Cultural Immersion in Australia’s Red Centre
Cultural Immersion in Australia’s Red Centre
$2465
Cultural Immersion in Australia’s Red Centre
5 Days Starting and ending in Alice Springs
Visiting: Mparntwe (Alice Springs) / Rodna Homelands, Yapulpa (Glen Helen) / Rodna Homelands, Ntaria (Hermannsburg) / Mangama, Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) / Mangama, Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) / Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
Tour Overview
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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Mparntwe (Alice Springs) / Rodna Homelands
Location: Mparntwe (Alice Springs) / Rodna Homelands
Accommodation: Bush camping with shared facilities
Meals Included: dinner
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Yapulpa (Glen Helen) / Rodna Homelands
Location: Yapulpa (Glen Helen) / Rodna Homelands
Accommodation: Bush camping with shared facilities
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
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.
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Day 3: Ntaria (Hermannsburg) / Mangama
Location: Ntaria (Hermannsburg) / Mangama
Accommodation: Bush camping with shared facilities
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
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. Transfer to Mangama Campground, near Ormiston Gorge, where you’ll spend the next two nights. Here, you’ll be treated to another Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony before dinner. Listen to more stories of the Dreaming around the fire tonight and settle in for some rest and relaxation.
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Day 4: Tjoritja (West Macdonnell Ranges) / Mangama
Location: Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) / Mangama
Accommodation: Bush camping with shared facilities
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) / Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
Location: Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) / Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Bush camping with shared facilities (4 nights) -
Meals
4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners -
Rodna - Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony
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Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing
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Yapulpa - Hike across Country to Yapulpa
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Yapulpa - Glen Helen Gorge Visit with Picnic Lunch
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Yapulpa - Visit to Thwatharra Gorge
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Rodna - Cultural Activities with our Aboriginal Hosts
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Ntaria - Hermannsburg Historic Precinct tour with Local Aboriginal Guide
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Ntaria - Visit to Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation
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Ntaria - Morning Tea at Kata Anga Tearooms
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Ntaria - Albert Namatjira’s residence
Transport
- Private vehicle
Accommodation
- CAMPING
- Each participant will have their own four-person sized tent, each with a stretcher and a 'swag' mattress. All that needs to be brought along is a sleeping bag and a pillow, and you are set for a comfortable night’s sleep. You will have access to daily hot showers and toilets.
Important Information
- 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.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
For now, this adventure is just for a small group of our most loyal Intrepid Insiders. But we love your exploring spirit if you’ve found it by chance! Sign up to hear about when it might become available and for more travelling inspiration.
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 campsites of Rodna and Mangama are 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. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Aug 12, 2024 - Aug 16, 2024Sunday - Thursday
Sep 01, 2024 - Sep 05, 2024Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions