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Land a free flight to the Red Centre when you book by the end of November

Credit: Tourism & Events NT/The Salty Travellers

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
Book an eligible Red Centre package by 30 November 2026 and put up to $750 towards your flight to Alice Springs/Mparntwe – now for travel until 30 June 2027.

Northern Territory holiday specialist NT Now and Tourism Central Australia have extended their Fly Free to Alice Springs offer. Eligible travellers can now fly through to 30 June 2027, up from 31 January 2027. You’ll receive a credit equal to the lowest available inbound economy airfare at the time of booking, up to $750 per person.

The catch hasn’t changed: you must book an eligible NT Now package by 30 November 2026, unless the offer sells out first. Departures are available from Sydney/Warrane, Melbourne/Naarm, Brisbane/Meanjin, Adelaide/Tarntanya and Perth/Boorloo, subject to airline schedules and availability.

Tourism Central Australia CEO Danial Rochford says more than 15,000 Australians applied for its Red Centre Drive Vouchers, which helped prompt the extension.

“The response to the Red Centre Drive Vouchers has shown us there is enormous appetite among Australians to experience Central Australia. What we’re hearing is that people want to come, and when we can help make that holiday more affordable, they’re ready to act," Rochford says.

From its ochre-hued dust and striking geology to exceptionally dark skies and artforms that hum with 40,000 years of Arrernte culture, the Red Centre is unlike anywhere else on the planet. It touches all who are lucky enough to visit – whether you are watching the rosy glow of Uluṟu at sunrise on the multi-day Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, road tripping to the mighty ridges of Kings Canyon or soaking up the energy at thriving local festivals.

If the Red Centre has been sitting on your travel wishlist, now’s the time to make it happen. Just be speedy – the number of fly-free offers is limited.

What packages are available?

biking uluru
Discover the Red Centre on two wheels with an Outback Cycling tour.

The longer window brings the Red Centre’s event calendar into play. NT Now says dedicated packages are available around FabALICE, Parrtjima – A Festival in Light and the Finke Desert Race, all of which fell outside the original travel dates.

Spanning road trips and art festivals to iconic landscapes and stargazing, there are more than 20 NT Now packages that are eligible for a free flight to Alice Springs. Ranging from four to seven nights, there are options to suit all budgets and interests. The packages include accommodation, with most also offering complimentary guided tours and unique experiences at some of the Red Centre’s most extraordinary locations. 

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Eligible packages include (but are not limited to)

  • Best of Red Centre Explorer, $3589 per person, twin-share: A six-night journey ticking off the highlights of Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluṟu, as well as the enchanting Field of Light. Highlights include a scenic flight over Kings Canyon Rim, Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience and Sounds of Silence dinner.  
  • West MacDonnell Ranges Wildlife and Nature Explorer, $1379 per person, twin-share: On this four-night trip, guests experience the magical desert on horseback, take a guided tour of the West MacDonnell Ranges’ dramatic gorges and waterholes, and get up close to wildlife at the Desert Park and Reptile Centre. 
hot air balloon red centre
Some packages include a hot air balloon ride.
indigenous australian music
Immerse yourself in the rich artistic traditions of the Arrernte people.
uluru starry sky
Dark skies make Alice Springs and its surrounds an incredible place for stargazing.
  • Stargazing and Dark Skies, $1819 per person, twin-share: This four-night adventure includes a Spirit of the Outback stargazing dinner, hot air balloon flight, sunset watercolour painting class at Simpsons Gap and nocturnal experience at Desert Park.  
  • Desert Mob Art Festival 2026, $1719 per person, twin-share: A four-night journey spotlighting the Red Centre’s incredible Indigenous arts and culture. Includes car hire, arts centre and galleries tour, as well as a guided tour through the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges. 
  • Alice Springs History Discovery, $699 per person, twin-share: Four nights of comfortable apartment accommodation, a historical Alice Springs day tour and return airport transfers are included in this four-night package. 
  • Luxury at Longitude with Alice Springs, $6849 per person, twin-share: This four-night trip includes two nights at one of Australia’s most exclusive luxury lodge accommodations – Longitude 131°, where refinement meets the wilderness. Includes car hire, sunset watercolour class at Simpsons Gap and Desert Park entry. 

How to claim

Kings Canyon Rim Walk
The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a popular activity in the Red Centre.

To receive your flight credit, simply head to NT Now’s Fly Free to Alice Springs page and book one of the holiday packages listed on the page. Once you’ve booked, you will receive a credit equal to the lowest available inbound economy airfare to Alice Springs at the time of booking – up to $750 per person.  

This free flight promotion is only eligible for new bookings made before 30 November 2026, for travel through to 30 June 2027.

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Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or hunting down Sydney's cosiest cafes.
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Untouched wilderness & unexpected pub crawls: 8 experiences you’ll only find in the NT

(Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Sean Scott)

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    The Northern Territory isn’t just different – it’s a whole new world. From the friendly locals and varied landscapes to its cultural layers, there’s nowhere else in Australia quite like it.

    The Northern Territory has to be experienced to be believed. The majesty of Uluṟu doesn’t quite hit until you’re standing before it. The untouched beauty of Arnhem Land strikes the heart in a way you can’t imagine. The quirky and friendly locals and the festivals they throw impart stories that won’t be forgotten. And that’s just the beginning. From natural hot springs and local larrikins to deep cultural ties and ancient stories, these are the experiences to be discovered only in the NT.

