The Red Centre has walks that no other place on Earth can offer: around the base of Uluru at first light, between the domes of Kata Tjuta, along the rim of a sandstone canyon, and across the ancient ranges west of Alice Springs on a trail of more than 230 km. Here are 14 featured walks in one guide.
Trail status · October 2026
Spring heat has arrived in Central Australia. On days forecast to reach 36°C or more, the Valley of the Winds (6) closes beyond Karu lookout from 11 am, and the Kings Canyon Rim Walk (9) must be started before 9 am. At Uluru some tracks close in the afternoon in summer, so plan to finish by 11 am. You need an Uluru-Kata Tjuta park pass ($38 per adult for three days; under-18s free) and a separate NT Parks Visitor Pass for Watarrka and the West MacDonnells. Check the NT Parks pass and alerts before you go.
Where are the best walks in the Red Centre?
The best-known cluster is in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, around the base of Uluru and among the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta, about 50 km to the west. Watarrka National Park, home of Kings Canyon, lies around 300 km by road to the north-east. The West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja) run west from Alice Springs, with gorges, waterholes and the long-distance Larapinta Trail.
- Uluru Base WalkModerate10.6 km (6.6 mi) loop A flat but long circuit of the rock. Allow about 3.5 hours; start at dawn.
- Mala WalkEasy2 km (1.2 mi) return Free ranger-guided walk to Kantju Gorge, from the Mala car park.
- Kuniya WalkEasy1 km (0.6 mi) return A short path to Mutitjulu Waterhole and rock art.
- Lungkata WalkEasy4 km (2.5 mi) return Along the south face of Uluru, telling the story of the blue-tongue lizard man.
- Liru WalkEasy4 km (2.5 mi) From the Cultural Centre to the Mala car park through mulga and desert oaks.
- Valley of the Winds (full loop)Difficult7.4 km (4.6 mi) loop Steep and rocky among the domes of Kata Tjuta. Water halfway.
- Karingana LookoutModerate5.4 km (3.4 mi) return Many steps to a lookout deep in the valley.
- Walpa GorgeEasy2.6 km (1.6 mi) return A gentle walk into a gorge between two domes.
- Kings Canyon Rim WalkModerate6 km (3.7 mi) loop Steep start, then a rim of 100-metre cliffs.
- Kings Creek WalkEasy2.6 km (1.6 mi) return A creek-bed path along the canyon floor below the walls of Watarrka.
- Kathleen SpringsEasy2.4 km (1.5 mi) return A sealed path to a spring-fed waterhole; wheelchair accessible.
- Giles TrackDifficult22 km (13.7 mi) An overnight ridge walk between Kings Canyon and Kathleen Springs.
- Ormiston Pound WalkModerate8.5 km (5.3 mi) loop Into a ring of ranges and back down the gorge.
- Larapinta TrailDifficult231 km (144 mi), 12 sections Alice Springs to Mount Sonder along the West MacDonnell Ranges.
What are the best walks at Uluru?
The Uluru Base Walk (1) is the best day walk in the park and one of the great walks in Australia. It circles the whole rock on a flat track, past caves, waterholes, rock art and sheer walls streaked by rain. Seen up close, Uluru is not smooth at all but pitted, folded and full of hollows. Allow about three and a half hours, walk clockwise from the Mala car park, and start early.
The free ranger-guided Mala walk (2) leaves at 8 am from October to April and 10 am from May to September, and is the best introduction to Anangu law and culture. The Kuniya walk (3) leads to Mutitjulu Waterhole, the Lungkata walk (4) follows the south face, and the Liru walk (5) links the Cultural Centre with the rock. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu traditional owners: the climb closed for good in October 2019, and signs mark sensitive sites where photos are not allowed.
Is the Valley of the Winds walk worth it?
Yes, and many visitors rate it above Uluru itself. The Valley of the Winds (6) loop at Kata Tjuta climbs over loose rock and through narrow passes between towering domes, some higher than Uluru. It is 7.4 km and graded difficult, with drinking water halfway. On hot days rangers close it beyond Karu lookout from 11 am, and the heat in the valley can be fierce.
For a shorter taste, walk to Karu lookout (2.2 km return) or carry on to Karingana lookout (7), a 5.4 km return walk with many steps and a view down the length of the valley. Nearby, Walpa Gorge (8) is an easy walk into a gorge between two of the domes, where rare plants survive in the shade. Kata Tjuta is a men's sacred site, so stay on the marked tracks.
Can you walk the Kings Canyon Rim?
Yes. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk (9) in Watarrka National Park starts with a steep climb known as Heart Attack Hill, then follows the rim above sheer walls past beehive domes to the Garden of Eden, a sheltered waterhole. It is 6 km and takes three to four hours, walked clockwise. On days forecast to reach 36°C you must start before 9 am, and you need an NT Parks Visitor Pass.
Can you walk the Larapinta Trail?
Yes, in sections or end to end. The Larapinta Trail (14) runs for more than 230 km along the spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges, from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station to the summit of Mount Sonder. It is split into 12 sections of one or two days each, and most walkers take two to three weeks for the whole trail. You must book and pay online at the NT parks booking site before you go: $25 per person per night, capped at $125, plus a booked campsite each night. Day walkers can try shorter loops such as Ormiston Pound (13).
What are the best easy walks in the Red Centre?
Pick the Kuniya walk (3) for a waterhole, Walpa Gorge (8) for a quick taste of Kata Tjuta, or the Kings Creek Walk (10) for the canyon floor. At the eastern end of Watarrka, Kathleen Springs (11) is a sealed, accessible path to a spring-fed rock pool, with signs on the Luritja people who have cared for it for thousands of years.
A few rules apply on every outback walk. Start at dawn, because heat builds fast and some tracks close by late morning. Carry about a litre of water for every hour you plan to walk, wear a hat and a fly net, and turn back if you feel unwell: heat stroke in the desert can come on with little warning. Stay on marked tracks, respect closed and sacred sites, and leave rocks, plants and anything cultural exactly where you found them.
For more, see the Northern Territory guide, our guide to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the Red Centre and the Ningaloo Reef snorkel and dive guide.
Facts checked October 2026. Tracks close for extreme heat, fire, flooding and cultural business, so check the official status page and the forecast before you go.
- Parks Australia: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park passes
- Parks Australia: Uluru base walk
- Parks Australia: Valley of the Winds walks, Kata Tjuta
- NT Government: Short walks in Watarrka National Park
- NT Government: Sections of the Larapinta Trail
- Fees and rules: NT Government, NT Parks Visitor Pass and multi-day walking trail fees (nt.gov.au); Parks Australia ranger-guided Mala walk
