{"id":191270,"date":"2021-01-14T08:57:23","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T21:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.australiantraveller.com\/?p=191270"},"modified":"2023-02-17T11:28:41","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T00:28:41","slug":"how-to-spend-an-awesome-7-or-14-days-as-a-family-in-the-red-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.australiantraveller.com\/nt\/red-centre\/how-to-spend-an-awesome-7-or-14-days-as-a-family-in-the-red-centre\/","title":{"rendered":"How families can spend a fun 7 or 14 days in the Red Centre"},"content":{"rendered":"
From exploring the base of Uluru<\/a> to marvelling at the Devils Marbles, here\u2019s a Red Centre itinerary the whole family can get excited about.<\/h5>\n

The Northern Territory is not a place to turn up and see what takes your fancy. It requires planning, which can be daunting for travelling families. To make it stress-free, here\u2019s our awesome self-drive itinerary for a seven- or 14-day Red Centre<\/a> adventure.<\/p>\n

Alice Springs \u2013 Days 1 & 2<\/h2>\n

The best place to kick off your outback holiday is Alice Springs<\/a>, the epicentre of the NT. Stroll through Todd Mall Markets, popping into the Aboriginal art galleries, souvenir shops and cafes. Parents and teenagers will enjoy learning about the town\u2019s history at Alice Springs Telegraph Station<\/a>, only four kilometres north of the CBD. Younger children, however, will get more of a kick out of catching a birds of prey show at Alice Springs Desert Park<\/a>. The park also runs a great bush tucker program<\/a>\u00a0that\u2019s bound to fascinate the whole family.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/a> Heading up high in a hot-air balloon<\/a> for spectacular outback views.<\/p>\n

Alice to Glen Helen \u2013 Day 3<\/h2>\n

132 kilometres<\/h3>\n
\"Northern

How’s the serenity? Breathtaking, really.<\/p><\/div>\n

Start your journey along the Red Centre Way<\/a>, a 1135-kilometre loop, by pointing your vehicle toward the majestic West MacDonnell National Park<\/a> and the town of Glen Helen<\/a>. The national park is riddled with walks, and young families will appreciate the easy Waterhole Walk, just five minutes and wheelchair-friendly, as well as the 20-minute (one way) Ghost Gum Lookout Walk. If you have a tiny tot, don\u2019t forget to take a hiking backpack and high-energy treats to motivate little legs mid-scramble.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> Swimming in the near-permanent waterhole only 500 metres from the Walks Information Shelter.<\/p>\n

Glen Helen to Kings Canyon \u2013 Day 4<\/h2>\n

234 kilometres<\/h3>\n\n

Also known as Watarrka National Park, Kings Canyon<\/a> is a Red Centre must-visit. Spend the morning getting there and the afternoon chilling out in the pool at Kings Canyon Resort.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> Popping into the resort\u2019s Thirsty Dingo Bar, where you\u2019ll meet other travelling families and sing along to the live music.<\/p>\n

Kings Canyon \u2013 Day 5<\/h2>\n

The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is the highlight of any stay here as it offers hikers stunning 360-degree views of the sandstone walls. It\u2019s a six-kilometre trail, with 500 steep steps at the start, so most suited to active older families. If you\u2019re keen to do a walk but want something easier, the 2.6-kilometre Kings Creek Hike is a better option.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> Sunrise from the rim, when the light paints the landscape with red and orange brush strokes.<\/p>\n

Kings Canyon to Uluru \u2013 Day 6<\/h2>\n

300 kilometres<\/h3>\n
\"Uluru,

A bird’s eye view of Uluru.<\/p><\/div>\n

Nothing can prepare you for the first time you set eyes on the Northern Territory\u2019s most impressive landmark \u2013 Uluru<\/a>. This 348-metre-high monolith, with a 9.4km circumference, isn\u2019t any old rock, but a sacred site to the Anangu Aboriginal people. After your long drive there, stretch your legs and view Uluru from a distance at Talinguru Nyakunytjaku lookout.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> At night-time, wow the entire family at the Field of Light Uluru<\/a> art installation. Seeing 50,000 coloured solar lights illuminate the desert is a holiday experience you\u2019ll remember for years.<\/p>\n

Uluru \u2013 Day 7<\/h2>\n

Wake early and hop atop a dromedary for an iconic camel ride to Uluru<\/a>. Plod across the ochre sand as the sun casts shadows down Uluru\u2019s face and turns the sky shades of pomegranate, mandarin and lemon. Uluru Camel Tours\u2019<\/a> sunrise excursion is suitable for children aged five and over. Afterwards, join a free ranger-guided Mala Walk<\/a> (8am or 10am), during which you\u2019ll learn about Aboriginal culture and rock art. It\u2019s an easy two-kilometre (return) route and is wheelchair accessible. You can also take a Segway<\/a> around the rock, a fun alternative for children 12 and over.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> A Maruku Arts<\/a> dot-painting workshop held at Ayers Rock Resort or the Cultural Centre. It\u2019s an experience that will enrichen your time while visiting Uluru and a fun activity for all ages.<\/p>\n\n

