Day 1 | Sydney to Thredbo Alpine Village (via Canberra)Your Australian Adventure Holiday begins with the capital city of Australia – Canberra - where the Prime Minister hangs out. See for yourself how a custom-made capital city is built as you take in the view from Mt. Ainslie, take a tour of Parliament House, check out a few embassies and see other city highlights. We travel via Cooma, learning about the historically important Snowy Hydro-Electric Scheme on our way to Thredbo. *In ski season (Jun-Sep) we stay in Jindabyne and during winter, have time to play in the snow at the ski resort of Perisher/Smiggins (optional toboggan hire or snow tube at own expense).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2 | Thredbo to Lakes Entrance via Snowy River CountryGrab your hiking boots and cameras, this morning we’re going to the “Roof of Australia”. There’s a chairlift (own expense, but we get a great deal!) express up the mountain! You can walk to the summit of Australia’s highest mountain, Mt Kosciuszko, or to the viewing point. After lunch, it’s a spectacular drive along Barry Way, watching the Snowy River wind along below us. Tonight we stay in the coastal town of Lakes Entrance, the Gateway to the Gippsland Lakes and Australia’s longest beach – Ninety Mile Beach.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 | Lakes Entrance to Wilsons Promontory NP and MelbourneYour adventure travel continues to mainland Australia’s most southerly point, Wilsons Promontory National Park. Walk along gleaming beaches, hike along amazing granite rock formations and learn about coastal flora and native wildlife. You might even see emus and wombats! We travel to Melbourne through pastoral landscapes in South Gippsland.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 | Melbourne via Great Ocean Rd to PrincetownWe stop in Torquay to shop at Quiksilver and Rip Curl before we continue to world famous Bells Beach. Winding along the Great Ocean Road we take a break to search for some koalas and then pass through the seaside town of Lorne on our way to Apollo Bay. Next we visit the Otway Fly tree top walk (included) then watch the sun set over the Twelve Apostles.
Meals: Dinner
Day 5 | Princetown to Grampians NPWalk down the Gibson Steps to the beach to get a different angle of the Twelve Apostles or there’s time for a helicopter ride (at own expense). Next is Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, the Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands. Watch for whales (seasonal) as we pass through Warrnambool, then head inland to the Grampians National Park. Hikes include the Pinnacle, The Balconies and Reeds lookout. You’ll sleep well tonight at our private accommodation.
Meals: Dinner
Day 6 | Halls Gap to AdelaideThere’s hikes at Hollow Mountain and the amazing MacKenzie Falls, before we farewell The Grampians and travel via Horsham into South Australia. See rare White Western Grey Kangaroos at Bordertown, then cross the Murray River before arriving into Adelaide. Overnight dorm accommodation included.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 | AdelaideA FREE day to explore the sights of Adelaide. Overnight dorm accommodation included. (Meals at own expense)
Day 8 | Adelaide to QuornLeaving the city behind, we travel through the Clare Valley then on to the frontier town of Melrose where we take a short walk across a swinging bridge and enjoy panoramic views from the Mt Remarkable lookout. Soon after we arrive in Quorn, the quaint and historical railway township nestled at the entrance to the Richman Valley. Eat a hearty lunch, because this afternoon we hike to the summit of Dutchman's Stern for stunning 360° views of Quorn, Spencer Gulf and the Flinders Ranges! We return to Quorn where we stay two nights in private accommodation at the historical “Mill”. Get ready for tonight’s BBQ dinner – it doesn’t get any more Aussie than this!
