Uluru & Kings Canyon Adventure

Trip Type: Explorer
Australia | 4 D | 1 - 16 People
Starts From:

NZD 1,272.00 /Person

Take a deep dive into the sacred heart of Australia’s Red Centre, experiencing magnificent sunrises and sunsets, fascinating landscapes and incredible culture across four action-packed days.

Uluru & Kings Canyon Adventure

Take a deep dive into the sacred heart of Australia’s Red Centre, experiencing magnificent sunrises and sunsets, fascinating landscapes and incredible culture across four action-packed days. Strengthen your connection to the history and culture of this ancient landscape with a guided First Nations experience where you’ll learn about traditional bush tucker, bush medicine and dot painting artwork. Then, walk through the towering domed rock formations of Kata Tjuta. Finish by marvelling at Uluru at sunset and learning about the importance of the area to Australia’s Anangu people.

Palya! Welcome to Alice Springs (Mparntwe in the language of the Traditional Owners of the land on which Alice Springs is now located), the heart of the Australian Outback. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 8 am, where you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. Then, hit the open road toward Watarrka National Park. The drive will be framed by the iconic rusty red landscape, and keep an eye out for a glimpse of a kangaroo or two! There’ll be a quick stop in Erldunda to pick up lunch, then it’s on to your campsite near Kings Canyon. Take some time to settle in before joining your newfound travel companions for dinner at the resort restaurant.

After an early breakfast, head out for a walk around the rim of Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park. With soaring cliffs and rock formations, you’d be hard pressed to find a more magical place. The walk starts with a difficult climb to the top of the canyon to take in unrivalled views, before descending through the Lost City – a series of natural sandstone domes resembling ancient ruins. Continue to the unexpected greenery of the Garden of Eden, which stands in stark contrast to the rest of the arid landscape. Head back to camp to refuel with a picnic lunch, then this afternoon you’ll enjoy a First Nations cultural experience. Learn about bush tucker (including the witchetty grub), bush medicine and the history of dot painting from local Luritja and Pertame (Southern Aranda) guides. It’ll be a very special end to a remarkable day!

This morning, pack up and head out to Kata Tjuta (formerly known as 'The Olgas'), a towering collection of 36 domed rock formations. These rust-coloured beauties are truly one of Australia’s most impressive sights. Here, you’ll have a picnic lunch at the Kata Tjuta lookout area – talk about a meal with a view – before embarking on the Walpa Gorge walk. On one side, Mount Olga towers above the track below – giving you a real sense of just how incredible this place is. After your walk, make your way to Uluru, one of Australia’s most spiritually significant and iconic sites. From a prime viewing location, enjoy the view as the sun sets over the epic sandstone monolith – watching the incredible landscape shift in colour is a sight you won’t forget! This evening, tuck into an included dinner. Depending on the time of year this will be either before or after the sunset viewing.

Start the day early in one of the best ways imaginable – watching a spectacular sunrise over Uluru. Set off on the Kuniya Walk with your leader as the sun climbs over the landscape and walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole. Your leader will explain what makes this waterhole sacred and its connection to the Anangu people. After, continue connecting with First Nations culture during a stop at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. Then make your way back to Yulara, where your Outback adventure will come to an end. If you’re flying out of Alice Springs, you can remain on the vehicle as your leader will be heading back to Alice Spring, arriving in the early evening.

Meals
3 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(s), 2 Dinner(s)

Transport
Private vehicle

Accommodation
Semi-permanent tents with shared facilities (3 nights) in winter, or cabins (shared facilities) in summer. Please see the accommodation section in the Essential Trip Information document for more information.

Included Activities

  • Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Outback BBQ & Grill Restaurant Dinner
  • Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Sunset Viewing
  • Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Rim Walk
  • Watarrka National Park - Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience (except Nov-Jan)
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge Walk
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Uluru Sunset Viewing
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Uluru Sunrise Walk
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Cultural Centre
  • Admire the ever-changing colours of Uluru, one of Australia’s most spiritually significant sites, as you view the epic sandstone monolith at both sunrise and sunset.
  • Enjoy a special Aboriginal cultural experience where you’ll learn about traditional bush tucker (including witchetty grubs), bush medicine and the art of dot painting.
  • Explore Kings Canyon by foot and soak up the breath-taking scenery of soaring red cliffs, sandstone domes and tranquil gardens. Then, wind through two of Kata Tjuta’s towering domed rock formations on the Walpa Gorge Walk with your leader.
  • Take a guided walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole to see more of the incredible landscape and learn about its importance to the Anangu people.
  • Deepen your connection to Country during a visit to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre.

Your accommodation on this trip is at private semi-permanent tented campsites. However, this isn't the most basic camping experience, as you'll have stretcher beds to sleep on. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Alternatively you can hire a sleeping bag at an additional cost. Please ask your booking agent to request a sleeping bag for you if you like to take advantage of this option. Please note that facilities are shared with other nearby campsites, including toilets and shower blocks, which are a short walk from where we camp. Temperatures in the Red Centre can be extreme. During the day the weather can be very hot (and the Australian sun is very strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures really drop (in winter temperatures can be below zero at night!) so make sure you check the forecast and have a suitable sleeping bag and warm clothes for the climate. This trip involves some early mornings and on some days of the trip, you’ll spend several hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. Think of it as a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The days can be long, but we want to fit as much of this amazing place in as we can in 4 short days! As this is a camping trip, we rely on group participation to give everyone the best experience. You won't need to pitch your own tents as these are semi-permanent at our campsite, but you will need to help with loading and unloading our bus and with the preparation of meals and cleaning up. When everyone lends a hand, everything is much more enjoyable! As sunrise and sunset times as well as weather conditions vary throughout the year, the order of activities may change to ensure you have the best experience possible. On occasion, the First Nations experiences may not be available should our guides have other cultural commitments, in which case we will include alternative activities.  If you’re looking for a longer, non-camping trip in the Red Centre, you might like to consider the 6-day Red Centre & Uluru Adventure. Search trip code PZSR on our website. Alternatively, if it is even more comfort you are after, search for Best of Uluru & Kings Canyon (PZKR) or Premium Red Centre (POPR).

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Destination Details
Australia | 4 D | 1 - 16 People
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Australia
Trip Finishes:
Australia
Countries Visited:
Australia
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