Lonely PlanetSep 22
Guide to Australia's Red Centre
Far from the white-sand beaches and sparkling cities of Australia’s East Coast is the Red Centre. Here is what you need to know to visit now.
explore peaks and waterholes west of Alice Springs
24 things in this story
- ParrtjimaFestivallight festival in April bathing ranges in color
- West MacDonnell RangesSighttour waterholes west of Alice Springs
- Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National ParkSightexplore peaks and waterholes west of Alice Springs
- Elsewhere
- Wintjiri WiruPlaceRed Centre, Australia1100 drones tell an ancient Mala story after sunset
- Kings CanyonSightRed Centre, Australiahike its rim for sweeping views across landscape
- Kata TjutaSightRed Centre, Australiarewarded by a three-hour Valley of the Winds walk
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National ParkSightRed Centre, Australiapark handed back to Aṉangu people in 2025
- Ayers Rock ResortHotelRed Centre, Australiamain accommodation option just outside the park
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural CentreMuseumRed Centre, Australiaexplore Uluru and learn about its culture
- Sounds of SilencePlaceRed Centre, Australiaenjoy a sunset dinner experience
- Valley of the Winds walkTrailRed Centre, Australiathree-hour walk through Kata Tjuta's domes
- Red Centre WayTrailRed Centre, Australiascenic route connecting Alice Springs and Uluru
- Watarrka National ParkSightRed Centre, Australiahome to Kings Canyon
- Sunrise JourneysPlaceRed Centre, Australiabreakfast show projecting Aṉangu artwork onto trees
- Field of LightSightRed Centre, Australia50,000 spindles of light spread across desert
- Karrke guidesPlaceWatarrka National Park, Australialearn about hunting, art, and bush foods
- Maruku ArtsPlaceUluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Australialearn dot painting from an Aṉangu elder
- Kings Canyon Rim WalkTrailRed Centre, Australia6km hike along 300m-high sandstone walls
- Kings Canyon ResortHotelRed Centre, Australiastay overnight for immersive light installation
- Light TowersSightRed Centre, Australiaafter-dark light and sound installation
- Hermannsburg PottersPlaceRed Centre, Australiacraft internationally renowned ceramics
- Art Tours of AustraliaPlaceRed Centre, Australiaoffers watercolor workshops with Anna Dakin
- Ellery Creek Big HoleSightRed Centre, Australia
- Ormiston GorgeSightRed Centre, Australia