The Best Way to Explore Australia’s Red Centre – Dundee’s Authentic Outback Journey

Why the Northern Territory is a Must Visit

The Northern Territory is Australia at its most raw and beautiful – a land of wide horizons, deep red earth and stories older than history itself. It’s home to some of the world’s most iconic landscapes, like Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, alongside rich Aboriginal culture and warm, welcoming communities.

From rugged outback tracks and star-filled skies to world-class resorts and unforgettable cultural encounters, the NT offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a backpacker chasing adventure, a student traveller exploring Australia, or a luxury traveller seeking once-in-a-lifetime experiences – the delivers.

Our Authentic Outback Journey

By Luca Kattan – Owner, Dundee Adventure Travel

As the founder of Dundee Adventure Travel, I make it my mission to personally test the experiences we recommend. This trip was no different – an Outback Camping Adventure with Adventure Tours Australia, in partnership with Tourism NT and Tourism Central Australia. Over several days, we travelled from Alice Springs to Uluru, Kings Canyon and beyond. Here’s how it went

Day 1 – Arrival in Alice Springs

I flew from Brisbane to Alice Springs Airport (about 3 hours ~$398 one way) after pre-booking my parking at Brisbane Airport Parking. Alice Springs Airport is small, friendly and easy to navigate.

Getting into town is simple:

Shuttle bus: ~$20 one way
Taxi: ~$50 (Uber isn’t available here)

I checked into the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters for ~$250/night. Two on-site restaurants – one fine dining, one pub – and of course, I went for a classic chicken parmigiana. With a 5am tour start, it was an early night.

Day 2 – The Road to Yulara

Our guide, Hunter, picked us up bright and early. The six-hour drive from Alice Springs to Yulara is pure outback – long, open roads, endless horizons and that rich, red desert stretching as far as you can see. It’s beautiful, but I’ll be honest, after a few hours the scenery can start to blur together. That’s why I’d downloaded a couple of movies on my Netflix app – not because the view isn’t worth it, but because six hours is a long time when you’re itching to get to Uluru.

When we finally rolled into Yulara, the energy picked up instantly. This is where we met the rest of our crew: Chanty from Adventure Tours (the legend who pulled this whole trip together) and my mate from Perth, Dogukan. I’d been looking forward to catching up with him – he’s an absolute pro with a camera and came along to create some incredible content from the trip.

Camp Life – Swag or Safari Tent

After a lunch of chicken bites and salad (vegan & vegetarian options available), we checked our accommodation choices:

Swags – the classic outback sleep under the stars
Safari tents – more comfort and weather protection

I went with the swag – and wow. Lying there at night with nothing between me and the Milky Way was unreal. The red sand beneath, the chill in the air and a sky so full of stars it didn’t seem real. I will say though, being tall, I might opt for the tent next time just for a bit more leg room.

Kata Tjuta & Our First Uluru Sunset

That afternoon, we set off for Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). The scale of these massive domes is jaw-dropping, and the red sand underfoot makes it feel like you’ve stepped onto another planet. We wandered the trails, snapped photos and just soaked in the atmosphere before heading to the main event – Uluru.

Nothing prepares you for seeing it in person. Rising 348 metres above the desert floor, with around 2.5 kilometres hidden underground, it’s as much a feeling as it is a sight. We toasted the sunset with sparkling wine and snacks, watching the colours shift from deep orange to a glowing purple as the sun sank away.

Back at camp, dinner was served, the fire was lit, and we sat around swapping stories under a blanket of stars. That was our first night in the outback and it set the tone for the entire trip.

Day 3 – Sunrise & Cultural Tour

We were up before dawn to watch sunrise at Uluru and let me tell you, it was cold. If you’re travelling during the Australian winter months (May–September), make sure you pack plenty of layers. The desert can drop close to freezing overnight and those early mornings will have you grateful for a warm jacket.

For about three hours, we stood and watched the light change, from soft blues to vibrant reds and golds, feeling the quiet magic of the place.

