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Red Centre Tour: Explore Iconic Outback Sites
4.6
80 Ratings
Alice Springs
Embark on a thrilling 4WD day tour of Palm Valley in Central Australia. Discover the history of Hermannsburg Aboriginal Mission, explore the Finke River bed, and marvel at ancient palm trees and stunning desert views.
Embark on a thrilling 4WD day tour of Palm Valley in Central Australia. Discover the history of Hermannsburg Aboriginal Mission, explore the Finke River bed, and marvel at ancient palm trees and stunning desert views.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve - Begin your adventure at 7:45 am with a pick-up from your Alice Springs accommodation, venturing into the expansive, sunlit landscapes of the outback. Journey along the Old South Road, admiring the rugged beauty of the Finke River and listening to tales of the historic telegraph line that once linked…
- Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve - Begin your adventure at 7:45 am with a pick-up from your Alice Springs accommodation, venturing into the expansive, sunlit landscapes of the outback. Journey along the Old South Road, admiring the rugged beauty of the Finke River and listening to tales of the historic telegraph line that once linked remote settlements across the Red Centre.
Explore the Ewaninga Aboriginal Rock Carvings, where the ancient petroglyphs of the Arrernte people share stories of a rich and enduring culture.
- Ooraminna Station Homestead - Proceed to Ooraminna Station Homestead, a working cattle station and film set from The Drover’s Boy, and enjoy morning tea on the deck, surrounded by the tranquil sounds and endless horizons of the outback.
- Old Ghan Museum - From the Red Dune Desert Lookout, admire the striking panorama of rust-red sands extending to the distant MacDonnell Ranges, before exploring the Old Ghan Museum, where the pioneering spirit of Central Australia comes alive through the story of the legendary train.
- Alice Springs School of the Air Experience - Return to Alice Springs for some free time to explore the town and enjoy lunch (at your own expense), before spending the afternoon immersing yourself in its history and culture. Visit the School of the Air to see how children in remote communities are educated across vast distances.
- Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve - Visit the Telegraph Station, Alice Springs’ first European settlement, once a vital hub for communication.
- Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum - Discover the lifesaving work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
- Anzac Hill - Conclude the day atop Anzac Hill, where sweeping views of the town and the MacDonnell Ranges provide a breathtaking finale to your journey. Return to your accommodation around 5:30 pm, having experienced a full day of outback history, culture, and natural beauty.
What's Included
- Accommodation pick-up & drop-off
- Attraction Entry Fees
- Morning and Afternoon Tea
- Experienced, friendly tour guide
- Accommodation pick-up & drop-off
- Attraction Entry Fees
- Morning and Afternoon Tea
- Experienced, friendly tour guide
What's Not Included
- Exclusions – NT Parks Pass ($10) Please buy NT Parks Pass before your tour
- Exclusions – NT Parks Pass ($10) Please buy NT Parks Pass before your tour
Additional Information
Embark on a serene day trip through the Red Centre’s hidden gems and Australia’s renowned landscapes.
Delight in a comprehensive day tour showcasing the Red Centre’s stunning scenery, rich culture, and fascinating history. Begin your morning with visits to the ancient Ewaninga Aboriginal Rock Carvings, Ooraminna Station Homestead, the Drover’s Boy film…
Embark on a serene day trip through the Red Centre’s hidden gems and Australia’s renowned landscapes.
Delight in a comprehensive day tour showcasing the Red Centre’s stunning scenery, rich culture, and fascinating history. Begin your morning with visits to the ancient Ewaninga Aboriginal Rock Carvings, Ooraminna Station Homestead, the Drover’s Boy film set, and the Red Dune Lookout. In the afternoon, discover Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and its significant historical sites that have influenced the town and its pivotal role in the outback.
