The Red Centre's unique landscape and scenery attracts thousands of tourists each year. This is also a culturally significant area for the indigenous people who have inhabited this land for over 40 thousand years.
To the local folk the town is just "The Alice", but for most Australians it stands as the symbol of the vast "Red Centre", the focal point of the arid inland of the continent, and an oasis of civilisation in the great central desert.
Alice Springs is linked by jet airlines to the capital cities of the nation. But the Flying Doctor Service base and the School of the Air are reminders that it provides a vital link with the people in the wide outback regions.
The world's largest monolith, with the Aboriginal name 'Uluru' is probably the best known and most widely publicised landscape feature of outback Australia. It stands starkly against the surrounding plains. Ayers Rock is 8.8km in circumference, 3.6km long, 2.5km wide and 348m high.
Ayers Rock is 426km south west of Alice Springs within the Uluru National Park. Other features of the Park include the famous "Olgas".
This Range borders the Stuart Highway in the southern part of the Northern Territory. Although the range is located in the arid dry heart of central Australia, there are areas of dense vegetation such as Palm Valley. Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm are just two of the spectacular Gaps that have been formed over time by the Finke and Todd Rivers.
For many people The Olgas are more impressive than Uluru. They are a group of 36 massive red rock outcrops separated by narrow valleys and covering 35 square kilometres. The highest of these is Mount Olga (Kata Tjuta) which rises to 546 metres high.
Kata Tjuta means 'many heads' in the language of the Anangu people.
Palm Valley is a unique oasis in the Finke Gorge National Park. It's lush vegetation is thought to be thousands of years old and includes Livistona Mariae Palms or Red Cabbage Palms.
Palm Valley was opened to tourists in the 1960s, and since then it has become one of the most popular spots to visit in the Red Centre.
The Tanami Desert lies 634 km northwest of Alice Springs. It is only accessible by dirt road and those who visit must have a reliable vehicle and plenty of water.
In 1900 gold was found in the area and a small mining town with a population of over 200 was established. However, the conditions were harsh, and the quality of the ore was not good.
Uluru stands approximately 350 meters from the surrounding plain and it changes colour according to the time of day. It is such a powerful landmark, that is has been given a World Heritage listing. Its traditional owners, the Anangu people have many stories about the creation of the rock and some are depicted in displays at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. There are also audiovisual presentations of the history of the park and how it is managed.
The Anangu people prefer visitors to respect its cultural significance and not climb Uluru.
