The ultimate guide to camping and caravanning in the Red Centre

Leah McLennan Leah McLennan
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To truly appreciate the beauty of the Red Centre you need to spend a night or more under the stars.

Road-tripping in the Red Centre, from Alice Springs to Uluru, is nothing short of an epic adventure. To truly connect to the land, you’ll need to sleep close to the earth. Whether it be in a swag, caravan or luxurious safari tent with a plunge pool, the Red Centre is an idyllic place to sleep under the starry skies.

A straight 5.5-hour drive on the sealed Stuart and Lasseter highways from Alice Springs will take you to Uluru, but why rush? From Alice Springs, once you’ve ticked off the East MacDonnell Ranges, take time to soak in the exquisite gorges of the West MacDonnell National Park, where you can camp in the park at Ormiston Gorge, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Redbank Gorge, Serpentine Chalet and Finke Two Mile.

Once you’ve packed up your tent in the West Macs, continue to Watarrka National Park, home to the mighty Kings Canyon and then it’s another 300 kilometres to the giant monolith that is Uluru.

Here’s a closer look at some of the best camping and caravanning spots the Red Centre has to offer. We’ve already got an article about caravanning and camping around Alice Springs. You can check that out here.

Kings Creek Station

Stunning scenery, camels, cattle and a wide range of accommodation options: that’s what the vast Kings Creek Station  offers.

Located just 36 kilometres from Kings Canyon, the 180,000-hectare cattle station is on Luritja Road, which connects the Lasseter Highway to Larapinta Drive (the main route through the West MacDonnell Ranges). Cautious travellers should go via the sealed Lasseter, while the more adventurous might prefer the dirt and corrugations of the Red Centre Way (formerly the Mereenie Loop Road).

an aerial view of Kings Creek Station
Base yourself close to Kings Canyon at this excellent station stay. (Image: Tourism NT/Kings Creek Station)

Set among tall desert oaks, the campground features powered and unpowered sites, a pool, campfire, hot showers and toilets. If you want to take it up a notch, pick a tent in one of the three glamping sections – Mort Conway Camp, Drovers Dream and the Dreamtime Escarpment.

the balcony view at Kings Creek Station
The safari tents offer spectacular views. (Image: Tourism NT/Kings Creek Station)

All the safari tents boast air conditioning, plush beds, ensuites, barbecues and the option of a buffet breakfast, breakfast hamper and self-cook barbecue dinner pack. The Dreamtime Escarpment abodes are the crème de la crème of the safari tents, thanks to their elevated platforms, outdoor showers, shared plunge pool and large verandahs, negating the need to head anywhere else for a sundowner. Experiences at the station include helicopter flights, buggy rides and cultural tours.

a look inside the safari-style tent at Kings Creek Station
The safari tents feature air conditioning and plush beds. (Image: Tourism NT/Kings Creek Station)

Facilities: powered, unpowered, camp kitchen, showers, toilets, fire pits, swimming pool, café, pet friendly, laundry.

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Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon

Your idyllic days at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon  will be spent exploring Watarrka National Park, just ten minutes from this remote resort-style retreat.

the view at Discovery Kings Canyon Resort near Watarrka National Park
Settle into the remote resort-style retreat at Discovery Kings Canyon Resort.
The private deck attached to the Deluxe Suites at Discovery Parks - Kings Canyon
The perfect place to take in your surroundings at the end of the day.

The campsite boasts uninterrupted views of Kings Canyon with plenty of powered and unpowered sites and ablution blocks, plus a pool and two restaurants. For those looking for more luxurious accommodation, there are resort rooms and glamping tents.

The bathtub in the deluxe suite at Discovery Parks - Kings Canyon Resort
The bathtub in the deluxe suite is a real showstopper.
Inside the Deluxe Suite at Discovery Parks - Kings Canyon Resort
Staying in the outback doesn’t mean you have to rough it.

Facilities: powered, unpowered, camp kitchen, showers, toilets, swimming pool, restaurant, tennis court, petrol station, laundry.

