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| The
Red Centre 8 Day |
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| Arrive Alice
Springs • Day One |
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Welcome to Alice Springs! On arrival, you will be met by
an Alice Springs Holidays representative for a complimentary
transfer to your hotel. Enjoy an introductory orientation
of the town enroute to your accommodation for the next 4
nights. The rest of this day is at leisure. Following check
in, you might like to take the Alice Explorer, a “hop
– on – hop off” town tour (entry fees
own expense) which operates on a continual loop. It visits
major attractions, and is an excellent way to explore and
be introduced to The Alice in comfort, and at your own pace.
Overnight: Alice Springs
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Dining in Todd Mall
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The Ghan
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| Alice Springs at Leisure
• Day Two |
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A day to relax or extend your exploration of this desert
oasis. Your greatest challenge will be to choose from the
vast array of attractions catering to all tastes and interests.
Will it be the exhilaration of a hot air balloon flight
at sunrise, or an early morning relaxing game of golf? What
about investigating the Alice Springs Desert Park, including
its world renowned nocturnal house wildlife display, or
a adventure into the Simpson Desert to Chambers Pillar?
Perhaps your interests lie in Art and Culture. A visit to
the Cultural Precinct, or the many fine Art Galleries, may
tempt you. Then of course, there is Todd Mall, with its
shops and cafes. For tonight we suggest The Sounds of Starlight
theatre, before dining at one of the many popular restaurants
adjacent to Todd Mall. Overnight: Alice
Springs.
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Shopping in the Alice
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Alice Springs Golf
Course
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| West Macdonnell Ranges
• Day Three |
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Today we venture west to experience the magnificence and
grandeur of the vast West MacDonnell Ranges. It is a day
of panoramic mountain scenery, tranquil waterholes, and
rocky gorges. Our tour will take us to Simpson’s Gap,
an area that is home to the local species of Black footed
Rock Wallaby. Then on to the breathtaking Standley Chasm,
a cool, shady retreat filled with cycads, ferns and graceful
red river gums. We will visit the dry river bed, water hole
and rock formations of Ormiston Gorge. There will be time
to swim in cool waterholes and explore walking trails, with
your guide on hand. A stop at the Ochre Pits where a rare
palette of coloured ochre lies exposed in a dry creek bed,
offering a fascinating insight into a source of the natural
pigments that feature in Aboriginal culture and art. The
grave of Flying Doctor pioneer Rev John Flynn provides a
poignant reminder of the remoteness of Central Australia,
and the vastness of this land. Returning to Alice in time
to relax with a drink or take a swim before dinner. Overnight:
Alice Springs. Included: Lunch, Refreshments.
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| Palm Valley • Day Four |
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Your Red Centre experience continues with a day of adventure,
exploring the Finke Gorge National Park. On route we will
see much of the natural landscape that inspired Albert Namatjira,
the first of the modern indigenous painters. Making our
way along the mostly dry bed of the Finke River, you’ll
marvel at the dramatic evidence of its awesome flood history.
Further along the track, the magnificent Amphitheatre at
the Kalarranga lookout provides a stunning opportunity for
photography, before finally reaching Palm Valley itself.
Experience a walk amongst the rare Red Cabbage Palms, relics
of a previous climate many millions of years past. We travel
back along the track to the sealed road to visit the Hermannsburg
Historic Precinct, founded by Lutheran missionaries in 1877,
and birthplace of watercolour painting in the region. Returning
to Alice Springs in the glow of the late afternoon sun.
Overnight: Alice Springs. Included:
Lunch, Refreshments.
