AUBURN HS - RED CENTRE CONSERVATION AND CULTURE

Depart Melbourne domestic airport and arrive in Yulara (Uluru) in the afternoon, accompanied by your GLE Tour Manager.  Board your coach and depart for your hotel, only a quick trip from the airport.  On arrival you will have lunch, followed by a short arrival briefing before checking in to your rooms.  There will also be some free time to purchase water and snacks if needed.

During the late afternoon, you’ll visit the Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, home to the world-famous Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock), the Red Centre of Australia and one of the country’s most famous natural landmarks, and one of the most famous rock formations in the world.  This monolith stands at a towering 348m tall and has a circumference of over 9km, with the bulk of its mass lying underground. 

To fully appreciate this culturally significant site, you will be met by a local Anangu guide who will lead you on the Uluru-Kuniya Walk and Cave Art Tour.  For thousands of years, the Anangu, the traditional custodians and caretakers of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, have passed down their knowledge from 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.  Your Anangu guide will share stories of this unique landscape, discuss traditional cave uses, traditional tools and their use, and the use of ancient symbols and paintings in the sand as a way of storytelling.  Your guide will deliver the talk in Pitjantjatjara, the local language spoken by Anangu, and an interpreter will be provided.  They will also explain the meaning behind the cave art and the creation stories, or Tjukurpa, of Uluru.  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 breathtaking views, so after your Uluru walk, you’ll 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, you’ll return to your resort for dinner and relaxation.  

Overnight: Outback Hotel

It’s a bright an early start so you don’t miss a chance to experience 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.  You will explore this site by taking the Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds walk. You 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, while also giving you 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, meaning 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 to your hotel for a free afternoon to relax at your leisure or swim.  Late afternoon head to the town square lawns to take part in a digeridoo workshop.  You’ll learn all about this unique instrument and have a go at making some of the sounds required to play.  Let your musical talents shine, or at least have a lot of fun trying. The workshop will be followed by dinner.

Overnight: Outback Hotel

This morning head to the Ayers Rock Visitor Complex for a celebration of indigenous creativity & culture. At 10:00 take part in the ‘Bush Yarns’ experience- Listen to the stories of Aboriginal culture and tradition where you will be shown men’s weapons that were used for hunting or women’s tools and techniques to gather bush tucker in the central desert. This sessions may also provide an opportunity to learn aspects about the local Pitjantjatjara language. 

We then visit the GOCA- Gallery of Central Australia for a guided gallery tour.  GOCA is committed to providing a platform for our Indigenous community to share their stories and culture as we explore one of the oldest living and vibrant cultures.

After lunch learn all about Australian and local bush tucker in the ‘Bush Food Experience’ and discover how for many millennia local Indigenous groups would hunt, gather and prepare these bush foods.

After lunch we depart for the Uluru Camel Farm for a camel park visit and camel ride!  Have a 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 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 these animals. 

After posing with your new camel friends head back to the hotel for an outdoor BBQ dinner under the stars. 

Overnight: Outback Hotel

After breakfast, we will depart for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, where we will take part in a traditional tool demonstration and bush medicine demonstration with a local Anangu guide.  We will also spend time with one of the rangers who will teach us about the park’s Indigenous culture and history.  Explore how Uluru and Kata Tjuta are Aboriginal land and are jointly managed by their traditional owners and Parks Australia.

Return to the hotel and enjoy some down time.  Before tonight’s dinner, the Anangu will perform a very special traditional Inma ceremony.  You’ll watch a performance of a traditional dance and afterwards Anangu will invite the group up to learn to dance to their song.  You might want to perform something for the Anangu as a school group also. 

Overnight: Outback Hotel

After breakfast, you’ll return to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to meet with the Rangers on location for an in-depth presentation on what it takes to look after the National Park.  A ranger will take you on an exploratory Ranger guided ‘Mala’ flora and fauna walk through the park, so you can begin to understand and appreciate this unique ecosystem.  Your ranger will also outline some of the negative impact introduced species are having on the unique flora and fauna, in particular the introduction of Buffel Grass.  Buffel Grass is a perennial grass from Africa that is invasive to the National Park, and it threatens desert ecosystems by out-competing native plants and altering fire regimes.  Rather than just learn about the problem, you may have an opportunity to assist in the removal of the grass (outside burn season). 

Return to the hotel for lunch and take some time for a short relaxation break. 

After dinner, you’ll meet your guide at the town square for an Astro Stargazing tour.  The Australian Outback is perhaps one of the best places to explore the galaxy of stars in the night sky, due to its remoteness and lack of light pollution.  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 of astronomy and its beginnings.  Your resident astronomer will guide you through the evolution of the Universe in a truly unforgettable experience.

Overnight: Outback Hotel

Today after breakfast there may be an opportunity to return to the park headquarters to assist the rangers with conservation work.   

In the afternoon, you will participate in an Interpretive Dot Painting workshop with a local Anangu artist.  During the workshop, your Anangu artist will share a part of their culture, so you can learn to understand your 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 take back to school and frame.

After dinner tonight, you’ll visit the Field of Light Art Installation by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro.  This 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.  Wander through this spectacular installation at leisure and try to take it all in.  It truly is an unforgettable sight.

When you return to the hotel, make some time to pack your luggage, as you’ll be departing tomorrow. 

Overnight: Outback Hotel

After breakfast, you’ve got a free morning of leisure until your transfer to the airport late morning.  It’s time to leave this stunning part of our country with some magical memories and experiences to remember forever.  You will arrive back in your home city in the afternoon.