17 day Melbourne to Darwin Overland
About this tour: Travel through Australia's
amazing Great Ocean Road, through the Flinders Ranges and the famous
Oodnadatta Track to the dusty Red Centre and tropical Top End
Embark on a Northern Territory adventure, from Melbourne to Darwin,
taking in the region's biggest and best-known drawcards along the
way. Drive the famous Oodnadatta Track, stroll around Wilpena Pound,
witness Uluru during a stunning sunrise, wander through the majestic
canyons of Kata Tjuta and admire the views from Kings Canyon. Head
out croc spotting in the Mary River Wetlands and get a taste of
the tropics in Kakadu National Park. A region of exceptional landscapes
and intriguing cultural attractions, this tail-to-top adventure
of the Territory is a trip that will leave you with a profound appreciation
of Australia's raw and rugged natural beauty.
Valid: 1 April 2020 – 31 March
2021
Trip Code:
• POMAD-O: Original
Price:
• AUD $4295 per person: POMAD-O: Original
• AUD $505 per person Original Additional Services - Single supplement
(private room/solo tent)
• All prices are in Australian Dollars (includes 10% GST) based
on per person
• Tour
easy to fill in quote form • Email
us with request • Telephone
us • All
Tour Links
Days: 17
Start: Melbourne, Australia
Finish: Darwin, Australia
Depart: Sundays (Check with us on other dates)
Destinations: Victoria, Great Ocean Road, South
Australia, Outback, Northern Territory, Uluru, Kakadu
Style: Basix
Theme: Explorer
Included activities • 12 Apostles & London Bridge
• Koala spotting - Great Ocean Road •
Melba Gully Walk - Otway Ranges • Swim at Lorne
(Summer months) • Loch Ard Gorge •
Brambuk Culture Centre • Mackenzie Falls - Grampians
• Pinnacles Walk - Grampians •
Reeds Lookout (The Balconies) & Boroka Lookout •
Wilpena Pound • Anna Creek Station •
Coober Pedy Mine tour • Josephine’s Gallery and
Kangaroo Orphanage • Dingo Fence •
Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park Entrance • Uluru
Base Walk • Uluru Cultural Centre •
Kata Tjuta • Maruku Arts cultural experience
• Watarrka National Park Entry Fees •
Kings Canyon Rim Walk • Litchfield National Park • Ubirr Rock •
Kakadu National Park Fee • Mary River cruise • Bowali Visitor Centre
• Pine Creek Gold-Mining Centre • Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) • Edith
Falls • Top Didj Indigenous Experience
Physical Rating: 3 out of 5
Transport: All Terrain vehicle, Private vehicle
Group size: Min 1, Max 24
Meals: 12 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 12 dinners
Accommodation: Camping (with shared facilities)
(9 nights), Dormitory (5 nights), Underground bunkhouse (1 night).
Age: 18 yearss
Trip Itinerary:
Day 1: The Great Ocean Road
• Let’s get road tripping! Departing Melbourne, hit the road west
to Geelong and the chilled-out surf town of Torquay. From there,
begin the journey along one of Australia’s most beautiful and famous
drives – the Great Ocean Road. This coast road at points is the
only barrier between the lush forests of Victoria’s southwest and
the cliffs down to the Bass Strait. Along the way, experience a
guided walk through an ancient and rare temperate rainforest in
the Otways, checking out the enormous trees that are native to the
area. Stop for some koala spotting in Kennett River, then break
for lunch in seaside Apollo Bay. In the afternoon, continue on to
the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge – these rocky landscapes
braving the southern oceans are a sight to behold. Continue on your
drive for another hour or so, spending the night in Warrnambool.
Note: Total driving time today is about 6.5 hours (approximately
450kms) Total walking time will be about 2 hours (approximately
2kms)
Accommodation Motel (1 night)
Included Activities • 12 Apostles & London Bridge • Koala spotting
- Great Ocean Road • Melba Gully Walk - Otway Ranges • Swim at Lorne
(Summer months) • Loch Ard Gorge
Meals Included Lunch
Day 2: The Grampians
• Begin the day checking out more of the Great Ocean Road's natural
wonder on the Warrnambool foreshore, then take a drive into the
Grampians National Park – an area full of rugged rock landscapes,
scenic lookouts and rich in First Nations culture. During the day,
you’ll visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Culture Centre to learn about
an important period of this ancient culture known as the Dreaming,
then hike up to the Pinnacles for impressive views across the Grampians.
Keep an eye out for any native flora or wildlife that may pass you
by as you walk. Tonight, head to Halls Gap for the evening, enjoying
a traditional Aussie-style barbecue with your small group.
