This hardy and remote desert town, initially named Stuart, started out as a telegraph station in the 1870s. Renamed Alice Springs in 1993, it’s the capital of the Australian Outback and the best place to start your exploration of the breathtaking Red Centre – the country’s interior desert region – as well as to experience the vibrant art and culture of the Aboriginal people. Venture out to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and explore Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges, Simpson Desert, and the Devil’s Marbles Conservation Reserve – home to an iconic pair of round granite boulders. While you’re in town, make sure to visit the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve to get a feel of the town’s unique pioneering history.
Scenic Watarrka National Park is a scenic wild area situated in Australia’s Northern Territory, about 320 kilometres southwest of Alice Springs. The park’s primary highlight is Kings Canyon, consisting of ancient sandstone walls rising up 100 metres to a plateau of rocky domes. The canyon offers a safe haven for a profusion of plant and animal life, making the park an important conservation area and a major tourist attraction. There are numerous walking tracks to explore, with interesting monuments showcasing centuries of Aboriginal culture. In Kathleen Springs, visitors can enjoy a refreshing swim; and the aptly named Garden of Eden is a lush garden of green paradise. Whether you choose to tour this rugged wilderness by helicopter, camel, quad bike, or on foot, you are bound to be impressed by its exceptional natural beauty and its unique desert wildlife.
Owned by the Anangu Aboriginal people and jointly administered by Parks Australia, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory holds a deep cultural significance for its traditional curators. It is home to the World Heritage listed Uluru – a searing sandstone monolith that stands 348 metres high and is inscribed by ancestral indigenous people. Visit the Cultural Centre to hear the stories, see the art, and chat to the Anangu guides who will escort you around Uluru base, take you to Kantju Gorge (where you’ll see Anangu rock art) and the Mutitjulu waterhole. This place will take your breath away!