    1. Swim in pristine natural hot springs

    woman swimming in Katherine Hot Springs only in the nt
    Dive into Katherine’s crystal clear thermal springs. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Backyard Bandits)

    The NT’s natural hot springs are truly picturesque. Katherine’s crystal clear thermal springs sit on the banks of the Katherine River, framed by nature. Picnic grounds and scenic walking tracks make it easy to linger.

    In Elsey National Park, the teal waters of Bitter Springs have long been popular with locals. It’s not uncommon to spot turtles as you drift with the gentle current, palm trees waving on the banks. The park also contains Mataranka Thermal Pool, a sandy-bottomed swimming hole sitting at a cosy 34°C year-round.

    2. Explore the Red Centre Light Trail

    Light Towers Kings Canyon
    Head to Kings Canyon to see the Light Towers. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

    Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is more than just a place; it’s earned its name as Australia’s cultural heart. Here, a wealth of stories is held by its Traditional Owners, the Aṉangu. And while there are many ways to connect, in more recent years, the Red Centre Light Trail has offered visitors one more way to interpret all this landscape holds.

    Wander the Light Towers at Kings Canyon and watch the Field of Light transform the land before Uluṟu as day turns to night. Also, be sure to take in Wintjiri Wiṟu by light artist Bruce Ramus, sharing the Aṉangu’s Mala story.

    Arrive in April to experience Parrtjima, a free annual 10-night festival of light, featuring installations, workshops and more.

    3. See unrivalled views from a helicopter

    helicopter ride over kakadu only in the nt
    See Kakadu from the air. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Sean Scott)

    There’s no better place in the world to hit the skies in a helicopter. Soar over thundering waterfalls, world-famous wetlands and the floodplains of Kakadu National Park. A bird’s-eye view brings a special type of magic to this one-of-a-kind landscape.

    You can also meet local characters on the pub crawl of a lifetime as you fly between some of the NT’s best and most remote pubs.

    4. Discover the start of Western Arrarnta art

    Hermannsburg Potters only in the nt
    Book ahead to visit Hermannsburg Potters. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Felix Baker)

    Hermannsburg is one of the most unique towns in Australia. This historic mission town holds several claims to fame, including being the birthplace of Western Arrarnta art – a renowned style of Indigenous art using vibrant, naturalistic watercolours to depict Central Australian desert landscapes. Book ahead from April to September to visit Hermannsburg Potters, a collective of dedicated Western Arrarnta artists.

    Other options to see this art style near Alice Springs include the Araluen Arts Centre, Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye).

    5. Spot crocs on a cruise

    Crocodile being fed on a cruise on the Adelaide River nt
    Spot wild crocs up close. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

    The NT is the only territory that feeds wild crocs, putting the ‘wild’ in wildlife spotting experience. Join a cruise along the Adelaide River, just an hour from Darwin, to see these not-so-gentle prehistoric giants in their natural habitat.

    Be sure to stop into Humpty Doo or Noonamah for lunch on your way back to Darwin. Here, you’ll experience a real NT roadhouse.

    6. Experience local Indigenous cultures

    young participant at the Garma Festival Nhulunbuy arnhem land
    Time a trip to Nhulunbuy for the Garma Festival. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

    The NT offers some of the best opportunities to experience the world’s most ancient living culture. Head to Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem mid-year for the Garma Festival, Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering, with four days of song, dance and art sharing Yolngu culture. Stop into Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre in nearby Yirrkala while you’re there, current home of the Yirrkala Church Panels. Painted in 1963, they form one of the first ‘title deeds’ to Country.

    Join a celebration of Indigenous music, art, culture and sport at the Barunga Festival, 80 kilometres from Katherine, every June. And year-round, book an Indigenous-led tour through Ubirr, one of the oldest rock art sites in Australia.

    7. Meet the larrikins of Alice Springs

    competitors in Henley on Todd Regatta
    Henley on Todd Regatta might be one of the NT’s whackiest events. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/

    Head to Alice Springs at any time of year and you’ll be guaranteed to meet some colourful locals. But to really get to the heart of the eccentricities, mark a few dates on your calendar.

    March brings one of the best Pride events in the world, fabAlice. Inspired by the iconic Aussie movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which was filmed in Alice Springs over 25 years ago, the festival has a strong focus on the art of drag and celebrates LGBTQI+ communities, as well as self-expression in general.

    Come August, Todd River’s typically dry, sandy bed comes alive with the world’s only dry river boating event, the Henley on Todd Regatta.

    8. Swim in a waterfall with no one else around

    Upper Cascades in Litchfield National Park
    Swim in the Upper Cascades with no one else around.

    So few of Australia’s most beautiful places remain untouched, but that’s not true in the NT. Take a short hike through monsoon forest in Litchfield National Park (just over an hour’s drive outside of Darwin) to reach the secluded Cascades swimming area. Here, take a dip in the lower or upper cascade pools, both surrounded by rugged bushland. And you’ll probably have it all to yourself.

    Plan your Northern Territory trip of a lifetime at northernterritory.com.