HIGHLIGHTS
The annual Desert Song Festival (September 2022)
The 2022 program will present a number of premieres, headliners and artistic collaborations. Artists, musicians, choirs, climate scientists, Indigenous song-men and song-women will collaborate to present the usual DSF palette, characterised by artistic brilliance and cultural diversity, celebrating the singer, the song, the instrument and the country.
The annual Alice Springs 'Parrtjima Light Festival' (April 2023)
- Enjoy the grandeur of the West MacDonnell ranges
- Visit Standley Chasm
- Visit Ellery Creek Big Hole, and Simpsons Gap
- Visit Ormiston Gorge
- Experience Palm Valley by 4WD
- Visit Hermannsburg, renowned for its indigenous art collection
- Enjoy a Kings Canyon walk
- Take the Karkke Experience, a local indigenous cultural tour
- Witness the sunset view of Uluru, while enjoying a glass of wine
- Visit Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)
- Sunrise tour, Field of Light
PRE TOUR – SUNRISE OUTBACK 60 MINUTE HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT
Requires arrival at least day prior to tour commencement
Floating gently in the air, appreciate the vast remoteness of the Australian outback. Keep an eye out for kangaroos as the balloon crosses above spinifex grasses, mulga scrub & cattle stations. Enjoy light refreshments & bubbles once landed.
DAY 1
Alice Springs. Festival.
Welcome to The Red Centre! Today, arrive to Alice Springs Airport and make your way from the airport to our group hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. An early dinner together and time after for festival participation.
Meals: Dinner
Light Festival Image
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Meet & Greet with your driver-guide
- Group dinner
- Evening return transfer to Parrtjima Light Festival (April)
FREE TIME EXTRAS – DESERT SONG 11 SEPTEMBER 2022
The Ecumenical Festival Service 9:30AM - Free
Pentatonic 2:00PM – Ticket
Sacred Song 5:15PM - Free
SPECIAL NOTES
- Evenings are a lot cooler than the day; bring a warm jacket with you
- Parrtjima Light Festival (April) and Desert Song Festival (September) is a week of festivities; other evenings may have scheduled events and entertainment and you can come back other nights by your own arrangements.
DAY 2
Alice Springs. West MacDonnell Ranges
A day out to the beautiful West MacDonnell Ranges. Our discoveries today include the major sights surrounding Alice Springs including Ormiston Gorge, Ellery Creek, Standly Chasm and Simpsons Gap.
- A part of the West MacDonnell ranges is Ormiston Gorge offering spectacular geology and landforms. The rugged scenery of the gorge is complemented by a near-permanent waterhole, which attracts an interesting variety of native fauna and flora.
- At Standley Chasm (Angkerle) take a walk along the stony watercourse, where spring-fed pools attract a great variety of wildlife and birds.
- Ellery Creek Big Hole is a spectacular waterhole in the mighty Ellery Creek, which cuts through a gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Thousands of years of massive floods have carved out this beautiful waterhole and unlocked some amazing geology. At this location you can see the natural ochres in the cliff face that have provided a source of materials for Indigenous people for thousands of years.
- The finale to the day is Simpsons Gap. Surrounded by towering cliffs, incredible Simpsons Gap is one of the best known destinations in the ranges and features a number of walking tracks. Walk through Simpsons Gap to the waterhole, keeping an eye out for the elusive black-footed rock wallabies hiding among the rocks.
Enjoy the late afternoon sun reflecting on the MacDonnell Ranges as you return to Alice Springs. The evening is at your leisure to either dine in your hotel or find a local spot for dinner.
Meals: Bushman's Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
West MacDonnell Ranges discoveries including;
- Stop at Fynn’s Grave Memorial
- Simpsons Gap
- Standley Chasm
- Ormiston Gorge with time for lunch
- Ellery Creek Big Hole
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
Take the option to return to Parrtjima Light Festival. Events and entertainment scheduled on various nights.
FREE TIME EXTRAS – DESERT SONG 12 SEPTEMBER 2022
The Language Party 7:30PM – Ticket
Meditation in the Mall 8:00PM - Free
DAY 3
Alice Springs. Palm Valley 4WD Day Out
An adventure today as we travel in our custom-designed 4WD vehicle, reaching off-road destinations that are otherwise difficult to access. Through the Central Australian landscape we take you down the very edge of Finke River and into the amazing Palm Valley.
Aptly named, as it is the only area in Central Australia where red cabbage palms survive, Palm Valley is an incredible outback oasis. Despite the harsh conditions, the gorge is supported by small pockets of spring-fed pools that ensure the survival of a diverse range of plant species. From the 4WD on foot, you’ll be amazed by the enormous rock formations, pinnacles, gorges and endless palm trees in the area.
Sit back and relax as you enjoy a picnic lunch in the Finke Gorge National Park. Covering a staggering area of 46,000 hectares, it’s noted for its ancient palms. The park holds great cultural significance for the Arrarnta people and there is also evidence of early European settlement.
