Red Centre - Conservation and Culture (2022)

Depart on a morning flight to arrive in Uluru in the afternoon where you will be met by your GLE tour manager.  Board your coach and depart for The Lost Camel Hotel (or similar), only a quick trip from the airport.

On arrival we will have lunch, followed by a short arrival briefing before checking in to our rooms.  There will also be some free time to purchase water and snacks. 

Late afternoon visit the Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, home to the world-famous Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Red Centre of Australia and one of the country’s most famous natural landmarks.  In fact, one of the most famous rock formations in the world, this monolith stands at a towering 348 metres tall and has a circumference of over 9km, with the bulk of its mass lying underground.  Meet your local Anangu guide who will guide you on the Uluru-Kuniya Walk & Cave Art tour.  For thousands of years, Anangu (traditional owners of Uluru & Kata Tjuta) have passed down their knowledge generation to generation, to keep the land, their culture and their people strong.  

This tour includes a walk and talk from Kuniya carpark to Mutitjulu waterhole, at the base of Uluru.  Our Anangu guide will tell stories of this unique landscape, discuss traditional cave uses, traditional tools and their use and the use of symbols in the sand as a way of storytelling.  The guide will deliver the talk in Pitjantjatjara, the local language spoken by Anangu and an interpreter will be provided.  The guide will also explain the meaning behind the cave art and the Tjukurpa of Uluru (Creation Stories).  Learn about the ancient symbols and paintings through the use of sand drawings.  Hearing the stories in the traditional language of the Anangu is a powerful way of connecting with this spiritual land.

This unique slice of the outback is known for its amazing views so after your Uluru walk, head to a special Uluru sunset viewing area so that you can try to capture the ever-changing colours of Uluru and the surrounding desert.

After sunset board your bus to return to your resort for dinner and relaxation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Overnight: Uluru

Up bright and early so we don’t miss sunrise over Kata Tjuta. Kata Tjuta (formerly the Olgas) is a massive group of 36 large domed and weathered rock formations, estimated to be around 500 million years old. We explore this site by taking the Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds walk. We will see various waterholes, sacred meeting areas and numerous native birds including finches and budgerigars. The Valley of the Winds walk lets you immerse yourself among Kata Tjuta's domes. It also features unparalleled views of the spectacular Mars-like landscape surrounding Kata Tjuta from two lookout points along the track. This walk is classed as Grade 4. It is steep, rocky and difficult in places, so it’s important you wear appropriate closed footwear and take your time. The full Valley of the Winds circuit takes 3-4 hours. Drinking water is available halfway along the track.

Return back to the bus and have a picnic lunch en route to Kings Canyon, approximately 3 hours away.  A quick stop at Curtain Springs Station will be made to stretch your legs or grab a snack before we drive the last leg to Kings Creek Resort, our home base for the next 3 nights.  You will likely see some feral dromedary (one humped) camels in the desert during the journey, there is an estimated 2.4 million feral camels in the red centre!

On arrival at the Kings Canyon Resort there will be a short hotel briefing before we check into our rooms.  Kings Canyon is located in the Watarrka National Park and offers the chance to see landscapes like nowhere else on earth. This spectacular chasm, located at the western end of the George Gill Range, was driven 270m deep into the earth by millions of years of erosion. The unique geographical formation creates a fertile environment of dense palm forests and attracts a range of native animal species from the surrounding deserts.

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure and make use of the hotel swimming pool and resort facilities. 

Dinner will be in the resort restaurant and after such a full day an early night is often very welcomed! 

Overnight: Kings Canyon

This morning we are to experience our first Kings Canyon sunrise while climbing to the rim of Kings Canyon for some marvellous views of Watarrka National Park. Our 3-4 hour walk will follow the rim of the canyon, stopping to look down into the canyon gorge at look-out points. We have our own dedicated park ranger to guide us on this stunning walk.  Explore numerous waterholes, unworldly boulders and fossilised tracks of ancient marine creatures and oceans. The gorge is lined with staggering cliff walls, 100m high. On top of these cliff walls, on the rim of the canyon, there are spectacular views across the lush canyon and the surrounding desert landscapes, as well as truly breath-taking skies.  Time permitting, we may choose to descend into the green oasis of the 'Garden of Eden'.

After soaking in the incredible views and completing the rim walk, we return to Kings Canyon Resort for lunch. 

