnell R…
• Kings Canyon & Uluru Short Tour – Join a small group tour from Alice Springs through the Outback, focusing on Kings Canyon, Uluru, and Kata Tjuta.
• Explorer's Way: Uluru to Darwin – Drive from south to north across the Northern Territory, traveling from the Red Centre all the way to tropical Kakadu a…
• Explorer's Way: Adelaide to Alice Springs – Drive north along the Stuart Highway via the Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy to Uluru and Alice Springs.
• Larapinta Trail Highlights Trek – Hike the West MacDonnell Ranges with a guide, traversing gorges and ridgelines, and summit Mount Sonder for sunrise.