Red Centre

The heart of inland Australia: Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, and Alice Springs with the MacDonnell Ranges.

The Red Centre is the common name for the southern inland of Australia's Northern Territory, named for its ochre-red soil, and is the core region for Aboriginal culture and desert landscapes. The best known is Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (a World Heritage site for both natural and cultural values): the giant sandstone monolith of Uluru changes color at sunrise and sunset, and you can walk the roughly 10-km base walk or join an Aboriginal-guided tour; nearby Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) consists of 36 domed rocks, and the Valley of the Winds walk is well worth doing. About 300 km to the northeast, Watarrka National Park has the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, overlooking 100-meter red cliffs and the "Garden of Eden" waterhole. The transport hub of Alice Springs is an Aboriginal art center, and the nearby West MacDonnell Ranges have Standley Chasm, Ormiston Gorge and many other waterholes and hiking trails. The classic plan is a self-drive loop from Uluru to Kings Canyon to Alice Springs, taking 4–6 days; you can also join a three-day, two-night camping tour. Respect Aboriginal wishes: climbing Uluru has been permanently banned since 2019, and photography is prohibited at some sacred sites. The desert is dry, so carry plenty of drinking water and protect yourself from flies.

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