Australian travellers can now receive an airfare credit of up to $750 per person when booking eligible Red Centre holiday packages, with Tourism Central Australia and NT Now launching Fly Free to Alice, a new campaign aimed at turning interest in Central Australia into actual bookings.
The offer is now open, with travel valid from 1 August 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Eligible travellers receive a credit equal to the lowest available inbound economy airfare into Alice Springs at the time of booking, capped at $750 per person. The offer applies when booking newly launched Red Centre packages through NT Now and Australian retail travel agents.
It is the latest phase of the federally funded $5 million Red Centre Marketing Boost, delivered by Tourism Central Australia in partnership with NT Now.
Tourism Central Australia CEO Danial Rochford said the campaign was designed to remove one of the biggest hurdles for Australians considering a Red Centre holiday.
“Fly Free to Alice removes one of the biggest barriers to travel and allows visitors to put more of their holiday budget into what they’re actually coming here for: more nights on the ground, local experiences and discovering more of Central Australia,” Rochford said.
“People come for the icons, but many leave talking about the places, stories and experiences they didn’t expect. It’s why so many visitors return to discover even more of the region.”
So, what do travellers actually get?
To qualify for the Fly Free to Alice offer, packages must include at least two nights’ accommodation in Alice Springs, at least one guided tour departing from Alice Springs and at least one Alice Springs attraction.
That structure makes the campaign about more than getting people to the region. It is also designed to keep them there.
The campaign includes up to 20 itineraries across Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with packages starting from $1,049 per person twin share.
Options include short breaks, self-drive itineraries, event-led packages and longer touring holidays. Some packages focus on Alice Springs and the West MacDonnell Ranges, while others connect travellers through Kings Canyon and Uluru.
Among the featured itineraries is Ultimate Alice Springs, which includes four nights at Quest Alice Springs, a West MacDonnell Ranges tour, Alice Springs Desert Park, Reptile Centre, Royal Flying Doctor Service entry and an Alice Springs Brewing Co voucher. The package starts from $1,499 per person twin share, plus the inbound airfare credit.
For travellers wanting a longer trip, Best of Red Centre Explorer is a seven-day open-jaw itinerary flying into Alice Springs and departing from Uluru. It includes stays in Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluru, seven days’ car hire, a Kings Canyon helicopter scenic flight, a Field of Light sunrise experience and more. Prices start from $3,589 per person twin share, plus the inbound airfare credit.
NT Now Managing Director Ben Mead said the campaign had been built around different styles of Red Centre travel.
“We have developed a diverse range of itineraries that showcase the very best of Central Australia, from short breaks and event weekends through to extended touring holidays,” Mead said.
“The free flight offer is something genuinely different in the market and provides travellers with an added incentive to finally book the trip they’ve been thinking about.”
Not just Uluru: the push to stretch the Red Centre stay
The timing of the campaign also lines up with some of Central Australia’s major events, including the Henley on Todd Regatta, Red CentreNATS, Desert Mob and the Alice Springs Masters Games, with dedicated packages available around key dates.
Departures are available from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, subject to airline schedules and availability.
The campaign builds on Tourism Central Australia’s two-year Head for the Heart campaign, launched in March, which aims to highlight the breadth of experiences across the Red Centre, including lesser-known trips and destinations beyond the region’s most famous drawcards.
Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour said the offer would help more Australians experience the landscapes, culture and communities of Central Australia.
“The Red Centre offers experiences you simply can’t find anywhere else. This campaign gives more Australians the chance to discover the landscapes, culture and communities that make our region extraordinary,” Scrymgour said.
New tourism experiences are also part of the plan
The flight offer is only one side of the Red Centre push.
Alongside the campaign, $2.5 million in grants has been delivered to 17 tourism businesses through the Red Centre Tourism Development Fund, which supports operators to build new tourism experiences and encourage visitors to stay longer.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said tourism remained a key economic driver for Central Australia.
“By supporting local tourism businesses, the Albanese Government is backing local jobs and stronger communities in Central Australia,” McCarthy said.
Among the businesses receiving support, J&L’s Outback Experience will expand its facilities to cater to a broader range of visitors.
Owner and Operator John Liddle said the funding would help the business grow sustainably while strengthening its role in the local tourism economy.
“This funding will allow us to expand our facilities and cater to a broader range of visitors, helping us grow sustainably into the future, to strengthen our contribution to Central Australia’s tourism economy and ensure more people can experience our beautiful culture firsthand,” Liddle said.
Olive Pink Botanic Garden is also developing a hub for First Nations experiences in partnership with local Indigenous tourism operators.
General Manager Samantha Hussey said the project would create a more accessible entry point for visitors seeking authentic First Nations tourism experiences in Alice Springs.
“Working alongside local Indigenous tourism operators, we’ll create a welcoming hub where visitors can easily access authentic First Nations experiences while supporting the growth of Indigenous tourism businesses in Alice Springs,” Hussey said.
“We’re looking forward to working with our Indigenous partners to bring it to life.”
The Red Centre Marketing Boost and Red Centre Tourism Development Fund form part of the Australian Government’s $8.5 million investment in the Red Centre, which also includes the $1 million Alice Springs Revival and Resilience grant program launching in November 2025.
Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell said the funding was part of a broader push to support regional tourism, local businesses and jobs.
“This funding will help to create new experiences and tell the Red Centre’s remarkable story to the world, driving the tourism that is a lifeblood for the region,” Farrell said.
Bookings for Fly Free to Alice close on 30 November 2026, unless sold out prior.
KARRYON UNPACKS: A free flight tied to an experience booking is a ready-made hook for advisors selling domestic outback trips, and the 17 newly funded operators give them fresh product to build around. With the Australian winter the region’s peak window, the timing lands where Central Australia sells best.
