16 Days Darwin to Melbourne Combined Adventure

You will be collected from your Darwin accommodation at approximately 6.30am where our Top End adventure begins as we travel to the Mary River Wetlands for our cruise. This region is home to over 250 bird species and has the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the Southern Hemisphere. Search for the mighty crocs who rule this waterway, buffalo, birds and other wildlife. Our entrance to Kakadu National Park is at the South Alligator River, a picturesque location for a picnic lunch. There's the opportunity to purchase Aboriginal arts and crafts at the Bowali Visitor Centre before our late afternoon arrival at Ubirr. Here you will view a wide range of ancient Aboriginal art which will be interpreted by your guide. Learn the story of the Rainbow Serpent and climb the Nadab Lookout for panoramic views over the floodplain and beyond into Arnhem Land. As the day draws to a close we head to our private campsite at Cooinda for dinner and our overnight stay. Tonight choose to sleep under the stars or sleep in our basic permanent tents.

Mary River Wetlands

Kakadu National Park

Private Crocodile and Wildlife cruise

Bowali Visitor Centre

Ubirr

Meals - (Lunch / Dinner)

Our journey is towards the southern end of Kakadu where we spend the whole morning at Gunlom Falls*. There's a large plunge pool at the base of the waterfall to enjoy, however the climb to the top of the falls is a must! Relax in a natural infinity pool with a postcard backdrop of the Arnhem Land escarpment, take a dip in the sandy middle pool and swim under a waterfall in the rear pool. So many choices. Crocodile Dundee loved this magical place and you will too! After lunch and a final swim in the lower plunge pool we exit the national park and travel via Batchelor to our private campsite near Litchfield National Park complete with basic permanent tents.

Gunlom Falls

Plunge pools and waterfalls

Meals- (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today is spent exploring the waterfalls, spring-fed streams and rugged sandstone escarpments of Litchfield National Park. Marvel at the intriguing magnetic and cathedral termite mounds and swim, hike and explore Florence and Wangi Falls*. Discover the many rock holes and cascading waterfalls of Buley Rockhole before our early evening arrival back in Darwin. (Overnight dorm or Budget Ensuite (Twin/Single) accommodation is included).

Litchfield National Park

Termite mounds

Florence Falls

Wangi Falls

Buley Rockhole

Meals - (Breakfast / Lunch)

You will be collected from your Darwin accommodation at approximately 6.00 am when our adventure through the 'Territory' to Alice Springs begins. The afternoon is spent at Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park which is owned by the Jawoyn Aboriginal people. Ancient sandstone has been carved away by the Katherine River to create a deep and picturesque gorge. You may like to take a boat cruise or paddle a canoe (seasonal) through the peaceful water (both optional and additional cost) before retiring at our nearby campsite.

Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park

Meals - (Lunch /Dinner)

A great start to the day, is a soak in the Mataranka Thermal Pools, a lush oasis fringed by paperbark trees. No trip to the 'Territory' is complete without a visit to the Daly Waters Pub, an important watering hole for explorers and drovers in days gone by and now a great spot for a cold beer, a bit of history and a 'fair dinkum outback experience'! Our day winds to a close at historic Banka Banka Cattle Station where we camp for the night.

Mataranka Thermal Pools

Daly Waters Pub

Banka Banka Cattle Station

Melas- (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)

We pass through Tennant Creek and then further along the track are the Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) which are a collection of gigantic granite boulders magically balanced on top of one another. Later in the day we cross the Tropic of Capricorn (only 20% of the Northern Territory lies south of this point) then a short time later we arrive into Alice Springs where art galleries and pioneering history abounds.

Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu)

Tropic of Capricorn

Meals - (Breakfast / Lunch)

You can explore Alice spring City Yourself. It is a free day with multi shared accommodation ( you may opt to upgrade the accommodation Twin / Single Hostel or Motel ensuite private room)

We depart Alice Springs and head towards Kings Creek Station, Australia's largest exporter of wild camels and our camp site for tonight. We hike Watarrka (Kings Canyon) to experience the fantastic views of the gorge, huge sandstone walls and an immense canyon floor. Here we trek through the Garden of Eden and learn about the Aboriginal history and culture of the area. Back at the campground there is time for you to swim in the pool or take up on any of the Adrenalin Plus Options (extra cost) they have on offer.

Meals - Lunch & Dinner

Today we head for Uluru. Nothing really prepares you for The Rock - it's awesome! After lunch we visit the Cultural Centre to learn about the Aboriginal people of the region and walk around the base of Uluru. We end our first day with a spectacular sunset over Uluru. Tonight we camp at the Ayers Rock Resort Campground in comfy swags under the desert stars, our home for the next two nights.

Meals- (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

A fantastic Uluru sunrise and breakfast, before we hike Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and the majestic Valley of the Winds with its incredibly ancient rock formations before returning to the campsite for relaxing afternoon and another Uluru sunset.

Meals- (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today we cruise to Coober Pedy, opal capital of the world. Incredible changing landscape, kangaroos, emus, eagles and road trains all unfold before us and a view of the striking sandstone colours of the Breakaways on the way. On arrival we visit the local kangaroo orphanage and later enjoy dinner, lots of stories and an overnight stay in an underground bunkhouse.

Meals- (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

We spend the morning in Coober Pedy and take a tour of the town and an opal mine. We also have the opportunity to "noodle" for opals, visit an opal shop or any of the other underground attractions. We continue our journey south in the afternoon as we travel on down to the foothills of the Flinders Ranges where we sleep among the red gum trees of Stony Creek Bush camp.

Meals- (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

This morning we hike through the stunning Alligator Gorge, cut through ancient quartzite. We stop at a winery in the Clare Valley before cruising to Adelaide, arriving at around 6pm.

Meals- (Breakfast, Lunch, )

We soon escape the city and cruise through the scenic Adelaide Hills with a morning stop to grab a bite to eat and a tea or coffee. We stop for lunch before entering Halls Gap, gateway to the famed Grampians National Park. At around dusk, when wildlife, such as wallabies, kangaroos, cockatoos and kookaburras, come out to play, we walk (an easy 1 hour) through rocky outcrops and forests to The Balconies, another stunning geological formation. Tonight we sleep in dormitory style accommodation in the heart of the Grampians.

Meals- ( Lunch, Dinner)

We wake up and hike 2 hours to The Pinnacle, probably the finest viewpoint in the Grampians. We visit the Brambuk Cultural Centre to learn about the local Aboriginal history, before departing this wondrous place. For lunch we stop somewhere truly spectacular: the Tower Hill Reserve, home to wetlands, a lake, abundant wildlife and a dormant volcano.

Meals- (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

The magnificent Great Ocean Road beckons! We stop at several extraordinary rock formations along the Shipwreck Coast, such as the Bay of Martyrs, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge. For many, the most amazing sight is the famed Twelve Apostles. This spectacular collection of limestone stacks is best appreciated at sunset from the boardwalk. The next morning you also have the opportunity to view them aboard a helicopter (extra cost). Tonight we stay in dormitory style accommodation on the Great Ocean Road.

We start our final day with an easy walk (1 hour) through the Great Otway National Park, which boasts some of the world's oldest temperate rainforest. Sections of the Great Ocean Road were carved through cliffs by servicemen returning after World War I, and offer some of the most impressive coastal roads you'll ever see. You can take a quick dip in the ocean or explore the artistic beachside villages of Apollo Bay and Lorne. You can watch surfers in action at famed beaches such as Bells Beach and Torquay (home of the surf brand outlets Rip Curl and Quicksilver). We'll find time to stop at Kennett River Koalas to watch the cuddly creatures in the wild, before heading through Geelong on the way to The Big City.

Meals- (Breakfast, Lunch, )