OUTBACK and culture BEST OF THE RED CENTRE The Red Centre sits at the very heart of Australia, perfectly placed considering it is home to one of Australia’s most sacred places, and a major site of Aboriginal cultural awareness. The fi ery red landscapes surrounding the monoliths of Uluru and Kata Tjuta are visually stunning, inspiring all to gaze in awe as the rising or setting sun create a changing palette of colours. The area stretches from the famous outback town of Alice Springs, via the sheer sandstone walls of Kings Canyon, to the iconic ‘Rock’ itself. The Red Centre is a ‘must do’ for every fi rst-timer to Australia, and can be explored independently by car, within a guided tour or on a camping safari. Austravel Secrets... One of the most memorable ways to see the outback is to take a helicopter fl ight. Climb over the rock in style, before taking in views of Mount Conner and Lake Amadeus on the horizon. As you soar over the rugged landscape you will be amazed at its beauty – a must do for any visitor to the Red Centre. FROM £98 PER PERSON 6 DAY SELF DRIVE FROM £769 PER ADULT A fantastic way to explore the Red Centre at your own pace is to take our easy to follow 6 day self drive. Alice Springs Spend today Glen Helen - Kings Canyon famous icon - Uluru. Visit Kata Tjuta DAY 1exploring the sights of the DAY 3Departing Glen Helen this for a stroll amongst the cluster of bustling outback township of Alice morning, head along the Mereenie weathered red domes. Springs; highlights include the Loop road, though the Gardiner Aboriginal art and the Royal Flying Range, and arrive into Watarrka Ayers Rock Start the day early Doctor Service museum. National Park via the northern DAY 5to watch the ever changing entrance. colours of Uluru as the sun rises. Next Alice Springs - Glen Helen you could walk the base of Uluru, or DAY 2Head west from Alice and Kings Canyon - Ayers Rock visit the Cultural Centre. End the day follow the spectacular MacDonnell DAY 4Take an early morning walk witnessing the breathtaking sunset. Ranges. Closer to Glen Helen make a through the Canyon, with detour to Ormiston and Glen Helen magnifi cent views of the rim and the Ayers Rock Either return your Gorges. lush greenery of the ‘Garden of Eden’. DAY 6car to Ayers Rock airport for Next set off towards Australia’s most your onward journey, or return back to Alice Springs. 28 We don’t just go there, we know there 028_029_AJO_12_1.indd 2 30/04/2012 17:27 Australia EAST WEST MACDONNELL MACDONNELL NATIONAL PARK RANGES FROM TO DISTANCE DRIVING TIME Alice Springs ALICE SPRINGS GLEN HELEN 130 KMS 2 HRS 45 MINS Glen Helen GLEN HELEN KINGS CANYON 225 KMS 4 HRS 30 MINS KINGS CANYON AYERS ROCK 300 KMS 5 HRS 15 MINS ROSS HIGHWAY LARAPINTA DRIVE WATARRKA FINKE GORGE NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL PARK Arafura Torres Strait Sea Timor DARWIN Kakadu Sea National Park Gulf of Carpentaria GREAT KATHERINE Kings Cape York LIZARD ISLAND Peninsula BARRIER COOKTOWN Kimberley Purnululu Cape National Park Tribulation PORT DOUGLAS Coral Canyon (Bungle Bungle Ranges) HALLS CAIRNS CREEK Sea BROOME Geikie Gorge DUNK ISLAND National Park NORTHERN REEF TERRITORY MARINE TOWNSVILLE AIRLIE HAYMAN Mt Isa ISLAND WHITSUNDAY BEACH GROUP HAMILTON PARK ISLAND The Ghan QUEENSLAND EXMOUTH Ningaloo ALICE SPRINGS Reef KINGS HERON WESTERN CANYON ISLAND AUSTRALIA AYERS ROCK/ULURU FRASER ISLAND WARBURTON MONKEY MIA NOOSA Sunshine SOUTH AUSTRALIA Coas t THE GHAN BRISBANE COOBER SURFERS PARADISE Indian Indian Pacific PEDY Gold Coas t Ocean Nullarbor Plain KALGOORLIE WILPENA POUND NEW COFFS HARBOUR SOUTH PERTH Great Australian Flinders Ranges WALES Bight Hunter Barossa Valley Valley Blue Mountains ADELAIDE MARGARET RIVER SYDNEY ALBANY CANBERRA Connellan KANGAROO South Pacific ISLAND VICTORIA Southern Ocean Ocean Airport LASSETER HIGHWAY MELBOURNE Great Ocean BLUE MOUNTAINS Road PHILLIP HUNTER VALLEY ISLAND The Olgas Bass Strait Tasm an Sea Cradle Mt-L St Clair LAUNCESTON National Park STUART HIGHWAY TASMANIA (Kata Tjuta) HOBART Uluru (Ayers Rock) ESCORTED TOURING CAMPING OPTION TRAIN TRAVEL If you would rather someone else show For those with something comfortable yet a Named after the hardy Afghan camel you the sights, join an expert guide on one little more adventurous in mind why not join trains, The Ghan provided the fi rst form of of our escorted tours with APT. A popular a 3 day 4WD tour and safari in style! As well transport to the Red Centre. This service choice is the 3 day escorted tour visiting all as the opportunity to explore all the amazing has evolved into an impressive rail journey the key highlights such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, highlights of the Red Centre, you can enjoy combining amazing scenery, fi ne dining and Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, but with a