Palm Valley, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen ResortDay1

Depart Alice Springs at 7.00 am to commence your journey across the outback through the beautiful MacDonnell Ranges. The first highlight visited will be Palm Valley where you will see ancient cycad palms, rock pools and only accessible by 4WD vehicle – walk, photograph and explore. Travel to the historic Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission Precinct for lunch and a guided walk including visits to the Albert Namatjira Art Gallery and Museum. Continue to Ormiston Gorge where the opportunity arises to either take a short walk along the Larapinta Trail or a swim in a rock pool. Travel to Glen Helen Resort with its backdrop of the magnificent gorge.

• Palm Valley: The valley is indicative of central Australia’s tropical past where Palm Valley and the close surrounding area is the only place known in Central Australia where the Red Cabbage Palms (Livistona mariae) survive. It is within the Finke Gorge National Park and is only accessible by 4WD.

• Ormiston Gorge: Massive geological forces created the towering red walls and landforms that showcase Ormiston Gorge and Pound, located within the West MacDonnell National Park, 135 kilometres west of Alice Springs.       The Gorge has a near-permanent waterhole, estimated to be up to 14 metres deep at its southern end.       The area contains an interesting variety of native fauna and flora including a number of relict (or relic) plant species remaining from a tropical past.

• Glen Helen Resort: in West MacDonnell National Park offers camping, backpacker and motel accommodation and the Namatjira Gallery Restaurant – an a la carte dining experience in an outback homestead environment.

• Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission Precinct: It was established as an Aboriginal mission in 1877 by two Lutheran missionaries of the Hermannsburg Mission from Germany. The mission land was handed over to traditional ownership in 1982. The Hermannsburg Historic Precinct was included on the Australian National Heritage List in April 2006.^[2] Much of the historic township is now protected by the National Trust.

• Albert Namatjira Art Gallery and Museum: Is a feature gallery within the Araluen Arts Centre and is dedicated to showcasing Aboriginal art from Central Australia. This gallery offers the viewer a unique insight into the diversity, vitality, evolution and innovation of Aboriginal art from this region.

Meals:

Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner

Accommodation:

Glen Helen Resort – outback cabin 3 star

Gosses Bluff, The Mereenie Track, Kings Canyon ResortDay2

Travel west through the MacDonnell Ranges stop at a vantage point to view a comet crater, Gosses Bluff that is one of the world’s great impact sites equivalent to many thousands of atomic bombs. Detour for a close up look and photograph. Be on the look out for wildlife – kangaroos, emus, camels, donkeys, horses, cattle, eagles, kites etc. Stop at ‘The Jump Up’ where the inland sea once met the land of the outback millions of years ago. Photograph the George Gill Range at sunset from your luxury accommodation.

• Gosses Bluff: Known as Comet Crater, is thought to be the eroded remnant of an impact crater and is located near the centre of Australia, about 175km west of Alice Springs. With most other impact craters the whole formation is visible, but at Gosses Bluff the outer wall has been removed by erosion leaving only the former central area that forms a pound surrounded by a circular mountain range.       It is also a sacred site, known as Tnorala, to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people.

• The Mereenie Track: Provides for an alternative scenic route from Alice Springs to Watarrka (Kings Canyon) and Uluru (Ayers Rock) via the Western Macs. The loop is recommended for 4×4 as weather conditions make the road conditions difficult for standard vehicles.

• Kings Canyon Resort: Is the oasis in the outback for those who would rather explore the area from a comfortable base. Retreat to the resort after an active day of hiking through the rugged terrain of the Watarrka National Park.

• The Jump Up: Once the southern coastline of Australia, this is where the inland sea met the outback, millions of years ago.       This is a perfect photograph opportunity of the area.

• The George Gill Range: The George Gill Range is located southwest of the Greater MacDonnell Ranges and 215 km west south west of Alice Springs. The Range is a large block of sandstone with a spectacular canyon (Watarrka or Kings Canyon) rising up to 270 m from Kings Creek on its western end.

Meals:

Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner

Accommodation:

Kings Canyon Resort – 4 star resort

Rim Walk, Kings Creek & Curtin Springs Stations, Ayers Rock ResortDay3

Up early for a sunrise, self-guided walk around the canyon rim, which is a breathtaking, and invigorating experience. Travel to Kings Creek Station for lunch, maybe a camel burger, here you can have a ride on a quad bike, camel or helicopter flight – the choice is yours. Journey towards Uluru, you can see the majestic desert oaks, unusual Attila (Mount Conner) and one of Australia’s largest salt lakes (Lake Amadeus). Afternoon tea will be at Curtin Springs Station, a unique experience! The excitement builds as you travel towards Uluru and with a stop to climb a sand dune to get the magnificent image of this icon as dusk approaches. Arrive at Ayers Rock Resort at 6.00 pm approximately concluding your Outback Connection – enjoy the remainder of your holiday.

• Rim Walk: The Rim Walk begins with a strenuous steep climb ascending to the top of the canyon and following the rim around before descending to the car park. About half way along is the Garden of Eden, a beautiful area of cool waterholes and river vegetation.

• Kings Creek: was established in 1982 by Ian and Lyn Conway. The station lies 36 kilometres from the magnificent Kings Canyon (Watarrka) and is set amongst majestic desert oaks. The Station is a working cattle/camel station with facilities for camping, accommodation and an opportunity to experience the outback either by quad bike (4 wheel motorbike), helicopter or camel. The station is the largest exporter of wild camels in Australia and sells camels for live export, live domestic sales and meat.

• Attila: Mt Conner (Attila) is a huge mesa formation, commonly mistaken for Uluru at a distance. It is situated in picturesque salt pan dune, and Spinifex country.

• Lake Amadeus: is a large salt lake in the southwest corner of Australia‘s Northern Territory, about 50 km north of Uluru. Lake Amadeus is 180 km long and 10 km wide, making it the largest salt lake in the Northern Territory. It contains up to 600 million tonnes of salt; however, harvesting it has not proved viable, owing to its remote location.
• Curtin Springs: is a working cattle station owned and operated by the Severin family. The family took over the pastoral lease in1956 and still live on and run the station today. The family extend the unique hospitality that has made them a legend in the NT, Peter Severin opened his homestead as a key stop for passing travellers on their way to Ayers Rock.

Meals:

Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon Tea