A 6-day Red Centre road trip fit for a queen

Buckle up, queens! Nothing makes you feel the freedom to be yourself, like a road trip in the Red Centre. Gas up your tour bus, hang up those heels, and get ready to experience a place like no other.

Touchdown in Alice Springs (Mpwarnte)

Welcome to the Red Centre! Alice Springs is the perfect home base to explore—and girl, do we have some exploring to do. Take it easy this afternoon and check into Crowne Plaza Lasseters, take a dip in the pool and be sure to get an early night. We’re getting up early tomorrow morning!

Hot air balloon adventure

Start your day bright and early, watching the dazzling colours of the desert come to life with sunrise ballooning. Float high above the desert and get a glimpse of the Country you’re about to explore. As the breeze catches your hair in that morning light, don’t forget to take advantage of the perfect photo op. It doesn’t get more fabulous than this… or does it? You’ll just have to wait and see.

Once you’ve touched down to solid ground, spend the rest of the day getting to know Alice Springs a little better; more than the gateway to the Red Centre, Alice has a vibrant culture and arts scene. Stop into The Bakery for a quick refuel, their sandwiches are to die for and you can even pick up a sweet treat too. Go on, you deserve it.

Spend your afternoon soaking up some of Central Australia’s unique art scene. Tangentyere Gallery is an Aboriginal owned studio, gallery and outreach program that supports emerging and established artists in the surrounding areas. If you’re interested in Aboriginal art, or would like to learn more, Tangentyere Gallery can’t be missed! Our next stop is the Araluen Arts Centre, where you’ll find a series of art gallery spaces and a theatre, presenting an ever-changing program of exhibitions, performances, and cinema. It’s an amazing representation of the diverse local creative landscape.

Exploring the West MacDonnell National Park/Tjoritja on the way to Kings Canyon

(Alice Springs to Kings Canyon - 366 km via the Mereenie Loop)

Alright, it’s time to get this show on the road. Begin your day with a coffee at The Goods Cafe, they’re the best in town and are open early for jet-setters like us! If you’re feeling peckish, you have to try their toast with toppings—we love the white bean, lemon, chilli, and feta.

Hang your fluffy dice, turn up those road trip tunes, and get ready to explore the West Macs. We recommend booking a 4WD in advance, for a seamless start to your adventure. It's all about the journey, darling, and for that, you need the perfect ride!

Our first stop is Simpsons Gap in West MacDonnell National Park, which is an easy 25 minute drive from town. Known as Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte people, this spiritually significant site is home to a group of giant goanna ancestors. Take an easy stroll down the walking paths to take a closer look at this unique natural wonder. If you visit at dusk or dawn, keep an eye out for the iconic black-footed rock wallabies that inhabit the rocky slopes.

Swimming isn’t permitted at Simpsons Gap, but just over an hour away, you can stop into Ellery Creek Big Hole or Ormiston Gorge for a quick dip and a picnic before we hit the tarmac! Next stop: Kings Canyon. Cruise along the Mereenie Loop* for a beautiful drive meandering through the diverse landscape and see all the brilliant shades of the Red Centre.

*The Mereenie Loop is unsealed, often corrugated, this stretch has no facilities or fuel stops and is recommended for four wheel drive vehicles only. You’ll also need a permit to travel, as this road crosses Aboriginal land. You can grab one from the Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre, Hermannsburg general store or from the Kings Canyon resort reception desk. If you don’t have a 4WD head back to Alice Springs and through to Kings Canyon via the sealed route.

Discovery Resorts, Kings Canyon is the perfect home base when exploring this spectacular area. They offer a range of accommodation options, but you can bet we’ll be opting to dial up the fabulousness with a glamping tent, fit for a queen. Before you get some beauty sleep, take a short walk to see Bruce Munro’s Light-Towers, an immersive sound and light installation that will offer a glimpse of the magic you’ll see over the next few days.

Exploring Kings Canyon, Watarrka National Park

Rise and shine! Today’s the day we’ll explore one of the most stunning destinations the Territory has to offer. You have just one choice: will you get up close and personal with a self-guided hike at Kings Canyon, or hit the skies for a birdseye view of the magnificent landscapes below? If it were up to us, we’d stay an extra day and do both!

If you’re setting out on foot, the most popular trail, the Rim Walk, starts with a steep but relatively short climb that continues on to the trail with spectacular panoramic views at every turn. Head up at dawn to avoid the desert heat and enjoy the most fabulous sunrise you’ll ever see! You’ll want to bring an extra roll of film for this walk.

For those of us who prefer to be chauffeured, elevate (get it?) your game with a helicopter ride over Kings Canyon—or as we sometimes like to call it, Kings, Queens, and Everything-in-Between Canyon. Get ready to take centre stage, queens!

After a big day of exploring, you’ll be ready for a truly unique dining experience: dinner with the stars! Sorry, we should say dinner underthe stars. Back at Discovery Resorts, you can book this once-in-a-lifetime dining experience in advance, so all you have to do is turn up serving your fiercest look!

Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve (Wurre)

(Kings Canyon – Rainbow Valley (279km) – Alice Springs (105km)

It’s time to begin our journey back but not before stopping into one last spot. From Kings Canyon, if you’re in a 4WD take the ‘short cut’ back to Alice Springs via the Ernest Giles Track, an adventurers dream *. The track connects the Lutitja Road on the west and the Stuart Highway on the east. Once on the highway, turn into Rainbow Valley.

*The Ernest Giles Track is 100km of unsealed red dirt. You’ll need a 4WD for this track. If you’re in a 2WD, continue on the sealed highway back to Alice Springs.

The beautiful Rainbow Valley, best accessed via 4WD is known for its striking sandstone cliffs. Time your trip for the late afternoon, as the sun casts the spotlight on this incredible natural wonder, making its characteristic vibrant colours even more vivid. Rainbow by name, rainbow by nature!

Once you’ve soaked up all this natural beauty, hop back in the car for a short drive back to Alice Springs. Back where it all started, now’s the time to sit back, gaze at the stars, and reminisce about your Red Centre adventure.

fabALICE Festival

Time your trip just right, and you can stay a little longer to slay the days away at fabALICE, a celebration of drag, comedy, cabaret, and lots of glitter! The annual four day event happens every March with free and ticketed events all around Alice. Relax and enjoy the show or lace up your dancing shoes and get back out there!