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The Amiptheatre
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Bush walking at Hermansburg
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| Alice Springs to Kings Canyon •
Day Five |
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Leaving the Alice, main highways and settlements behind,
we travel through mountain valleys to the Wallace Rockhole
aboriginal community. Here experience a rock art and culture
tour with a local guide. Visit the gallery, which provides
an opportunity to purchase a variety of local art. The adventure
continues on the 4WD track into the Gosse Bluff comet impact
crater. Not just an astro-geological wonder, but also a
fantastic setting for our a stroll to admire the towering
crater walls. We return to the dirt road traversing the
Mereenie Wilderness Area, where mountain valleys give way
to open plains, before arriving at the Kings Canyon Resort
in the late afternoon. Overnight: Kings
Canyon Resort. Included: Lunch, Refreshments.
Optional: Sounds of Firelight Dinner.
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Rock Carvings
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Sounds of Firelight
Dinner
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| Kings Canyon to Uluru • Day
Six |
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We begin our day with an exploration of the majestic Kings
Canyon, with a choice of activities. The energetic will
find the hike around the Canyon rim a stimulating option,
offering panoramic views and in parts steep climbs. Alternatively,
experience a gentler stroll through the Canyon floor, amid
abundant bird life and ancient cycad plants. Our next stop
is Uluru, and enroute we pass through expansive terrain,
featuring vast salt lakes and the mesa-like formation of
Mt Connor. Arrive Ayers Rock Resort and check into your
hotel. This afternoon we visit the Uluru - Kata
Tjuta Cultural Centre, followed by an exploratory
tour with your guide, of the base of this unique monolith.
The crowning touch to the day is a champagne sunset, featuring
fine Australian foods and sparkling wine. Overnight:
Ayers Rock Resort. Included: Lunch,
Refreshments.
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Wallace Rockhole
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The Rim Walk, Kings
Canyon
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| Kata Tjuta to Alice
Springs • Day Seven |
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An early departure to enjoy the morning solitude and tranquillity
as the subtle colours of another day dawning, wash over
Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Your guide will take
you for an informative walk around the massive domes of
Kata Tjuta, a site of significance to the
local Anangu people. Hear of the geology, history and ecological
significance. We return to the resort in time for lunch
(own expense) before our departure for Alice Springs, where
we arrive late afternoon. Overnight: Alice
Springs. Included: Refreshments..
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Black Flanked Rock
Wallaby
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| Depart Alice Springs • Day Eight
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This morning is free to avail yourself of any last minute
shopping, maybe that last sleep in or even a game of golf
before being transferred to your departure point for your
homeward journey or onto your next adventure
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8 Day The Red Centre
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Twin Share
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Sole Use
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Accommodation
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Departs: Daily upon
arrival (arrival transfer included)
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Low
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High
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Low
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High
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First Class
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Alice Springs Resort Dlx, Kings Canyon
Resort Dlx, Ayers Rock Resort Sails in the Desert
Std
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2970
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3047
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3873
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4029
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Superior
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Alice Springs Resort Sup, Kings Canyon
Resort Std, Ayers Rock Resort Desert Gardens Std
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2770
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2842
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3473
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3621
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Includes: 6 days
touring, 7 nights accommodation, 4 meals, 5 refreshments,
most entry fees, small group (min 2), naturalist tour
guides)
All rates in AUD$ per person. Single travellers must
pay sole use rate -
HIGH SEASON (1 July to 30 November
2008)
LOW SEASON (1 April to 30 June 2008
and 1 December 2008 to 31 March
2009) • Child rates available please
enquire.
Accommodation stated above may be
substituted according to availability
Valid from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009
Tour Features
Day 1 - Arrive Alice Springs
Day 2 - Alice Springs at Leisure
Day 3 - West MacDonnell Ranges
Day 4 - Palm Valley
Day 5 - Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
Day 6 - Kings Canyon to Uluru
Day 7 - Kata Tjuta to Alice
Springs
Day 8 - Depart Alice Springs
What's Included 6 days touring,
4 meals, 5 refreshments, 7 nights accommodation, entry
fees, on board library, naturalist tour guide, small
group (min 2), luxury expedition vehicle.
Departs Daily upon arrival into
Alice springs, for some departures the order of touring
may change, however the inclusions will remain the
same
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