Afterwards, we joined a locally guided Aboriginal cultural tour around the base of the rock learning Dreamtime stories, hearing about the spiritual significance of each site and seeing the rock’s markings up close.

Curtin Springs Station

Back on the road, we stopped at Curtin Springs Station for wraps and a warm welcome from Lindsay and Ash. They showed us around the cattle station, shared stories of life in this remote part of the NT and took us to see the salt lake. One of the highlights was their unique paper-making process, something I never expected to find in the middle of the outback. Using native spinifex and other local grasses, they create sheets of textured, golden-hued paper entirely by hand. Lindsay walked us through the process, from harvesting the grasses to boiling them down, pulping and finally pressing them into delicate but durable sheets. Each piece feels like it holds a bit of the NT within it, the colours of the land, the texture of the grass and the resilience of life in the desert. It’s an incredible example of outback ingenuity, turning what grows in this harsh environment into something beautiful and completely unique to the region.

Kings Creek Station & Canyon Rim Walk

That night we stayed at Kings Creek Station, a working cattle and camel property surrounded by open skies and desert landscape. The air was crisp and clear, the kind of night where the stars look close enough to touch. We cooked up a hearty curry for dinner and ate it outside by the fire, listening to the quiet hum of the outback and sharing stories from the road.

The next morning we set off early for the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, a 6km loop that takes you past towering sandstone cliffs, ancient rock formations and sweeping views over the gorge. The initial climb is steep but once you reach the top you’re rewarded with a landscape that feels prehistoric. Along the way we stopped at the Garden of Eden, a sheltered oasis with a permanent waterhole surrounded by lush greenery. It’s the perfect place to rest and take in how alive the desert really is. This walk is challenging in parts but the views and the sense of scale make every step worth it.

Day 4 – Simpson Gap & Arltunga

We grabbed burgers for lunch at Simpson Gap before heading off for some proper bush driving on red dirt tracks. The road was bumpy, rocky and full of character, throwing up dust clouds that glowed in the afternoon sun. Later we pulled into the Arltunga Bush Pub, a quirky, character-filled place that feels like a time capsule from Australia’s frontier days. Old photographs, rustic furniture and a warm welcome made it one of those stops you remember long after the trip is over. From there we continued back to Alice Springs as the sun set behind the MacDonnell Ranges.

Day 5 – Exploring Alice Springs

Our final day was spent discovering more of Alice Springs itself. We visited the Alice Springs School of the Air, which delivers lessons to children in some of the most remote corners of the country, and the Reptile Centre, home to a fascinating collection of snakes, lizards and even a saltwater crocodile.

That evening we enjoyed a farewell dinner at the Desert Gardens, reflecting on the places we’d seen and the people we’d met. The next morning it was time to head back to Brisbane with hearts full and memory cards overflowing.

When is the Best Time to Visit the Red Centre?

The cool, dry season from May to September is the ideal time to visit. Days are comfortably warm (18–28°C), skies are clear, and nights are crisp – perfect for hiking, exploring and sleeping under the stars.

May–September: Best weather, perfect hiking conditions, peak season for tours.
October–April: Hotter (30–40°C+), potential rain and storms, quieter tourism period – great if you prefer fewer crowds but can handle the heat.

Where to Stay – Alice Springs

Accommodation	Type	Approx. Price Range	Why Stay Here
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters	4-Star Hotel	$$$	Spacious rooms, pool, multiple dining options.
Stay at Alice Springs Hotel	3-Star Hotel	$$	Central location, comfortable and well-priced.
Diplomat Hotel Alice Springs	3-Star Hotel	$$	On-site bar & restaurant, close to cafes and shops.
YHA Alice Springs	Hostel	$	Dorms & private rooms, pool, central location.
Alice’s Secret Traveller’s Inn	Hostel / Guesthouse	$	Quirky, colourful, homely atmosphere.

