Our Travels

Australia-Red Centre by Travel Nation's Karl Sell

3 day tour with ATA- Adventure tours Australia.

Most people that head to Australia will want to visit the Red Centre to take that obligatory picture of the red rock (Uluru) at sunrise and sunset. But this is also a great opportunity to gain an insight into the local Aboriginal culture and the ancient stories surrounding the area. After failing to do so on 3 visits to Oz I finally got the chance recently.

I spent 3 days on an organised tour with Australian Adventure Tours and which took me from Uluru to Alice Springs. This is a must for anyone who wants to see everything that this sacred location has to offer.

From the rolling mounds of the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) where aboriginal ceremonies still take place, to climbing to the top of Kings Canyon and, yes, taking 'that picture', I enjoyed this trip immensely.

Our guide's knowledge of Aboriginal culture and the ancient stories that seemed to accompany every rock, mound and watering hole was outstanding. Without him I would have been at a complete loss.

In the evenings we were treated to a hardy meal cooked on a open fire and which on one occasion included a very tasty kangaroo tail! After the fire sizzled away, the brilliance of the outback sky became the main focus, so it was time to curl up for the night in our authentic Aussie bedroll – swag (tents were available) and gaze at the millions of stars whilst our guide played away on the didgeridoo. A fitting way to end each magical day.