Outback to the Top End: Adelaide to Darwin

Now's the time to explore Australia on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. This 15-day tour from Southern to Northern Australia doesn't just get you off the tourist track. You'll feel like your forging your very own adventure alongside a travel-savvy CEO (Chief Experience Officer) directing you to highlights and landscapes that'll have you holding back expletives of awe (or letting them fly). Starting in charming Adelaide, fly to the Outback and explore the mysteries of Uluru before heading into Kakadu National Park. Its sandstone escarpments and cascading waterfalls are definitely something to Snapchat home about.

Day 1 Adelaide
Arrive at any time.

Tonight gear up for your first night out in Adelaide with your CEO and group. Get ready for nothing but friendly vibes and epic times as you enjoy some local ales with your new travel tribe by your side.

Day 2 Adelaide/Ikara-Flinders Ranges
Hit the road in the morning with your group and admire the scenic views across the Clare Valley. No road trip is complete without a few pit stops; enjoy a local food experience featuring some of Southern Australia’s best regional produce. Then it’s onward to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges, an ancient mountain range that will be your base for the next two nights.

Driving through this region is about as close as any humans can get to navigating the face of Mars. Have your cameras ready as you pass through jaw-dropping landscapes, historic outback towns, and fascinating Indigenous sites.

Day 3 Ikara-Flinders Ranges
Wake up surrounded by deep red ravines and towering cliffs; sneak in a few pictures, sit back and savour the moment. Then, head to Wilpena Pound for a walk to an 800 million-year-old natural amphitheatre carved out of the mountains in Ikara-Flinders Ranges NP and sacred to the Indigenous Adnyamathana people. Visit these Indigenous art sites and learn more about the art and customs of early settler history and be on the lookout for wildlife like, emus, kangaroos, and wallabies during your visit.

Day 4 Ikara-Flinders Ranges/Adelaide
Wave farewell to the ancient and rugged mountain landscapes of Ikara-Flinders Ranges NP as the group journeys south again to Adelaide. On the way pass through the historic railway township of Quorn; with its picturesque setting and heritage buildings it has been the set of a few movies. Then, stop for a waterside lunch at Port Pirie with your group where you can grab anything from seafood to curry and sit along the water admiring the day.

Spend an evening out in Adelaide enjoying each other's company before the next adventure begins.

Day 5 Adelaide/Alice Springs
Rise early and board your flight to Alice Springs, gateway to the Red Centre of Australia. Take advantage of a free afternoon to relax, visit the Royal Flying Doctors Museum, or hike up ANZAC Hill.

Alice Springs is home to some of Australia’s most stirring landscapes from ochre-red gorges to the ghostly white gum tree and is a key place to begin understanding Indigenous Australia and all of its present day challenges. If it’s not too hot and you’re feeling stir crazy hop on a bike and head out to find adventure.

Day 6 Alice Springs/Kings Creek
Looking for a different perspective? Choose to wake up extra early for a hot air balloon flight over Alice Springs then charge those cameras and hit the road to Kings Canyon. Journey to Australia’s famous Red Centre passing through desert plains, weathered mountain ranges, rocky gorges, and some of the most sacred Indigenous sites in the country. Spend your first night together under the stars in a true Aussie desert swag (padded bed roll) and let the good times roll... no pun intended!

Day 7 Kings Creek/Uluru
Rise early, beat the heat, and embark on a morning walk through the gorges and valleys of Kings Canyon. Take in the spectacular views surrounding you and simply enjoy being in the moment. Then it’s time to hop on the bus and drive to Uluru, where Australia’s most iconic view awaits. Grab a glass of bubbly and enjoy one of the most colourful sunsets of your life as Uluru puts on an unforgettable show in the fading light.

Day 8 Uluru
Get in touch with your inner zen as you wake near one of the most spiritual places in Australia. Listen to your peaceful surroundings and reflect before you begin the day. Watch as the sun lights up the sky and changes the landscape before your eyes then visit an Indigenous culture centre with the group and partake in the informative Mala Walk at Uluru.

This walk is perfect if you are looking to see lots of Indigenous rock art and get away from the crowds. Wander between the sheer walls and tranquility of Kantju Gorge as you explore one of Australia’s most recognizable landmarks. See the colours change before your eyes, learn the significance behind this destination for the local people, and let Uluru capture your heart.

Day 9 Uluru/Alice Springs
The unexplainable energy of the Red Centre will have you itching to head out on another hike. You’re in luck because the group will travel to the Mars-like rock formations of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) to explore the surrounding area. If the temperature isn’t too unbearable you’ll also get to walk through the Valley of the Winds, which is full of dusty orange rock domes just waiting to be enjoyed. Snap some pics, wander away from everyone and revel in the peaceful atmosphere of the Australian Outback before making the drive back to Alice Springs.

Day 10 Alice Springs
Spend your free day journeying through the heart of Australia. Simply enjoy the delights of this Outback town from quirky bars to lively cafes, and restaurants with stunning views; there’s plenty to choose from.

Day 11 Alice Springs/Darwin
Let the adventure continue as you board your flight to Darwin; Australia’s only tropical capital city and known gateway to the Top End. Land in the traditional lands of the Larrakia and gaze out across the beautiful Timor Sea. You may feel isolated from the rest of the country, which is just how the locals like it. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening wandering past street-side restaurants, bars, museums celebrating the city’s past, and galleries filled with Indigenous art. So grab your esky (cooler) full of beer and get ready to enjoy the coastal remoteness of Darwin!

Day 12 Darwin/Litchfield National Park
It’s off to Litchfield National Park today. Rise early and head to one of the best spots in the Top End for bushwalking, camping, and swimming! Check out waterfalls that pour off the edge of Tabletop Range into croc-free plunge pools and feel yourself unwind as you float aimlessly in one of Australia’s most stunning landscapes.

Litchfield can sometimes feel like the Northern Territory's best kept secret. Side note: as you drive make sure to check out some of the most enormous termite mounds in the Top End. (Who knew?) Later, after getting acquainted the group will go on a wetland nature cruise to try and spot crocs, then it’s finally time to stretch out in a swag and sleep under the stars.

Day 13 Litchfield National Park/Kakadu National Park
Embark early on a full day of exploring. Travel with the group to our overnight camp near Kakadu NP, where swags or tents await. Hike through ancient sandstone escarpment country, discover more waterfalls and swimming holes, check out the Ubirr rock art, and take the plunge on this day of adventure! End the day with a group barbecue under the night sky.

Day 14 Kakadu National Park/Katherine Gorge
Wake to the sounds and smells of the Australian bush and spend a leisurely morning exploring more of Kakadu NP with the group. Then zoom off to the beautiful Katherine Gorge, stopping to enjoy Edith Falls along the way. Take this day to reminisce, reflect, and ready yourself for the journey ahead.

Day 15 Katherine Gorge/Darwin
Take advantage of a relaxed start to the day in spectacular Katherine Gorge. What you do next is up to you; from kayaking through one of the 13 deep sandstone gorges to enjoying a leisurely boat cruise on the Katherine River there’s loads to soak up. Take some time to stop and stare at the haunting beauty of this wild place before returning to Darwin.

Tour finishes on arrival.