traditional camp oven dinner straight from friendly service. A journey on the Ghan is many variations to suit all budgets and time the coals of the fi re and star gaze into the an incomparable way to travel to the jewel restrictions ask your Travel Designer for more clear desert sky before drifting off amid the of Australia’s Northern Territory – the Red options. (RKA3) sounds of the incredible outback. (AY3C) Centre. FROM £557 PER PERSON FROM £428 PER PERSON GOLD SERVICE FROM £696 PER PERSON AUSTRAVEL.COM | 0800 023 5760 29 028_029_AJO_12_1.indd 3 30/04/2012 17:28 OUTBACK and culture Timor Sea Wildman Darwin Wilderness Lodge KAKADU MARY RIVERNAT. PARK NAT. PARK Nourlangie LITCHFIELD Yellow Rock NAT. PARK Waters Arafura Torres Strait Sea Timor KAKADU NATIONAL PARK DARWIN Kakadu Sea National Park Gulf of Carpentaria GRE KatherineAT KATHERINE Cape York LIZARD ISLAND Peninsula BARRIER GorgeCOOKTOWN Kimberley Purnululu Cape National Park Tribulation PORT DOUGLAS Coral (Bungle Bungle Ranges) HALLS CAIRNS CREEK Sea BROOME Geikie Gorge DUNK ISLAND National Park NORTHERN REEF TERRITORY MARINE TOWNSVILLE AIRLIE HAYMAN Mt Isa ISLAND WHITSUNDAY BEACH GROUP HAMILTON PARK ISLAND The Ghan Katherine QUEENSLAND EXMOUTH Ningaloo ALICE SPRINGS Reef KINGS HERON WESTERN CANYON ISLAND AUSTRALIA AYERS ROCK/ULURU FRASER ISLAND WARBURTON MONKEY MIA NOOSA Sunshine SOUTH AUSTRALIA Coas t BRISBANE COOBER SURFERS PARADISE Indian Indian Pacific PEDY Gold Coas t Ocean Nullarbor Plain KALGOORLIE WILPENA POUND NEW COFFS HARBOUR SOUTH PERTH Great Australian Flinders Ranges WALES Bight Hunter Barossa Valley Valley Blue Mountains ADELAIDE TOP END BY AIR MARGARET RIVER SYDNEY ALBANY CANBERRA KANGAROO South Pacific ISLAND VICTORIA Southern Ocean Ocean MELBOURNE Great Ocean BLUE MOUNTAINS Road PHILLIP HUNTER VALLEY ISLAND Australia’s ‘Top End’ has some amazing outback experiences, from the wetlands of Kakadu to the Bass Strait Tasm an Sea Cradle Mt-L St Clair LAUNCESTON National Park TASMANIA Mary River National Park, or across to the Aboriginal reserve of Arnhem Land where restricted access HOBART applies. With time short, and so much to cover, one of the easiest ways to explore the region is by scenic fl ight, where the added advantage of seeing the vast, remote scenery from above will provide an additional highlight. Ideally a few days exploring the region would be recommended, but a day fl ight option from Darwin is also available. 3 DAY WILDMAN WILDERNESS LODGE FULL DAY KAKADU, NOURLANGIE AIR SAFARI ROCK & YELLOW WATERS CRUISE 3 DAY AIR SAFARI FROM £850 PER ADULT FULL DAY CRUISE WITH FLIGHTS FROM £489 PER ADULT The Mary River National Park is a protected, pristine wetlands, where the As the Kakadu National Park is so vast the option to include scenic fl ights is fl oodplains and billabongs are teeming with wildlife, birds and the saltwater perfect if you are short on time, but want to see as much as possible. Take a crocodile. Being some 150 km from Darwin, the remoteness of the area means scenic fl ight from Darwin to Kakadu, before joining APT to tour the highlights that it is fairly untouched, but by joining the Skytours scenic fl ights there is no of the famed wetlands. After a visit to Nourlangie Rock, an excellent Aboriginal need to miss this gem. Rock Art site, the tour continues on to Yellow Water, a fresh water billabong, Fly from Darwin over the wetlands and spend two nights at the Wildman where a cruise will give an insight into the variety of bird and wildlife. You may Wilderness Lodge which offers an extraordinary wetlands experience. Many even spot one of the large saltwater crocodiles! The tour concludes with activities are included, such as bush walks or cultural tours, but with additional a return fl ight back to Darwin. (D31 + LFF) options available from croc spotting cruises, billabong cruises or Kakadu day trips there is plenty to keep you occupied. Packages include: Return scenic fl ights from Darwin; two nights accommodation at Wildman Wilderness Lodge in a safari tent; tour activities of the day and meals. WILDMAN WILDERNESS LODGE 30 We don’t just go there, we know there 030_031_AJO_12_1.indd 2 30/04/2012 17:28 Outback and Culture COOK ISLANDS PACIFIC CULTURE With a mix of Polynesian heritage and European infl uence, it’s not just the coral atolls and volcanic islands which attract visitors to the Cook Islands. With some of the fi nest entertainers in the Pacifi c, no trip is complete without witnessing the dancing and drumming of a marauding tribe, dining from a traditional under ground oven (umu), and taking a tour to the heights of Rarotonga for breathtaking views. PACIFIC RESORT RAROTONGA Combine all three tours with a 4 night stay at Pacifi c Resort Rarotonga from £769 per person. Package includes return airport transfers, accommodation in a Premium Garden Suite and 3 day tours.