*Note: You can no longer climb Uluru. The Anangu community has long since urged people to circumnavigate the rock on foot, rather than climb it due to its spiritual significance and for their own safety. To understand why and to help you plan your trip, check out 5 reasons the Uluru climbing ban makes total sense<\/a> and 11 things to do in Uluru that aren’t climbing<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you have 14 days\u2026<\/h2>\n

Uluru to Kata Tjuta (return) \u2013 Day 8<\/h2>\n

59 kilometres<\/h3>\n\n

It\u2019d be a shame to visit Uluru and not make the extra effort to see Kata Tjuta<\/a>, 36 rock domes that rise out of the desert. Also called the Olgas, it\u2019s a fascinating formation big and little hikers will love. Older families may be keen to tackle the 7.4-kilometre Valley of the Winds walk<\/a>, while those with young kids can amble to Karu Lookout (2.2-kilometre return).<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> The Cultural Centre<\/a> while exploring Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to learn more about the cultural history of the area.<\/p>\n

Uluru to Rainbow Valley \u2013 Day 9<\/h2>\n

405 kilometres<\/h3>\n\n

Marvel at the colourful sandstone cliffs that give this little-known valley its name. Arrive in the afternoon when the softening sunlight brings out the purple, red and orange shades in the bands of stone. Rainbow Valley Conservation<\/a> Reserve has two campgrounds. If you need a hotel, you\u2019ll have to push on to Alice Springs, about three hours\u2019 drive to the north.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> Mushroom Rock, which has been sculpted by the weather over millennia.<\/p>\n

Rainbow Valley to Alice \u2013 Day 10<\/h2>\n

100 kilometres<\/h3>\n\n

It may not seem far on the map, but a mix of unsealed and sealed roads means you still have some ground to cover before returning to Alice. Once you arrive, give yourself some downtime by wandering the quirky National Road Transport Hall of Fame<\/a>. Expect to be gobsmacked by the rows of number plates climbing to the ceiling, the truck museum and other motoring relics.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> Bertha, the restored road train.<\/p>\n

Alice to the Devils Marbles \u2013 Days 11 & 12<\/h2>\n

400 kilometres<\/h3>\n
\"\"

The Devils Marbles are huge granite boulders scattered across a wide, shallow valley, 100 kilometers south of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.<\/p><\/div>\n

Slicing north from Alice Springs (where the Red Centre Way ends), head along the Stuart Highway to another of the NT\u2019s impressive geological features, Karlu Karlu<\/a>, or the Devils Marbles. These giant rocks appear to be balancing precariously atop one another and will be a highlight for any snap-happy photographers in the family. As Georgia Rickard writes: \u201cTo wander through here is to wander through the happenstance of an Alice in Wonderland narrative, where half-broken boulders lie, scattered, as if dropped from a careless child\u2019s pocket as she skipped across the sky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:<\/strong> Seeing the Marbles at night; they\u2019re magical. To do so, stay at Devils Marbles Hotel<\/a> (formerly Wauchope Hotel), eight kilometres south.<\/p>\n

Karlu Karlu to Tennant Creek \u2013 Day 13<\/h2>\n

100 kilometres<\/h3>\n
\"Devils

Devils Marbles: they’ll get your attention every time.<\/p><\/div>\n

Return to Karlu Karlu for sunrise before heading to Tennant Creek<\/a>, the location of Australia\u2019s last gold rush in the 1930s. Give the kids a fun history lesson by signing up for an underground tour at Battery Hill Mining Centre<\/a>, a quirky little museum.<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss:\u00a0 <\/strong>The Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre<\/a> located on the main street of Tennant Creek.<\/p>\n

Tennant Creek to Alice \u2013 Day 14<\/h2>\n

500 kilometres<\/h3>\n\n

It\u2019s time to say farewell to the Red Centre and return your hire vehicle to Alice Springs. Along the way, call into the strange outpost of Wycliffe Well<\/a>, not far from Karlu Karlu. Considered the UFO capital of Australia, parents and kids will get a thrill out of the alien-themed roadhouse.<\/p>\n\n

*If you don\u2019t want to drive, there are a large number of companies that offer Red Centre tours, including G Adventures<\/a> and AAT Kings<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

For more information on the Red Centre with kids & things to do in the NT, visit the official Northern Territory website at northernterritory.com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From exploring the base of Uluru to marvelling at the Devils Marbles, here\u2019s a Red Centre itinerary the whole family can get excited about. The Northern Territory is not a place to turn up and see what takes your fancy. It requires planning, which can be daunting for travelling families. To make it stress-free, here\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":191281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"article-deals.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[4418],"tags":[1346,5849,6321,1513,1402,4773,4748,5140,4686,6393,1051,6435,4628,4606],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow To Enjoy The Ultimate Family Trip To The Red Centre<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whether you've got seven days or two weeks, we've put together the ultimate itinerary for a Red Centre adventure the whole family will love.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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