Planning trip to Red Center.

there is a free book availsble that details all the places to go and all neccessary contacts. the first stop should be the visitor centre as there is no end to the info available there. Plenty of must see - east and west macdonalds - palm vally the rock etc etc. Dont do what I did and not leave yourself enough time

Great part of OZ. You can easily spend several weeks exploring the Centre. I agree with Daveo's comments about the Visitor Information Centre in Alice - very helpful. Before then check out the NT Tourist Info website - don't know its URL but Google will.
A couple of particlar recommendations: Goss Bluff on the Mareenie Loop(spelling?) west of Alice, Chambers Pillar, and if you want to venture a bit further south, Dalhousie Springs on the western edge of the Simpson Desert and Painted Desert, west of Oodnadatta in northern SA.

Graham P.

Many different options.
Things to consider.
1. Your transport. 4wd? well setup?
2. Accomodation. Tent, camper ect ect.
3. What you like to see. Can be civilised or very remote.
4. Route (approx) you are considering.
5. Time available. We did Bris-Cntr-Bris in 03. Six weeks too short.

Best part you have time to plan.

Regards

Graham,
the Hema map 'The Red Centre" is a good place to start. The whole place is worth seeing - just being there is an amazing experience. Take time to experience the ranges, desert country etc as well as the tourist attractions - Uluru/Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon (Watarrka NP), Palm Valley, the various gorges in the West and East MacDonnells.

Have you read the treknotes and region info at ExplorOz - If not there are heaps of treknotes and information for the entire region. See the Red Centre region & trek information.

Hi Graham, we were in Alice in June and it was fantastic. If you're inclinded to stay in a Caravan Park, we stayed at the MacDonnel Ranges CP and it was great. Unfortunately due to the fact that we have small children we were unable to do the sunrise balloon flight, but that's something that I've been told is fantastic and intend to do on a return visit. As mentioned both the East and West MacDonell Ranges are beautiful and if you can visit Palm Valley I would strongly reccommend it - I thought it was a really beautiful place, I also enjoyed the visit out to the old Telegraph Station and also to Hermansberg, but there was so much we didn't see. I thought Alice was a great place and I can't wait to get back there again...

cheers

Lyn

Hi Graham, did similar in '02. Mt Ebenezer R/H on the way to Uluru is a good place to buy paintings and the like, a lot cheaper then Alice or the Rock.
Will

You started me reminiscing about our recent trip, and here are my thoughts-

The pople we met stick in my mind as much as perhaps more than the places- a young Finnish couple Parsi and Jenni at Curtin Springs so awestruck by the outback. Another couple who have inspired us to take two years off and see Oz.

Sully at Birdsville Caravan Park, a bloody great Aussie character, WWII vet and a true bushie and a gentleman. Ruth and Ian at Birsville, and countless others.

Since it was our first trip and we covered so much of outback QLD and SA, we wanted to be sure we saw the main attaractions such as Uluru and Kata Tjuta, but to be honest Uluru would be a hell of a lot better if it wasn't such as tourist attraction, still don't miss it. Kata Tjuta (Olgas) is way better- do the Valley of the Winds walk!

Rainbow Valley, Chambers Pillar etc, Doi the Old Ghan to Finke from Alice too, well worth it. We didnt get to see Kings Canyon etc and we sure missed something there but we will get back there.

Having listed all of those places, a word of advice, we found the most enjoyable thisng was to go into every country pub and remote store (like Maryvale) we could because you get to speak to the locals and that is great.

David O

You can't go wrong around the Alice, but as I see it on the map you have one hell of a drive to and from the region ! (it's something like 1600km just to Birdsville). Therefore, the biggest issue is QUALITY TIME as you go. It could turn into a real pain in the date if you try and cover too much territory. A run out along the trail to Glen Helen, with all the stops in between, plus a scoot around to Palm Valley and Kings Canyon possibly, with quality time at all camps would be about it for me. Putting some in-town time into the Alice itself, that might be it for 4 weeks with the long trip to and fro....just my thoughts. If they have plenty of rain over the winter, that region is a just like a botanic garden in September - the flowers on the ground and the shrubs can be wonderful.

Graham,

We spent a week in Alice last year and it was nowhere near enough. We based at Mac Ranges CP, which has plenty for the kids, at least during school hols, and did day trips from there.

We had one day in town, another doing a loop out through the East Mac's and another doing the stuff close to Alice in the West Macs plus some time just for R&R in the CP. We had had a bit of trip getting to Alice, as you will. We then left Alice and travelled west. Because we had already seen the gorges close to Alice we could just speed on by and pick up our first stop about 2.5hrs west. We then stopped in to many, but not all, of the spots heading west and south. It was late in the day byt we camped at Palm Valley. Up early and a walk through the valley and then on to Hermansberg and Kings Canyon via Mereenie, again arriving late. We had 2 nights there before moving on to the Rock. Sorry but I can't recommend the camp ground at Yulara. Too many bus groups who make a lot of noise and management weren't prepared to do anything about it when we complained.

We had seen Chambers Pillar on the way to Alice, it is well worth a visit but it could be difficult with a caravan. Can be done as a day trip from Alice.

That was basically our two weeks in the Centre. We felt a bit rushed but had a pretty good look around.

I'd guess, coming from Gladstone and only having 4 weeks you might get a little more time in the Centre than we did but not much.

Still it is worth the effort.

Duncs