The afternoon in then yours to swim or relax, followed by an outdoor BBQ dinner under the stars.  Be sure to get your bags sorted tonight as we are checking out tomorrow morning.

Overnight: Kings Canyon

After breakfast we depart the magical Kings Canyon to make our way back to Uluru.  Travel to Uluru Camel Farm for your camel park visit and camel ride!  Have an express camel ride in the park and visit the other animals that make the park their home.  Spend some time exploring the fully working saddlery where all the saddles are hand made for the camels. Discover 130 years of history surrounding camels and the Afghan cameleers who played a pivotal role in opening up the outback. See the camel racetrack, home of the Uluru Camel Cup and trophies won from all over Australia. Meet our outback Cameleers, hear their stories and most importantly fall in love with the camels. Uluru Camel Tours is an animal first company and they are all very passionate about the camels! You will leave with lifelong memories of the Outback and have a newfound respect for camels.

Have some lunch on your return to your hotel, check in to your rooms and enjoy some down time.

Before dinner this evening the Anangu will perform a very special traditional Inma ceremony.  Watch the traditional dance being performed and afterwards Anangu will invite the group up to learn to dance to the song.  You might want to perform something for the Anangu as a school group also.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Overnight: Uluru

After breakfast we return to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (UKTNP) to meet with the Rangers on location for an in depth presentation on what it takes to look after the National Park.  A ranger in training will take us on an exploratory flora and fauna walk through the park where we can start to understand more about this unique ecosystem.  The ranger will help us understand the negative impact introduced species are having on the unique flora and fauna, in particular the introduction of Buffel grass to the area and what we can do to help. 

Spend the rest of the morning taking part in the Buffel Grass removal conservation initiative by helping rangers to remove grass from impacted areas.  Buffel Grass is a perennial grass from Africa that is invasive to the UKTNP as it threatens desert ecosystems by out-competing native plants and altering fire regimes. 

The issue can seem quite overwhelming, but we will be making a difference to the environment by helping to control this invasive grass. 

After this morning’s activities we will make our way to the Uluru Cultural Centre for a picnic lunch.  Have some free time to explore the centre which includes displays, exhibits and presentations to deepen your understanding of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Anangu culture.  There are also art galleries and several community owned shops to visit.

Have some time back at the resort for some R&R before taking part in a digeridoo workshop late afternoon.  Learn about this unique instrument and have a go at making some of the sounds required to play.

After dinner meet your guide at the town square for the start of your Astro Star Gazing tour. The Australian Outback is perhaps one of the best places to explore the galaxy of stars in the night sky. Take a moment to explore the vast night landscape with the use of telescopes and binoculars. This stargazing tour will take you on a fact-finding journey through the southern night sky, enhancing your knowledge on astronomy and its beginnings. Your resident astronomer will guide you through the evolution of the Universe. A truly unforgettable experience.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Overnight: Uluru

Today we continue with the Buffel Grass removal conservation project, clearing a secondary area impacted by the invasive species, opening the habitat corridor for native flora & fauna. 

Celebrate your success with a BBQ lunch with the rangers before returning to the hotel for some well-deserved pool or relaxation time.

Late afternoon meet a local Anangu artist for an interpretive Dot Painting workshop.   For thousands of years, Anangu have passed down their knowledge from generation to generation, to keep the land, their culture and their people strong.  Through the workshops the Anangu artist shares a part of their culture with us, so we can learn to understand our own stories.  We all have our own story to tell and by discovering the ancient symbols used in Anangu art and teachings you will be able to paint and record your own version to share with your school community through your unique interpretation of the symbols.  Your combined dot painting stories can then be joined to form a large canvas you can bring back to school and frame forever. 

After dinner tonight, we visit the Field of Light art installation by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro. The exhibition, aptly named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku or ‘looking at lots of beautiful lights’ in local Pitjantjatjara is Munro’s largest work to date. Overwhelming in size, covering more than seven football fields, it invites immersion in its fantasy garden of 50,000 spindles of light, the stems breathing and swaying through a sympathetic desert spectrum of ochre, deep violet, blue and gentle white. Have free time to wander through this spectacular installation at leisure and try to take it all in, it truly is an unforgettable sight.

Time to had back to your hotel room and pack your luggage as tomorrow is check out day.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Overnight: Uluru

After breakfast, the morning is at your leisure until your transfer to the airport at 10:30am. 

Time to leave this stunning part of our country with some magical memories and experiences to remember forever.

Arrive back to your home city this afternoon.