Lifestyle Travel

Great Road Trips – Red Centre Way, Australia

The Red Centre Way is one of the most iconic road trips in Australia. To make the most of the trip we recommend spending 6 days to really take in everything that the stunning red centre has to offer. The trip starts in Alice Springs and travel through the Uluru-Kate Tjutu National Park and Watarrka National Park.

By Melinda Healy for Issue 3 of ele Magazine

Climbing Uluru is no longer possible and protection and respect of this important Australian icon is critical, but that doesn’t mean that the iconic sandstone monolith is out of bounds altogether, in fact quite the opposite. It should be a pivotal part of your next Outback road trip.

On this wide open stretch not only will you experience the ancient ochre hues the Red Centre is renowned for, but you’ll enjoy open skies blanketed with stars and iconic landmarks at every turn. Drone enthusiasts will have an incredible canvas for their road trip footage thanks to the red desert sands, gigantic gorges and nature walks.

Uluru glowing at sunrise. One of the great natural wonders of the world, Uluru towers above the surrounding landscape. Uluru is not only a spectacular natural formation, but its a deeply spiritual place.

Distance

The 1,135-kilometre Red Centre Way loop starts and finishes in Alice Springs and is best undertaken over a six-day period.

What You Will See

This incredible road trip takes you through the West MacDonnell Range National Park, which is home to plenty of water holes including Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Redbank Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge and the 223 kilometre Larapinta Walking Trail if you want to leave the car behind for a bit.

You’ll head out to the 140 million-year-old Tnorala comet crater, which has some fascinating cultural history, then beyond that, you’ll be mesmerised by Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Watarrka National Park, which is home to Kings Canyon – the iconic three-hour rim walk is a must-do here and best tackled at sunrise before the heat of the day kicks in.

What to Pack

Good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellant and a drone if you own one, the landscape out here is brilliant.

Want more? Click here for a Sandy Island Paradise and here for Our Guide to a Weekend in Noosa.

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