Day 1 - Begin 3 day/2 night Great Ocean Road Tour
From Melbourne we head through Geelong to hit the famous surf coast, Torquay, Bells Beach and Anglesea (home of Rip Curl and Quicksilver) with time to check out the local waves. Apollo Bay and Lorne are great places to swim, explore or just relax with a cup of coffee. Marvel at the historical section of the Great Ocean Road carved by returned WWI servicemen. It provides one of the most spectacular coastal roads you will ever see. Arriving at the Otway National Park, enjoy the walks through some of the oldest temperate rainforest in the world. A great place for a lunch stop. We finish the day with a sunset at the spectacular Twelve Apostles. Overnight is hostel accommodation on the Great Ocean Road. (Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2 - 3 day/2 night Great Ocean Road Tour
After an early breakfast back out to the amazing coastline for some magic opportunities to photograph the Twelve Apostles in the morning light, before the crowds. Heading along the Great Ocean Road, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and the Bay of Martyrs are some of the fantastic coastal scenery in this area. Enjoying a lunch stop, we arrive at the Grampians National Park, where we spend a great afternoon hiking before visiting the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre. In the late afternoon, take a stroll with the kangaroos and other wildlife. We stay overnight in the heart of the Grampians National Park in hostel accommodation. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3 - 3 day/2 night Great Ocean Road Tour / Overnight Adelaide
After having breakfast we further explore the National Park, hiking the northern part which is rich in flora, Aboriginal and European history. We marvel at Mt. Arapiles and eat lunch. Heading for Adelaide travelling through the hills and arriving at approximately 7.00pm. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Check in to your Adelaide accommodation for 2 nights.
Day 4 - Free day - Adelaide
Get picked up in the morning for your Barossa Valley tour. The Groovy day begins by travelling through the Adelaide Hills, stopping at the world’s largest Rocking Horse and the amazing Whispering Wall and then on to our first wine tasting experience. We spend approximately 45 minutes in the Jacob’s Creek Visitor’s Centre, going through the history of the Jacob’s Creek brand, followed by a structured wine tasting and an educational presentation. Our next winery is Kies, a small family owned winery with ironstone cottage cellar door. Their wines are exclusively sold from the cellar door and we taste a selection of their range today, while the tour guide prepares our lunch. Lunch is a barbeque extravaganza including the Aussie speciality of marinated kangaroo, as well as chicken, steak, sausages and a range of fresh salads. We head to Richmond Grove, a picturesque winery set on the banks of the North Para River, where we tour their cellars and enjoy their wine. We fit in a trip to Mengler’s Hill lookout to admire the views across the valley. We visit our fourth and final winery for today, the historic Seppeltsfield, before returning to Adelaide by about 5pm. (Lunch)
Day 5 - 6 day/5 night Adelaide to Alice Springs Adventure
With an early start, we head north through one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, the Clare Valley. We enter the Southern Flinders Ranges and after lunch hike Dutchman’s Stern for stunning views of the Spencer Gulf and surrounding ranges and plains. Tonight we camp, amongst the redgum trees of Stony Creek. (Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6 - 6 day/5 night Adelaide to Alice Springs Adventure
After breakfast we head to Coober Pedy, home to 80% of the world’s opal and a landscape a lot like Mars. We take a tour of an opal mine and check out some of the town’s unique underground attractions. We also make some new friends at Josephine’s Kangaroo Orphanage. Tonight we sleep like the locals– underground, in bunkhouse accommodation. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7 - 6 day/5 night Adelaide to Alice Springs Adventure
We head towards Uluru. On arrival we set up camp and go out for our first Uluru sunset. Nothing really prepares you for The Rock– it’s awesome! (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8 - 6 day/5 night Adelaide to Alice Springs Adventure
After another fantastic breakfast we enjoy a walk around the base of Uluru and spend time learning about the Aboriginal people at the Cultural Centre. We return to the campground for lunch and spend the rest of day soaking up the magic of Uluru. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9 - 6 day/5 night Adelaide to Alice Springs Adventure
Up with the birds for breakfast, today it’s at Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). We hike the majestic Valley of the Winds with its incredibly ancient rock formations. Lunch is at the campground, with a departure for the bar and swimming pool at Kings Creek Station‘just down the road’. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10 - 6 day/5 night Adelaide to Alice Springs Adventure / Overnight Alice Springs
We walk Watarrka (Kings Canyon) to experience the fantastic views of the gorge, huge sandstone walls and the immense canyon floor. The cool water hole in the Garden of Eden is just so special. After lunch we cruise into Alice Springs to arrive at approximately 6:30pm. You can then check in to your dorm accommodation in a nice and secure hostel for two nights. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 11 - Free day - Alice Springs
Free day to relax and explore Alice Springs
Day 12 - 3 day/2 night Alice Springs to Darwin Adventure
You will be collected from your Alice Springs accommodation at approximately 6.00am and then our adventure through the‘Territory’ to Darwin begins. Just north of Alice Springs is the Tropic of Capricorn. 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. Our day winds to a close just north of Tennant Creek at historic Banka Banka Cattle Station where we camp for the night. ( Lunch, Dinner)
Day 13 - 3 day/2 night Alice Springs to Darwin Adventure
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’! Later in the day you can take a soak in the Mataranka Thermal Pools, a lush oasis fringed by paperbark trees and nearby where we camp overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 14 - 3 day/2 night Alice Springs to Darwin Adventure / overnight Darwin
Your guide will wake you early this morning for the short drive to the 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). In the afternoon, relax and watch the changing landscape as we travel to cosmopolitan Darwin. Overnight in Darwin in a central hostel in a dorm. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 15 - 3 day/2 night Kakadu and Litchfield 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 exclusive two hour cruise where the local wallaby population greets us on arrival. 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 away from the masses, just you and your group. 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. (Lunch, Dinner)
Day 16 - 3 day/2 night Kakadu and Litchfield Adventure
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 overnight campsite near Litchfield National Park.(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 17 - 3 day/2 night Kakadu and Litchfield Adventure / trip ends
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. (Breakfast, Lunch)
