Red Centre Way
An inland loop from Alice Springs through the West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon to Uluru and Kata Tjuta in Australia's Red Centre.
The Red Centre Way is an inland self-drive loop promoted by the Northern Territory government. Starting and ending in Alice Springs, it links the West MacDonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park into a circuit of about 1,100 to 1,200 km. From Alice Springs, head west along Larapinta Drive and Namatjira Drive, passing Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, the Ellery Creek Big Hole, the Ochre Pits, Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge, where you can swim or take short walks. Next, follow the Mereenie Loop, about 200 km of partly unsealed red dirt road that requires an advance permit and where rental companies often require four-wheel drive, to Kings Canyon, where you can walk the 6 km rim trail. Continue via Luritja Road and the Lasseter Highway to Yulara, where you can watch Uluru at sunrise and sunset, walk the Base Walk around the rock, and visit the Valley of the Winds in Kata Tjuta. Finally, return to Alice Springs along the Stuart Highway through Erldunda. Allow 5 to 8 days, with overnight stays in Glen Helen, Kings Canyon and Yulara. Fuel stops can be 200 km apart, so fill your tank, carry plenty of drinking water, and avoid night driving to prevent collisions with kangaroos and cattle. Entry to the national park requires a ticket, and climbing Uluru is prohibited.