Central Australia is highly regarded for its ancient land, and doing a guided walking tour in this region is an experience in itself.
If you’re doing a guided walking tour here, many options are open to you. As with most guided walking tours, you will have a local guide or expert to take you through most of the term. These experts are well-versed with the region's geography and, at the same time, also have the trekking/hiking/walking experience. Sometimes, you may choose to skip a live tour guide and use the radio instead.
Most Alice Springs walking tours involve a walk around Alice Springs. The walk, around 1.5 to 2 kilometres, will take anywhere between 90 to 120 minutes. Typically, it begins at the Visitor Information Centre and entails a stroll around the centre of the city with a tour guide who will show tourists around the main attractions of the town and describe its interesting history and unusual geography.
Alice Springs Walking Tour
There are a number of tour operators who run guided walking tours around Uluru and into Kata Tjuta. Some begin at sunrise because watching the sunrise is a must-do activity when visiting the Red Centre. These walks go around the entire base of the Uluru, which is about 12.5 kilometres in length, and explain details of the history and art that can be seen. Kata Tjuta walks are also available.
The Mala Walk is a two-kilometre return walk that is suitable for any walker. Beginning at the Mala Carpark, a free 1.5 hour ranger-guided walking tour is available daily (8am October-April and 10am May-September). Learn about the park’s geology, natural environment and cultural heritage from the people that live here. Our park rangers will stop at various sites to talk about the meaning of rock art, demonstrate the tools traditionally used by Anangu and tell you the Tjukurpa (creation stories) of many rock formations.
Free Ranger-guided Mala Walk
The local Aranda people know the West MacDonnell Ranges as Tjoritja. The national park in this region is home to several endangered species of animals. It is known for its cool and beautiful gorges. Several West MacDonnell Ranges walks allow visitors to explore the sheer magnificence of this region and popular spots. Like Uluru, there are a handful of operators who operate day tours throughout the West Macs that take you on walks, providing commentary on local plants and wildlife, geology and cultural significance of the places visited.
The Larapinta Trail is also another hiking trail that businesses provide assistance and guided commentary on. From a couple of days to weeks long trekking adventures, Larapinta Trail operators are an ideal hiking guide throughout the West Macs. Learn more about the Larapinta Trail here.
This tour is privately operated by Standley Chasm's 100% aboriginal owned incorporation. The local Western Arrente people are your guides as they walk you into Standley Chasm providing commentary on the region's culture, history, geology, bush medicine, bush tucker, weaponry, flora, and fauna.
Standley Chasm Cycad Walk
If you don’t want to be bound by the timings of a walking tour and want to do it at your own pace, then try DIY tour guides. These are pre-recorded audio clips of famous tourist spots in the Australian Red Centre and include information such as its history, geography, wildlife, and people.
Depending on where you are travelling to or from there are a couple different audio guides available.
Parks and Wildlife operate a "Parks Alive" Program over winter that includes some guided walk and talk sessions throughout the Central Australia region. Locations include:
For more information on what activities are happening and the tour times see here.
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