Highlights
Red Centre & Uluru
Australia’s Outback offers a riot of colours, contrasts and awe-inspiring natural wonders. The best-known area is the Red Centre, home to Kata Tjuta National Park – a sacred, sun-baked landscape of huge, red rock formations. Uluru (or Ayers Rock), Australia’s most iconic natural attraction, sprouts from the horizon – a landmark that’s of deep spiritual significance to the Anangu Aboriginal people. Watch it change colour at sunrise and sunset, over a bushman’s breakfast or sumptuous twilight feast with didgeridoo music. Other ways to see the rock include a guided walking tour or camel safari around the base, or by helicopter or plane to admire Uluru’s beauty from above.
Art, Culture & Heritage
Travel to the heart of spiritual Australia and learn about Aboriginal culture, an ancient way of life rich in history and art, inspired very much by the landscapes of astonishing rock formations. The Anangu people of Uluru have lived here for centuries, following a set of beliefs called Tjukurpa. Join them on guided short walks, listen to their tales and gaze in awe at their sacred sites. Don’t miss Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, brimming with artwork, artefacts and presentations on their culture or travel to Alice Springs and browse the fantastic Aboriginal galleries. Further afield, Kings Creek and Curtin Springs cattle stations showcase pioneering spirit dating back to the early 1900s.
Wildlife
Unusual birds, bush mammals and vibrant wildflowers dot this rugged desert region. Big names include kangaroos, wallabies, emus and dingoes, all roaming free on the sun-scorched sands. Reptiles include small, spiky lizards and around a dozen kinds of snakes. Look up for close-up views of Brown Falcons and kestrels, or nearer to the ground for the splendid Fairywren, the Singing Honeyeater and the rare Scarlet-chested Parrot – just a handful of around 170 species of birds.
Adventure
Get set for the ultimate Outback adventure! Pick from riding a classic Harley Davidson along Uluru’s sunset strip, 4WD safaris along centuries-old bush tracks and quad-biking tours over sand dunes. Soak up the scenery, look out for wildlife and brace yourself for an exhilarating ride! Alternatively, join a guided trek and weave your way along tracks meandering amid ancient landscapes – a deliciously slow and up-close encounter with this spiritual land – or enjoy scenic flights, dune-trekking by camel and Milky Way star-gazing.