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 | Flinders Ranges and Wilpena PoundThe Flinders Ranges has been recognised as one of Australia’s National Landscapes and today you’ll get to experience and explore this magical region! Wilpena Pound is a natural amphitheatre located in a huge stone crater and you will spend the morning hiking and exploring its wonder! After lunch, it’s a short walk to Yourambulla Caves to view Aboriginal rock paintings. Learn about the hardships of sheep farming in the mid 1800’s as you view the ruins of Kanyaka Homestead. As we travel back to Quorn, there’s an opportunity to spot for the shy and elusive Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby on a quiet stroll through peaceful Warren Gorge. Overnight at the Quorn “Mill”.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 | Quorn to Coober Pedy It’s time to go underground! We journey north through Port Augusta and the small town of Glendambo (population 30!) and visit ancient salt lakes which are the remnants of an inland sea. We arrive in plenty of time to check out the sites of Cooper Pedy on a town tour which includes an opal cutting demonstration and mine tour with the opportunity to try your luck ‘noodling’ for opals! Our bunkhouse for tonight is – you guessed it – underground.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 | Coober Pedy to UluruThe adventure continues by driving through the rugged desert country, to reach Yulara in time for the infamous Uluru (Ayers Rock) sunset.
Tonight, lend a hand as we cook dinner at our permanent campsite then consider the option to sleep under the outback stars in a traditional ‘Aussie swag’.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 | Uluru to Kata Tjuta and Kings CanyonSunrise over Ulu
ru is magical and it’s an early start to catch it! While the morning’s fresh (and your legs are too!) take a walk around Uluru’s base (unguided), or climb to the top if you choose – however, the Anangu traditional owners prefer it if you don’t, before we take a guided interpretive walk at Mala. After visiting Kata Tju
ta (The Olgas) we head to Kings Canyon, where we camp for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 | Kings Canyon to Alice SpringsThere’s a lot to explore at Kings Canyon, including the Lost City, the lush and ancient Garden of Eden and the sheer outcrops of the North and South Walls. After lunch, relax and enjoy the harsh desert scenery as we travel to Alice Springs.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 14/15 | Alice SpringsEnjoy 2 FREE DAYS to explore Alice Springs. Overnight accommodations included. (Meals at own expense).
Day 16 | Alice Springs to Banka BankaWe pass by 23 26 22 south of the equator (otherwise known as the Tropic of Capricorn) before stopping at Ti Tree for the chance to buy original works of art by Indigenous artists. Learn about the early struggles of bush telecommunications at Barrow Creek’s historic Telegraph Station – it’ll make your mobile phone seem like the space age! Precariously balanced on their rocky perch are the Devils Marbles, a site sacred to its traditional owners. Last stop for today is our camp at Banka Banka Cattle Station and if the weather’s good, you can take a dip in the pretty waterhole.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 17 | Banka Banka to Katherine GorgeNo visit to the Top End would be complete without a visit to the famed Daly Waters pub, a quintessential outback roadhouse and ‘watering hole’ for travellers from far and wide. The tiny town is also home to Australia’s first international airport (but you wouldn’t guess it!). Mataranka lies in the heart of the ‘never-never’, and you’ll feel a million miles from anywhere as you soak in the steamy thermal springs. As the day draws to a close, we reach our overnight camp at stunning Katherine Gorge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18 | Katherine Gorge to DarwinThe gorge is all yours this morning, with a half day to spend canoeing or cruising (at own expense) the spectacular waters. Want to see more? Jump aboard a helicopter flight (at own expense) which will take you high above the vast gorge system. We’ll head to Darwin after a bite to eat, with stops at idyllic Edith Falls and the ‘croc-filled’ Adelaide River (both a town and a river). Overnight dorm accommodation included.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 19 | Darwin to Mary RiverA refreshing start to your day: the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park, followed by the spectacular Mary River Wetlands. Birds aren’t the only wildlife abundant around here; keep your eyes out for lurking crocodiles on our private river cruise! A secluded campsite at Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge is where we’ll stay tonight.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 20 | Mary River to KakaduDiscover ancient Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr, our first stop this morning. Clamber to the top of a rocky lookout for fabulous views over the Nardab floodplain. Next it’s on to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge), where a hike is rewarded with a reviving swim in the plunge pools. Tonight we stay at our permanent camp within Kakadu National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 21 | Kakadu to DarwinGet ready for some 4WD action today on our way to Jim Jim Falls! Once we get there, we’ll hike to the base of the falls before continuing on to Twin Falls. Feel the beauty of the stunning gorge and powerful falls from the National Park operated boat and boardwalk experience. The impressive scenery will continue to amaze you as we journey back to Darwin in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Back to the top