The heart of Australia – an inspiring destination for business events

If you’re in search of a destination for your next business event that breaks the mould and delivers experiences found nowhere else in the world, prepare to be pleasantly surprised by what Alice Springs, Uluru and Kings Canyon have to offer. The Northern Territory's Red Centre is a living cultural landscape spanning 65,000 years, brimming with inspiring stories and breathtaking scenery, where the vastness of the outback soothes the soul and fuels new ways of thinking. With an abundance of services and facilities ready to cater for events of all kinds, the Red Centre is a dream location for conference and incentive groups seeking connection.

Things to do – Aboriginal culture & art, outdoor activities, nature & wildlife, technical touring

Working with NT Business Events, the activities and experiences available to business event groups are limited only by your imagination. From sunset camel rides through the desert, to learning traditional painting methods from local Aboriginal artists, this region is rich with spectacular culture, innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit to enhance and enrich your next business event.

Alice Springs

  • Visit an Aboriginal art gallery like Yubu Napa Art Gallery and Mbantua Aboriginal Art Gallery to see and buy ethically sourced Central Australian Aboriginal art or organise a dot painting workshop with Ayeye Atyenhe Art.
  • Explore the gallery spaces within the Araluen Cultural Precinct, which features the Araluen Arts Centre, known for its significant Aboriginal art exhibitions. The precinct is also home to the Museum of Central Australia, the Central Australian Aviation Museum and the Central Craft studio and retail outlet.
  • Stretch your legs and open your mind to outdoor activities unique to the Red Centre. Experience the silence and solitude of hot air ballooning over the desert at sunrise. Cycle through the outback from Alice Springs to the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Relax aboard a camel on safari. Or try something quirky with a round of desert golf.
  • Meet Chris 'Brolga' Barnes from the BBC series Kangaroo Dundee at The Kangaroo Sanctuary. The wildlife sanctuary rescues orphaned joeys and rehabilitates them for release into the wild. Delegates can participate in a morning or sunset tour, offering a chance to get close to these iconic Australian marsupials.
  • Learn about endangered desert mammals and what is being done to protect them, see mighty birds of prey in flight and discover clever adaptations that enable plants and animals to survive in the desert at the Alice Springs Desert Park. Home to an abundance of Central Australian wildlife, this centre is well equipped to cater for group activities, offering bespoke tours and dining experiences. For 10 days in April, the Desert Park is also home to the spectacular Parrtjima – A Festival in Light featuring illuminated art installations, cultural workshops and Aboriginal imagery which blankets the MacDonnell Ranges in brilliant colour each night.
  • Discover the region's diverse flora and fauna at Olive Pink Botanic Garden, located 2km from the town centre. Take a walk through the gardens, hire a workshop space, or meet at the open-air Bean Tree Café.
  • Travel to Angkerle Atwatye – Standley Chasm, 50 km from Alice Springs in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. Take a guided cultural tour to learn about the Western Arrernte people and the ancient Country they care for, with an opportunity for participants to engage in an art workshop with a Traditional Owner.
  • Learn how people of the Red Centre have overcome isolation with innovation. See teachers and students defying distance as they connect via virtual classrooms at the Alice Springs School of the Air Visitor Centre. At its museum and tourist facility, appreciate the life-changing medical care the Royal Flying Doctor Service provides to isolated Australians.
  • Immerse yourself in a bush balm making workshop and learn about the vital work Purple House is doing in Aboriginal health care. And connect with innovative thinkers and leaders in their field at the Desert Knowledge Precinct.
  • For an organised tour or a private guide, AAT Kings and Alice Springs Expeditions offer custom multi-day charters tailored to the size of the group.

Uluru

  • Participate in Aboriginal dot-painting while learning about Anangu culture with SEIT's Aboriginal Art Experience at Walkatjara Art, an Aboriginal-owned art centre. Or, take the private Patji 4WD tour led by a Traditional Owner for historical insights and meaningful connection to Country on Aboriginal homelands.
  • There are many ways to experience an evening immersed in a Field of Light, an outdoor art installation featuring 50,000 delicate, solar-powered lights, forming a life-like web that blankets the sand dunes in colour.
  • Put everything into perspective and see Uluru from the air on a scenic flight or incorporate helicopter transfers into your program for a truly exciting experience. Back on the ground, you set the pace – take an exhilarating motorcycle tour, a majestic camel tour, guided Segway tour, or a leisurely outback cycling tour around Uluru. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park also offers a Ranger Guided Mala Walk around the base of the rock, sharing information about traditional Anangu culture, rock art and park management.
  • Learn about the positive initiatives engaging young people at Nyangatjatjara College, an Anangu college providing secondary education across three remote Aboriginal communities. Help in their vegetable garden as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) contribution. Gain a deeper understanding of the Indigenous training and development opportunities on offer through the National Indigenous Training Academy with Voyages Indigenous Tourism.

