Parrtjima - This Annual Festival in the Desert will Blow You Away| Australian Traveller

Each April, Parrtjima turns the landscape around Alice Springs (Mparntwe) into a virtual canvas with large-scale light installations that adorn the ancient slopes of the MacDonnell Ranges.

This annual 10-night celebration of Aboriginal art and culture also features performances, talks, films, a meandering six-metre-high puppet, and the Buy Blak Market, as well as nightly projections against the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges. The next Parrtjima: A Festival in Light runs from 4 to 13 April 2025 and will feature the first open-air performance by Darwin Symphony Orchestra. It will be the milestone 10th edition of the festival, so expect an extra-special celebration.

Discover Parrtjima in Alice Springs and expect glowing art, desert beats and serious main character energy under the stars.

The theme of the upcoming festival is Timelessness, a nod to the enduring connection Aboriginal people have to culture, art and stories that span thousands of years. Here’s everything you need to know before you see it with your own eyes.

the MacDonnell Ranges Light Show during the Parrtjima — See nightly projections against the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges. (Image: Parrtjima)

What is Parrtjima?

Since its debut in 2016, visitors from across Australia have been drawn to this celebration of Aboriginal culture, which lights up the night sky above Alice Springs Desert Park (ASDP).

the GUTS dance cultural performance at Parrtjima — Witness empowering cultural performances. (Image: Parrtjima)

Each year the event celebrates the ways in which local artists experiment with styles and mediums. Artworks are curated from submissions from the area’s Aboriginal art centres and independent artists and assessed for cultural appropriateness by the Parrtjima Festival Reference Group, a network of senior Arrernte Elders. The creative team then incorporates the approved artworks into the festival’s program; the paintings are turned into large-scale illuminated installations that light up the desert.

A mother and son experience the Arelhe Urrperle Erth Puppet at Parrtjima 2024 — The giant Arelhe Urrperle Erth Puppet wanders around the festival. (Image: Parrtjima)

Parrtjima (pronounced Par-Chee-ma) means ‘lighting up’ and conveys two meanings: physically illuminating an object with light and ‘lighting up’ as in to shed light and understanding on a subject. The festival is delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company and produced by creative experience design studio Grumpy Sailor.

Opening night at Parrtjima 2024 — Engaging talks and performances are all part of the festival.

What’s the significance of Parrtjima?

Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts AO says the festival offers visitors a unique opportunity to listen, learn and interconnect.

“This is a real opportunity to listen to and learn from some of Australia’s top First Nations voices, and that’s what the spirit of Parrtjima is all about. Listening, learning and interconnecting to better understand each other."

Ms Roberts says that to this day the most wonderful things still happen out of interconnectedness.

“Interconnectedness blankets the wisdom of generations. At Parrtjima, we are reminded by our hosts, the Arrernte people, that culture is everything to experience and absorb."

Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts AO 2024 — Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts AO, speaks of the importance of the festival. (Image: Parrtjima)

What to expect at Parrtjima

The MacDonnell Ranges are usually majestic enough but imagine them brought to life with a spectacular light show that reflects the colours and movement of the planting seasons and kwatye (water).

The lightshow on the MacDonnell Ranges for Parrtjima 2024 — MacDonnell Ranges lights up during the Parrtjima festival. (Image: Parrtjima)

The crowd favourite, Grounded, is a giant, seamless canvas of animated artworks by Central and Western Desert region artists brought to life using the latest technology. It is like a magical carpet spreading across the desert floor that echoes the sand ceremonies enacted seasonally in Aboriginal culture.

Crowds enjoying Grounded at Parrtjima — *Grounded*, is a giant, seamless canvas of animated artworks. (Image: Parrtjima)

One of the newest additions to the program is a large-scale light and art installation called Tjoritja Cockatoos, where you can hear the chatter of black cockatoos as Vanessa Inkamala’s art , in the style of the Hermannsburg School of watercolour, is brought to life through animation and sound.

Tjoritja Cockatoos at Parrtjima 2024 — Vanessa Inkamala’s art is brought to life through animation and sound in Tjoritja Cockatoos. (Image: Parrtjima)

Each year, the festival showcases live music by Aboriginal musicians, free films, performance art, and stories told and shared in and around Todd Mall in central Alice Springs and the Desert Park at the base of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

the Arelhe Urrperle Erth Puppet at Parrtjima 2024 — Arelhe Urrperle is a six-metre-high Erth puppet at Parrtjima. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Children play with the props as part of the Arelhe Urrperle installation. (Image: Parrtjima)

Cultural workshops have also been hosted across the festival, allowing visitors to learn how to make a spear, discover the secrets of the ancient Arrernte language, or create their own artworks and sculptures.

A couple explore the light installation at Parrtjima 2024 — Get up close to the light installations. (Image: Parrtjima)

How to travel to Alice Springs to see Parrtjima

Alice Springs is only a few hours’ flying time from most Australian capital cities. Qantas and Jetstar run daily direct flights from all capital cities (except Perth). Virgin also flies from most capital cities to Alice Springs.

The Stuart Highway is the main road link to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. From Alice Springs to Uluru it is 450 kilometres and Alice Springs to Darwin is 1,500 kilometres.

People gather at the food trucks during Parrtjima 2024 — Gather around for a night filled with art, music and entertainment. (Image: Parrtjima)

Book a bed or pitch a tent in Alice Springs. From motel rooms, campgrounds and B&Bs to hotels and award-winning resorts, there is plenty of accommodation available to suit your budget and taste.

While the festival is free, you will need to register for entry to Parrtjima – A Festival in Light. Registration opens on November 15, 2024 with costed tickets for a special closing weekend performance by Darwin Symphony Orchestra — the first orchestral performance in Parrtjima’s decade-long history also released the same day.

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.

Surrounded by lush forest, a woman cools off in Florence Falls, just one of many incredible things to do in the Northern Territory. — 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.

Buley Rockhole, Litchfield National Park — 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).

A creative moment shared inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing space. — 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.

A bowl of Laksa. — 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.

A closer look at Uluru and uncover its ancient stories, sacred sites, and striking natural beauty – one of the most iconic things to do in the Northern Territory. — 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.

SEIT Outback Australia is a small group touring specialist offering exciting, adventurous, exclusive and specialised iconic, pioneering and cultural touring in the Red Centre of Australia, giving you the time to learn, absorb and relax in the heart of Australia.<br /><br />This innovative tour company focuses on providing clients with the ultimate interpretive touring experiences with a range of products and customised touring itineraries for small groups and bespoke private charters.<br /><br />The company bases its philosophies from the key words of Spirit, Emotion, Intellect and Task (SEIT). — 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.

The Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuta is one of the most awe-inspiring things to do in the Northern Territory, especially at sunrise when the domes glow golden. — 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 .

Soaking in the serenity of Ormiston Gorge, these two travellers enjoy one of the most scenic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Take the plunge at Ormiston Gorge waterhole. (Image: Joshua Griffin Litchfield)

Start planning the NT road trip of a lifetime at northernterritory.com

Parrtjima – this annual festival in the desert will blow your mind