Note: Total driving time today is about 6 hours (approximately 400kms)
Total walking time will be about 4 hours (approximately 5kms)
Accommodation Motel (1 night)
Included Activities • Brambuk Culture Centre • Mackenzie Falls -
Grampians • Pinnacles Walk - Grampians
Meals Included Breakfast Dinner
Day 3: The Grampians to Adelaide
• This morning, hike to the base of McKenzie Falls – the highest
and arguably most impressive waterfalls in the Grampians – and check
out other sites such as The Balconies and Reeds Lookout. Leaving
the Grampians, pass through the town of Horsham and the enchanting
Loch Lel – also known as the Pink Lake – before crossing the mighty
Murray River and making your last leg of the journey into Adelaide.
Most of the afternoon is taken up by the drive, but you’ll arrive
in Adelaide around 7.30 pm, in time for an optional celebratory
dinner with your group. There is no accommodation planned for tonight,
but if you would like to spend more time in Adelaide, we’ll be happy
to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Note: Total driving time today is about 7.5 hours (approximately
550kms) Total walking time will be about 2.5 hours (approximately
3.5kms)
Estimated time of arrival into Adelaide is 7.30pm so please take
this into account when considering onward travel.
Accommodation Hostel (1 night)
Included Activities Reeds Lookout (The Balconies) & Boroka Lookout
Meals Included Breakfast
Special Information
This is a combination trip, made up of two of our most popular trips.
Some travellers will be leaving today and others heading on to Alice
Springs and Darwin in the morning where the makeup of your group
and guide will change.
Day 4: Adelaide - Flinders Ranges
• Welcome to South Australia, where your adventure begins. You’ll
be picked up from the YHA Adelaide at 8.30 am and head to the culinary
epicentre of the State’s capital, the ‘Adelaide Central Market’.
We’ll meander through the markets to collect some local produce
that we can enjoy it a little later in the day. Next, visit Australia’s
Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Tandanya. The First Nation precinct
provides a wonderful opportunity to experience both traditional
and contemporary aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Leave
South Australia’s capital behind and head north to the Clare Valley,
home to some of the country’s best wines. Perhaps purchase a bottle
(or two!) and pair it with your delicious lunch. After lunch enjoy
expansive views of the Flinders Ranges as you drive towards Wilpena
Pound, a natural amphitheatre of rocky mountains. Experience the
sunset at Wilpena Pound before settling into your accommodation
for the night.
Total driving time takes around 6 hours.
Accommodation Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities Wilpena Pound
Meals Included Lunch Dinner
Special Information
You’ll be picked up from the YHA Adelaide at 8.30 am, so please
arrive at least ten minutes before.
Day 5: Quorn
•It’s an early (but worthwhile) start this morning as you enjoy
a short and leisurely walk along one of the many tracks in Flinders
National Park. Spanning a massive 450 km, you won’t be able cover
it all, but your guide will choose the best trail for your group,
depending on the time of year. Travel to the site of the Yourambulla
Caves where you’ll have the opportunity to view some local First
Nation rock art before stopping for lunch at Quorn. Spend the afternoon
enjoying a couple of walks: Warren Gorge provides stunning ochre
rock faces that complement the blue skies. Keep your eyes peeled
for the very well camouflaged local rock wallabies. Tonight, you’ll
stay in the quintessential South Australian town of Quorn.
Total driving time today is approximately 3.5 hours
Accommodation Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 6: Coober Pedy
• Leave Quorn in the rear-view mirror and head to Coober Pedy, the
‘Opal capital of the world’. Due to extremely hot temperatures in
the area most of the town is constructed underground, with residents
living in homes carved into the hillsides. Upon arrival take a guided
tour of the town, an underground house and the opal mine (with opal
cutting demonstration). The rest of the afternoon is free to explore.
You may even like to try your hand at 'noodling' (fossicking) for
opals. End the day with some rescued joeys at Josephine’s Gallery
and Kangaroo Orphanage. Tonight, stay in a multi-share underground
bunkhouse in Coober Pedy.
Total driving time today is approximately 6 hours
Accommodation Underground Multishare (1 night)
Included Activities • Anna Creek Station • Coober Pedy Mine tour
• Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 7: Coober Pedy / Yulara
• We’ll be honest, there’s a fair bit of driving today. From Coober
Pedy travel past the Dingo Fence and Breakaways Reserve, and into
the Northern Territory. Be prepared to ‘hold-on’ as your guide hits
the indictor on the vehicle for the first time, leaving the Stuart
Highway and turning left onto the Lassetter Highway towards Uluru.
