So you’re thinking of travelling to the centre of Australia? Brilliant! There’s just something about heading to the middle of nowhere and exploring a land that’s beyond comparison, that draws so many visitors to this beautiful area.When travelling in this area you have 3 main places that you definitely, 100% cannot miss - Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Kings Canyon.

Uluru: Probably the most iconic image of Australia and our greatest reminder of the spiritual connection Aboriginal people have with the land. Standing at 863 metres above sea level, the rock is something that is impossible to be missed. Walking around the base takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours alone! For those that just need to climb everything, you can also climb the rock …however keep in mind that the Aboriginal community strongly suggest you do not climb it. In the end its UP TO YOU!

Kata Tjuta: About 25kms from Uluru, Kata Tjuta (or the Olgas) is made up of over 25 impressive domes and can be seen from the rock. There are 2 main accessible walking tracks. The Valley of the Winds Walk (7kms) and the Olga Gorge Walk (2kms). By taking these walks you will get up close to the rock formations and see some remarkable scenery from the lookouts. If you plan on doing these you will need to leave early in the morning because the temperature can easily reach 35 DEGREES after 10am.

Kings Canyon: Located about 4 hours drive from Uluru, is 270m high and like the Olgas has 2 main walks. The main 1 is a 3 ½ hour walk which winds up and down the perimeter of the Canyon. Along the way you will see lush vegetation and a lake (the Garden of Eden) and beehive rock formation, almost looking like coins stacked on top of each other (the Lost City). From the top you get some of the most breathtaking views of the landscape and appreciate how huge this place actually is.Getting There!

OK so you know what’s there and the basics of what to see …now how do I get there? Qantas flys to Alice Springs or Ayers Rock everyday from any major city. Once there, shuttle buses will take you to most hostels for about $14.

Trains service Alice Springs from Adelaide and Darwin via the Ghan network. This is the most iconic train trip within Australia and takes in some of the most remote parts of the country.

From Alice Springs you can take tours to the centre that take anywhere from 2-5 days. The minimum recommended time is at least 3 days. This will allow you time to see each of the highlights for longer periods of time. You need to spend as long as possible at each spot to truly appreciate the beauty.

Just on tours, there is 1 that also leaves from Cairns and is Australia’s most remote road trip. It takes 3 days and takes you through some of the harshest outback country and through small towns. Truly a remarkable experience for those who have the time.

By road you can take the Stuart and Lasseter Highways between Alice Springs and Uluru and takes approximately 5 hours to drive. Keep in mind when driving however, that there’re few places to stay near the rock and can be a little expensive.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 21st, 2006 at 2:15 am and is filed under The Northern Territory. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.