The Red Centre Way takes travellers to some of the most iconic spots in the Northern Territory, including Uluru, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs.
Get ready to experience the ultimate Aussie road trip: incredible landscapes, natural wonders, real outback adventures and, importantly, good roads and access – for those towing a caravan or just taking the family car, you’ll find the Red Centre way is worth the drive.
Don’t miss these seven spots along the way:
You’ll start your Red Centre Way adventure in Alice Springs, so be sure to make the most of this iconic Australian town as it’s far more than just a stopover. Visits to the Old Telegraph Station, Alice Springs Desert Park and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum should be on your list, and maybe a dawn hot air balloon ride over the outback for a bucket-list treat.
But our top vote is for something simple and free: head to the top of ANZAC Hill at sunset for the most glorious views over the Alice, the surrounding West MacDonnell Ranges and beyond.
Speaking of the West MacDonnell Ranges, you only have to drive about 10 kilometres from Alice Springs to reach them. Stretching for more than 200 kilometres, they’re dotted with stunning gorges, rock formations and hiking trails.
Don’t-miss spots include Simpsons Gap, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge, whose dramatic red cliffs, permanent waterhole and jaw-dropping scenery make it an essential (and photogenic) stop on any Red Centre Way road trip.
One of our top picks for visitation in this region would have to be Redbank Gorge. Located just 157km west of Alice Springs, Redbank Gorge boasts fewer visitors and a brilliant opportunity for an epic remote swimming experience: floating on inflatables on a waterway that, unlike the other gorges, winds through the gorge itself, flanked by towering red cliffs. BYO inflatables.
After exploring the West MacDonnell Ranges, head towards Kings Canyon – but make a detour south to Tnorala (Gosse Bluff Crater). Rising around 180 metres above the desert, this massive crater was created by a meteorite impact about 140 million years ago. It’s one of the most fascinating sites in Australia, both geologically and culturally, and yet many travellers overlook it.
In Watarrka National Park you’ll find the wondrous Kings Canyon – and some of the best hikes in all of the Red Centre. The most popular, the Rim Walk, offers a three-hour adventure that includes climbing 500 steps up “Heart Attack Hill” (don’t worry, the jaw-dropping views at the top are worth it), passing through Priscilla’s Crack (made famous in <The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert>), and gazing upon the Lost City, a surreal landscape of thousands of sandstone domes that look like weathered beehives.
Back at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon you can wander through Light-Towers, a sound and light installation by artist Bruce Munro, acclaimed for his Field of Light at Uluru. Featuring 69 two-metre-tall light towers that change colour in response to an intriguing “soundscape,” it’s an unforgettable sensory experience in a truly unforgettable place.
On Day 4, follow Luritja Road and Lasseter Highway to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. With comfortable accommodation at Ayers Rock Resort (book ahead!) and a range of sights and experiences, you’ll find yourself losing track of time as you wander red rock formations beneath the iconic Red Centre sunset.
The best way to fully appreciate the sheer size and beauty of Uluru is to take the 10.6km Uluru Base Walk, but there are shorter trails if you don’t fancy stretching your legs quite that much – as well as other fun viewing options like scenic flights and segway tours.
If you’re going to spend a few days here you’ll want to book three things: The Sounds of Silence dining and stargazing experience, the immersive cultural storytelling experience that is Wintjiri Wiru, and Bruce Munro’s Field of Light art installation, which features 50,000 glowing orbs that symbolise the desert’s bloom after rain. It’s spectacular at night, but if you’re an early riser you can also experience it before dawn… and then watch the sun rise over Australia’s most famous natural landmark.
From Uluru, it’s about a 45-minute drive to your final destination on this epic Red Centre Way road trip: Kata Tjuta. So, technically, you could visit both in a single day, but we strongly urge you to take your time.
What might surprise some people is that Kata Tjuta is just as sacred as Uluru, and many people find the 36 massive domed rock formations even more striking than their more famous neighbour.
One of the best ways to see them is on the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7.4km loop that will take you deep into the heart of Kata Tjuṯa. Like Uluru, the best times to view Kata Tjuta are at sunrise and sunset, when it glows in every shade of red, purple and orange.
Wrap up your Red Centre Way with a return trip to Alice Springs. The fun doesn’t have to stop here; along this journey, make some time for a quick stopover at the unmissable Rainbow Valley. The iconic multicoloured sandstone bluffs and cliffs of this region look the best in the early mornings and late afternoons, making it a perfect place to rest and take in the sights on your way back to Alice Springs.
From here, Alice Springs is only 100km away so you can hit the road and complete the journey.
