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11D Territory and Outback
Northern Territory, including Alice Springs, Kings Creek Station, Uluru,
Tennant Creek, Katherine, Kakadu National Park & Darwin
OVERVIEW
Travel the land 'Down Under'. Sleep under the stars in a bush camp, take a hot air  balloon ride, then grab a cold beer with all your new friends at one of the oldest Territory pubs. Gorgeous gorges & national parks leave you breathless as you get to know the backyard of Australia, plus Darwin offers the draw of the big city with shopping & nightlife not to be missed. Why stop there? Take your new found love of 'Down Under' & set out exploring
Tour Highlights These highlights are included in the price of your tour.
- Alice Springs
- Aboriginal Dreamtime 'bush-tucker tour' experience in Alice Springs
- Visit the cattle & camel station
- Enjoy an evening bush camp
- See the desert night sky & stars
- Kings Creek Station
- Hike to the 'Garden of Eden' waterhole and the 'Lost City'
- Visit Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park
- Hike along the canyon ridge
- Uluru National Park entrance fee
- See the unusually shaped Mt. Connor
- Kings Canyon
- Visit Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park
- Hike along the canyon ridge
- Visit the 'Garden of Eden' waterhole and the 'Lost City'
- Uluru
- Visit Kata Tjuta (The Olga's) & hike the Valley of the Winds
- Visit the Uluru Cultural Centre
- Hike the base of Uluru
- Relax in the Yularu Resort
- Visit Uluru at sunset and sunrise
- Visit a traditional Outback Roadhouse
- Alice Springs
- Visit the town known for its UFO sightings
- Visit the unique rock formation known as Karlu Karlu
- Visit the site of Australia's last gold rush
- Tennant Creek
- Visit the famous Outback pub
- Swim in the thermal pools
- Visit Elsey, the historic "We of the Never Never" homestead
- Kakadu National Park
- Cruise to see crocodiles & native bird life
- Visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
- Hike to see the Aboriginal rock art
- Stay in Kakadu National Park
- Darwin
- See the rainforests & sandstone formations
- Enjoy a swim at Florence Falls
- Visit the Darwin Museum to see the Cyclone Tracy display
- See the harbour & East Point Military Reserve
Daily Itinerary
 Day 1 Arrive Alice Springs (Hotel)
You’ll get a real feel for this rustic and remote outpost as your Tour Manager introduces you to the local area. We then head to Alice Springs Reptile Center for a hands on expereince where you hear about some of Australia’s the unique Outback reptiles, and if your brave enough, hold a phython. Later, we head into the stunning West MacDonnell National Park. We’ll stop at the important spiritual site for Aborigines, Simpsons Gap, where you’ll see rock-climbing wallabies, gum trees and a small water hole. Use your free time this afternoon to check out the galleries and local Aboriginal art scene – this is the perfect opportunity to pick up some different gifts for back home. Later, you’ll understand just how remote Alice Springs is and get an insider’s view on life in the outback at the Royal Flying Doctors base. Our Local Guide will fill us in on the distances these doctors travel! We also visit the Old Telegraph Station, the original European settlement in the area, then head to Anzac Hill for full-blown views over the desert. Tonight, relax back at the hotel and tuck into a buffet dinner.(D)
Day 2 Alice Springs to Kings Creek Station (Outback bush camp)
Jump start the day by learning about surviving in the bush with our included Aboriginal Bush Tucker tour. Our expert Aboriginal Guide will fill you in on the dos and don’ts of life in the bush and you’ll even get to taste insects and plants if you’re adventurous. Next up, Kings Creek Station. This working camel & cattle station serves up a real bush experience. Tonight, “go bush” and sleep under the open sky at our overnight bush camp where you’ll see the desert sky light up with thousands of stars.(B,D)
Day 3 Kings Creek Station to Uluru (Lodge)
After packing up camp, we hike through Kings Canyon. Your Tour Manager will tell you all about the incredible rock formations and show off this scenic landscape. Navigate your way through the “Lost City” (a series of giant sandstone domes) and hike to the “Garden of Eden” – a gorge packed with palm trees and a shaded water hole. Back on the coach, we drive by ancient Mt Connor for 360 degree views over the red desert before arriving at Yulara Resort. This environmentally designed resort is all about the outback and has a pool for you to cool off in after the drive. Tonight, catch the sun set over the UNESCO World Heritage listed Uluru (Ayers Rock). If you all put in some change, you can grab some nibbles and a bottle of champagne to toast this amazing view.(B)
Day 4 Uluru (Lodge)
