Receive a free flight to Alice Springs when you book one of these holiday packages before 30 November 2026.
From its ochre-hued dust and striking geology to exceptionally dark skies and artforms that hum with 40,000 years of Arrernte culture, the Red Centre is unlike anywhere else on the planet. It touches all who are lucky enough to visit – whether you are watching the rosy glow of Uluṟu at sunrise on the multi-day Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, road tripping to the mighty ridges of Kings Canyon or soaking up the energy at thriving local festivals.
Thanks to a new tourism campaign from Northern Territory holiday specialist NT Now, travellers are now eligible to claim a free flight to Alice Springs/Mparntwe up to the value of $750 per person, making the magic of the Red Centre more accessible. The catch? You must book one of NT Now’s select travel and accommodation packages by the end of November 2026. The offer is valid for travel between 1 August 2026 and 31 January 2027.
If the Red Centre has been sitting on your travel wishlist, now’s the time to make it happen. Just be speedy – the number of fly-free offers is limited.
What packages are available?
Discover the Red Centre on two wheels with an Outback Cycling tour.
Spanning road trips and art festivals to iconic landscapes and stargazing, there are 23 NT Now packages that are eligible for a free flight to Alice Springs. Starting from $699 per person and ranging from four to seven nights, there are options to suit all budgets and interests.
The packages include accommodation, with most also offering complimentary guided tours and unique experiences at some of the Red Centre’s most extraordinary locations.
Eligible packages include (but not limited to)
Best of Red Centre Explorer, $3589: A six-night journey ticking off the highlights of Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluṟu, as well as the enchanting Field of Light. Highlights include a scenic flight over Kings Canyon Rim, Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience and Sounds of Silence dinner.
West MacDonnell Ranges Wildlife and Nature Explorer, $1379: On this four-night trip, guests experience the magical desert on horseback, take a guided tour of the West Macdonnell Ranges’ dramatic gorges and waterholes, and get up close to wildlife at the Desert Park and Reptile Centre.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
Some packages include a hot air balloon ride.
Immerse yourself in the rich artistic traditions of the Arrernte people.
Dark skies make Alice Springs and its surrounds an incredible place for stargazing.
Stargazing and Dark Skies, $1779: This four-night adventure includes a Spirit of the Outback stargazing dinner, hot air balloon flight, sunset watercolour painting class at Simpsons Gap and nocturnal experience at Desert Park.
Desert Mob Art Festival 2026, $1719: A four-night journey spotlighting the Red Centre’s incredible Indigenous arts and culture. Includes car hire, arts centre and galleries tour, as well as a guided tour through the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges.
Alice Springs History Discovery, $699: Four nights of comfortable apartment accommodation, a historical Alice Springs day tour and return airport transfers are included in this four-night package.
Luxury at Longitude with Alice Springs, $6849: This four-night trip includes two nights at one of Australia’s most exclusive luxury lodge accommodations – Longitude 131°, where refinement meets the wilderness. Includes car hire, sunset watercolour class at Simpsons Gap and Desert Park entry.
How to claim
The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a popular activity in the Red Centre.
To receive your flight credit, simply head to NT Now’s Fly Free to Alice Springs page and book one of the holiday packages listed on the page. Once you’ve booked, you will receive a credit equal to the lowest available inbound economy airfare to Alice Springs at the time of booking – up to $750 per person.
This free flight promotion is only eligible for new bookings made before 30 November 2026, for travel between 1 August 2026 and 31 January 2027.
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
Summer transforms the Northern Territory into a lush paradise of colour and life, as a visit during the ‘low-season’ reveals secrets the locals willingly share.
Waterlilies bloom, floodplains are alive with birdlife, waterfalls are gushing, and everywhere the green is dazzling. Summer in the Top End and the Red Centre is a kaleidoscope of unexpected wonders that delight and surprise visitors. Of course, the locals know only too well that the Northern Territory low season is often the best time to see and experience this amazing part of Australia.
Here are some of the reasons why savvy travellers – avoiding the crowds – are discovering a new dimension to the Territory. Remember that you’ll need a Parks Pass to visit national parks.
1. Take a dip in the Florence Falls waterhole
Wander through savanna woodland and monsoon forest to discover the perfect place to cool off – the waterhole at the base of spectacular Florence Falls in the magnificent Litchfield National Park, just 90 minutes’ drive from Darwin. The falls flow year-round but are most spectacular during the summer. Camping is available nearby but bookings are essential and must be made online before you visit.
Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls. (Image: Joshua Griffin)
2. Wind down at Buley Rock Hole
Another popular local swimming spot in Litchfield National Park is Buley Rock Hole, open year-round. This is a great place to wind down after exploring everything the park has to offer, including towering termite mounds. Wade through the rock pools, soak up the scenic bush or just lie back and relax as the cool water rolls over you.
Let the cool water wash over you. (Image: Tourism Australia)
3. Tour the Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands, a scenic 80km flight from Darwin across the narrow Clarence and Dundas Straits, reveal a different side to the Territory, with their own distinctive culture. Take a day tour with Tiwi by Design to visit Bathurst Island and learn about creation stories, the Mission days, World War II history and the islanders’ obsession with AFL!
Take a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of Tiwi Design’s screen-printing workshop and pick up a great souvenir in the form of art. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi designs and a wide range of work including carvings, paintings, pottery, printmaking, bark paintings and tunga (bark baskets).
Take a peek inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing studio. (Image: Tourism NT)
4. Dine in Darwin
Foodies are spoilt for choice in multi-cultural Darwin. Try Sri Lankan flavours at Ella by Minoli, where Masterchef contestant Minoli De Silva creates delectable dishes, or head to Charlie’s of Darwin for gin-tasting, cocktails and more. Bowls of fragrant laksa, excellent coffee, fresh vegetables and authentic crafts are all part of a weekend visit to Darwin’s Parap Markets, Rapid Creek Markets and the Nightcliff Markets.
Prefer to catch your own dinner? Book a Top End fishing charter to bag a barramundi – and from October register for the annual Million Dollar Fish competition. Hooking one of the tagged barra released each year in waterways across the Territory could win you up to $1 million.
Eat your way through multicultural Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT)
5. Up close with Uluṟu
The magnificent monolith Uluṟu is even more magical when the summer rains fall. When it rains on The Rock, the locals come out to watch – consider yourself lucky if that happens when you visit. Waterfalls cascading off the sides of Uluṟu is a sight that relatively few tourists see.
There’s so much to do at Uluṟu, from guided walks to learn the stories of the Aṉangu people and the ancient landscape they live in to scenic flights for a bird’s-eye view or a leisurely walk around the base of Uluṟu. Book ahead to spend the evening wandering through the Field of Light installation by Bruce Munro.
Discover the details that make Uluṟu truly sacred. (Image: Tourism NT)
6. Drive the Red Centre Way
From Alice Springs, take an epic road trip along the Red Centre Way, taking in Uluru and Watarrka National Park, home to the magnificent Kings Canyon. Allow at least a week to drive through the red heart of Australia by 4WD, a little longer on the sealed road by 2WD vehicle, travelling through ochre deserts, palm-lined valleys and dramatic gorges. Stop off at waterholes for a refreshing dip along the way.
Kings Canyon offers hiking options for all levels of fitness, from the three-hour Rim Walk atop soaring sandstone walls to the gentler Kings Creek Walk. Either way, you’ll have breathtaking views.
Drive through Australia’s heart. (Image: Outback Australia Tours)
7. Take a walk at Kata Tjuṯa
Head out early to tackle the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuṯa. This natural wonder, also known as The Olgas, is a labyrinth of soaring ochre domes that glow golden at sunrise and sunset (the walk may be closed during the middle of the day as temperatures rise).
Walking trails range from easy to longer, more difficult tracks. At the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area, take in the panoramic view of the domes. The longest of the trails is the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7.4km circuit that winds between the domes and through creek beds. It’s moderately difficult and steep in places, but offers stunning views – and occasional encounters with kangaroos.
Step into the golden light of Kata Tjuṯa. (Image: Tourism NT)
8. Explore Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges
Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park lies 135km west of Alice Springs, with many fascinating natural features to beguile visitors. The ‘West Macs’ formations include chasms, gorges and waterholes – take your swimsuit for a dip at Ormiston Gorge waterhole, open year-round. The Ormiston Pound Walk is a three to four-hour circuit that leaves from the visitor centre and loops back along the gorge via the main waterhole. Other places of interest in the park include Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Glen Helen.
Take the plunge at Ormiston Gorge waterhole. (Image: Joshua Griffin Litchfield)
