Afternoon Trip: Board the luxury coach early in the afternoon and travel east Alice Spring

• View Atila (Mt Conner)
• See the MacDonnell Ranges

Afternoon Trip: Board the luxury coach early in the afternoon and travel east Alice Spring

• View Atila (Mt Conner)
• See the MacDonnell Ranges

Board the luxury coach early in the afternoon and travel east from Yulara via Curtin Springs and see Atila (Mt Conner) in the distance. This fascinating mesa, or flat-topped mountain, juts out of the surrounding desert plain bearing witness to a period of massive uplift, followed by aeons of erosion. Continue east to Erldunda before turning north on to the famous Stuart Highway and to the town at the very heart of the Red Centre, Alice Springs. As you pass through the striking 'Outback' landscapes, your Driver/Guide will provide an informative and entertaining commentary on the natural and geological history of the region, the unique Australian desert flora and fauna, and some of the traditional customs and beliefs of the Aboriginal people who have inhabited these lands for more than 20 000 years. See groves of desert oaks, many of which are many hundreds of years old. These intriguing trees survive this harsh climate by sinking tap roots deep into the earth whilst standing dormant on the surface until water is found. The journey takes you past the impressive West MacDonnell Ranges, another example of this area's intriguing geological evolution. This 500 million-year-old mass of twisted quartzite stands as one of central Australia's most dominant land forms, and is riddled with deep gorges and chasms.

Departs Ayers Rock 12.30 p.m. Returns: Approx 6.30 p.m.