Australia's Red Heart
 Aboriginal wisdom comes alive in the desert |
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7 days / 6 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Alice Springs | 2 |
| Kings Canyon | 2 |
| Ayers Rock | 2 |
Day 01 Alice Springs
On arrival you are met by your local guide and taken on a private journey of discovery around Alice Springs. The vastness of the Australian outback is highlighted by a visit to the renowned Royal Flying Doctor Service base to find how people living in the outback have access to essential services. Stop at the Alice Springs School of the Air, an educational service for about 140 children living on remote properties or settlements covering over one million square kilometers of Central Australia. Also see the Alice Springs Telegraph Station (circa 1872), a historical reserve marking the site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. This station was established in the 1870's to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide along the Overland Telegraph Line. This evening enjoy a genuine 'Outback Aussie BBQ', see native plants and wildlife and hear about Aboriginal culture. Learn to throw a boomerang, watch damper being cooked in the coals of the fire, enjoy Billy Tea and marvel at the sheer expanse of the outback with dinner under the stars (D).
Alice Springs Resort
Day 02 Alice Springs
This morning, embark on a quad bike adventure around the oldest working cattle station in NT, Undoolya Station. Transfer to Alice Springs Desert Park, considered the best wildlife park in the world by Sir Richard Attenborough. Here uncover the flora, fauna, and history of the desert and its people – a thorough introduction to the wonders of the Australian outback with a specialist guide. This afternoon enjoy a private tour of the extensive Mbantua Galleries with proprietor Tim Jennings who will explain some of the stories behind the paintings, giving a comprehensive overview of the gallery workings as well as an insight into Utopia Art (B).
Alice Springs Resort
Day 03 Alice Springs – Kings Canyon
Collect your 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser and depart Alice Springs for your outback experience. Drive through the West MacDonell Ranges to some sites including Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge. Follow the Mereenie Loop Road to your accommodation (B).
Kings Canyon Resort
Day 04 Kings Canyon
A day to explore the majestic sandstone formation of Kings Canyon, an enormous natural amphitheatre with amazing colours, rock formations and spectacular views (B).
Kings Canyon Resort
Day 05 Kings Canyon – Ayers Rock
Today continue your drive through the sandhill country to Ayers Rock. Enroute stop at Kings Creek Station before arriving at Uluru. Experience a private tour of the mysterious Olgas and walk through the Valley of the Wind. Enjoy a unique private encounter with snakes and lizards significant to the Anangu people and their creation time stories. Our expert animal handler will leave you with a greater understanding of why these predators are not always something to fear! This evening travel out to a private dining setting in the desert. As the sun dips behind the Kata Tjuta (Olgas) and Uluru (Ayers Rock) sip champagne while listening to the soothing sounds of the didgeridoo. After dinner the lanterns will be dimmed so you can hear the sounds of the great Outback while an astronomer takes you on a tour of the southern night skies. View the stars through an on-site telescope before returning to your hotel (B,D).
Desert Gardens Resort
Day 06 Ayers Rock
This morning enjoy a private sunrise tour of Ayers Rock including the climb or a walk around the base. This afternoon join Aboriginal artists learning about the ways in which they incorporate their culture into their art, culminating into a Dot Painting Workshop. Experience the authenticity of taking instruction from the artists themselves with the chance to try your own hand. Aboriginal Guides provide an introduction to their culture and how this is expressed in their art work. After your lesson take home your own finished piece as a memento before embarking on a sunset ride atop your very own desert camel (B).
Desert Gardens Resort
Day 07 Ayers Rock
Today you will be transferred to the Ayers Rock airport and depart for home (B).
(Flight not included)
Private Gallery Tour & Predator Encounter
Enjoy a private tour of the extensive Mbantua Galleries with proprietor Tim Jennings. Tim will explain the stories behind some of the paintings, provide a comprehensive overview of the gallery workings and insight into Utopian Art. At Ayers Rock, our expert animal handler will teach you all there is to know about the predators of the desert in a unique private setting - snakes and lizards, and their significance to the Anangu people.
