UluruALICE SPRINGS 'The Alice', as this town is affectionately known,has come far from its origins as a telegraphstation. Founded in the 1800s and marooned inthe desert it is a great place from which toexplore the Red Centre. West of the town is themarvellous Desert Park where plants, animalsand Aboriginal artifacts offer an opening in tothe curious Australian desert. The Royal FlyingDoctors and the School of the Air arefascinating examples of how people haveadapted to this immense environment and asnight falls the stunning landscapes are lit up bycountless stars, bright in the clear Outback air.Ooraminna Homestead,Deep Well StationWeathered rocky outcrops, red sand hills and aprofusion of plant and wildlife provide the backdropfor this historic homestead, forty kilometres south ofAlice Springs. Owned by generations of one of theearliest pioneer families it offers four distinctivecomfortable bush huts set amongst rocks and desertoaks, each with a veranda providing a prime spot totoast the desert sunset. Blending privacy with aninsight into life on a working station there are ampleopportunities to join with station activities or take4WD vehicle tours and bushwalks. This homesteadprovides an accessible Outback station experience.42Contrasting sharply with the Top End,the Red Centre has an awesome, arid,craggy beauty, peppered with tufts ofspinifex grass and seasonal wildflowers.The colours of its vast landscape changewith the angling light, adding drama tothe stories from the AboriginalDreamtime. In the heart of this regionis the great monolith of Uluru/AyersRock, partnered by the ruddy coloureddomes of Kata Tjuta/The Olgas and thehidden waters of Kings Canyon. AliceSprings, crouching beside the majesticMacDonnell Ranges, is no longerconsidered just an overnight stop enroute to Uluru; its robust founders areever-present in the form of the RoyalFlying Doctors service and theTelegraph Station. The area is nowmore accessible than ever with theextension of The Ghan railway toDarwin, and small group tours nowhead out into the bush escorted by localAboriginal people, making this a goodplace to learn more of this culture thathas shaped Australia.Northern Territory,The Red CentreOoraminna Homestead

Alice Springs ResortOn the banks of the barren Todd River this lovelyresort nestles amongst the wrinkled ghost gums andoverlooks the stunning MacDonnell ranges. Thecentre of town is only a few minutes walk away andso this is an ideal base from which to explore thisOutback town. The numerous guestrooms possess allthe usual modern comforts and the restaurantoverlooks the swimming pool and gardens. Gunya Titjikala,Aboriginal Community Authentic indigenous experiences are more oftenadvertised than offered, but this desert Aboriginalcommunity, an hour and a half south of AliceSprings, is quite genuine. The community invites justsix guests to learn of their intriguing life, allowingthem to participate in gathering bush tucker andmedicinal plants, and listen to Dreamtime storiestold by the Elders. 'Go bush' with the traditionalland owners to visit rock art and fossil sites and learnof the secrets of daily survival that have brought thisancient culture safely through the ages. Wonderfulmeals add an Aboriginal twist to Australian cuisine,with a 'bushtucker' chef adding wild fruits andperhaps a smattering of witchetty grubs. The threeluxury safari-style tents with polished wooden floorsand ensuite bathrooms provide comfort in a remotedesert retreat. This project is a joint enterprise withthe community so the majority of the profits go tothe Titjikala Foundation, focusing on health,education and school retention initiatives. Red CentreContrastsAt the geographical and spiritual heart of Australia,the Red Centre remains a sacred site to theindigenous Aboriginal people. Experience twocontrasts of Australian life by spending time on atraditional Outback station and then join anAboriginal community to learn of their ancientculture. No visit to the centre would be completewithout a visit to the magnificent Uluru-Kata TjutaNational Park and Alice Springs.Day 1:Arrive in Alice Springs and explore thetownship and museums. Day 2:Make time for a visit to the native wildlifesanctuary of Desert Park.Day 3:Head out of town for an Outbackexperience at Ooraminna Homestead onthe working cattle station of Deep Well. Day 4:Enjoy station activities and Outbackhospitality.Day 5:Return to Alice Springs. Travel south toGunya Titjikala Aboriginal camp andexperience life within an Aboriginalcommunity. Day 6:Hear Dreamtime stories, share intraditions and join in communityactivities.Day 7:Return to Alice Springs.Day 8:Journey to Uluru-Kata Tjuta NationalPark. View the magnificent Uluru sunset.Day 9:Take the Valley of the Winds walkthrough the domes of Kata Tjuta.Day 10:Leave Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.EXTENSIONSFly to Cairns and onward to beautiful Lizard Islandto explore the underwater beauties of the GreatBarrier Reef. See page 30 for details.tailor-made travelAll our travel arrangements are on a private,individual basis to offer you complete freedom ofchoice. The itineraries and accommodation optionsthroughout the brochure are designed to give you aflavour of what is possible and can be tailor-made tosuit your preferences. Prices vary according toselected accommodation and season. Please callour Australia specialists on 01869 276 345 todiscuss your individual requirements.NORTHERN TERRITORYTHE RED CENTRE |43THE MACDONNELL RANGES These impressive ranges tower over the plain, anatural barrier broken by gorges, cliffs andnatural pools. Running east and west of AliceSprings they are easily accessible on either a dayvisit from the town or as a detour on the driveto Kings Canyon. In the West MacDonnells,Simpson's Gorge is the first of a series ofattractive natural features, another is StandleyChasm, a slender gorge whose sides glow amarvellous red in the desert light. At ElleryGorge, Ellery Creek Big Hole is an excellentswimming pool while Serpent Gorge, slightlyfurther west, has a lovely walking trail leadingto a lookout with a spectacular view. TheEastern MacDonnells host some Aboriginal sitesof the local Aranada people and walking trailsthread past quartzite cliffs and red river gums. The Larapinta Trail This thrilling walking trail runs for some 220kilometres along the backbone of the WestMacDonnell Ranges, with expertly guided walkspresenting unequalled opportunities to take in thisancient landscape. The walks are of between threeand ten days duration and are a little challenging inparts. You carry only a day pack and sleep out underthe stars in a cosy bushman's swag, with drinks anddelicious freshly prepared meals provided.Gunya Titjikala CampGunya Titjikala campThe MacDonnell RangesAboriginal bush tucker