20 Australian National Parks (NP), nature and conservation reserves are included in this comprehensive Nature Bound Australia, Central Australia tour. The NT Red Centre offers a vast and ancient desert landscape where gaunt desert she-oaks, saltgrass, low scrub and tussocks of bleached spinifex frequent the brilliant red ochre earth. This walking holiday, with its authentic insights into indigenous culture, visits numerous gorges and monoliths including the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Kings Canyon, Chambers Pillar and the many chasms and gaps carving through the contorted, uplifted and colourful MacDonnell Ranges.

A day reviewing the historic township of Alice Springs, assimilating the tyrannies of isolation and distance, the landforms, Australia wildlife, the habitat exhibits at the world class Desert Park and viewing authentic Aboriginal desert artwork, will complement your walking vacation in the East and West MacDonnell Ranges. These ranges form one of the most extensive and popular Northern Territory National Park destinations.

We visit ancient Aboriginal petroglyph sites and the isolated feature known as Chambers Pillar, standing sentinel in the desert. We'll walk a day section of the newly created long distance Larapinta Walking Trail as it snakes along the spine of the ranges. A chance to share adventures with energetic trekking groups engaged in the challenge and experiences, the awesome views along this remote 223kms trail.

Deep gaps in the ranges contain permanent waterholes of vital importance to the Aboriginal people and the native wildlife. The moods and colours of surrounding cliff faces , shift at the whim of the sun and moon. The galaxies by night have startling clarity and the desert silence is eerie and soothing.

This Australian guided walking holiday also takes in a number of iconic monoliths (some exhaustively marketed and familiar to the world, but no less impressionable) which rise dramatically from the red desert floor, dominating the horizon. Most of them are of deep cultural significance, a "must see" destination for international adventurers, the torment of adequate description, the subject of spontaneous emotions and relentless photography.

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JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS

Alice Springs, the most isolated of Australia's larger towns. An oasis surrounded by desert and 300 million year old rugged ranges containing the proud heritage of the Arrente Aboriginal people, Afghan camaleers, pioneers and sixth generation families. There are man created institutions dealing with the tyranny of isolation and environmental extremes.

The East MacDonnell Ranges contain gorges, gaps, Aboriginal rock art and spiritual sites

The Arltunga gold rush ghost town (partly restored) was central Australia's first town, once housing 3000 gold diggers and partially built by supplies carried 600kms through the desert by camel. Some mines are now the home of significant bat colonies.

One gorge is said to contain the cultural treasures of 5900 ancient petroglyphs, Aboriginal art sites and shelters.

We visit the solitary sandstone column of Chambers Pillar with its explorer carvings, a sight to behold across the desert and sign post to those who ventured to open up the great inland..

West MacDonnell National Park - Rich red towering cliffs and rock falls forming Simpsons Gap are home to rock wallabies and dusky grass wrens. The narrow cleft of Standley Chasm which fires up with the sun's rays at midday is only 9 metres at its widest point and 80 metres high. River red gums, cycad palms and ferns adorn the gully in contrast to the harsh landscape beyond. The West MacDonnell Ranges provide a host of guided walks and outback tour features.

Rare and colourful bird life, agile Euros and rock wallabies emerge when the tourist impact has retired.

Stark ghost gum trees and deep cold water-holes contrast with the towering red and purple crags of Ormiston Gorge. Beyond the gorge, is the brilliant Ormiston Pound. An early morning guided walk captures the brilliance of colour and enormity of the Pound

A grand scenic guided walk along part of 223km long Larapinta Trail is an energetic but fulfilling "must do".

Back tracks will take us by a spectacular land form, created 131 million years ago when a comet 600metres wide, crashed to earth blasting a crater 22kms (14 miles) across. The frozen mass of gas, dust and ice is estimated to have entered the earths atmosphere at approx. 144,000 kms/hour raising rock from 2kms (1 mile) underground and impacting global climate change for more than a century.. Today it is a site of sacred and cultural significance to the Aboriginal people.

We visit the site of the historic Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission featuring timeless German architecture, also a gallery of Australia's most famous Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira. Nearby, indigenous craftspeople are earning an international reputation for their fine pottery and art.

We follow an Aboriginal trade route in sacred red ochre and pearl shell

Palm Valley is a botanist's paradise with a diverse range of plant species rare and unique to the area including the Red-leafed Cabbage Palm which has survived here in the desert for millions of years.

We'll drive down the dry bed of the Finke River after which the Larapinta Trail was named. Here is the oldest river in the world still following its original path.

The spectacular Watarrka National Park or Kings Canyon features sheer ancient sandstone walls rising 100metres in blazing glory to a plateau of weathered domes shaped like the traditional beehive huts of southern Africa. Rock holes and gorges act as a refuge for lush vegetation and wildlife. We walk the cliff tops and descend into the oasis like Garden of Eden.

