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Desert Mob Opening to Uluru- The Ultimate Self Drive


Experience one of the nation’s oldest and most extraordinary celebrations of Aboriginal art and culture, Desert Mob, with our exclusive 10-day Red Centre package.  

Share in the richness and diversity of desert art and culture with a visit to Mparntwe/Alice Springs for the opening of Desert Mob 2025 alongside the ultimate Uluru and Kings Canyon journey with premium stays and car hire included.

Presented by Desart, Desert Mob is a significant event on the Australian arts calendar bringing together hundreds of Aboriginal artists from 35 Art Centres across the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.  

Over the opening weekend of Desert Mob, you'll have the opportunity to attend the official opening celebrations and renowned Desert Mob Exhibition alongside artists and special guest speakers on Thursday 11 September. As part of your package, enjoy an unmissable day of Artist Talks featuring interviews, presentations, films and performances with Desert Mob artists, and a catered lunch on Friday 12 September. 

Join thousands of art lovers from far and wide on Saturday 13 September for Desert Mob's buzzing art marketplace where you can meet and acquire works directly from the artists who created them and join in special workshops and demonstrations.

Your journey not only includes a Desert Mob 2025 Artist Talks ticket, but also contains an exclusive Desert Mob merchandise pack, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park entry, and the magical Field of Light.


  9 NIGHTS
  ON SALE UNTIL 31 AUGUST 2025, FOR TRAVEL 11TH SEPTEMBER - 26TH OCTOBER 2025


Tour Inclusions

All bookings for this package include the following:

  • 10-day car hire with unlimited kilometres^ and a Standard Damage Recovery Fee†.

           † Upgrade your car hire to include the Ultimate Protection Cover from just $170 per person.

  • Uluru Audio Guide for Self-Guided Touring around Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
  • 3 Day Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park Entry.
  • Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light Tour.
  • Desert Mob merchandising pack including tote bag, Desert Mob 2025 limited-edition catalogue and t-shirt. 
  • Desert Mob 2025 Artist Talks Entry ticket with catered lunch.


Book this package with one of the accommodation options below:

Option 1:

  • 5 night stay in Alice Springs at the DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs in a guest room including daily buffet breakfast, DoubleTree cookie per person, free WiFi, free parking & late checkout to 1pm. Split stay in Alice Springs.
  • 1 night stay in Kings Canyon at Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon in a standard room including daily breakfast & FREE parking. 
  • 3 night stay in Uluru at the Outback Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort including a FREE Indigenous Activities Program, FREE use of the Ayers Rock Resort Shuttle bus service, FREE in-room WiFi & FREE parking.

Option 2:

  • 5 night stay in Alice Springs at the DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs in a guest room including daily buffet breakfast, DoubleTree cookie per person, free WiFi, free Parking & late checkout to 1pm. Split stay in Alice Springs.
  • 1 night stay in Kings Canyon at Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon in a standard room including daily breakfast & FREE parking. 
  • 3 night stay in Uluru at Desert Gardens at Ayers Rock Resort including a FREE Indigenous Activities Program, FREE use of the Ayers Rock Resort Shuttle bus service, FREE in-room WiFi & FREE parking.


Option 3:

  • 5 night stay in Alice Springs at the DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs in a guest room including daily buffet breakfast, DoubleTree cookie per person, free WiFi, free Parking & late checkout to 1pm. Split stay in Alice Springs.
  • 1 night stay in Kings Canyon at Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon in a standard room including daily breakfast & FREE parking. 
  • 3 night stay in Uluru at Sails in the Desert at Ayers Rock Resort including a FREE Indigenous Activities Program, FREE use of the Ayers Rock Resort Shuttle bus service, FREE in-room WiFi & FREE parking.
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FROM
$2,639
Per person twin share

Your Deal
Deal ID 596
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Choose your travel option


Itinerary


DESERT MOB 2025 PROGRAM OF EVENTS

Official Opening | Thursday 11 September, 5:00 PM, Araluen Cultural Precinct (Free entry)  

Join us for the official opening night of Desert Mob 2025 from 5pm featuring an exclusive exhibition preview alongside artists, special guest speakers, live music performance by Warren H Williams and Family Band, and food and beverages. The opening is an exclusive opportunity to view and acquire works from the highly acclaimed Desert Mob Exhibition prior to works going live online the following day.   

This is an Auslan-interpreted event.  


Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition | Friday 12 September - Sunday 26 October, Araluen Arts Centre Galleries (Free entry) 

The Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition features 33 Art Centres and is an invitation to view over 200 works by artists who are members of Aboriginal-governed community art centres across Central Australia. Exhibiting alongside emerging and mid-career artists, many of the senior artists are veterans of the event, with established international profiles. All works in the Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition will be available to purchase exclusively in person on Thursday 11th September, prior to going online from 9am (ACST), Friday 12 September.  

Following the opening night, the exhibition is open 10AM - 4PM (ACST) daily at the Araluen Arts Centre Galleries with free entry over the opening weekend. 

  

Artists Talks | Fri 12 September, 10:00AM – 3:30PM, Araluen Arts Centre Theatre (Ticketed) 

Desert Mob Artist Talks 2025 is an unmissable opportunity for audiences to hear firsthand from Aboriginal artists about their work and projects, community and country. A day of presentations by art centres and special guests, Artist Talks offers rich context to Desert Mob through presentations, interviews, film, and performance.  

Presenting this year:  

Arlpwe Art & Culture 

Hermannsburg Potters  

Iwantja + NPY Women’s Council 

Ninuku Arts 

Papunya Tula + Purple House 

Utopia Art Centre 

Warlukurlangu Artists 

Yarrenyty Arltere Artists 

Part of this event will be interpreted in Auslan.   


Marketplace | Sat 13 September, 10:00AM – 2:00PM, Araluen Cultural Precinct   (Free entry)  

The Desert Mob Marketplace is a large buzzing art market, bringing together paintings, punu, ceramics, weaving, sculpture, textiles and merchandise from Aboriginal-owned art centres across Central Australia. The marketplace offers Desert Mob attendees the opportunity to acquire works directly from the artists who created them. The day includes demonstrations, workshops, performances and other activations across the precinct, along with food and coffee. (NB some workshops and demonstrations are ticketed)  


Public Program + Satellite Events

Discover the story behind the art through Desert Mob’s expanded program of free and ticketed events. Complementing the 2025 exhibition, Desert Mob invites you to meet the artists, hear their stories and join them on country through a set of experiences like no other.   


View full program of events at: www.desertmob.com



Accommodation:

Enjoy exploring the wonders of the unique city of Alice Springs while based at the modern DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs which boasts stunning views of the majestic MacDonnell Mountain Ranges. Your spacious room will offer luxurious bedding, modern interiors and internet access as well as a late check-out. For those who enjoy being active the hotel provides a 24-hour fitness centre, two tennis courts and an outdoor heated pool which overlooks the lush garden landscape. Golfing-enthusiasts need not worry as there is an 18-hole golf course located just next door.


Experience the wonder of the Red Centre at Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon, 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. Reward your journey here with anything from a Deluxe Spa Room with private balcony, a newly refurbished Standard Room, or a much-loved Superior Glamping Tent. Walking the Kings Canyon Rim is one of Central Australia’s must-do activities and you can immerse yourself in Indigenous culture with the Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. 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.


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. This is a place where friendships are made and good times are had by all. 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.


OR


Imagine waking up to a sunrise view of Uluru, blazing red under a sunny Outback sky. Perched within an oasis of native gardens, the Desert Gardens Hotel’s 218 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. Once you've satisfied the urges to explore the magic within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, you will find free guided walks through Desert Gardens Hotel's substantial and authentic native gardens just outside your hotel door. All of Ayers Rock Resort's luxuries and conveniences, including numerous lookouts, Red Ochre Spa and the shops, tour & information centre and cafés located at the Resort Town Square, are within easy walking distance or accessible via the free shuttle bus.


OR


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 228 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. Sails in the Desert's stunning Mulgara Gallery takes you on an exploration through the unique styles and breathtaking stories of Indigenous art. Find each of your senses lulled into complete relaxation as you give in to one of the Red Ochre Spa's treatments.




Package terms

On sale until 31 August 2025. For travel 11th September - 26th October 2025. Pricing based on the Outback Hotel, seasonal supplements apply outside these dates. Blackout dates may apply and some inclusions may be closed over public holidays. Prices and inclusions are correct as of 3 January 2025 and may be subject to change due to availability, surcharges, fees or taxes without notice. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices are based on per person twin share. Please contact us on 1800 854 897 or deals@ntnow.com.au to enquire. Airfares and transfers are additional unless otherwise specified. † Upgrade your car hire to include the Ultimate Protection Cover from just $170 per person. For full terms and conditions and details on our refund policy, view our booking conditions. E&OE.


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