Australia South to North: Melbourne to Darwin

Now's the time to explore Australia on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. On the water or on the road? We make the decision easy for you by combining both modes of travel on an epic 19-day road trip tour across Australia. Journey down the famous surf coast — the Great Ocean Road, embark on a rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park, and glide along the water on a wetland nature cruise in croc country. With a steely Chief Operating Officer taking care of all the little details, your only job is to fill your social feeds with photos that'll make any follower jealous.

Day 1 Melbourne
Arrive at any time.

Tonight, get to know Melbourne as a group. Spend some time socializing in the rooftop seating area at the Space Hostel where you are staying. Then maybe head to the bar attached to the hostel called Blue Moon Karaoke for some great beer and cheap eats. Make sure you get those vocals ready because someone is getting up and singing before the night is over.

Day 2 Melbourne/Port Campbell
Say hello to the Great Ocean Road — arguably the most iconic road in all of Australia! You won’t even mind waking up early for views like the ones you’ll see as you drive to Port Campbell. Travel up the famous surf coast visiting quaint towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay en route. Get in touch with nature on an included rainforest walk in Great Otway NP.

Then gaze in wonder and feel the wind whip through your hair as you admire the 12 Apostles, the kind of landmark that somehow finds a way to be more stunning in person than in photos. Try as you might, it may be time to put those cameras down and just enjoy being in the moment.

Day 3 Port Campbell/Halls Gap
Open your eyes in the laid-back coastal town of Port Campbell and lace up those hiking boots for a visit to the Tower Hill Wildlife Reservation. Walk through the verdant landscape and be on the lookout for the wildlife that has multiplied on the inside of this volcanic crater. Trek through the forest with those cameras at the ready before continuing on to Grampians National Park for your next adventure!

Day 4 Halls Gap/Adelaide
Skip sleeping in this morning to get out and about in Grampians National Park. Wander through lush forest, view the craggy sandstone Wonderland range in the distance, and examine impressive Indigenous rock art. Home to some pretty amazing scenic lookouts this national park will grant you with many photo opportunities so make sure those cameras are charged before heading into the thick of it all. Walk to the stunning Balconies for expansive views of the Victoria Valley below, then stop at one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria; Mackenzie Falls and watch the water cascading down cliff faces as it creates rainbows in the air. Close your eyes, breathe in the fresh air, and find peace in the moment. As the day winds down head to Adelaide with the group and find some nightlife to enjoy as the starts fill the sky.

Day 5 Adelaide
Get ready to stuff your face in the food and wine capital of Australia; Adelaide. Wander the clean laneways and sample your way from place to place as the sun warms your skin. With an emerging art scene, natural beauty, interesting attractions, and incredible restaurants, Adelaide has tons to see and do. Get out and discover the hub of South Australia!

If you're travelling between mid-September to late-April, opt to pre-book the "Dolphin Swim and Cruise" activity on the checkout page, for an epic time!

Day 6 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 7 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 8 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 9 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 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 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 19 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.