Last updated on March 28th, 2021

Uluru, Ayers Rock, Visit Red Centre

Uluru, Ayers Rock, © Can Stock Photo / titicaca

Visit Red Centre – Uluru

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – Uluru is the aboriginal name for the gigantic sandstone outcropping located about 6 hours southwest of Alice Springs by vehicle.  The stone at this World Heritage site is over 300 m (1,000 ft) high. It is 10 km (7 mi) around its base. Named Ayers Rock by Australian explorers, the original designation as Uluru is now coming back into common use.  Hiking up Uluru will be banned in 2019 because of lack of respect by visitors. The location is one of the most recognizable in Australia and is synonymous with tourism in the country.

Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve, Visit Red Centre

Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

Visit Red Centre – Alice Springs

  • Henley on the Todd Regatta – the Todd River may be dried up and sandy, but that doesn’t stop the people of Alice Springs from having a river boat race in August.
  • Lasseters Camel Cup – camel races held in July.
  • Alice Springs Reptile Centre
  • Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve – honoring the original establishment of the town.
  • Araluen Arts & Cultural Centre
  • Olive Pink Botanic Garden
Perentie Monitor, Alice Springs Reptile Centre, Visit Red Centre

Perentie Monitor, Alice Springs Reptile Centre

  • Alice Springs Desert Park
  • Take a camel ride at Pyndan Camel Tracks.
  • Old Ghan Heritage Railway Museum and the National Road Transport Hall of Fame
  • Heavitree Gap – a convenient gap in the MacDonnell range at the edge of town allows traffic easily through the bordering southern mountain range.
  • Museum of Central Australia and beside it is the Central Australian Aviation Museum.
Kings Canyon Watarrka National Park, Outback, Visit Red Centre, Australia

Kings Canyon Watarrka National Park, © Can Stock Photo / BastianLinder

Visit Red Centre – Hotels

  • Desert Gardens Hotel – Uluru
  • Double Tree by Hilton Alice Springs
  • Desert Palms Alice Springs
  • Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
Devil's Marbles, Outback, Visit Red Centre, Australia

Devil’s Marbles, © Can Stock Photo / Danemo

Visit Red Centre – More Sights

  • Watarrka National Park – Take the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon, provided it isn’t closed during excessive heat. Visit Karrke and buy aboriginal carvings.
  • West MacDonnell National Park
  • Finke Gorge National Park and the Finke Desert Race for motorbikes and dune buggies.

  • Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve

  • Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve

  • Camels Australia – 1.5 hours south of Alice Springs.

  • Devil’s Marbles Conservation Reserve – in the Tennant Creek area about 5 hours north of Alice Springs.

Kata Tjuta the Olgas, Outback, Visit Red Centre, Australia

Kata Tjuta the Olgas, © Can Stock Photo / imagex

Red Centre Weather

Expect average highs in excess of 30C (85F) during the Australian summer months from September to April, with periods of extreme heat regularly exceeding 40 C (100 F). During extreme heat, walking may be prohibited at some National Parks, including Uluru.  Lows during the Australian summer are comfortable. The winter months of June to August can see average lows down to 5 C (40 F). Rainfall is almost nonexistent regardless of the time of year. April would be a good time of year to visit Alice Springs for weather, however the timing of the unusual events held there is likely a more significant determinant of travel plans.

Alice Springs Weather Map

Alice Springs Weather Map

Get to the Red Centre

Nearly everyone gets to the Red Centre through Alice Springs. You can fly to Alice Springs from major cities in Australia. The Ghan train stops regularly in Alice Springs too on its continuous route between Darwin and Adelaide. The most popular tourist attraction in the Red Centre is Uluru (Ayers Rock), at a distance of about 4.5 hours by car from Alice Spring.  In addition to vehicle access, there is also air service between Alice Springs and Uluru. Flights take about an hour. Due to the popularity of Uluru, direct flights from Sydney are available to Ayers Rock Airport without visiting Alice Springs. The Ghan train does not stop closer to Uluru than Alice Springs.

Uluru Stands out from Plains, Visit Red Centre

Uluru Stands out from Plains

Visit Red Centre – Background

Any place outside of a city in Australia is called the Outback, but the area around Alice Springs is also called the Red Centre. This refers to all the red rock in the area and the location in the center of the Outback. The town of Alice Springs, with a population of about 30,000 is at the center of the continent of Australia. It is equidistant from Darwin in north and Adelaide in the south. There are no major cities within 1,500 km (900 mi).

Alice Springs Reptile Centre

Uluru

Other Outback Parks

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