Red Centre Accommodation

Hi, I am flying into Alice Springs and have three nights to get to Uluru. I've had a look at the brochures and it looks like the places to visit on the way are Glen Helen, MacDonnell ranges and Kings Canyon. I've checked out accommodation and it all looks like pretty boring Voyages hotels or similar. Any thoughts on my itinerary and also any B&B or farm stay type of accommodation? We will have a 4WD although we don't want to camp given that it is likely to be very cold at night and I am heavily pregnant (so have to get up a few times a night to use the bathroom!). Thanks for your help.

There are no farms and no B and Bs - this is very sparsely settled semi-desert country, apart from the major tourist attractions. what youve seen is all there is, unless you camp.

You'll be spolit for choice in Alice Springs itself; there are many different accommodation types ranging from Hostels through to swanky hotels. Im not entirely sure about B&Bs though, there may well be one somewhere. I could recommend a self-contained villa unit out at either MacDonnell Ranges Holiday Park or Heavitree Gap Holiday Park (both are next to each other on the fringe of Alice Springs (south end), about a 5-10 minute drive in to town at the most.

Glen Helen Gorge i believe the Voyages is your only choice; but, Glen Helen Gorge is do-able as a day trip from the Alice, even with stops in at the other major sites in the Western Macs (Flynn's Grave, Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge).

Kings Canyon does have a Voyages resort, and there is also the Safari Cabins at Kings Creek Station, which is about 35kms from the Canyon. I would recommend self-cater here, their kitchen has a nasty habit of closing at 6pm!

At Yulara (the supply town for the Uluru area), you have a choice of over-priced accomodation. Even the YHA is around $50 a night for a dorm bed! You may have to lash out here for a hotel room; it's not pretty in terms of cost. The only other option (besides camping at the campground) is to stay at Curtin Springs which is about an hours drive each way from Yulara and the Rock itself. Do the maths, and see if it will save you any money...

The Glen Helen resort is a good place to stay your first night - you can definitely take in the gorges on the way out - good toilets at standley chasm and ormiston gorge. There is a station near the canyon - think its called kings canyon station funnily and i think they do some type of accommodation but not definite could be only backpacker accomm. If you drive and do the whole rock/olgas thing till sunset I stayed at Curtin Springs - think its about 30mins from the rock and their accommodation is not too bad plus good environment. THere are stops on the way back at mt ebenezer, erldunda and jim's for necessary breaks. definitely reccommend stopping at rainbow valley on your way back into town.