Where to Stay – Ayers Rock Resort (Yulara)

Accommodation	Type	Approx. Price Range	Why Stay Here
Sails in the Desert	5-Star Hotel	$$$$	Luxury rooms, fine dining, Indigenous art gallery.
Desert Gardens Hotel	4-Star Hotel	$$$	Comfortable rooms, great views.
Emu Walk Apartments	4-Star Apartments	$$$	Self-contained, ideal for families.
Outback Pioneer Hotel	3-Star Hotel	$$	Pub-style dining, relaxed atmosphere.
Outback Pioneer Lodge	Hostel / Budget	$	Dorms & budget doubles, communal facilities.
Campground	Powered & Unpowered Sites	$	Campervan or tent-friendly with resort facilities.

Tour Options

Tour	Duration	Ideal For	Highlights
3-Day Uluru & Kings Canyon	3 Days / 2 Nights	Short trips	Uluru sunset/sunrise, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon Rim Walk
4-Day Red Centre Highlights	4 Days / 3 Nights	Balanced pace	More time in each location
5-Day Outback Camping Adventure	5 Days / 4 Nights	Full immersion	All major sites, cultural tours, camping under the stars
Private Tours	Flexible	Families, small groups	Fully customised with private guide

Red Centre Add-On Experiences

If you’ve got a little extra time in Alice Springs or Yulara before or after your main tour, there are some incredible day tours and unique activities worth adding to your itinerary. These experiences are perfect “bookends” to your Red Centre adventure – giving you a deeper connection to the landscapes, culture and wildlife of the region. Whether you want to float over the desert at sunrise, get up close with native animals, or experience Uluru from the air, we can arrange it all so it fits seamlessly into your trip.

Popular Add-On Tours & Activities

Experience	Location	Duration	Why Do It
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride	Alice Springs	45–60 mins in the air	Float over the desert as the sun lights up the MacDonnell Ranges — a magical start to the day.
Alice Springs School of the Air	Alice Springs	1 hr	See how remote education works for children living in Australia’s most isolated areas.
Alice Springs Reptile Centre	Alice Springs	45–60 mins	Meet goannas, geckos, snakes and even a saltwater crocodile up close.
Alice Springs Desert Park	Alice Springs	2–3 hrs	Discover native wildlife, desert landscapes and Aboriginal culture all in one place.
Desert Gardens Dinner	Alice Springs	Evening	Dine under a canopy of stars in a unique outback setting.
Alice Springs Town Tour	Alice Springs	Half day	Get to know the history, culture and landmarks of this fascinating outback town.
Uluru Sunrise & Base Walk with Cultural Centre Visit	Yulara	6–7 hrs	See Uluru at first light, walk its base and learn its stories at the Cultural Centre.
Kata Tjuta Afternoon Walk & Uluru Sunset	Yulara	6–7 hrs	Explore Walpa Gorge then watch Uluru’s colours change at sunset.
Field of Light Sunrise	Yulara	2.5–3 hrs	Wander Bruce Munro’s stunning light installation before sunrise over Uluru.
Sunrise or Sunset Camel Ride	Yulara	45–90 mins	Ride across red sand dunes with views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
Scenic Helicopter Flight	Yulara	20–36 mins	See both Uluru and Kata Tjuta from the air for a whole new perspective.
Kings Canyon Day Trip	Yulara	Full day	Hike the Rim Walk or explore the canyon floor — sheer cliffs and incredible views.

Book your Red Centre experience here: Dundee Adventure Travel – Outback Safaris 🎒

Dundee’s Promise – From Backpackers to Luxury Travellers

At Dundee Adventure Travel, we specialise in backpacker and student travel, but we also cater to luxury x adventure travellers. We’ve tested both ends – from swags under the stars to premium hotel suites so we can craft a Red Centre journey that matches your budget, style and dream experience.

Whether you want to join a small-group tour, enjoy a fully private itinerary or combine comfort with adventure, we’re here to make it happen.

Enquire now for your own authentic Red Centre experience 📩