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Rail

The Ghan & Red Center Heartlands

Book Now 6 days Adelaide to Ayers Rock
from $1,640 per person based on double occupancy

Travel onboard The Ghan for an unforgettable overnight ride to Alice Springs and then on to Ayers Rock.



INCLUSIONS
  • 1 night aboard The Ghan, Adelaide to Alice Springs
  • 2 nights Alice Springs
  • 2 nights Ayers Rock
  • Alice Springs Tour
  • West MacDonnell Ranges tour
  • Walk into Angkerle (Standley Chasm)
  • Visit Alice Springs Desert Park
  • Visit a Camel Farm
  • Uluru (Ayers Rock) - Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) National Park
  • Walpa (Olga) Gorge Walk
  • Sunset drinks at Uluru
  • See Tapudji (Little Ayers Rock)
  • Guided Mala Walk, Uluru
  • Guided walk to Kantju Gorge, Uluru
  • Visit the Cultural Centre
  • View ancient Aboriginal rock paintings at Uluru
  • Maruku Arts and Craft Cooperative
  • ‘Sounds of Silence’ Dinner in the desert
ITINERARY

Climb aboard The Ghan in Adelaide. Travel overnight to Alice Springs where you will spend two nights and enjoy some day touring. Next you’ll travel through the Red Centre to Ayers Rock for two nights. Again, day touring is included to ensure you see all that this wonderful area has to offer.

DAY 1 Adelaide, Legendary Ghan
Depart Adelaide’s Keswick Railway Station at 12.20 p.m. aboard The Ghan for Alice Springs, following the route made famous by the Afghan camel trains. (D)

DAY 2 The Ghan, Alice Springs Town Tour
Rise early to take in a magnificent sunrise as you traverse the famous desertscapes of Australia’s Red Center amid the elegance of The Ghan. Arrive at Alice Springs and join the town tour of Alice Springs. Visit the historic Telegraph Station, view the town and MacDonnell Ranges from atop Anzac Hill, visit the famous School of the Air and tour the base of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Two Night Stay: Alice Springs, choice of hotel. (B)

DAY 3 West MacDonnell Ranges, Angkerle (Standley Chasm), Desert Park
Today tour the West MacDonnell Ranges with a visit to the scenic Simpsons Gap, where black-footed rock wallabies can often be seen. Then enjoy a short walk through Angkerle, a spectacular five-meter break in the range. When the sun hits the chasm’s sheer rock walls they blaze a fiery red color. Returning to Alice Springs, visit the Desert Park and explore three different Australian desert habitats through interactive displays. There are 400 animals housed in the park including many rare and endangered species, as well as a variety of native plants in their natural habitats. Take a walk through the aviaries which feature hundreds of bird species and visit the nocturnal house. The rest of the day is at leisure. (L)

DAY 4 Camel Farm, Kata Tjuta (Olgas), Uluru (Ayers Rock) Sunset
Travel through the MacDonnell and James ranges, crossing the dry bed of the Finke River. Make a short stop at the Camel Farm then pass through the huge cattle stations of Mt Ebenezer and Curtin Springs. View the flat-topped Atila (Mt Conner) mesa in the distance before arriving at Ayers Rock Resort. This afternoon travel to Kata Tjuta, an imposing formation of giant sandstone domes, intricate valley systems and creek beds. Take a walk into majestic Walpa (Olga) Gorge, following the natural creek. Some of the plants growing in and around these rocky domes are found nowhere else on earth. Late in the afternoon enjoy a complimentary glass of wine as you watch the changing colours of Uluru in the last light of day. Two Night Stay: Ayers Rock Resort, choice of hotel.

DAY 5 Uluru Sunrise, Mala Walk, Mutitjulu Waterhole, ‘Sounds of Silence’
Enjoy Uluru at sunrise with a tea or coffee while admiring the spectacular view. Take a guided walk to Mutitjulu, a semi-permanent waterhole. See cave paintings, and learn about the Aboriginal legends of Kuniya Tjukurpa (Python Dreaming). Then learn about the geology and flora of the region as you continue along the Mala Walk. Visit Kantju Gorge, and hear the story of the Mala (Hare Wallaby) people who lived at Uluru. See painted caves and gain an insight into ancient Aboriginal traditions. Tour the base of Uluru, see Tapudji (Little Ayers Rock) and many of the geographic features linked to Anangu mythology. The more energetic may wish to substitute the Mutitjulu and Mala walks to climb Uluru. Visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre and the Maruku Arts and Craft Cooperative, where you may see Aboriginal artists at work. Tonight travel to a secluded desert setting for the famous Sounds of Silence dinner. Dine on the finest Outback cuisine in the solitude of the desert. After the sun has set over Uluru, relish the silence, sit around a campfire (winter only) and take a guided astronomy tour of the night sky. (D)

DAY 6 Ayers Rock Resort at Leisure
Relax by the pool or visit Ayers Rock Resort’s shops before transferring to the airport for your flight home.