Visit Hermannsburg, known to the Arrarnta people as ‘Ntaria’. Established as an Aboriginal mission in 1877, the land was returned to the Traditional Owners in 1982. It is the birthplace of celebrated Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira in 1902 and is renowned for its indigenous art collection. Here you can wander through the amazing artworks at the gallery and explore the historic buildings, many of which are now protected by the National Trust.
Afterwards, sit back and enjoy the view as we take you back to Alice Springs. The evening is at your leisure.
Meals: Bushman's Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Palm Valley 4WD Day Out including;
- The Historic Precinct of Hermannsburg
- Stop at the Amphitheatre as we enter Palm Valley
- Experience the 4WD drive into Palm Valley and Cycad Gorge
FREE TIME EXTRAS - PARRTIJIMA LIGHT FESTIVAL
Take the option to return to Parrtjima Light Festival
FREE TIME EXTRAS – DESERT SONG 13 SEPTEMBER 2022
Midday in the Mall Yoga – Free
The Choral Workshops No.1 @ 5:30PM - Free
From The Desert to the Arafura Sea 7:30PM- Ticket
DAY 4
Alice Springs. Town Tour & Desert Park.
A day around town and some free time before later in the evening visiting the renowned Kangaroo Sanctuary.
MORNING TOWN TOUR
On this half day tour, learn about the town of Alice Springs and how it has evolved into the central hub of the Australian outback. Australia’s most famous outback town is now the central headquarters to a range of services and a thriving tourism industry. Visits include Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility where you can learn the incredible history of the service first established in 1939. Then, visit the School of the Air and the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, the birthplace of the Alice Springs township.
Meals: none
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Alice Springs Town Tour including;
- Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility
- School of the Air
- Alice Springs Old Telegraph Station
- Desert Park
FREE TIME EXTRAS – DESERT SONG 14 SEPTEMBER 2022
Midday in the Mall Big Sing - Free
The Choral Workshops No.2 @ 5:30PM- Free
Meditation in the Mall 8:00PM - Free
From a prior Desert Song Festival
DAY 5
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
We set off early for our drive to Kings Canyon for early access to the Canyon. By mid morning we arrive and get set out for the highlight canyon rim walk. Or, if you want to seek out a more leisurely walk, opt for the creek bed walk.
KARRKE ABORIGINAL CULTURAL TOUR
After lunch enjoy this one-of-a-kind authentic aboriginal cultural experience. This 1‑hour tour is a short walk and talk including insights on bush tucker and bush medicines used for spiritual and healing and a lot more, as used by the Luritja and Pertame (Southern Aranda) people.
Learn about:
- Seasonal bush tucker food, including the Witchetty Grub!
- Mai (meaning food in the Luritja language) edible tree seeds and grass seeds and the important grinding stones.
- Explanation of an Aboriginal dot painting in great detail.
- Local wood made Aboriginal artefacts
- An impressive large scale display of various other seeds of trees gathered from our region
- Bush medicine plants and their uses by our Aboriginal people.
Notes:
Not recommend to eat the bushfoods.
Photographs are very welcome. We respectfully ask that there be NO filming and or voice recording on the tour.
Meals: Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Transfer to Kings Canyon by road
- Breakfast stop (on your own account at Erldunda)
- Enjoy the Kings Canyon rim walk or Creek Bed walk (for those who opt to not go on the rim).
- Cultural tour with Karkke Experience
SPECIAL NOTES:
Fly Nets & closed in shoes for touring today
Walking shoes with a good tread (not sneakers) if taking part in the Kings Canyon rim walk.
Options to purchase local art, crafts and paintings at the Karkke Experience.
DAY 6
Kings Canyon to Uluru
This afternoon, watch the sunset at Uluru while enjoying complimentary wine and canapes. After sunset, an outback barbeque dinner under the stars. This afternoon the iconic visits to Kata Tjuta National park and setting your eyes on Uluru including a sunset view with a BBQ dinner and sparkling wine.
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Travel Kings Canyon to Uluru
- Afternoon visits of Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park
- Sunset view of Uluru with an Aussie BBQ with sparkling wine
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
Tonight at leisure, take a walk around Ayers Rock Resort with dining options in the village or at one of the hotel restaurants.
SPECIAL NOTES:
Fly Nets highly recommended (pack them before you leave home)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7
Depart Ayers Rock Resort
Up before sunrise for the sunrise Field of Lights experience; the critically acclaimed installation by the internationally celebrated artist Bruce Munro is on display and arriving before sunrise brings not only the chance to see this illumination in full display but enjoy the early rise of light in the desert.
Today you will depart Ayers Rock Resort. Depending on your flight time, you may want to do a free activity offered at the Ayers Rock Resort. Contact Ayers Rock Resort to ask about the list of activities or click here to visit their website. Your hotel provides a free shuttle service to the airport. There is the option to extend your stay at the time of booking your place on the tour.
Meals:
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Field of Lights excursion
- Airport transfers provided by Ayers Rock Resort
SPECIAL NOTES:
This is operated by Voyages, and your driver-guide does not join. You will join other tourists on a shared departure operated by AAT Kings on behalf of Voyages, Ayers Rock Resort group of hotels.
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. IF there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
