Five Ways To Cross The Red Centre

As the name subtly suggests, Red Centre is located in the southern desert region in the centre of Australia. The area is a magnificent place to find the ancient landscapes of rock formations. You can also take time to learn about the culture and history of the Aboriginal people.

There are many ways to get to Red Centre, and here are just five ideas to help you determine which way you may want to go. Alice Springs is the closest city you will find and is the heart of the area.

TAKE THE GHAN FROM ADELAIDE TO ALICE SPRINGS

Start out your journey exploring the beautiful city of Adelaide in Southern Australia and make your way up to Alice Springs. The trip will take approximately one night and two days, and you can book with the Great Southern Rail

www.greatsouthernrail.com.au

Depending on your budget, you can choose from four different options. The costs for a one way ticket from Adelaide to Alice Springs ranges from The Platinum Service ($2359), Gold Service Twin ($1219), Gold Service Single ($1089), and the Red Service Daynighter Seat ($449).

They also offer a few discounts for children, pensioners, and people with Rail Savers or ReadyRail. If you are a backpacker or student, you can get a great discount on the Red Service Daynighter Seat for only $269 instead of the regular $449.

TAKE THE GHAN FROM DARWIN TO ALICE SPRINGS

Another option is to do the opposite side of the journey from above. Start out in Northern Australia in the city of Darwin and head down to Alice Springs. The time is the same as from Adelaide to Alice Springs and so is the pricing.

You can always take the full Ghan experience by going across all of Australia by train. The length of this journey is two nights and three days for the one way. This could save you money if you are hoping to see a good amount of Australia on your trip. Costs for this are only slightly more expensive than half the journey.

The Platinum Service is $3489, Gold Service Twin is $2349, Gold Service Single is $2099, and the Red Service Daynighter Seat is $889. Once again, they offer a great Backpacker and Student discount of $499 for the Red Service Daynighter Seat.

TRACK THE RED CENTRE

If you want to spend more time within the Red Centre, you can take the Red Centre tour offered by Great Southern Rail. https://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au
This four-day adventure tour will give you a in depth look into the beauty and impressive Red Centre. Activities include waking up to the sunrise over Kata Tjuta’s spiritual domes, exploring Uluru, a important cultural monolith, and going over the awe-inspiring Kings Canyon. Costs for this are $186 and includes tour fees, National Park entry fees, return transfers, and even accommodation and meals.

Head Office in Adelaide Parklands Terminal, Keswick
www.greatsouthernrail.com.au

TAKE A PLANE TO ALICE SPRINGS

If you are short on time, consider taking a plane straight to Alice Springs. From there you can acquire a flying shuttle to take you to Uluru to see the natural icon of the rock domes. If you are on a budget, Tiger Airways offers reasonable prices to Alice Springs.

www.tigerair.com

ROAD TRIP TO THE RED CENTRE

For a more adventurous and DIY trip you can plan a road trip to Red Centre. From Darwin it takes around 17 hours to drive to Alice Springs. From Adelaide it is around 18 hours. It is a pleasant drive on the Stuart Highway.

Do keep in mind if you take this option to remember you are driving through the desert. Make sure you have enough water and have done adequate research on where fuel and food stops are.

You can choose between the options for the one that best suits your needs, time, and budget. One thing is for sure, you will not regret making the trip to the Red Centre.

Related to You;
– Uluru Tours and Uluru Tours from Darwin