Great Journeys: Australia: The Red Centre

Traversing the country from north to south, this journey takes in the amazing sights of the central Australian outback.

Click on the links below to find out more about individual destinations.

Journey Summary

The Red Centre is like nowhere else on earth, but we start our journey in a very different area, the Top End. From Darwin we head off to luscious Litchfield, from where we can strike northeast to Kakadu, one of Australia's most famous National Parks. After exploring the many facets of Kakadu it's time to head south to Nitmiluk, home to the wondrous Katherine Gorge, and the start of the long journey south through the heart of the country. Elsey is a welcome and beautiful stop, as are the lonely pub at Daly Waters, the bizarre Devil's Marbles, and the town in the middle of nowhere, Alice Springs. It's an easy drive to the stunning Eastern and Western Macdonnell Ranges, before we tackle the world-famous sights of Watarrka (King's Canyon) and Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock). We don't want to rush things (unlike most other tourists, it seems), but life is finite, so before long it's back onto the highway and to Coober Pedy, where opals are mined in the harsh outback. The Flinders Ranges are a great place for our journey's final bush experience, before we drive down to Adelaide, and our journey's end.

Suggested Itinerary

The following is only a suggested itinerary, and is based round a journey by car, with overnight stops at camping grounds. All roads are suitable for normal two-wheel-drive cars. Important Note: Before setting off on any journey into the outback, it's important to ensure that the car is in good condition, and that you have a week's worth of water and food, in case of breakdown in the outback. It's also worth making sure that you have breakdown cover from a reliable national breakdown company, like the AAA or the RAC. Hopefully you won't find out why it's such a good idea...