The southern part of the Northern Territory,
the geographic centre of Australia, is referred to as the Red
Centre.
updated 08/01/04 20:24 +0100
Map: Hema Map
'The Red Centre - Alice Springs to Uluru '
ISBN 1-6500-143-0, scale 1:750 000
In spite of its remoteness, the Red
Centre is a very popular travel destination in Australia. No wonder since
it is the home of one of the country's icons: Uluru, also known as Ayers
Rock.
Less than 23,000 people call Alice Springs
their home, yet it is the biggest township in the region. Alice is
one of the remotest towns in the world. Nevertheless, more than 400,000 travellers
per year find their way to this place in the middle of the red desert
sands.
Monday to Friday: 8.30hrs to 17.30hrs.
Saturdays, Sundays & public holidays: 9.00hrs to 16.00hrs
How
to go to Alice:
Alice Springs
is located at the Stuart Highway (Hwy 87/Hwy 1),
a sealed and well maintained road leading from Adelaide to Darwin.
daily flights out of, and into Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide,
Darwin, Cairns, and Perth; also into Yulara Resort.
the legendary "Ghan" train is scheduled twice per
week
daily express bus connections into Adelaide, Darwin, and
Brisbane
Alice
Springs Desert Park
Just a few minutes out of town, this park
features all the habitats of the desert with its big variety in flora
and fauna. This park is perfect to introduce you to the nature of
the Red Centre. All plants and animals are displayed in their
natural environment in the bush, the sands, and the wet lands. In
the Nature Theatre, you can learn about the hunting and flying
techniques of the birds of prey.
Allow at least three hours for your visit.
The park is open daily from 07.30hrs to
18.00hrs (except for Christmas Day).
The Nature Theatre is open from 10.00hrs to
15.30hrs.
Phone: +61 8 8951 8788
Fax: +61 8 8951 8720
Guided tours are available in Alice
Springs.
School
of the Air
This unique institution is absolutely worth
a visit. From here, children get lessons over the radio in their
remote homes
throughout this vast region. Visitors will learn about the
importance of this school, and during school days, they may even
follow ongoing lessons.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 08.30hrs to 16.30hrs
Sunday 13.30hrs to 16.30hrs
closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day
Phone: +61
8 8951 6834
Fax:
+61 8 8951 6835
Royal
Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)
This institution came into existence in
1939, and even in our days it provides medical assistance to remote
bush communities in the centre of Australia. During your visit, you
will learn about the importance of this institution for history and
future development of the region.
The RFDS is located at Stuart Terrace, to the
southern end of the shopping district. From the post office it is
just a short 600 metre walk to the "Flying Doctors".
There is a car park at the RFDS base.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 9.00hrs to 16.00hrs
Sunday and some public holidays: 13.00hrs to 16.00hrs
closed: Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Allow
approximately four and a half hours to reach the national park from
Alice Springs via Stuart and Lasseter Highways. The distance is 450
kilometres. Those who prefer to fly will need 45 minutes.
Scheduled non-stop flights are available
from Sydney, and Perth. Other connections are available via Alice.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is the
property of the Anangu Aboriginal community. They manage it in
co-operation with
Parks Australia. Its size is 132.000 ha, and it is open to the
public from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. (daylight
hours).
There is no entry fee up to the age of
fifteen, above this age you'll have to pay 15
AU$ (February 2003).
The park entry is at Yulara Resort. This
holiday village has been created especially for visitors to Ayers
Rock and The Olgas. Accommodations range from the luxurious "Sails in the
Desert" hotel to budget bunk bed cabins. You may also stay on
the camp ground with grassy lots, and all facilities.
Snack bars, shops, and a post office help
you to have a pleasant stay.
Guided tours are available to all the
attractions of the park, including sunrise and sunset trips to
Uluru. There are almost no limits to your imagination about means of
transport.
Ayers Rock
is one of the biggest monoliths in the world. It rises 348 metres
above the level of the surrounding desert.
