Australian Exortic Places

Ayers Rock or 'Uluru' :The Red Centre is located at the southern end of the Northern Territory. This area consists of Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon and the Kata Tjuta or 'Olgas'.

Alice Springs is the geographical centre of the continent, and home of the Aboriginal people for 30,000 years. The centre of the town is conveniently compact, clean and modern and only a stone's throw from the outback and some of the country's most spectacular and unique natural sights.

Ayers Rock or 'Uluru' as it is sometimes called is world famous and one of the many sacred sites of the Aboriginal people. It rises 350m out of the desert and at 3.6km long is the world's largest monolith. It is famous for changing colour as the setting sun turns it a series of deeper and darker reds before it fades into grey. This performance is reversed at dawn.

Kings Canyon is located to the north in the Watarrka National Park and is a spectacular gorge with natural features such as clusters of domed outcrops, and lush palms of the narrow gorge called the 'Garden of Eden'. The canyon stretches for over a mile with a 300m drop to the valley floor. For spectacluar views head to the rim, or to cool off in the Garden of Eden waterhole where you can enjoy a cooling swim in crystal clear water.

Kata Tjuta (Olgas) are situated about 30kms to the west of Ayers Rock, these are a collection of smaller more rounded rocks than Uluru and although less well known are equally as impressive.Take a fascinating walk to the Valley of the Winds a 7km circuit track or take the shorter signposted trail into the pretty Olga Gorge.

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