Page 286 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

284  NOR THERN TERRIT OR Y

Exploring the Red Centre

The Red Centre’s biggest draw is its stunning array of natural
features. Alice Springs is the main city, with other towns at
Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort) and Tennant Creek. The best time
to travel is from April to October, thus avoiding the intense
summer heat. The MacDonnell Ranges run like a
huge spine on either side of Alice Katherine
Springs; elsewhere the land is largely
flat, formed by millions of years of Kalkarindji C
erosion, and covered by spinifex Cattle
tt tl l
Cattle
grasslands. The region’s gorges BUCHANAN HWY
CHANA
CH H N
have been carved out by rivers,
many of which flow only once
or twice a year, soaking the Halls Creek
surrounding desert plains. Lajamanu
Winnecke
ck
Wi
W
c
T a n a m i
D e s e r t
Rabbit Flat
Lake
Surprise
The Granites

Mount Theo
Lake White 583m

The striking Olga Gorge in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Yuendumu
Lake
Mackay
Getting Around Central Mount Wedge
1094m Tilmouth
There is a wide range of transport options Papunya Well
available in central Australia. Domestic Aboriginal Community
airports serve Alice Springs and Yulara. Mount Liebig
1274m
Overland, coaches connect the region Lake Ormiston Gorge
with all the state capital cities, and the Macdonald M A C D O N N E L L
famous Ghan railway (see p287)operates
between Darwin, Alice Springs and
Adelaide. The most popular way to explore Lake KING’S CANYON National Park
Finke Gorge
the region, however, is by car, and there Neale
are many car rental companies in the area. Watarrka
Standard vehicles are adequate for most National Park
journeys, but 4WD is advisable for off-road Kaltukatjara Community
(Docker River)
travel. Alternatively, many guided tours are WY
W
also available. The Stuart Hwy is the main Yulara LASSETER HWY Imanpa
LASS TER
TE E
L S
road running through the area, linking Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) Ulur _
_
_
Ulur
Uluru (Ayers Rock)u (Ayers Rock)u (Ayers Rock)
Port Augusta in South Australia with ULURU-KATA TJUTA 867m
NATIONAL PARK
Darwin in the north. Alice Springs itself
has taxis, bike hire and a town bus service,
but the relatively short distances within
the city also make walking popular.