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Cultural Immersion in Australia’s Red Centre

5 Days | Explore sacred sites with the Traditional Owners of the land in the Red Centre

5 days

Start

Alice Springs, Australia

Finish

Alice Springs, Australia

Trip Code

PFRR

Min Age

Trip Size

1 - 12

Physical Rating

Meals

4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Bush camping with shared facilities (4 nights)

From £1,416(5 days)

Trip Informations

Immerse yourself in the culture of the Red Centre with this fascinating five-day trip to Country. On this trip, you’ll visit some of the sacred sites of the Western Arrernte people, learn about the community of Ntaria (Hermannsburg), hike rugged Tjoritja (the West MacDonnell Ranges) and be taken back in time as you explore the Hermannsburg Historic Precinct. Stay on Homelands with Traditional Owners and learn Dreaming stories by the glow of the campfire, which have been handed down to your First Nations guides from their Ancestors. Deep dive into culture among those who know the land best as you hike Country, find community at camp and even learn how to make damper from wattleseeds.

Why you’ll love this trip

Get to know the landscape of Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) with the Traditional Owners of the land by your side and spend your nights listening to Dreaming stories by the campfire.

Take an optional 13 km hike from Rodna Homelands to Yapulpa (Glen Helen Gorge). Refresh with a picnic lunch at the gorge next to the Finke River, then continue to Thwatharra Gorge.

Begin your stay at the Rodna Homelands campsite with a traditional Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.

Tour the Ntaria (Hermannsburg) precinct with a local Aboriginal guide and learn the history of the area. Then, visit the former home of one of the most notable Australian artists – Albert Namatjira.

See the asteroid crater and sacred site of Tnorula (Gosses Bluff) and take in the ancient rock engravings. Then, swim in the Rutjupma (Redbank Gorge) waterhole.

Is this trip right for you?

This is an exploratory trip and the itinerary is not set in stone. As this is a pilot trip departure we expect the unexpected, but this is what puts adventure into adventure travel. You will be instrumental in shaping the future of the trip.

You’ll be sleeping in four-person sized tents, with stretchers and swag mattresses. Solo travellers will have their own tent and those travelling with companions will share a tent. All that needs to be brought along is a warm sleeping bag and a pillow, and you're set for a comfortable night’s sleep. You will have access to daily hot showers and toilets, but will need to bring your own towel.

The campsite of Rodna is on private Homelands approximately 140km west of Alice Springs. The current situation in Alice Springs, as reported by some media outlets, does not affect our trips and poses no danger to you while on Country. For your peace of mind there is the option of an airport pick-up on the first day and drop-off on the last day in Alice Springs at no additional cost.

