Wander illuminated pathways through 50,000 illuminated glass spheres that bloom across the desert floor, a solar-powered artwork by Bruce Munro. Watch a constellation of colour ripple beneath the night as Uluru as a dark silhouette anchors the horizon.

Inspired by desert wildflower afterglow, this immersive installation invites slow, contemplative walking and quiet awe. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, with sessions typically in the evening or pre-dawn.

Glide on a guided Segway circuit along the base track to cover more ground with ease, stopping at waterholes and rock art shelters while hearing Anangu Tjukurpa stories. Enjoy the silent, effortless travel as sheer red walls rise beside you and desert oaks whisper in the breeze.

Helmet, briefing and expert guiding are included for a smooth ride that respects park guidelines. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Taste a hearty Big BBQ Brekkie sizzling on the grill at Kings Creek Station, a working cattle and camel property near the George Gill Range. Breathe in woodsmoke and eucalyptus as you fuel up for the day with classic outback flavours beneath a wide desert sky.

Hear snippets of station life and frontier history while you dine, gaining a feel for Central Australia’s pastoral heritage and the resilience it takes to thrive in this arid country.

Raise a toast with drinks and nibbles as the sun sinks and the rock shifts through deep russets to violet. Capture the drama of sunset over the Red Centre while silhouettes of desert oaks etch the horizon and the evening air cools.

Guides share why the iron-rich surface blazes at day’s end and suggest prime vantage points for that last golden frame. It’s a serene close that distills the mood of this vast desert landscape.

Gather for a shared welcome dinner in the Yulara resort precinct, sampling seasonal Australian dishes and local produce. Swap first impressions with fellow travellers as the sky deepens to velvet and the desert air cools beneath a star-filled desert sky.

Set on the doorstep of Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, this relaxed evening acknowledges the Anangu Traditional Owners and sets a warm, communal tone for your Red Centre adventure.

Join a Guided Rim Walk around Kings Canyon to crest the sandstone plateau, where 270-metre cliffs drop to a maze of weathered domes. Traverse the “Lost City” beehive formations and descend to the cool shade of the Garden of Eden, a rare waterhole oasis framed by cycads and sandstone amphitheatres.

Set within Watarrka National Park, this landscape carries deep significance for the Luritja people. Your guide illuminates geology, flora and culture while you follow well-marked paths for panoramic Red Centre views.

Explore the soaring domes of Kata Tjuta on guided walks through Walpa Gorge and the Valley of the Winds. Feel the desert breeze funnel through red-rock corridors as towering domes that change colour in the sunlight rise around you, revealing patterns of ancient conglomerate stone and pockets of hardy desert life.

Learn why the Anangu name Kata Tjuta means “many heads” and how this 700-million-year-old formation anchors cultural traditions. Lookouts unveil sweeping vistas across a labyrinth of rust-red boulders bigger than city towers.

Witness the Uluru sunrise as the desert shifts from indigo to amber and the colour-changing monolith glows against a vast, silent horizon. From purpose-built lookouts, feel the cool morning air and pause for photos and reflection while birdsong ripples across the spinifex plains.

Gain perspective on a UNESCO World Heritage landscape sacred to the Anangu Traditional Owners, shaped by Tjukurpa (creation law). Guides share respectful viewing etiquette and stories that deepen your connection to this storied heart of Australia.

Contiki

• 1 Dinner (D)
• 3 Breakfast (B)

• Sydney: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Sydney: Contiki acknowledges the Traditional and Torres Strait Island owners of the land, sea and waters of the spectacular Australian continent. Dual-naming reflects that, as we explore this remarkable land, we recognise and respect Indigenous custodianship of a unique, ancient culture and country.

• Uluru: Chill with your new BFFs over dinner at Uluru.
• Uluru: Start the day the right way – by enjoying the sunrise over Uluru. This should be on everyone’s #lifegoals list. 
• Kata Tjuta: Walk around this sacred site. See the Valley of the Winds and Walpa Gorge, with its towering domes that change colour in the sunlight. 
• Uluru: Does it get any better than a ‘Big Brekkie’ cooked up on the BBQ? We think not. 
• Uluru: Salute this sacred landmark with drinks and nibbles as you watch the sun set. A moment you’ll replay in your mind forever. 
• Kings Canyon: Climb the ‘stairway to heaven’ to the aptly named Garden of Eden, Kings Canyon.