Itinerary
Where to stay:
Superbly located in the heart of Alice Springs, the Diplomat Hotel is the perfect place to stay, relax and unwind. We offer a range of affordable accommodation options, all featuring tea and coffee facilities plus free Wi-Fi to keep you connected. Guests can enjoy our refreshing outdoor swimming pool, free on-site parking, and the welcoming atmosphere of the popular Uncle’s Tavern and Stumps Café. Just a short stroll from the vibrant Todd Mall, the Diplomat Hotel puts you close to shops, restaurants, cafés and many of Alice Springs’ must-see attractions. After a day of sightseeing, cool off by the pool or unwind with a casual meal and an ice-cold beer at our fully licensed Uncle’s Tavern.
Experience the wonder of the Red Centre at Discovery Kings Canyon Resort, halfway between Uluru and Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory. Just 7 kilometres from the entrance to Watarrka National Park, unforgettable outback landscapes and a variety of accommodation will make your stay with us a lifelong memory. As a sacred site of the Lurijta and Arrente peoples for more than 30,000 years, we encourage you to engage your full set of senses whenever you explore Watarrka. Walking the Kings Canyon Rim is one of Central Australia’s must-do activities. Inside Discovery Kings Canyon Resort a range of facilities are there for your comfort and convenience. Enjoy the swimming pool, tennis court, BBQ, laundry room and petrol station before you continue your journey. Dining options range from all-day casual to breakfast buffets and a moonlit serenade under the stars.
Ayers Rock Resort:
Australian hospitality has its own style that combines both professionalism and genuine warmth. You'll find this authentic brand of service at the Outback Hotel. Comfortable, affordable hotel rooms with private bathrooms are perfect for the demands of travellers looking for quality service in relaxed surroundings. The rooms feature air-conditioning and heating and have tea/coffee making facilities. As a guest at the Hotel you have access to all the facilities the resort has to offer, including shopping, visitor centre, tour desk, and more. Grab a bite to eat served alongside some great music, great conversation, and a few good laughs at the Outback Kitchen, select your preferred cut of meat or fish, including steaks, kangaroo, emu sausages, and barramundi, and cook it yourself at the Outback BBQ, or swap stories of your day's adventures with a cold beverage at the Outback Bar. Alternatively, opt for the peace and quiet of the Bough House Restaurant.
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Perched within an oasis of native gardens, the Desert Gardens Hotel's elegant guestrooms provide a relaxing retreat from a day of adventure. Taking its name from the Pitjantjatjara word for desert quandong, Mangata Bistro & Bar serves a delicious buffet breakfast and, for lunch and dinner, a diverse range of light meals showcasing the finest Australian produce with highlights of native bush tucker flavours throughout.The contemporary indoor area flows seamlessly to an outdoor terrace, surrounded by the native greens of the iconic gardens of the hotel. Arnguli Grill & Restaurant, Ayers Rock Resort’s premier à la carte dining location, takes its name from the Pitjantjatjara word for bush plum. Located in the shadows of the hotel’s ghost gums, overlooking the central pool and garden, the restaurant offers quality Australian produce featuring Indigenous flavours.
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In the heart of Australia's Red Centre, Sails in the Desert hotel beautifully contrasts Uluru's raw natural beauty with a decidedly premium outback holiday experience. Soaring white sails crown Ayers Rock Resort's Sails in the Desert hotel, shading the beautifully appointed rooms and suites. In a destination where one of the world's oldest cultures still thrives, the mystery, colour and wisdom of the local Anangu people is interwoven into every facet of Sails in the Desert's modern design. This hotel features an expansive gumtree lined swimming pool and a diversity of modern dining, bar and lounge options. Relax and feast in the brasserie-style Ilkari Restaurant or let time tick by as you enjoy cocktails, music and Indigenous-inspired cuisine in the Walpa Lobby Bar, or curl up on one of the daybeds and enjoy a casual lunch and cocktail by the pool.
What to do:
Explore Central Australia with the Red Centre Journey Tour, a relaxing morning adventure. Discover the ancient Ewaninga Aboriginal Rock Carvings, experience outback charm at Ooraminna Station Homestead, and step into the classic Australian landscape of the Drover’s Boy Film Set. Relive history at the Old Ghan Museum and enjoy stunning views from the Red Dune Desert Lookout. This tour offers a comfortable and enriching experience for all.
Your magical night on your Spirit of the Outback dinner with star gazing starts with sipping a complimentary beverage whilst you experience the evening ambience from our ancient sand dune as the sun sets over the majestic East MacDonnell Ranges. After dinner and as darkness of space emerges, your star gazing experience will go galactic. Kick back as your astronomer will share the magic of the zodiacs and constellations with a laser-guided journey through the southern night sky. Be introduced to the Earth Sanctuary Space Observatory and deep sky telescope viewing of celestial highlights for this special occasion.
This afternoon excursion takes place just 18kms outside of Alice Springs at Simpsons Gap, a natural wonder that explodes with colour as the sun sets, making it is the perfect spot to paint with watercolours! In this workshop you will learn the basics of watercolour painting in a series of exercises designed to help you to loosen up and have fun. Watch the rocky ridges of the West MacDonnell Ranges turn a deeper red as the sun sets, hear an orchestra of birds sing from the tops of the river red gum trees, tune into the peace of this special place which is an important spiritual site for Arrernte people.
The exclusive Night At The Field Of Light dining experience combines the award-winning Sounds of Silence dinner under the outback sky with the unforgettable Field of Light installation, lighting up the desert landscape. Your evening begins with a convenient hotel pick-up and transfer to the remote desert location with majestic views of Uluru. As the sun sets on the horizon to the music of a didgeridoo, enjoy gourmet canapés and chilled sparkling wine. As darkness falls and the coloured lights of the 50,000 glass spheres gently come to life, join your table of fellow travellers for an exceptional three-course buffet menu infused with bush tucker flavours. As the night ignites with countless stars, settle back and listen as our resident star talker decode the southern night sky.
