The Red Centre Way6-day itinerary

Turn up for an epic road trip on the Red Centre Way (Alice Springs – Uluru – Kings Canyon) this spring. Bring your sense of adventure (and your swimsuit!) to Alice Springs, as you explore the Red Centre’s iconic sites: Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges, Watarrka/Kings Canyon, and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Travel through red desert sands, palm-lined valleys, dramatic gorges and swim in magnificent outback waterholes.

We recommend you take at least 6 days to drive the Red Centre Way by 4WD. Add some extra time to complete the sealed road option by 2WD vehicle.

Day 1: Alice Springs to Glen Helen (132km)

Start the Red Centre Way from Alice Springs and drive west through Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park. The West Macs are a spectacular range of natural formations including chasms, gorges and waterholes. Explore Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen just to name a few. Splash, hike or just admire the natural beauty of the spectacular landscape.

Note: When booking accommodation, please check ahead with Glen Helen Resort otherwise drive onwards to Kings Canyon Resort.

Day 2: Glen Helen to Kings Canyon Resort (234km)

From Glen Helen, head 20km west and start the day with a swim at Redbank Gorge. Grab a tyre tube from Discovery Parks Glen Helen and splash your way through the gorge.

If travelling by 4WD, continue along the Mereenie Loop to Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon. You’ll need to pick up a permit from the Hermannsburg general store to drive this section. If you don’t have a 4WD, head back to Alice Springs and through to Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) via the sealed route.

Day 3: Explore Kings Canyon

Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) is only minutes away from Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon and offers hiking and walking options suitable for all levels. The Rim Walk is a 3-hour adventure across 100m-high sandstone walls and ancient palm-filled crevices with stunning views of the arid surrounds.

For a more relaxed option, the Kings Creek walk provides equally breathtaking views from the canyon floor. End your day with the Light-Towers at the Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon, an immersive sound and light experience that can be booked for sunrise, sunset or by night.

Day 4: Kings Canyon to Uluru via Mt Conner (300km)

Leave the canyon and follow Luritja Road and Lasseter Highway to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Along the way you’ll pass Mt Conner, commonly known as ‘Fooluru’, as it’s often mistaken for Uluru. View the Lake Amadeus salt plains near the Mt Conner lookout.

Once you arrive at Uluru, settle in to your accommodation at Ayers Rock Resort. Watch the iconic Red Centre sunset from one of the viewing platforms or on a guided cameltour. Other options include Wintjiri Wiru, an enigmatic choreography of drones, lasers and projections lighting up the sky with Uluru as a backdrop. Or, dine atop a red sand dune beneath the stars at Sounds of Silence, where star gazing talks provide fascinating insight into the night sky.

Day 5: Uluru & Kata Tjuta

It’s possible to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta in a day, though to really take it all in, we suggest you take a few days if you have the time. Take a guided walk with park rangers to learn the stories of the Anangu people and this ancient landscape. Explore Kata Tjuta on the Valley of the Winds walk and take in Uluru up close on the base walk. If taking the views in from the air is more your style, book a scenic flight that departs from Yulara.

Make sure to book ahead to spend the evening wandering through the Field of Light, the internationally acclaimed light installation by Bruce Munro. If you’re an early riser, you can also view Field of Light pre-dawn then watch the sun rise over Uluru.

Day 6: Uluru to Alice Springs (445km)

Start your return trip to Alice Springs by driving along the Lasseter Highway to Curtin Springs Station, a working cattle station and roadhouse. Join a guided walk on the nearby salt lakes and take in the view of Mt Conner, or try your hand at a paper-making tour using native ingredients.

Turn north onto the Stuart Highway towards Alice Springs. If four-wheel driving, leave time to explore the sandstone bluffs and cliffs of Rainbow Valley, which are particularly stunning in the early morning and late afternoon light when the rainbow-like rock bands are highlighted. From here, Alice Springs is only 100km away.

Get more inspiration with these NT road trip ideas.