Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon & the MacDonnell Ranges
The Red Centre Way is Australia's most spectacular outback loop — a 1,135 km circuit from Alice Springs through ancient gorges, sacred monoliths, and vast desert plains. Hire a campervan and experience the heart of Australia.
The Red Centre Way is widely regarded as one of Australia's greatest road trips. This 1,135-kilometre loop from Alice Springs takes in the country's most iconic outback landmarks — Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, and the West MacDonnell Ranges — in a single, unforgettable circuit.
Travelling the Red Centre by campervan is the authentic way to experience this ancient landscape. You'll camp in the desert under millions of stars, watch the sunrise paint Uluru in every shade of red, hike through billion-year-old gorges, and feel the profound silence of the outback. The entire loop can be completed in 5-7 days, with the majority of the route on sealed roads accessible to standard campervans.
Australia's most sacred landmarks — watch the rock change colour at sunrise and sunset.
The dramatic 300-metre sandstone walls and the lush Garden of Eden make for an unforgettable hike.
Ancient gorges, swimming holes, and hiking trails stretching west from Alice Springs.
Some of the clearest, darkest skies on Earth — the Milky Way is breathtaking.
Deeply significant cultural landscape with guided experiences and rock art sites.
A satisfying circuit starting and ending in Alice Springs — no backtracking needed.
Here's the ideal 5-7 day Red Centre Way itinerary by campervan, starting and ending in Alice Springs.
Head west from Alice Springs into the West MacDonnell Ranges. Visit Simpsons Gap (look for black-footed rock wallabies at dawn), Standley Chasm (see the narrow gorge light up at midday), and Ellery Creek Big Hole for a swim in the permanent waterhole. Camp at Ormiston Gorge — one of the most beautiful campgrounds in Central Australia.
Continue west and south to Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park). The 6 km Kings Canyon Rim Walk is the highlight — a 3-4 hour loop along the canyon rim with views into the Garden of Eden, a lush pocket of palms and ferns in the canyon floor. The walk includes over 500 steps at the start (the 'Heart Attack Hill') but rewards with spectacular views. Camp at Kings Canyon Resort campground.
Drive south to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (300 km, about 3 hours). Spend at least two nights here. Do the Uluru base walk (10 km, 3-4 hours), watch sunset and sunrise from the designated viewing areas, and hike the Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta (7.4 km, 3-4 hours). Camp at the Ayers Rock Resort Campground.
Return to Alice Springs via the sealed Lasseter and Stuart Highways (450 km, about 5 hours). If you have extra time, stop at the Henbury Meteorite Craters or the quirky roadside attractions along the Stuart Highway. Arrive back in Alice Springs to drop off your campervan.
The vehicle you need depends on which sections of the Red Centre Way you plan to drive.
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