![\"The](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/The-West-MacDonnel-Ranges-Tourism-NT1.jpg\")
The West MacDonnell Ranges from the road AKA The Red Centre Way<\/p><\/div>\n
Heading west from Alice<\/a>, the first part of the track winds through the majestic MacDonnell Ranges to Glen Helen, scattered throughout with natural wonders sculpted over millions of years creating breathtaking scenery; areas such as Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge, which include great walking tracks, cooling rock pools and magnificent views.<\/p>\n The near-permanent oasis of Ormiston Gorge on the Larapinta Trail is accessed also by road on the Red Centre Way.<\/p><\/div>\n All yours: Standley Chasm, Larapinta Trek.<\/p><\/div>\n From Glen Helen the road continues another 260km to Watarrka National Park along the Mereenie Loop. This is an unsealed road that can be tackled with a 2WD, but a 4WD is definitely recommended, and is a must after rain. You\u2019ll also need a permit, available at the humble sum of $2.20.<\/p>\n Perched on the edge of the 270m-deep Kings Canyon.<\/p><\/div>\n The most famous part of Watarrka is Kings Canyon, which splits the Earth to a depth of 270m providing shelter for palms, ferns and cycads, creating a tropical oasis in the middle of the otherwise brittle surrounds. From here the track continues another 300km to Uluru and Kata Tjuta, the two most famous landmarks within the Kata Tjuta National Park \u2013 if not all of Australia.<\/p>\n\n Now this might sound strange, but as you close in on Uluru try and resist the temptation to spot the Rock in the distance, hunched on the horizon. Instead, if you get the opportunity, drive out to a pre-dawn viewing point and watch as the first rays of light bring everything to life. Uluru will slowly appear out of the darkness, changing in colour as the sun rises higher in the sky. An astounding way to first lay eyes on this natural wonder and definitely worth losing a few hours sleep for.<\/p>\n\n Further down the track, 30km west of Uluru, lie the 36 large rock domes of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), which many consider even more curious and dramatic in shape and appearance than the Rock itself. The tallest, Mount Olga, reaches 546m above the surrounding plain.<\/p>\n The amazing sight of Kata Tjuta from the air. – Tourism NT<\/p><\/div>\n The last stretch of road, from Uluru back to Alice Springs, is another 445km. A classic stop along the way is Rainbow Valley, just east of the Stuart Highway, not far from Alice. Here, sandstone bluffs and cliffs put on a colourful rainbow-like show in the early mornings and late afternoons when the sun highlights the iron-rich\/iron-poor bands of the sandstone.<\/p>\n\n Who got there first? \/\/<\/em><\/strong> Ernest Giles was the first white man brave enough to challenge the unforgiving heart of Australia. During his first expedition in 1872, he spotted Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the distance \u2013 but the first European to actually touch the rock was William Gosse, following Giles\u2019 original route in 1873. Consequently, Gosse got first dibs on naming it \u2013 and did so after SA Premier Sir Henry Ayers.<\/p>\n\n Don\u2019t miss \/\/ <\/em><\/strong>Dawn and dusk are pretty magical moments anywhere in the outback, but two particular moments you really should take in are the sunset and sunrise viewings of Uluru. It\u2019s not something you\u2019ll soon forget.<\/p>\n\n Drive Time \/\/ <\/em><\/strong>The Red Centre Way is around 1135km in total, but allow at least five days \u2013 preferably far more \u2013 to explore the area in detail.<\/p>\n 1. Uluru and its many associated Dreamtime stories are fundamental to the spiritual beliefs of the local Anangu people. It\u2019s sacred ground and they\u2019d prefer if you did not climb it before it closes once and for all on October 26th 2019. Here are our five reasons you should not climb the rock<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n 2. Remember that it\u2019s an offence to the Anangu to photograph or film areas of spiritual significance, which are clearly signposted. If in doubt, ask.<\/p>\n\n 3. There\u2019s more than one large rock out there. Mistaking Mt Connor for Uluru and squealing like a schoolgirl can be embarrassing, so try not to do that.<\/p>\n\n 4. Don\u2019t forget your fly net. If you haven\u2019t been to the Red Centre and think you\u2019ve seen flies in numbers before, think again.<\/p>\n\n 5. Discover just before sundown that you only packed singlets and shorts and you could be in for a painful night, so consider the time of year. Summer temps are 22-37\u00baC; winter temps are 4-19\u00baC.<\/p>\n\n Accessibility \/\/ <\/em><\/strong>Large parts of the drive are suitable for a 2WD, although it\u2019s recommended you use 4WD drive for the Mereenie Loop and many other sidetracks.<\/p>\n\n Did you know? \/\/ <\/em><\/strong>The visible height of Uluru is 348m, but that\u2019s actually only a small portion of the entire rock. Geologists say at least another 6km of Uluru is hidden underneath the surface.<\/p>\n\n![\"Ormiston](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ormiston-gorge.jpg\")
![\"Standley](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/AT_2017SEP06_Native_GreatWalks_LuxuryGuidedWalks_1000x584px_Hero_Standley-Chasm-Larapinta-Trek-World-Expeditions.jpg\")
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Dos + Don\u2019ts<\/h2>\n
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