Start off the morning nice and early and watch the sun rise over this iconic natural wonder from the viewing area. Get familiar with Uluru when your Tour Manager takes you around its base and gives you the background of the spiritual significance of this site for Aboriginal people. For something different, choose an optional Harley Davidson ride or scenic flight. Learn more about indigenous culture at the Cultural Centre before visiting Kata Tjuta, which means “many heads” – this spot is famous for its 36 different rock formations. After sunset, you can kick back beside the pool at the resort, wander around town or just hang out with your friends.(B)
Day 5 Uluru to Alice Springs (Hotel)
It’s an easy-going start to the day today. Your Tour Manager will cook up a storm for breakfast, so load up on bacon and eggs. We swing by a traditional Australian roadhouse and then pull back into Alice Springs. Tonight, join the group for an optional dinner at the Overlander Steakhouse, where you can try out kangaroo, crocodile, camel and steak while listening to live Aussie folk songs.(B)
Day 6 Alice Springs to Tennant Creek (Hotel)
Get above it all in an optional hot air balloon ride over the red MacDonnell Ranges at dawn this morning. Enjoy a bird’s eye view over these stunning, massive rock formations. On the road, we stop by Ti Tree, an Aboriginal community, where there’s a chance to pick up authentic artifacts, paintings and didgeridoos at the cute Aboriginal art gallery. Chill out on the coach as we cut across flat plains and travel through a patch of no man’s land. Stretch your legs at Karlu Karlu (the Devils Marbles), a strange grouping of enormous boulders, and maybe even sight a UFO in Wycliffe Well. We overnight in Tennant Creek, a “true blue” Aussie outback town, where you’ll get a feel for the size of Australia. In the middle of nowhere, this town is the only point of contact for the million-acre cattle stations of the surrounding area.(B,D)
Day 7 Tennant Creek to Katherine (Hotel)
Heading north, we stop by Renner Springs, which serves as a border between the lush tropics of the north and the red desert of Australia’s centre. Next up: the oldest pub in the Northern Territory, Daly Waters, licensed since 1893. Check out the knick-knacks and memorabilia that cover the walls of this Australian institution. Grab a bite to eat here and maybe meet a local character or two. Afterwards, we pull into Mataranka Thermal Springs where you can have a swim in the thermal pools at a bush resort, where the mineral waters are a comfortable 34 degrees. In the afternoon, we arrive in riverside Katherine – it’s a total change of scene after the dry desert. Your Tour Manager will organise an optional dinner tonight, so you can relax by the pool.(B)
Day 8 Katherine to Kakadu National Park (Hotel)
Kick start the day with our optional cruise through the gorgeous Nitmiluk Gorge. This National Park serves up vivid orange cliffs and rock formations that have been carved out by the river over hundreds’ of years. Keep an eye open for fresh water crocs and learn about local wildlife and folklore from our Local Guide. Later on, cool off in the swimming hole at either Edith Falls or Gunlom, deep in the heart of the national park. We overnight in Australia’s largest national park, Kakadu, known for its ancient rock art, some of which is up to 20,000 years old.(B,D)
Day 9 Kakadu National Park (Hotel)
We spend the day exploring some of this 20,000 sq km World Heritage listed site. It’s packed with swamps, rainforest, wetlands, woodlands, plants, insects and 75 different types of reptiles. Our included boat cruise takes us out onto Yellow Water, a lush inland lagoon. You’ll see some rock art, birdlife and even learn about the Aboriginal history of the area. We get the background on local indigenous culture at the Warradjan Cultural Centre before we explore the “rock galleries” of Ubirr, where time-old paintings line the cave walls. Depending on the season, you can watch the sun set over this stunning site before we head back to the hotel for dinner.(B)
Day 10 Kakadu National Park to Darwin (Hotel)
Today, we head to stunning Litchfield National Park on our way to Darwin. We stop by the termite mounds, a local natural curiosity, which are up to 4 metres high and are literally magnetic – your Tour Manager will fill you in on the details. Then we hit the famous falls that make up the park - 4 waterfalls pour over a wide plateau into deep, picture-perfect waterholes surrounded by thick rainforest. Experience this natural playground and take a dip in the transparent waters. This evening, we make our way to Darwin where we maybe try lucking out at the casino or go dancing & party the night away.(B)
Day 11 Darwin
Today we crusie around Darwin on a city sightseeing tour before we hit the Darwin Museum and find out about the unlucky past of the Northern Territory’s capital. This afternoon enjoy some free time ot explore Darwin, where you could jump on a relaxing Harbour cruise or if you feel the need for speed, perhaps a Jet Boat ride. Later this evening, we head back to the hotel where your tour ends. Say goodbye to your new friends and Tour Manager.(B)
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