CENTRAL ARTS & CULTURE TOURS

Art practice in the APY Lands has been undergoing a major shift in recent years with innovations in painting and product development attracting the interest of art collectors and observers in Australia and around the world. Now comes an opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy the art while experiencing some of the nation’s best kept scenic secrets. All tours are led by an expert in Indigenous art and the APY Lands.

• Visit and meet the artists of the APY Lands in remote Central
• Australia Travel through the majestic Musgrave and Everard Ranges
• Purchase fine contemporary Indigenous art direct from the art centre
• Enjoy a unique camping experience complete with gourmet bush cooking Learn about the art, culture and Tjukurpu of the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people

Overview:

Day 1

Tour departs Alice Springs airport at 12.30pm and travels to Yulara. We arrive in time for Uluru sunset and enjoy a camp meal and bush camp at Yulara Village. (NB: you may elect to stay in one of Yulara’s motels or hotels this evening, at your own cost).

Day 2

Uluru sunrise, camp breakfast and an early start for APY Lands and Amata community via a private 4WD track. At Amata, we visit Minymaku Arts, home to a bold new movement in painting. After lunch with the artists, we visit Aliwanyawanya Waterhole: a remarkable series of rockpools cascading from the Musgrave Ranges. Then it’s on to Ngarutjara Homeland for a bush dinner and camp at the foot of Mt Woodroffe, SA’s highest peak.

DAY 3

After breakfast comes an opportunity to walk in the bush with Elder Peter Nyaningu (guide fees extra) and hear the special creation story of Mt Woodroffe. Then we visit Ernabella Arts, Australia’s longest continuously operating Indigenous art centre, to browse, inspect the new ceramics studio and meet the artists. Next we travel to Fregon via lunch (and showers!) and a visit to the spectacular Sun Farm at Umuwa. Kaltjiti Arts at Fregon is host to a unique cross-cultural project, with its artists collaborating with Kashmiri artisans to produce exquisite rugs featuring designs taken from paintings. Following a short inma performance, we drive east through the towering domes of the Everard Ranges to Mimili community, home of Mimili Maku Arts. We make camp at the foot of Mount Ilil, home to the water-snake dreaming story.

Day 4

An early breakfast – and a walk up a serene creek to an Everard Ranges waterhole – then on to Iwantja Arts & Crafts at Indulkana, the most easterly APY art centre. Iwantja artists have a long tradition in linocut prints and here you will have a chance to browse through a large catalogue of works. We then depart for Alice Springs via the Stuart Highway (arrival in Alice Springs approximately 3.30pm). You can be dropped off at the airport for a flight home or taken to the hotel of your choice for overnight.

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To enquire about this experience or have it included in a tailor made itinerary - Just ask!