Red Centre Way
Alice Springs to Uluru the long way — through the West MacDonnell waterholes and the rim of Kings Canyon. Desert camping at its absolute best.
Join to pin routes to your passport — then stamp them by checking in along the way.
Itinerary
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Day 1:West Macs waterholes
Alice Springs Glen Helen · 132 km
Standley Chasm at noon, swim at Ellery Creek Big Hole, camp under Mount Sonder. Cold water, warm fire.
Standley ChasmEllery Creek Big HoleOrmiston Gorge -
Day 2:The Mereenie Loop
Glen Helen Kings Canyon · 233 km
Permit country — corrugated red dirt most of the way. Air down, take it steady, watch for camels at dusk.
Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) lookoutGinty’s Lookout -
Day 3:Kings Canyon rim walk
Kings Canyon · out and back · no-move day
The 6 km rim walk before 9am heat — Garden of Eden, the domes of the Lost City, then an afternoon doing nothing well.
Rim WalkKathleen Springs -
Day 4:Down the Luritja Road
Kings Canyon Uluru · 306 km
Bitumen again. Mount Conner will fool you into thinking you’ve arrived — the real thing appears an hour later and shuts everyone up.
Mount Conner lookoutCurtin Springs -
Day 5:Uluru and Kata Tjuta
Uluru · out and back · 104 km
Base walk at dawn, Valley of the Winds in the afternoon, sunset at the dune viewing area with everyone else — it earns the crowd.
Uluru base walkMutitjulu WaterholeValley of the Winds
Good to know
- Best season
- May–Sep (winter desert)
- Grade — Corrugations
- Long unsealed stretches — high clearance recommended, air down and slow down.
- The route
- NT · Alice Springs → Glen Helen → Kings Canyon → Uluru
Leave no trace — pack it in, pack it out, fill your holes. And tell someone your plan before you lose bars.
Run it as a member
Members get partner rates on gear, fuel and stays, field days along routes like this one, and an Adventure Passport that keeps the score.
On this route
Member offers on this trip
Red Centre Holiday Parks View offerDistances are straight-line from each spot to the nearest point on the route — your road kilometres will be longer.