The ultimate Uluṟu and Alice Springs holiday on $150 a day

It’s easy to enjoy the Red Centre on a shoestring budget, and you don’t have to rough it.

With the Northern Territory’s borders reopening and less people on the road, now is the time to journey to the Red Centre. Fuel prices are down and tourism operators are keen for company, so pack your bags and head to the heart of Australia for a budget-friendly holiday.

Day 1 – Alice Springs

Play: It may be one of the most geographically remote towns in Australia but the people of Alice Springs know how to keep you entertained, and many activities are kind on your wallet. Your first stop should be Anzac Hill, a memorial to fallen servicemen and women with fantastic views. It’s easy to reach and the sunsets here are special (and free). You’ll also want to spend time at Alice Springs Desert Park to learn about outback animals; entry costs $37 per adult. To prioritise money on activities and not just food, it’s a good idea to mix DIY meals with dinners out. Alice Springs Brewing Co . is a cool choice. It opened in 2018 and you can enjoy a burger (try the pulled pork) or wood-fired pizza (super cheese, please) for about $20.

Alice Springs from Anzac Hill. (Image: Tourism Australia/Nicholas Kavo)

Stay: You may be on a budget but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few holiday perks, such as glamping. BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park has safari tents sleeping up to four, from $85 per night (minimum two-night stay). Children will love the pool, waterslide and BMX track, while parents will appreciate the camp kitchens, supermarket and access to fuel. Wow the kids by staying on a weekend so you can take advantage of the pancake breakfast held every Sunday.

Pay: $99.50 per person (based on two adults in accommodation)

Day 2 – Alice Springs

Play: Head out into the West MacDonnell Ranges for a morning of wild swimming. Two popular permanent waterholes are Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge, and the cold water offers a refreshing break from the NT’s warm days. Jump Inn Bar & Restaurant is a fun spot for dinner, with retro lounges and a beer garden. A dish from the Mediterranean and Asian menu will set you back about $20.

Driving through West MacDonnell Range National Park. (Image: Tourism NT/Jess Caldwell & Luke Riddle)

Stay: Bed down at Desert Palms Alice Springs . Villas for two start from $145 per night; resort facilities include a pool and licenced mini-mart.

Pay: $92.50 per person

Jump Inn Bar & Restaurant is a fun spot for dinner.

Day 3 – Alice Springs to Kings Canyon

Play: Hit the road early for your next adventure to Kings Canyon, in Watarrka National Park. You’ll be travelling south-west of Alice for about 450km and the easiest route is along the sealed Stuart and Lasseter highways (the other options require a 4WD). Mingle with other travellers over a late lunch at Kings Creek Station; the camel burger will cost about $15. Afterwards, continue up the road to Kings Canyon Resort, where you can catch sunset from a viewing platform and enjoy an al fresco film (for free).

Stay: Kings Canyon Resort has basic lodge rooms with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities for about $155 for two people per night. Take advantage of the resort’s creature comforts, such as the pool, restaurant and bar.

Pay: $92.50 per person

Kings-Canyon-Swimming-pool — Take advantage of the resort’s creature comforts, such as the pool, restaurant and bar.

Day 3 – Kings Canyon to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Play: Wake with the sun to make the most of the many walking trails in Watarrka National Park . Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a popular choice. It’s 6km and takes three to four hours, making it perfect for fit and experienced hikers. Kings Creek Walk is a gentler option and at only 2.6km it will take one hour (return). The creek track is great for families, and is wheelchair-friendly for the first 700 metres. For lunch, call Curtain Springs Wayside Inn to check if they’re serving (they’ll open if traffic warrants it). Expect to spend about $25 on a classic homestead meal, such as steak. You should also grab your three-day Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Pass today (adult $25). Entry fees have been waived for travel until 31 December 2020; book here . Cap off your day by watching the sun set over Uluru.

Curtin Springs Wayside Inn. (Image: Tourism NT/Sarena Hyland)

Stay: When it comes to Uluru accommodation, don’t look past Ayers Rock Campground , part of Ayers Rock Resort. If you don’t have camping gear, you can stay in an air-conditioned cabin (sleeps up to six) with shared bathroom facilities from $179 per cabin per night.

Pay: $92.50 per person (based on two adults in accommodation)

Ayers Rock Resort Campground Cabin — An affordable option at Uluru are the air-conditioned cabins at the Ayers Rock Resort campground.

Day 4 – Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Play: Make the most of your park pass by hitting the trails again, this time in the shadow of Uluru. A favourite is the easy 2km Mala walk to Kantju Gorge, where you’ll come across caves and rock art. Also included in your park pass is entry to Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, home to galleries of Aboriginal art, community-owned shops, and free presentations. While it’s currently closed due to Covid, do call ahead in case it’s re-opened when you visit. A not-to-miss experience is the mesmerising Field of Light Uluru art installation. A huge swathe of desert is covered with 50,000 lights, leaving a lasting impression. Pre-book your tickets (adult $44).

Stay: Return to your two-bedroom cabin at Ayers Rock Campground and whip up an easy meal for dinner.

Pay: $133.50 per person (based on two adults in accommodation)

Day 5 – Uluru to Alice Springs

Play: It’s time to loop back to Alice Springs and, if you leave around breakfast, you can arrive in time for lunch at The Watertank Cafe. Cheers to an awesome, budget-friendly Red Centre trip while you enjoy a salad or focaccia and drink (about $25). Spend your afternoon learning about the town’s origins at Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve (adults $15) and then check out the fossils at the Megafauna Central gallery (free entry).

Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

Stay: Spend your last night in a comfortable and modern serviced apartment at Quest Alice Springs . You can grab a studio with kitchenette and queen bed from $140 per night.

Pay: $110 per person (based on two adults in accommodation)

Day 6 – Depart or explore the NT further

Woman at the lookout at Ormiston Gorge. (Image: Tourism NT/Jess Caldwell & Luke Riddle)

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

Uluṟu and Alice Springs holiday on $150 a day