ALICE SPRINGS – THE AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER GUIDE

A hidden bonanza of art Muk Muk Fine Art, Alice Springs, NT Muk Muk Fine Art is tucked away in an old Alice Springs butcher’s shop, and is what McEvoy claims as “the best commercial collection of Indigenous art I’ve ever seen,” scoring it 9. Expect contemporary art from our Outback heartland, from emerging artists through to renowned Indigenous names.

The Outback from a different perspective Hot air ballooning in Central Australia Hot air ballooning over the MacDonnell Ranges at dawn would have to be the ultimate way to see the Outback in all her red rugged glory.

This issue's winning 'Your Shot'  image was taken by Robert McRobbie from Kingsford, NSW. "These brumbies were grazing not far off the road in the MacDonnell Ranges, west of Alice Springs. My family was experiencing Central Australia for the first time and as we were driving along we were ticking off the animals we wanted to see – dingo, kangaroo, emu, camel and brumby. We pulled over to watch these incredible animals and despite the herd being wary of our attention, they stood still for long enough for me to capture several shots.” Shot with Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2, 100-300mm @...

Steve Batten gets snap-happy around the outskirts of Alice Springs and shows why the local andscape is so special. // Steve Batten is a member of our Virtual Internship Program. If you’re a photographer or writer looking to break into travel journalism, we’re here to help you get a leg up. To find out more, email us at   interns@australiantraveller.com    ...

Where is it?  Near Glen Helen Resort, 130km west of Alice Springs on Namatjira Drive How to see it for yourself? The ancient, 600km Finke River rarely flows and is often just a series of waterholes. There’s a permanent one in the gorge at Glen Helen in  West MacDonnell National Park, which is also one of the few points where you can access the river by sealed road. Glen Helen Resort has motel-style accommodation and camping Why I love it “This scene – typical of the country that inspired Albert Namatjira – was shot near Glen Helen. It was one of those rare occasions when the Finke River was flowing...

 Where is it? Alice Springs, NT. One of the few times in life when a 4am wake-up call is welcome. As you drift effortlessly in a basket across the top of the MacDonnell ranges, you’ll be able to spot big red kangaroos bounding across the landscape. Easily the best way to take in the enormity of the Australian outback, this is a trip you’ll never forget.

Where is it? Central Australia, from Alice Springs Telegraph Station to the summit of Mount Sonder A gruelling 12-stage hike through the geographic heart of Australia, the Larapinta Trail stretches 233km along the West MacDonnell Ranges. It’s not a trek for the faint hearted but the Trail’s website is one of the best for planning a hike like this. It gives tips on safety, organising food, water and equipment, and tells how to tackle the trail. It even suggests tour operators who can guide you on the walk if doing it yourself sounds too difficult....

Every Australian feels the pull of the Red Centre, yet many of us leave it until we retire to visit. There are so many active adventures on offer, it pays to get out there sooner. While fighting fit, make sure the action-packed 200km-long West MacDonnell Ranges is on your bucket list. For everyone: A real Red Centre highlight is swimming in the gorges of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Must-dip spots include Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge. The Simpson Gap bike path is a pleasant, easy ride best enjoyed between April and October, when days are cooler – no matter how fit...

Every Australian feels the pull of the Red Centre, yet many of us leave it until we retire to visit. There are so many active adventures on offer, it pays to get out there sooner. It pays to go to Kata Tjuta, located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, 460km south-west of Alice Springs, while you're fighting fit.  For everyone: Kata Tjuta’s 36 domes form the region known for many years by white Australians as the Olgas. Kata Tjuta means “many heads” in the Pitjantjatjara language. While some areas here are out of bounds because it is a sacred site, there are two marked...

Every Australian feels the pull of the Red Centre, yet many of us leave it until we retire to visit. There are so many active adventures on offer, it pays to get out there sooner. Uluru, located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, 460km south-west of Alice Springs, is best enjoyed while you’re fighting fit. For everyone: A sunset drink overlooking Uluru is a right of passage for every Australian. APT (www.aptouring.com.au) offers a half-day tour including the base walk and sunset drinks from $115 per person. For more adventure, take a 2.5hr Camel to Sunset camel-train tour around the Rock (www.ananguwaai.com.au), from $99 per...

Anita Kelman camps out under the stars at Kings Creek Station and hikes Kings Canyon’s rim. Gazing down from a plane high above Central Australia, all appears orange-bronze and desert flat. But once on the ground, the landscape evolves to become vividly varied. Many gather at Uluru and her neighbour Kata Tjuta. However my journey is to another geological gem of the Northern Territory. Situated approximately 350 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs is Watarrka National Park, home to Kings Canyon. Arriving just before dusk by 4WD, our outback campsite at Kings Creek Station is dusty and swarming with busy Herculean...

It’s grubs for dinner and honey ants for dessert as Ellen Hill samples her way through the Alice Springs Desert Park, a place where the hidden secrets of bush tucker and outback medicine are within easy reach. If only you knew where to look . . There underground, nestled like silkworms in a mulberry leaf, is the witchetty grub. All fat and creamy, its hidden almond-flavoured ooze is rich with protein goodness. At eye level there’s a Grevillea bloom, pregnant with syrupy nectar, already dripping its golden sweetness on your fingers. The air hangs heavy with the heady odour of...

In dreaming up our ideal cover for this issue, we wanted to feature two icons of the outback: Uluru and, if possible, a McLeod’s Daughter. So when the delightful Zoe Naylor agreed to come on board to model for our little desert adventure, it really was a dream come true. The lackadaisical Bob Barker from Roving Eye immediately signed up to reprise his role as photographer (he shot last year's super-successful outback cover), so it was left to AT Art Director Jane Abma and myself to round out the team, before it was off to the Red Centre! To be...