Discover the Red Centre of Australia
The southern part of the Northern Territory forms the heart of Australia, also known as the Red Centre. In this desolate, almost uninhabited area with savannas, deserts and endless plains you will discover unique natural phenomena. You will find no big cities here, no haute-couture stores and no famous vineyards but you will find the feeling of the Outback.




The vastness, the overwhelming nature and the clear starry skies leave a deep impression. The aboriginal culture, the boomerang and "bush-tucker foor" will be familiar to you after visiting this part of Australia. The small characteristic pubs and roadhouses and roadtrains you may encounter along the way are typical of a journey through the Red Centre.
Highlights of the Red Centre
Alice Springs
Located in the middle of Australia, this modern city has plenty of interesting sights. Anzan Hill, a monument to the memory of the fallen soldiers during both World Wars or Royal Flying Doctors base are definitely worth a visit for those who want to learn more about Australia's history. You can take a balloon ride or a flight over Ayers Rock and even do a camel ride. The Arrernte are an Aboriginal peoples group living around Alice Springs. They are probably the most famous Aborigines in the world. There are many ways to get to know this ancient tribe and discover the real Australia.
Ayers Rock / Uluru
When in the Red Centre, one of the hightlights is to visit Ayers Rock. At sunset, this large sacred rock emits a bright red glow which makes for a spectacular view. The Aborigines call the rock "Uluru," and various Aboriginal drawings can be seen in the cavities of the rock. In the grassy perimeter of Uluru are other rock formations also called the Olgas. They are rounder in shape unlike Uluru but rise out of the desert out of nowhere. The whole landscape looks like a mysterious place and the Aborigines consider it a sacred place.
Central Australia Aboriginal Land
Large parts of Australia's inhospitable Outback belong to the Aborigines. This is the area on the southwest side of the Northern Territory, which extends into the states of Western Australia and South Australia. The area is bisected by the unpaved Great Central Highway and the Gunbarrel Road. When traveling here you will need such permits, a 4WD and enough food and drink to last several days in the desert. Cell phones don't work here, so a satellite phone will come in handy.
Devils Marbles
The Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve houses formations of wondrous, naturally rounded stones (boulders). These boulders vary in diameter from a few decimeters to as much as 7 meters. It is an enchanting sight to see these "marbles of the devil" lying on the flat Australian plain. The local Kaytetye-Aborigines call these boulders Karlu Karlu. To them, they are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent, who has been here in the Dreamtime. The Devils Marbles can be seen as one of the oldest religious sites in the world. The area is open to all year round and has a network of footpaths with information boards.
Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon is a very spectacular gorge with steep walls up to 300 meters high. Inside the gorge is the so-called "Garden of Eden," a kind of oasis in the desert it seems, kept alive by a natural water source. Within the gorge also flows a flood river, Kings Creek, which has carved out the gorge. There are several hiking trails, strenuous and less strenuous, but both offer the most impressive views. Part of the gorge is declared sacred by the Aborigines, so visitors are also asked not to deviate from the hiking trails.
Macdonnell Ranges
This ancient mountain range extends east and west of Alice Springs and is characterized by low ridges and dry valleys. Much vegetation occurs near the water holes and you will also encounter birds and rock wallabies. In a number of places, erosion has created deep gorges. The most famous gorges are Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm and Palm Valley. If you are traveling by 4WD, you can follow the Mereenie Loop Road, which goes along the beautiful gorges and runs from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon.
Simpson Desert
The Simpson Desert is a regional reserve and spans the Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. To the northwest are the MacDonnell Ranges, to the east the Channel Country and to the southeast the Simpson Desert merges into the Sturt Stony Desert and the Tirari Desert and to the south is Lake Eyer. There are several protected areas such as the Witjira National where you can take beautiful hikes. The Simpson Desert is a sandy desert with hundreds of parallel red marks that have a length between 300 and 500 kilometers.
Surveyor Generals Corner
Surveyor General's Corner is the name of the point where the borders of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory meet. This point should have been at the exact intersection of the meridian 129° east longitude and the parallel 26° south latitude, but due to errors in the positioning of Western Australia's eastern boundary, it is not actually in that location. It is a nice sight to see if you are in the area.
Tanami Desert
The Tanami Desert are huge plains consisting purely of red sand and small hills. The vegetation consists mainly of tough spinifex grasses and low shrubs, including meldes species. The Tanami Desert is one of the most isolated and arid places on earth. In terms of animals, it is home to wild dromedaries and the largest population of the endangered red hare wallabies. The Warlpiri are one of the oldest Aboriginal tribes and used to roam the Tanami Desert in groups of thirty. They are known for their dotted paintings depicting their Dreamtime stories, the jukurrpa.
Tennant Creek
About halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs is Tennant Creek. The former mining town now has about 3,700 residents and is fairly isolated. Despite being remote, the town does have an airport and beautiful reserve. The Barkly Highway is 765 km long and runs from the town of Cloncurry in Queensland to the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory.