Travel guide Central Australia & Alice Springs

Central Car Rentals is the only locally owned car hire company in Central Australia, offering economy, intermediate and large two wheel-drives, and large four-wheel drive vehicles.

Their staff are highly experienced and passionate about the area and can assist with maps and itineraries. All vehicles have limited or unlimited kilometre rates available, making Central Car Rentals a great choice to explore Central Australia.

One way accommodation or airport pickup is available and cam... Read more

Black Tank Outstation is an Arrernte Aboriginal Community situated approximately 80 kilometres north of Alice Springs, and the Lynch family provide authentic and detailed insights into their local Arrernte culture.

Blank Tank offers Cultural Awareness Workshops, where you will learn about sacred sites and traditional dreamtime stories. Take part in a traditional dot painting workshop or book a Cultural Tour and learn about the local flora and fauna, indigenous cultural responsibilities, U... Read more

Kurrparru Tours is an Aboriginal owned and operated tour company, located along the Red Centre Way. They offer intimate guided walking tours in and around Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park.

Visitors have the opportunity to interact and learn from Aboriginal people the traditional kinship and customs, desert survival, bush foods, medicines and tool and weapon making, which have helped sustain this area for 40,000 years.

Kurrparru Tours has been developed to provide local Aborig... Read more

Barrett Drive Alice Springs NT Perfectly placed to make the most of the view of the McDonnell Ranges and the facilities of Alice Springs. Overall rating?    Excellent What makes the Crowne Plaza different? When you are staying in a hotel that is part of a chain, it tends to be the location that sets it apart, as is the case with the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs.  The foyer is very large and bright and open, with lots of natural light. Accommodation overview We stayed in a Mountain View room with a queen-sized bed and ensuite, with an outlook onto the McDonnell Ranges and the golf course from the balcony.  It was well-maintained, light and showed signs of recent renovation. Facilities overview There is a lovely pool area that is well-maintained an... Read more

Ayers Rock Resort Via Yulara Drive Yulara NT We stayed at Sails in the Desert, which is the 5 star property, but the resort has five hotels and a campground, so there is something for everyone and plenty of room. Overall rating?           Excellent What makes Sails in the Desert different? As you arrive you see the sails that gives the hotel its name and it is a spectacular sight.  The interior is given over to Aboriginal heritage and culture, with a gallery in the lobby and significant artworks on view in the public areas. Accommodation overview Our room was large and comfortable, with two queen-size beds and ensuite.  The air-conditioning was effective and welcoming and there was a spa on our private balcony. Facilities overview ... Read more

Too often, discussions about the Northern Territory centre around Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata-Tjuta (the Olgas) and Kakadu National Park. The reason for this is clear to anyone who has ever laid eyes on these places – they’re truly amazing. But sometimes, it’s the lesser known places that make a holiday really special - the little surprises you see along the way. Like the luxurious hot springs of Mataranka. To the south of Katherine, with a population around 250, this little town boasts a truly magical spot to rejuvenate and ponder why nature decided to put a hot tub in the middle of nowhere. The lagoon is surrounded by palm trees, and the sandy bottom is lovely to run your feet through as you luxuriate in the warm water. Of course, you wouldn’t fly across the world f... Read more

For many, it is a dream to travel to the Land Down Under.  The Great Barrier Reef is a natural phenomenon many long to see for themselves, as is the giant Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) sitting smack in the middle of the country. Seeing kangaroos in the wild, the chance to cuddle a koala, and just experience the laid-back attitude for which Australians are famous, may seem like an impossible dream. Happily, it takes only a day to travel to this great island continent, and with flights more reasonably priced than ever, and plenty of deals available throughout the year, you could soon be chatting with the locals while marveling at the mixed-up features of a platypus. Getting there Plenty of airlines travel to Australia, including their main carrier, Qantas. How much you pay to t... Read more

There is no such thing as “A town like Alice.” Okay, yes – there is an interesting novel of that name by Neville Shute. And there was even a movie in 1956 as well as a mini-series in 1981 – both based on and titled after the novel, A Town Like Alice. But nowhere else in the world will you actually encounter a town anything like Alice – a place where locals have such a nutty sense of humour that for decades, they have been running boat races in a completely dry river – only to cancel one year because there was actually water in it. Nowhere else will you find a lively town sitting smack in the middle of a red desert where couples dress in bride and groom attire to race camels each year. Alice Springs, usually just called “Alice”, is a town with... Read more

Step back in time and experience the beauty that has been a home to Aboriginal people for more than 40,000 years. Australia’s most famous national park spans an enormous 20,000 square kilometers and is one of the few Australian sites listed by UNESCO World Heritage for both its cultural and natural offerings. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in Kakadu, along with countless different birds and animals, stunning rock formations, ancient cave paintings and cultural offerings. It is impossible to see and experience everything in a single trip. What to do in Kakadu? Whether you are in search of a leisurely escape or a vacation packed with adventure, you will find choices to suit your touring style. Budget conscious travelers will find many free guided tours and activities ... Read more

At first glance, a person could be forgiven for thinking that a holiday to a big red rock in the middle of a desert would lack excitement. Let’s face it - the surf is terrible, even if there is plenty of sand. But gaze a bit deeper, and discover a place unlike anywhere else on earth, rich in beauty, culture, adventure, and intrigue. Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, is a giant sandstone monolith set in the World Heritage listed Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park. With a circumference of 9.4km and a height reaching 348m, Uluru is one of the world’s largest monoliths and a highly recognizable symbol of Australia to people throughout the world. From the distance, Uluru looks like a smooth red rock. As you approach, you will see that it is actually filled with long vertical ridges... Read more