The Uluru (Ayers Rock) base walk highlights the ever-changing faces of the grand rock and we'll visit the nearby Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Uluru is arguably Australia's most famous and photographed landmark and yes we will join thousands of others who descend on an observation point to witness its changing visual glory in the rising and setting sun.

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) are equally if not more impressive and "intimate" than Uluru as we stroll through the Valley of the Winds with towering formations all around. The tallest rock, Mt Olga is 200metres higher than Uluru.

The memorable "take home" impressions from your holiday will be vastness, amazing colour and mood, wonderment at the resourceful ability of Aboriginal people to survive over 20,000 years, an ancient rugged land, iconic formations beckoning across the arid plains, amazing silence, the clarity of the night sky and galaxies leading to far distant horizons..

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WALKING ACTIVITY

Day/Half Day walks and short strolls scheduled for Alice Springs, Glen Helen, Ormiston Gorge and Pound, many gorges and chasms, the Larapinta Trail, Palm Valley, Watarrka NP (Kings Canyon), Uluru - Kata Tjuta NP (Ayers Rock - The Olgas)

Short strolls included in all travel days as we shift from one National Park base or reserve to another.

ACCOMMODATION

Selection of outback motels and hotels, and wilderness resorts with private facilities.

MEALS

All main meals (BLD), morning and afternoon teas included on all days.

GETTING THERE

The journey commences at the Ayers Rock Resort airport, 448kms south-west of "the Alice", a comparatively short distance in this territory. Domestic flights by Qantas and Virgin carry large numbers of tourists into both Alice Springs and Ayers Rock at this time of the year with flights from Sydney and Brisbane taking approximately 3 hours 20 minutes.

DURATION

Ultimate journey 13 days. The tour has been designed in two sectional stages of 9 days (Ayers Rock to Alice Springs) and 4 days radiating out from Alice Springs returning to "the Alice".  See "Price on Application" below.

DEPARTURES

Our groups meet at the departure point the evening before, for final administration and a Meet 'n Greet function.

BEST MONTHS TO VISIT

April to September

PARTICIPANTS

Available to both independent travellers and groups.
Minimum of  8.

INCLUSIONS

Meals as indicated, tour memento, National Park entries, accommodation twin share, transport and guide services, celebration dinner, local guide fees, various feature entries and travel extras.

EXCLUSIONS

Free time and personal costs. Any optional activities elected by participants and not part of our guided journey. Personal travel insurances. Pre and post travel arrangements. Australian departure taxes. Food and beverages additional to those provided.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

HEALTH AND FITNESS
Walks on this journey require a moderate degree of fitness. They will range in duration from 30 minutes to 8 hours including breaks. Tracks will lead us over easy to rough terrain in dry, arid and rocky country. There will be delightful walks along sandy gorges skirting waterholes and rock bars. You will need to carry a small day pack with essential provisions for the day ...More

WHAT TO BRING
On receipt of your confirmed booking and deposit we will forward to you general information and checklists relating to your preparation for a comfortable journey.

WEATHER
This journey is conducted in the pleasant time of the year with brilliant blue skies, seldom any rain and average temperatures ranging from 5° C - 20° C (41° F - 68° F).

PRE AND POST TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS

Contact us if we can assist you with travel arrangements complementing this, the Rugged Red Heart journey.

These may include the following suggestions:

You may elect to fly, drive or bus north to Darwin for a few days, the most cosmopolitan of Australian cities, closer to much of Asia than it is to southern Australia.

Otherwise you can take a self drive journey of 1600 kms directly south through some of the most remote country in Australia to the city of Adelaide (requiring adequate enquiry, planning and caution) or simply board a return flight to Sydney or Brisbane on the east coast.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We invite you to read the terms and conditions of travel with Nature-Bound Australia before placing a reservation. You will be asked to confirm your understanding of these details when booking. Participation in our journeys will be on the basis you have read, understood and accepted the terms and conditions ...More

PRIVACY AND DISCLAIMER

Our privacy and disclaimer statements govern the manner in which we manage and safeguard private information you supply us in enquiring of and participating in our journeys. Please read these before communicating with us ...More

ENQUIRE FURTHER

To enquire about a tour, please select the appropriate option below...

	Independent travellers
	Group travel organiser

PRICE ON APPLICATION

Our tours are offered on a near all-inclusive price basis with generous extras and are designed for the discerning traveller who is a collector of authentic experiences. This tour is offered as an extended journey of 13 days to gain the ultimate Central Australian experience and most diverse coverage of features in the region.

Understandably, some guests have limited time and travel budget constraints but recognise the style and inherent value of a Nature-Bound journey. For these guests there is opportunity to join select sections of the tour for 13, 9 or 4 days with appropriate price variations.

To find out more, click to see the online price on application form.

You may also care to email us with your specific requirements.

RESERVATION REQUEST

	1 - 4 people
	5 or more people

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