A journey to Australia’s Red Centre – Part one

This is part one of a two-part series.

Welcome to the mystic Australian outback – an icon in its own right and unlike anywhere else on earth. People come from all over the world for this once-in-a-lifetime trip, just to see the spectacular Red Centre.

We embarked on a journey through Uluru, The Olgas ( Kuta Tjuta) and Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park) that left us all in awe and with memories we will treasure forever.

We begin in Uluru, the most scared site of our great nation. Its piercing presence on the horizon as you arrive looks menacing, yet so peaceful. Here we are 350km south-west of Alice Springs.

The township is roughly a 50km drive from both Uluru and The Olgas and it is the same distance between the two, in a triangle, if you like.

The best time to visit Uluru is either sunrise or sunset. Mind you, its perfect at anytime of the day, really, but the way the sun rises and shines on its majestic walls and the sounds of the dingoes in the distance is incredible.

Read more: Free activities in Uluru on a self-drive holiday

I encourage you do to the walk around the base, but please do not climb Uluru. She is very sacred and it isn’t ours to own. Her ancestral owners want her left be, so please respect their wishes and enjoy something so rare, yet so accessible.

The walk can take you a few hours, depending on how far you wish to go. The local guides are so fantastic and I highly recommend you take a guided tour as the information you will learn, especially about the history and the sacred knowledge, is invaluable.

From different angles at different times of the day, you will see an entirely different sight. When it rains the ‘rock’ is like a magnitude of waterfalls cascading down her walls.

From a distance she looks smooth and perfect, but up close there are many crevices and caves – it just all adds to the optical illusion that makes her so special.

Remember, the key word at Uluru is respect. The energy you feel when you are here is out of this world and to think that so many Australians haven’t been out here is mind-boggling.

Read more: 14 reasons the Northern Territory should be on your bucket list

The township of Yulara is perfect for tourists. Accommodation ranges from five-star luxury hotels to the fantastic campgrounds. The resort owners in the town have done their best to try not to ruin the natural habitat, which ensures you feel like you really are in the bush.

Other than visiting Uluru, two other must-do activities are the sunset camel safari and the Sounds of Silence dinner. You can actually combine the two and take the camels to the Sounds of Silence dinner. The outdoor restaurant is erected in the heart of the Uluru red dirt, with her looking on as the sun sets on yet another day out here in the stunning Red Centre.

Sit back and relax as you enjoy a sumptuous Australian dinner and great wines to match this remarkable backdrop.

Read part two here.