Atthetopofthetree,forwearybodiesinneedofseriousrecuperation,
there’sDoubleTreebyHilton,AliceSprings.- Thefeaturesavailableareresort-like,with 18 holesofgolf,a 24-hourfitness
centre,a coupleoftenniscourtsandtheubiquitous,gloriouslylandscaped,
pool,allboundedbythespectacularMacDonnellranges,loominga mere
stone’sthrowaway.Wherebettertobookenda gnarlyfewdays,orweeks,
outin themiddleofnowhere,subsistingonweighed-to-the-grampack
rations,thansucha luxelocale?Afterweeksspentoutbush,opportunistically
washingin rainwaterorsporadicwaterholes,there’slikelylittleelseyou’d
planondoingthanrevitalisingyoursoulin thesanctuarythatis DoubleTree
byHilton,a venuethatpromiseswelcomingluxuryaftersatisfyinghardship.
orF moreinformation,goto:doubletree3.hilton.comAnotherfantasticaccommodationoptionis theBig4MacDonnellRange
HolidayPark.- ThemostawardedCaravanParkin theNorthernTerritory,theMacDonnell
RangeHolidayParkis famousforitspancakebreakfasteverySunday.They
wona Brolgaawardtoo,the 2019 HolidayParkBrolga. - Situatedin thepicturesquesurroundingsoftheMacDonnellRanges,away
fromthetrafficandnoise,theparkis a merefouranda halfclickssouthof
AliceSprings,onPalmPlace. - MacDonnellRangeHoliday Parkis theperfectsettingfora shortbreak,or
anextendedholiday.It hasbeena favouedvenueformanyvisitos formore
than 25 years.Offeringyoua choiceofaccommodationtosuita angeof
needsandbudgets,fromself-containedtwo-bedroomdeuxevillas o budget
cabins,spaciousensuitesitesandlargepoweredsites.If notyourspeed,pitch
a tentin theircampingareaor,forlargegroups,there’sa 64-bedbunkhouse. - TheMacdonnellRangeHolidayPark’smissionis tointroducetheirgueststo
thespiritof hetrueoutback,tohelpthemdiscoverandex erienceallthat
theuniqueCenreofAustraliahastooffer.TheMacDonnellRangeHoliday
Parkoffersyear-roundaccommodationwitha family-friendlyatmosphere.
TheParkhasa 4 anda halfstarAAATrating.
orF moreinformation,goto:big4.com.auWhere to stay
CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
steep gorges and tranquil waterholes. The
AWH guides make a concerted effort to
connect hikers with ancient indigenous
culture and set up camp under
uninterrupted star-filled skies. The
Larapinta Trail truly is one of Australia’s
most celebrated treks.
AWH’s exclusive itineraries are based
on more than 40 years experience
creating trekking adventures set in
Australia's — and the world’s — wildest,
most remote and spectacular pockets.
Since 1982, AWH have been guiding
small groups of travellers on Australia's
finest walks. Their itineraries offer
unbeatable experiences of Australia’s
greatestwildernessdestinations.
AWH’sgroupsaresmall,8 to 16people,
soimpactontheenvironmentis keptto a
minimum.Theirguidesarefieldexperts
witha highrespectandgenuinelovefor
theAustralianlandscape.Responsible
travelis at thecoreof everythingtheydo.
YoucanbesureyourjourneywithAWH
willleavenotraceandtakesutmost
considerationof localwildlife,wilderness
andculturesof theland.
Lastyear,AustralianWalkingHolidays
wasrecognisedforitseffortscreating
world-leadingadventures,withitsClassic
LarapintaTrekpickingupthe 2019
Brolgaawardforecotourism.Formoreinformation,goto:
australianwalkingholidays.com.auALICE SPRINGS
The cultural centre of Central Australia,
and the best place from which to base all
adventure is the Alice, or Mparntwe —
the Arrernte word for Alice Springs. The
township is framed by the MacDonnell
Ranges rising up amid a f lat desert
landscape. Think of it as an enormous
basecamp in the desert. A place to
regroup, relax and unwind before or after
any foray beyond its boundaries. The
Alice can provide world-class luxury
five-star lodgement, as well as basic
canvas swag and foam mat roll-out
options. It’s perhaps the most diverse
town, accomodation wise, on Earth.
While there, be sure to discover more
about the Arrernte people. They are the
traditional custodians of Alice Springs
and so have the strongest connection
with the land. If planning to embark on
any sort of potentially consequential trip
into Arrernte Land, you could do a lot
worse than gathering some key intel from
an Arrernte elder.SoaringabouttheTerritoryina glider
AWARD WINNING
ADVENTURES
Outdoor has covered the hikes offered by
Australian Walking Holidays in many
previous issues. Perhaps the most
fulfilling, from a discover Australia
perspective, is their Larapinta Trail Trek.
As part of World Expeditions Travel
Group, Australian Walking Holidays
(AWH) is a fully Australian-owned
company specialising in small group
guided walking adventures. AWH has been
offering trips on the Larapinta Trail since
1995.
Following the spine of the West
MacDonnell Ranges, the Larapinta Trail is
one of the world’s great desert walks. The
route takes in dramatic rock formations,18 / Outdoor