Curtin Springs Wayside Inn

Just a stone’s throw away from Uluru (a mere 85 kilometres away), Curtin Springs  serves as an ideal base for exploring the nearby natural wonders without breaking the bank.

a couple walking at the entrance of Curtin Springs Wayside Inn, Red Centre
Curtin Springs Wayside Inn is a great base for exploring Uluru and other nearby wonders. (Image: Tourism Australia/Global Headquarters)

Be prepared for an all-dirt campground, which is part of a working cattle station, giving you a unique glimpse into the day-to-day life of the Australian outback.

an aerial view of Curtin Springs Wayside Inn
The rustic campground is part of a working cattle station. (Image: Tourism Australia/Global Headquarters)

There is no charge for unpowered sites, while those who want to splash out a little can book a powered site or one of the 27 rooms, which range in size from twin rooms with shared bathrooms to abodes that sleep five with private ensuites.

a man serving food to the couple at the restaurant of Curtin Springs Wayside Inn
The in-house restaurant serves home-style meals. (Image: Tourism Australia/Global Headquarters)

Facilities: pet-friendly, powered, unpowered, barbeque area, fire pits, showers, toilets, restaurant, petrol station.

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Giles Track camping

Camping is not permitted in Watarrka National Park, except for hikers on the 22-kilometre Giles Track. Walkers can camp anywhere between the three-kilometre and 20-kilometre markers, but the best spot is at Reedy Creek. If you’re a visitor to the NT, you will need a park pass .

Facilities: none.

Discovery Resorts – Glen Helen

Discovery Resorts – Glen Helen  is currently closed due to water issues.

an aerial view of Discover Resorts - Glen Helen
Discover Resorts – Glen Helen is an outback haven. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)
For more incredible ways to experience the Red Centre read our guide to Alice Springs and Uluru.
Leah McLennan
Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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Red earth, light shows and ancient culture: discover the ultimate NT road trip

(Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Ben Savage)

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    The Northern Territory is made for road trips, and this one hits all the highlights.

    Craggy mountain ranges, inviting waterholes, ochre soil: the landscape of the Northern Territory is asking to be explored by road and foot. There are many iconic road trips to choose from here, but none so all-encompassing than the roughly 3000 kilometres of sealed road that make up Explorer’s Way.

    Spend 14 days (or more, to really make the most of it) driving this route from Adelaide, hitting the NT near the small settlement of Kulgera before later finishing in Darwin. Along the way, you’ll find nearly all the territory’s most iconic sights.

    Discover some of the top highlights that make Explorer’s Way one of Australia’s most incredible road trips.

    1. Alice Springs

    echidna at Alice Springs Desert Park
    See the locals at Alice Springs Desert Park. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

    Recently hitting the big screen again with the story of The Kanagroo Sanctuary , there’s a lot to surprise you in Alice Springs.

    Three distinct desert habitats – desert rivers, sand country and woodland – are recreated over 1300 hectares at Alice Springs Desert Park . Time your visit for a presentation or a free bird show.

    Later, turn your attention to the skies above, taking a dive into local astronomy at Earth Sanctuary . You’ll find a range of experiences, from a 90-minute toe-dip into the stars through to an overnight adventure.

    Alice Springs packs a surprising punch with its tasty dining options, including pub grub and unique brews at Alice Springs Brewing Co , tapas and pizza at Epilogue Lounge and tasty cafe fare at the quirky Page 27 .

    2. Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park

    woman standing at Ormiston Gorge
    Dive into Ormiston Gorge. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Dom and Jesso)

    Beginning 15 minutes from Alice Springs and stretching across 161 kilometres, Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park is packed with striking ancient landscapes and inviting water holes.

    Visit Standley Chasm – traditionally known as Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’ – to take in its bold red and orange hues, and to observe the diverse bird species, lizards and wallabies that call it home.

    Cool off in one of several picturesque natural swimming holes, like Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge.

    3. Uluru & Kata Tjuta

    three women looking at Kata Tjuta at sunset
    Explore Kata Tjuta. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

    Visiting the Cultural Heart of Australia is something everybody should experience. There are so many side trips in the Red Centre you could easily spend a week here, but to get the most out of a short time, park the car then get out on foot.