Places to visit:
- Ewaninga Aboriginal Rock Carvings
- Ooraminna Station Homestead
- Drover’s Boy Film Set
- Old Ghan Museum
- Red Dune Desert Lookout
- Morning Tea at the Wild Horse Bar
- School of the Air
- Telegraph Station
- Royal Flying Doctor Service
- Anzac Hill
All activities are suitable for all ages and require minimal physical exertion.
- Children aged 2 years and over are welcome on our tour and are charged at a child rate. All travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who will be responsible for their care.
Location
Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve
Maryvale Rd, Old South Road
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(80 Ratings)
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Jenj2048
Oct 20, 2024
Totally unique - and fun! - Unforgettable adventure in the uniquely beautiful Palm Valley. Highlights were the 1-hour walk around the valley (not too hard, not too easy) and the exciting 4WD ride to get there. Bluey the guide was meticulous about safety and keeping everyone healthy in the heat, while also keeping the vibe relaxed and telling some great stories. The scenery was magnificent all through the Valley with red cliffs and an oasis of green. Lunch was DIY wraps - not fancy but fresh and tasty. The visit to Hermansburg was also interesting and it's sad that this site is closing soon - hope it reopens once the season picks up. A great tour for adventurers of any age.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janiner354
Sep 27, 2024
Pleased we booked this tour! - A once in a lifetime visit to a site we would never contemplate driving ourselves due to the extremely rough terrain we drove over to get to Palm Valley.
Bluey our driver was an encyclopedia of knowledge about the places we visited and the history of the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
V2154zvjayd
Jun 20, 2024
Excellent one day tour - This is an excellent one day tour. It's a full day, and definitely worth the price. Hermannsburg an interesting precinct to visit, and spectacular scenery in Palm Valley. The 4WD aspect of the drive into and out of Palm Valley great fun - who needs roller coasters. An exceptional guide in Bluey, who is an absolute fountain of knowledge about the area - history, geology, flora and fauna - and an amazing storyteller who brings things to life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jajavalb
Nov 2, 2023
all in one adventure tour - taking this tour, it's more fun and various kind of adventure experience including 4WD ride, historical walk in historical precinct, waking trail along the palm valley and upto the ridges , botanical learning by real encounter. it's a bit long drive from Alice to West McDonnell ranges through hermannsburg, then ride on the rugged road, through Finke national park,where palm valley locates . it' takes about 8-9 hours on whole trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chajchawan_n
Oct 30, 2023
unique landscape, extraordinary 4WD ride fun - I did this tour with 10 another trip mates, it's quite exciting with the 4WD ride experience from Hermannsburg to palm valley , it's bumpy and jumpy as well as amazing. view along the ride. first stop at picnic area where we stopped for the toilet ,then headed to Cycad Gorge ,amazing such ancient flora santuary , finally we came to palm valley ,oasis of palms and green plants among the valley of red ruby rocks.I did small loop walk (RT 2 km) walking along the valley then upto the ridges back to the origin . It's so wonderful experience for this 9 hours trip
Review provided by Viator
Dominiquey_13
Oct 25, 2023
Amazing day - Thank you Jona for this amazing trip to Palm Valley and the extra visit at the Simpsons gap. The lunch was excellent as well. Dominique
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Getaway44809003664
Oct 18, 2023
Great return trip to Palm Valley after 61 years - I returned to Mpulungkinya (Palm Valley) after 61 years, this time with my wife on a tour, rather than as a small boy with my family on our own in a Jeep my dad had hired in Mparntwe (Alice). Our guide was Johnno who was very engaging & knowledgeable, & who filled the drive out with a fascinating intro to Aboriginal culture & world view, as well as being very knowledgeable about the geology & botany from a Western scientific viewpoint. It was the rough trip up the Finke River bed I had expected, but Johnno was obviously an experienced 4 WDriver, warning us about upcoming lurches. The gorge gave the spectacular combination of red cliffs & a mix of gum trees, cycads & palm trees. We had time to for a short walk on our own under Johnno’s guidance. The it was back to Ntaria (Hermannsburg) for a stroll around the historic precinct, taking in the origins of the famous painter Albert Namatjira, & where the anthropologist & missionary Carl Strehlow had worked. In 1894 he wrote about the local stories of the ‘gods from the north’ who had brought the palm tree seeds to Mpulunkinya, a story now supported by genetic studies that date this to about 15,000 years ago.
