Few places capture the traveller’s imagination quite like the Australian outback. The deep red sands, the bright blue skies, the variety of flora and fauna, the orange and red rocks that rise above the landscape like temples to the earth. Australia’s Northern Territory is arguably the heart of the outback. The southern region of the Northern Territory is known as the “Red Centre” to locals, and you’ll soon discover why on a visit there. It’s where the red earth comes alive and where the magic of the Australian outback is most deeply felt.
Jet to the Red Centre with Virgin Australia
It's easy to explore the Red Centre with the introduction of new domestic flights with Virgin Australia. One of the nation’s leading airlines and awarded “Best Cabin Crew” by AirlineRatings.com six years in a row, Virgin Australia now offers convenient flights from both Brisbane and Melbourne to Uluru (Ayers Rock). With connections to other gateways in Australia, including Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, and Canberra, it’s easy for travellers to explore the whole of the land Downunder with Virgin Australia. Ticket options on domestic flights include the premium Economy X option as well as traditional Economy and Business classes. With Goway and Virgin Australia, you can explore the magic of the Australian outback and enjoy an exceptional air journey getting there.
The Red Rock Wonders of the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is the least populated of the major states and territories in Australia, but it’s been inhabited the longest of all of them. Archaeological evidence shows that people have inhabited the Northern Territory for at least 60,000 years, and the region is at the centre of many of the stories of creation in Australian cultural history.
Core to these stories is Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock. The mighty piece of sandstone is the largest monolith in the world. It rises 1,142 ft (348 m) high and has a circumference of 5.84 mi (9.4 km) around the base, but two-thirds of the monolith is hidden underground. At dusk and dawn, the red sandstone of the monolith seems to dance in the light, transforming from red to deep orange and even shades of blue or purple.
Uluru is sacred to the local Indigenous people, the Anangu, who have countless stories about the role Uluru has played within Australia’s creation and history. When you visit the rock, a tour with an Aboriginal guide helps you experience the rock’s spiritual power in addition to its natural wonder. The state-of-the-art new show, Wintjiri Wiru, also brings one traditional Anangu creation story to life in the evening sky through the use of drones.
Together with nearby Kata Tjuta, formerly known as the Olgas, Uluru comprises Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the premier national park in the Red Centre. Kata Tjuta, the other rock formation noted within the national park’s name, is comprised of 36 sandstone domes dot the landscape and, like Uluru, shift colours depending on the time of day and light. A day trip to the domes is an essential part of any journey to the Red Centre.
In Australia, not all life is counted in human population totals. The Northern Territory is bursting with wildlife and home to over 400 species of birds and 150 species of mammals, including beloved creatures such as kangaroos and more rare species such as bandicoots and quolls. You’re never alone in the heart of the outback, even if it’s just you, a wallaby, and the endless skies of the Northern Territory.
If you want to extend your stay in Red Centre, head to Alice Springs, which is the quintessential outback town. The town has a modest population of around 25,000, but it’s been the important midpoint between Darwin and Adelaide for decades. The town was founded as part of the Overland Telegraph Line in the 19th century and today is perhaps best known for its quirkier icons, which include the Alice Springs Reptile Centre (where sightings of bearded dragons are guaranteed), the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and even camel races. Yes. Australia abounds with camels that were brought over by caravanners during the country’s early colonial settlement. Today, there are over one million wild camels wandering the nation, so don’t be surprised if you spot one crossing the red sands during a tour of Alice Springs and surrounds.
The Coastal Wonders of Australia
The Red Centre is the heart of the outback, but it’s not the only highlight on an Australian vacation. Many of Australia’s most popular landmarks and centres are not far from the water. In fact, 87% of the population lives within 31 mi (50 km) of the coastline according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Luckily, you don’t have to choose one or the other when exploring Australia.
It’s easy to take advantage of Virgin Australia’s domestic air routes and craft a tailor-made trip to various points in the nation, including the Red Centre. Virgin Australia connects travellers to coastal centres all around the country, including Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Whether you want to tour the famous landmarks of Sydney, including the Sydney Opera House, hit up the trendiest cafes and bars of Melbourne’s laneways, or cruise the Great Barrier Reef, you can do that and explore the Australian outback on a Goway tailor-made vacation.
Ways to Explore the Red Centre with Goway and Virgin Australia
Goway offers many Australian travel packages that help you explore the Red Centre and other Aussie icons with Virgin Australia. The 12-day Aussie Urban & Outback Escape includes flights with Virgin Australia and time at the award-winning Ayers Rock Resort in the Red Centre. It also includes time in Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne. The 14-day Aussie Coastal City & Outback Sojourn combines the Red Centre with time in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Cairns, where you will explore the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. The 15-day Great Aussie City & Uluru Escape includes the Red Centre and extra time in the coastal cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Of course, all these trips can be tailored to your exact interests.
The Northern Territory is waiting for you. Explore it on a tailor-made trip with Goway and Virgin Australia.
You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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