Itinerary

DAY 1
Mparntwe (Alice Springs) / Rodna Homelands
Welcome to Mparntwe (Alice Springs)! You’ll be picked up from the airport in Alice Springs (or your hotel in town if you have arrived earlier), and your adventure begins with a drive to Rodna – the Homelands of the Western Arrernte people. Settle into camp with your new travel crew before the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony that kickstarts your cultural immersion in the desert. Tonight, you’ll have dinner at camp with your group, which will be an Indigenous-inspired menu using local ingredients. Swap stories around the glow of the campfire and listen to stories of the Dreaming from your hosts.
Accommodation
Bush camping with shared facilities (1 night)
Meals
Dinner
Included activities
Rodna - Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony
Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing
Special information
Please advise us of your flight arrival into Alice Springs today so we can coordinate your pick-up. Alternatively we can also pick you up at your accommodation in Alice Springs if you have arrived a few days earlier. We'll get in touch with you closer to departure to advise of exact logistics. The travel time to Rodna today will be approximately 2 hours.
DAY 2
Yapulpa (Glen Helen) / Rodna Homelands
Seize the day with a 13 km hike across Country from Rodna to Yapulpa (Glen Helen Gorge). Refresh with a picnic lunch and perhaps a swim at the gorge. Continue your walk from Yapulpa to Thwatharra Gorge. Later, drive back to Rodna, where you’ll have a free afternoon – maybe take part in a boomerang-making class, learn how to paint with the First Nations local staff or try your hand at basket weaving. Later, you’ll make and cook wattleseed damper (thick, homemade bread made from crushed seeds) before dinner at camp. Tonight, stargaze around the campfire and soak up the beauty of an unpolluted sky.
Accommodation
Bush camping with shared facilities (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Yapulpa - Hike across Country to Yapulpa
Yapulpa - Glen Helen Gorge Visit with Picnic Lunch
Yapulpa - Visit to Thwatharra Gorge
Rodna - Cultural Activities with our Aboriginal Hosts
Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing
Special information
Today's hike will be approximately 13 km. If you would like to opt out from the hike you can instead drive to the gorge with the camp crew and meet the group there for lunch.
DAY 3
Ntaria (Hermannsburg) / Rodna Homelands
This morning you’ll meet with a local Aboriginal guide for a tour of the historic precinct of Ntaria (Hermannsburg). Soak up some local history, then enjoy morning tea with the group at the Kata Anga Tearooms. After, visit Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation. Have lunch before continuing to Albert Namatjira’s residence – an Arrernte painter who is widely considered as one of the most notable Australian artists. Return to Rodna and listen to more stories of the Dreaming around the fire tonight and settle in for some rest and relaxation.
Accommodation
Bush camping with shared facilities (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Ntaria - Hermannsburg Historic Precinct tour with Local Aboriginal Guide
Ntaria - Morning Tea at Kata Anga Tearooms
Ntaria - Visit to Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation
Ntaria - Albert Namatjira’s residence
Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
DAY 4
Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) / Rodna Homelands
Today you’ll be touring Tjoritja (West Macdonnell Ranges). Check out the asteroid crater and sacred site of Tnorula (Gosses Bluff), then learn the stories of Roma Gorge, taking in the ancient rock engravings. Your next stop is Rutjupma (Redbank Gorge) where you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch. Here, you also have the option to have a refreshing dip in the waterhole. Take a transfer back to camp for some afternoon activities (or an afternoon snooze). Tonight, you’ll enjoy another Indigenous-inspired menu for dinner before your last night of Red Centre star gazing.
Accommodation
Bush camping with shared facilities (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Tjoritja - Half-day Tour of West Macdonnell Ranges, including Tnorula (Gosses Bluff), Roma Gorge & Rutjupma (Redbank Gorge)
Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing
DAY 5
Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) / Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
Fuel up with an early breakfast at camp this morning before your drive back to the city. Visit Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) along the way, taking a guided walk through the gorge with an Aboriginal guide. Learn about the geology, flora, fauna, bush medicine, bush tucker and weaponry that are and were used here and gain a deeper understanding of local culture. Arrive back in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) late morning, where your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay and continue exploring, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Angkerle Atwatye - Visit Standley Chasm with Local Aboriginal Guide
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. The trip ends upon arrival back in Alice Springs at around 11am on the last day, either in town at your hotel or at the airport in time for flights departing after 12:30pm. Please let us know your flight details so we can coordinate your drop-off.

Inclusions

Meals

4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Bush camping with shared facilities (4 nights)

Activities

Rodna - Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony

Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing

Yapulpa - Hike across Country to Yapulpa

Yapulpa - Glen Helen Gorge Visit with Picnic Lunch

Yapulpa - Visit to Thwatharra Gorge

Rodna - Cultural Activities with our Aboriginal Hosts

Ntaria - Hermannsburg Historic Precinct tour with Local Aboriginal Guide

Ntaria - Morning Tea at Kata Anga Tearooms

Ntaria - Visit to Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation

Ntaria - Albert Namatjira’s residence

Tjoritja - Half-day Tour of West Macdonnell Ranges, including Tnorula (Gosses Bluff), Roma Gorge & Rutjupma (Redbank Gorge)

Angkerle Atwatye - Visit Standley Chasm with Local Aboriginal Guide

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Important notes

START & END POINT LOCATION & TIME

Please advise us of your flight arrival into Alice Springs on day 1 of the trip so we can coordinate your pick-up. Alternatively we can also pick you up at your accommodation in Alice Springs if you have arrived a few days earlier. We'll get in touch with you closer to departure to advise of exact logistics. The trip ends upon arrival back in Alice Springs at around 11am on the last day, either in town at your hotel or at the airport in time for flights departing after 12:30pm. Please let us know your flight details so we can coordinate your drop-off.

CAMPING

Please bring a warm sleeping bag, pillow and towel.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Single travellers will be allocated their own tent at no additional cost.

ELECTRICITY

The camps are solar powered and there are a number of outlets that can be used to charge personal devices. We recommend bringing a fully charged power bank to recharge your phone or camera, rather than relying solely on power at the camp.

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