All in all a great day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sophias445
May 3, 2024
OK tour, would visit Palm Valley a different way next time - We went on the Palm Valley 4WD tour.
The tour consists of:
Pick up from hotel about 7am, 1.5 hour drive to Hermannsburg, stop for toilet break and morning tea / coffee + biscuits.
Followed by 1 hour drive towards Palm Valley via Finke River.
20 minute stop at Cicad George to have a look around, followed by a short drive to a picnic area for a toilet break.
Then drive into Palm Valley. 1 hour walk (optional) on a track through part of the gorge and then over a ridge back to the car park.
Then back to the picnic area for lunch - make your own wrap, poppers and apples.
Drive to Hermannsburg old mission (entry fee included) to look around the mission and art gallery for about an hour.
Drive 1.5 hours back to Alice Springs, finishing about 5pm.
They had good gluten free options for me, which was very much appreciated.
The drive is quite a 4wd experience, so be prepared for some bumps!
The tour guides were lovely and somewhat knowledgeable, however we were a little disappointed the guides weren't locals, as they lacked the years worth of knowledge a local would have. They were friendly and approachable and did their best.
The tour was very 'sight see'-like. Hope off the bus, walk around, get back on.
I would have really liked more time in Palm Valley to take it all in. Having lunch there is one suggestion to achieve this.
During the stop at the mission we were left to our own devises. This hour could have been enhanced greatly with a short tour by the staff there.
I think if I had my time over, I would try and see Palm Valley a different way - maybe a more intimate tour with a smaller operator, or maybe not going at all if I'm not able to go myself in a 4wd and take my time.
The oldies (65+) seem to enjoy themselves. We are in our mid-30s and so perhaps we were expecting a little more in-depth and curated tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mariaob57
Aug 27, 2024
Need to be Physically and Medically fit to do this Day Tour - My tour was booked with Discover Australia Holidays. Tour began in an old 4WD bus. Extremely rough terrain, bounced around a lot, noisy, no aircon. Bus driver stated he was not a tour guide so didn't offer any history on the area or the plant life.
2x Walks were included in this tour, regardless whether you do them or not.
Steep walks/climb over rocks and up hills. No mention from my tour company that the walks were moderate to strenuous fitness level. If you are a senior or someone with any type of physical or medical condition I'd advise against this tour OR ask a lot of questions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Resort29671953792
Oct 3, 2024
One unsympathetic Aussie - We traveled in Australia for a month with an Australian couple who are from Sydney, and we met many friendly, caring and approachable Australians.
We were fortunate to stay in Alice Springs for a week to discover west and east MacDonnell ranges with tour companies and families in AS.
We took a Palm Valley tour with Emu Experience booked by Discover Australia Holidays on July 10th 2024. The driver was an old cranky & totally uncaring fellow named Gary.
Pertaining to the tour, if you have limited time, we would skip Palm Valley and go for the West MacDonnell ranges.
We had 10 passengers for this trip and one of the passengers, Bill experienced heat exhaustion during the walk. Unfortunately, my wife who is an American emergency care physician and another passenger we were traveling with is an Australian nurse. Fortunately, Bill was cared by these individuals.
After Bill’s heat exhaustion episode, our remaining agenda for the day was a picnic lunch and return to Alice Springs.
We mentioned to the driver Gary since Bill is uncomfortable with his condition, we could forgo lunch & return to Alice Spring to care for Bill if he needed further assistance.
Now, Gary’s remark was that he needed to take a break required by his union.
If Gary was experiencing the same condition or a heart attack, would he prefer to hear the uncharacteristic & unsympathetic remark made by him?
Dr. Bailey & Dr. Burke
Washington, D.C.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
