The experts have spoken; this is the must-do experience in Australia next year.    

Every year, the travel tastemakers at Lonely Planet curate 25 must-visit destinations and 25 must-do experiences from around the world for their hotlist. The Best in Travel 2027 book puts places on the map and scenes on the radar – and the new edition features an iconically Australian experience.  

Where are we heading in 2027?  

Out of all the extraordinary experiences in the world – the Antarctica polar plunge, the Costa Rica cloud forest, the Tanzania safari trek – a cultural immersion in Australia has made the Top 25. So which Aussie experience has been given the Lonely Planet guernsey?  

Drumroll please… It is the Northern Territory’s Red Centre arts scene.   

Ah yes, ‘Immersing Yourself in Art in the Red Centre’ is a must-do activity in 2027, according to Lonely Planet’s Destination Editor for Oceania, Jessica Lockhart, who describes Mparntwe (Alice Springs) as “a Red Centre creative hub" with “ethereal artwork in an ancient landscape." 

Top of the list  

To experience the art scene in all its glory, Lockhart recommends doing a watercolour painting class with Anna Dakin at Art Tours of Australia. The intimate tour takes small groups to Simpson’s Gap – a place that Albert Namatjira was inspired to capture in his work – and gives visitors the opportunity to learn watercolour techniques and to create a piece of art. Sitting in the sandy riverbed of the gap as the sun sets and the light hits the ranges is a moment worth capturing (or attempting to capture).   

In the town of Alice Springs, we are encouraged to visit the Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre, where the descendants of Albert Namatjira keep his legacy alive and continue to paint in the ‘Hermannsburg School’ style. The artists work on site, Monday to Thursday between 10am to 3pm, giving us the opportunity to see their craft in action.  

Further south of Alice Springs, the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park offers a new experience telling an ancient story: a drone show called Wintjiri Wiṟu, which means ‘beautiful view out to the horizon’ in the Aṉangu language. The night-time show is followed by a dawn experience, Sunrise Journeys, which Lockhart says is her favourite. “The artwork and music of four Aṉangu artists is projected onto the surrounding trees and sand," she writes in Best in Travel 2027. “As the sun breaks over the horizon, I feel like I have a better understanding of how the environment is seen through Aṉangu eyes."  

Even more to explore  

With 65,000 years of living culture and the highest concentration of Aboriginal Art Centres in Australia, the Northern Territory’s epicentre (or epic-centre, as I’ve been calling it) is a worthy inclusion in the Lonely Planet’s guide. And there are so many other experiences to add to your to-do list.  

Desert Mob is the region’s oldest Aboriginal art festival, drawing crowds to the Red Centre for 35 years. “It’s such a special time when the artists come together and see their work on the walls at Desert Mob. This is what we look forward to most," says co-curator Aspen Beattie, who has worked on the exhibition for the past four years with fellow curator Hettie Perkins. “As well as the exhibition, we have artist talks, workshops and the art market."  

Fair warning: the art market is the highlight of the year for many locals and art aficionados – the talent, the beauty, the energy! – so arrive early and come prepared. Our advice is to see the exhibition first and take note of your favourite art centres, then head straight to their stall to snag a piece at the market.  

Held in spring, Desert Mob also coincides with the Vincent Lingiari Art Award [VLAA], honouring Mr Lingiari, the Land Rights movement, and the power of art in politics. “As an Aboriginal woman myself – I’m Warumungu, Luritja – this exhibition is really amazing," says curator Kelli Cole. “There are so many diverse works, from painting to sculpture and soft sculpture. This year we’ve had so much water in Alice Springs – our rivers have been flooding – and there are 10 paintings alone in an exhibition of 56, that represent water." 

Year-round magic 

When it comes to art centres and galleries, Alice Springs puts the ‘hot’ in ‘hot spot.’ These spaces are so much more than showrooms; they are hubs for community and connection, fire-starters for creativity and holders of living history.  

At the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists studio, Aboriginal artists living with a disability use art to share stories and communicate with the world. Interestingly, two of the studio members – Lizzie Trew and Billy Tjampitjinpa Kenda – often feature aliens and flying saucers in their work. For Lizzie, the aliens are self-portraits. And for Billy, they are memories passed down from his grandparents. For all of us, the extraterrestrial works are a must-see.  

Likewise, the soft sculptures at Tjanpi Desert Weavers are a sight to behold. From camp dogs to buffalo, and camels to echidnas, the colourful woven pieces are full of character and culture. Tjanpi represents over 400 artists from 26 communities, and the gallery in Alice Springs showcases an ever-changing selection of their work.  

Mbantua Gallery has been partnering with Aboriginal artists and championing their talents for 40 years. “We started out as a small gallery and we evolved to be a cultural centre," says founder and CEO Tim Jennings, who lights up when he talks about spending time with the artists of Utopia, a community north of Alice Springs. “When I look at these paintings, I don’t just see the art, I see the artist, their family and their stories."  

Aboriginal peoples are the world’s first storytellers, and the Red Centre is a remarkable place to immerse yourself in their stories. Get amongst it.