    Take the 10-kilometre Base Walk around the entirety of Uluru or join a free, ranger-guided Mala Walk along part of the base, learning about Tjukurpa (creation stories) and geology as you go.

    For a change of pace, wait until nightfall and wander through the iconic Field of Light display by celebrated artist Bruce Munro, or see the Wintjiri Wiru lightshow that shares the ancient Mala story using drones, lasers and projections.

    4. Tennant Creek

    pson looking at Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) northern territory
    See the ancient granite boulders of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Dom And Jesso)

    Tennant Creek was Australia’s third-largest gold mining town in the 1930s, and visitors can discover that history at Battery Hill Mining Centre – and even try their own hand at gold fossicking.

    For a completely different side of history, pop into Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre , which preserves and shares Warumungu culture through art, performance, a museum and more.

    Just outside town, find the ancient granite boulders of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). A site integral to important stories held by the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Warlpiri and Alyawarra peoples, the boulders appear to almost have dropped out of the sky and seemingly continue to defy gravity.

    5. Mataranka

    aerial of people swimming in bitter springs northern territory
    Dive into Bitter Springs. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Ben Savage)

    A town made famous by the novel We of the Never Never by Jeannie Gunn (and a movie of the same name), Mataranka is also known for its sandy-bottomed thermal pool, Bitter Springs , within Elsey National Park. Follow a 500-metre loop track around these spring-fed pools that stay a toasty 34°C year-round, before choosing your favourite spot to dive into. Enjoy the local birdlife while you relax.

    Elsewhere in the park, find historical sites, several scenic walks and Roper River, which is perfect for boating and fishing.

    6. Nitmiluk National Park

    Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise
    Join a sunset cruise with Nabilil Dreaming. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Lachlan Gardiner)

    Nitmiluk National Park is sandstone country, with 13 stunning gorges and plenty of waterfalls waiting to be explored.

    One of the most beautiful spots can be found along the 62-kilometre Jatbula Trail, a five-to-six day bushwalk that follows an ancient Jawoyn songline from Nitmiluk Gorge to Leliyn (Edith Falls). Numbers are restricted and book out quickly, so be sure to plan well ahead. Not up for the hike? Drive right up to the falls and enjoy a dip without the challenge.

    Elsewhere, explore Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. Paddle a kayak through the river running through the canyon, or save your energy on a Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise , discovering the stories and ways of the Jawoyn people while enjoying a candlelit dinner as the cliffs around you shift colour and glow with the changing daylight.

    Continue your cultural journey at local art centres like Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Art & Culture Centre or Mimi Aboriginal Art & Craft .

    7. Litchfield National Park

    cathedral termite mounds in Litchfield national park
    Be awed by giant cathedral termite mounds. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ As We Wander)

    Just over an hour’s drive from Darwin lies the beautiful Litchfield National Park. It’s famous for stunning waterfalls and swimming holes, including Buley Rockhole, Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Tjaynera Falls.

    Here you’ll also find hundreds of giant – and magnetic – cathedral termite mounds that are truly a sight to see. Ageing up to 100 years old, you won’t find mounds like these outside the northern parts of Australia. Stroll along the accessible boardwalk to see them up close.

    8. Darwin

    darwin street art
    Darwin art is streets ahead. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Mark Fitzpatrick)

    This list wouldn’t be complete without the territory’s capital city: Darwin. Situate yourself upon arrival with a stroll through the main streets, admiring the many art murals by local, interstate and international artists. They’re all remnants of the annual Darwin Street Art Festival , one of Australia’s longest running street art festivals.

    Stop to recharge along Darwin’s Waterfront Precinct , an area of delectable restaurants, public swimming pools and free events. And, of course, it would be wrong to leave the city without enjoying a bowl of laksa at Mindil Beach Sunset Market as the sun goes down.

    Learn more and start planning your Explorer’s Way road trip at northernterritory.com/drive.