Discover the Wild Heart Of Australia's Red Center

Revered by the Aboriginese as a sacred totem that connects them to the gods, Uluru is both a geological and cultural landmark that speaks of the very essence of Northern Australia.

- Tatyana Leonov

Dusty yellows, burnt oranges, deep browns and rich reds any way we look. Sometimes it’s just sand and dirt, other times we see patches of scrubland and the occasional bright wildflower in bloom. We stop frequently to take photos, to plunge our toes into the hot red sand and laugh about how red our feet get as the holiday advances.

Starting at Alice Springs and heading towards Uluru, my husband and I have been driving our trusty Apollo motorhome for a few days. We’ve been breaking up the endless white line of the tarmac as much as possible – invigorating swims in ancient waterholes, picnic lunches overlooking salt lakes and sand rivers, long leisurely walks with no set route or place to be, road shop breaks to sample local delicacies like camel burgers. And every night we unfold our portable camp chairs for cheese and wine as dusk washes over the desert.

One of the most remarkable stops is Kings Canyon, where we stay a couple of nights. We trek the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, climbing to the top of the canyon and then trailing its edge, relentlessly gawking into the ravine dazed by its beauty. Half way into the hike the Garden of Eden makes for a pleasant sojourn. This lush green space, where galahs and finches squawk amongst the thriving vegetation, really does feel like its namesake. We only just make it back to the campsite in time for sunset and quickly scramble to get what’s become our customary cheese and wine out in time.

Sunset is an ethereal time of day when neon pinks and flaming oranges roll over the peculiar vastness that is the Red Centre wilderness. The many reddish-pink hues of the sky and land intertwine, and just before the sun sinks below the horizon it becomes mystifying as to where the land ends and the sky begins.