Red Centre Way

Stretching 660 kilometres through the heart of Australia, the Red Centre Way is a spectacular self-drive route that links Alice Springs with Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park via the West MacDonnell Ranges. This is the outback at its most elemental: ochre-red gorges, ancient desert oak forests, and vast horizons that seem to go on forever. The road is sealed for most of its length, but a 4WD is recommended for side trips to outlying gorges and waterholes. Allow at least three days to do it justice.

Highlights & What to See

• West MacDonnell Ranges: A series of stunning chasms and gorges – Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, and Ormiston Gorge – where sheer red cliffs contrast with permanent waterholes and ghost gums.
• Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park): The dramatic 6km Rim Walk takes you up onto the sandstone plateau, past the domed 'Lost City' and lush Garden of Eden waterhole.
• Uluru (Ayers Rock): The world's most famous monolith – catch it at sunrise or sunset when the rock shifts through a palette of reds, purples and oranges.
• Kata Tjuta (the Olgas): The domed rock formations of Kata Tjuta are equally impressive; the Walpa Gorge walk offers close-up views of these ancient giants.
• Alice Springs Desert Park: An excellent introduction to Central Australian ecology and Indigenous culture, with free-flying birds of prey and nocturnal house.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most travellers allocate three to four days to drive the Red Centre Way one-way (Alice Springs to Uluru or vice versa). This allows for a full day exploring the West MacDonnell Ranges, a day for Kings Canyon (including the Rim Walk), and a day for Uluru-Kata Tjuta. If you have more time, add a day for side trips to Palm Valley (Finke Gorge National Park) or the remote Chambers Pillar. The route is also doable in two long days, but you'll miss many of the best walks and sunset views.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Alice Springs – the gateway town with museums, galleries and the historic Telegraph Station
• Finke Gorge National Park – home to the ancient palm-filled Palm Valley, a 4WD-only adventure
• Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve – a sandstone pillar with Aboriginal and European significance, 160km south of Alice Springs
• Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve – striped sandstone cliffs and a seasonal claypan lake, perfect for sunset photography
• Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve – a small site with ancient petroglyphs, 40km south of Alice Springs

Please check official sources for current details.