From East to West, it stretches for 3.1 kilometres, it is 1.9
kilometre wide, and measures 9.4 kilometres round its base.
Uluru,
as the rock is officially called since it had been returned to
its traditional Aboriginal owners, fascinates by its dramatically
changing colours.
During sunset, the usual reddish brown
colour may change from shiny orange to purple within a few minutes.
The intensity of the colours depends on sun, dust, and also cloud
cover. Silver waterfalls tumble down the rock in the event of
rain.
Photographers will find lookouts to watch this spectacle.
The Anangu community request not to climb
the rock for respect of its cultural significance. Those who still
want to climb it may do so. Physical fitness is essential. It is
1500 metres to the top, and very steep at places. If you are
not a sports professional, please allow two hours for the return
trip. Use care as there have been casualties of people who fell or
suffered from a heart attack after the climb. If rain or high winds
are in the forecast, the climb is prohibited ( by the way, I have
been told that high winds are permanent at the top - haven't ever
been up there myself).
The
Olgas
(Kata Tjuta) are a group of 36 red rock formations with narrow
valleys in between. Fifty kilometres off Uluru, they cover
approximately 35 square metres. The highest elevation is Mount Olga
with 546 metres. You can do walks from one to five hours through the
different valleys. Possibilities for walks will be limited for the
sake of visitors' health at temperatures above 36°C.
Visitors have the opportunity to learn
about the cultural significance of the Olgas for the Aboriginals.
Kings Canyon is located approximately 230km southwest of Alice Springs
off the Stuart Highway.
Drive, second option:
(4WD recommended):
From Alice, follow the Larapinta Drive (State Route 6) heading west. Only the first 155
kilometres are sealed.
Kings Canyon
is one of the most striking destinations in the Northern
Territory. The visitor car park is located approximately 100
metres above
Kings Creek. Physical fitness is essential for the serious
four-hour walk. You'll have to cope with a very steep
climb to the rock domes. The breathtaking view down into
the valley will be rewarding.
There are a number of
particularly beautiful water holes, and an incredible
variety of plants in the valley.
The highlights are the
weathered formations of the "Lost City", the
"Garden of Eden", and a palm grove at a
tranquil water hole.
Those who do not want to tackle
the climb, should at least do the "Creek
Walk". This is a one-hour walk through the valley
of the canyon.
Overnight
stay:
Bush Camp by the park
entry, or Kings Canyon Resort, a well
serviced camp ground.
You
need a permit for the western part of the Larapinta
Drive, the so called Mereenie Loop. It is available from the Kings Canyon Resort
office or in Alice
Springs (Info at the Visitor
Centre). There is no need to request the permit in
advance.
You
should allow at least two or three days to do the trip as
there are numerous attractions in the region. If you do not
want to turn off the Larapinta Drive, however, you can easily
travel it in one day.
From Alice, follow the Larapinta Drive (State Route 6) heading west. Only the first 155
kilometres are sealed.
There are numerous turn offs to
attractions in the West MacDonnell National Park. They won't be
described here although they are all worth the effort. The Larapinta Drive
leads you to Herrmannsburg, a tiny township that has been founded by
German missionaries. Turn off south to Finke Gorge National Park (4WD
only) with its main attraction, Palm Valley. Some sections of the
track lead through the dry, and sandy Finke River bed. The last four
kilometres to Palm Valley are very rough and rocky. You will need
approximately 30 minutes for this section of the track.
Back
on the original route at Herrmannsburg, you will have to drive
another 200 kilometres westward to Kings Canyon on the road which is
called Mereenie Loop from here. This part of the trip is good gravel
without anything special, although the landscape is quite attractive
all the way round.
the geographic centre of Australia, is referred to as the Red
Centre.
a sealed and well maintained road leading from Adelaide to Darwin.
throughout this vast region. Visitors will learn about the
importance of this school, and during school days, they may even
follow ongoing lessons.
From East to West, it stretches for 3.1 kilometres, it is 1.9
kilometre wide, and measures 9.4 kilometres round its base.