Kings Canyon

  • Watch the sun set at Luritja Lookout, a short walk from Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon, offering sweeping views towards Carmichael's Crag and the George Gill Range.
  • Experience the immersive Light-Towers installation at sunrise or sunset, created by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro. Tours depart from Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon.
  • Be prepared for the challenging Grade 4 Kings Canyon Rim Walk in Watarrka National Park. The 6km geological trail starts with a steep climb to the top of the canyon before leading into the Garden of Eden, home to ancient cycads and diverse birdlife.
  • Meet the Abbott family at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience and Tours, located 34 km from Kings Canyon Resort. Listen to the stories shared by the Luritja and Pertame (Southern Arrernte) Traditional Owners, who are committed to preserving their cultural knowledge for future generations.
  • Helicopter flights offered by Professional Helicopter Services provide scenic views of Watarrka National Park, departing from the resort. Private helicopter transfers and scenic flights are also available from Uluṟu to Kings Canyon.
     
Guide showing Mala Walk at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Contemporary dining experiences and distinctive offsite venues

The Red Centre is home to some of the most magnificent dining experiences in Australia, combining warm smiles with spectacular scenery and fresh local ingredients with world-class chefs.

Alice Springs

Sample fresh local cuisine in an impressive outdoor setting at The Old Quarry, where local musicians provide mesmerising digeridoo and vocal performances against the backdrop of the rocky escarpment. Or view the night sky from a different perspective at The Earth Sanctuary Observatory with an astronomy talk and gourmet BBQ dinner under the stars.

Get up close with local wildlife during dinner in the Nocturnal House at the Alice Springs Desert Park. Step back in time and be immersed in the history of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station where business groups can dine in the exclusive heritage precinct. While in Alice Springs itself, Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters offers diverse dining options for business events, as does the award-winning, Asian-fusion inspired Hanuman Restaurant located at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs.

Uluru

Be transported to another world atop a remote and secluded desert sand dune for champagne and bush tucker inspired canapes at Tali Wiru. See Uluru bathed in the sunset light, then savour a gourmet 4-course fine-dining experience under a canopy of stars. For the ultimate incentive experience, helicopters transfers are available upon request.

Another iconic Red Centre dining experience which will leave you inspired and transformed is Sounds of Silence. It begins with canapes and chilled champagne served at sunset with views of Uluru, followed by a 3-course bush tucker inspired buffet, a digeridoo performance and guided tour of the night sky. Arrangements can be made to arrive at this event on camel-back, for an unparalleled desert experience.

For a more grass-roots dining experience at Uluru, learn how trainees at the National Indigenous Training Academy are developing their hospitality skills preparing delicious food and drinks at the Kulata Academy Café.

Kings Canyon

Dine Under a Desert Moon at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon, beginning with canapés and sparkling wine on the resort lawn, followed by a private, open-air setting for a five-course meal featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. A premium Outback experience with a difference.

Toast to an unforgettable Red Centre sunset at the Luritja Lookout platform, offering a unique setting where delegates can enjoy a beverage while overlooking the stunning sandstone formations of the George Gill Range. Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon tailors from small group incentive travel to large business event delegations.

Delegates experiencing Sounds of Silence Dinner Uluru

World-class conference facilities

Holding an event in the Red Centre does not mean you have to go without when it comes to modern technology and inspiring spaces. In fact, this region offers some of the most contemporary and exciting conference facilities in the country.

Alice Springs

With an extensive network of local suppliers and conference partners, the Alice Springs Convention Centre is a purpose-built facility with state-of-the-art technology and contemporary design. The DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs offers five dedicated meeting rooms with outdoor break out options, plus on-site audio-visual services. 

Uluru

Leave a lasting impression by hosting your business event at Ayers Rock Resort’s Meeting Place. With two large ballrooms, an outdoor amphitheatre, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces and breakout options, and full in-house audio-visual and creative services, The Meeting Place is a world-class facility.

Kings Canyon

Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon offers four versatile event spaces designed to meet the needs of business events with a maximum capacity of 200 guests. The resort's facilities, accommodation, and on-site catering provide a sophisticated Outback experience.

The Red Centre delivers in every sense

With its thriving Aboriginal culture, spectacular desert landscapes and with world-class accommodation, dining and conference facilities, Central Australia is perfectly positioned to leave a long-lasting and meaningful impression on your conference or incentive group. 

For help incorporating the best of this region into your business event, contact the NT Business Events team.