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.
Australia’s Watarrka National Park contains the western end of the George Gill Mountain Range, the home of Kings Canyon. The scenic landscape of rugged ranges, rock holes, and gorges is a refuge for many plants and animals, making the park an important conservation area and major attraction. The canyon features ancient sandstone walls sculptured by the elements, rising 100 metres up to a plateau of rocky domes. History enthusiasts can enjoy discovering the heritage of the Luritja Aboriginal people, who lived in the area for more than 20 000 years, in one of the many guided tours. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch the sunrise from the top of the canyon, dine under the stars at the resort, or take a helicopter ride over Watarrka National Park.
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!