Make sure you have your Ipod fully charged and your neck cushion
handy!
Today driving time will be about 8 hours.
Accommodation Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1
night)
Included Activities Dingo Fence
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 8: Yulara/Uluru (Ayers Rock)
• Rise early this morning and be rewarded with a glorious Uluru
sunrise. While the day is still fresh, enjoy a walk around the base
of this incredible sandstone formation, which is of great spiritual
significance to the Anangu people. Walk to the cave paintings near
Mutitjulu Waterhole at the base of Uluru where you will be in the
hands of an Anangu guide who will share the stories of this unique
landscape. This exclusive experience will give you an insight to
the meaning behind Anangu art and traditional culture. The on-site
Cultural Centre also houses an extensive collection of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander arts and crafts for you to browse. Head
back to camp for lunch.
There isn't much driving today, about 1 hour in total between destinations.
You will walk approximately 5km.
Accommodation Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1
night)
Included Activities • Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park Entrance
• Uluru Base Walk • Uluru Cultural Centre • Kata Tjuta • Maruku
Arts cultural experience
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Special Information
The Anangu people have dissuaded visitors from climbing Uluru for
decades; as traditional owners of the land they feel a deep responsibility
for everyone who travels to the area.
In 1998 we were among the first tour operators to stop climbing
Uluru.
The Intrepid Group are proud to be involved with local communities
in Uluru and to have an ongoing commitment to providing employment
for the Anangu people. You show respect when you choose not to climb
Uluru, but walk with Anangu throughout the area and share their
stories instead
Day 9: Uluru/Kings Canyon
• Today, explore one of the Red Centre's greatest treasures, Kata
Tjuta, a group of domed red rocks rising spectacularly out of the
desert. Like Uluru, they’re sacred to the Anangu people and are
believed to be 500 million years old. Return to camp for lunch before
travelling to Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon). Spend the night
in an exclusive campsite inside the park.
Driving time is about 6 hours today, and you will walk approximately
2km.
Accommodation Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1
night)
Included Activities Watarrka National Park Entry Fees
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 10: Kings Canyon/Alice Springs
• With its 300-metre high sandstone walls, hidden waterholes, fern
forests, chasms, canyons and caverns, Watarrka National Park is
central Australia’s answer to an oasis. The highlight attractions
here are the Garden of Eden, the Amphitheatre and the Lost City
– all sites you’ll get to visit on the Rim Walk. Following lunch,
it’s back on the road for the onward drive to Alice Springs, where
this adventure concludes.
Driving time today is approximately 5 hours back to Alice Springs,
and the Rim Walk is approximately 6km.
Included Activities • Kings Canyon Rim Walk
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch
Special Information
For the Kings Canyon Rim Walk it is a requirement that you have
a minimum of 3 litres of water with you.
Please consider bringing your own refillable water bottles.
Today you'll say goodbye to your guide and some of your group who
are not travelling north to Darwin tomorrow.
Day 11: Alice Springs
• Today is free for you to do as you wish in and around Alice Springs.
You may have bid some of your travel crew farewell last night, so
now it’s time for you to make your own fun! There’s a heap to see
and do in Alice Springs town, including checking out what’s on display
at the Araulean Cultural Precinct, visiting the Reptile Centre or
walking up ANZAC Hill to see a stunning sunset over the city. A
little bit further out, hire a bike and take a ride out to Simpsons
Gap – a gorge between the towering cliffs of the West MacDonnell
Ranges. Otherwise, you could get active and head on a steep hike
up to the top of Mt Gillen for some epic views over the arid countryside.
Accommodation Hostel (1 night)
Meals Included There are no meals included on this day.
Day 12: Alice Springs to Darwin
•Today, skip the 1,500km of driving which is about 24 hours by road,
and fly from Alice Springs to Darwin with Qantas (QF). Qantas is
Australia's first commercial airline and is now recognised as one
of the world’s best International airlines.
Accommodation Hostel (1 night)
Meals Included Lunch Dinner
Special Information
Your Alice Springs transfer (operated by Emu Run) will depart approx
2.5 hours prior to your scheduled flight time. In case of issues
or to check departure time please call 1800 1800 722 111 (free call)
or +61 8 89522111
Your Darwin transfer (operated by Darwin City Airport Shuttle Service)
will transfer you to the Cavenagh Hotel, Darwin. In case of issues
on arrival in Darwin please contact Darwin City airport shuttle
- 08 8947 3979
Day 13: Darwin
• Today is as clear as the blue skies in the Northern Territory
for you to choose your own adventure. With the whole day at your
leisure in Darwin, you might like to take a swim at the recreational
lagoon or wave pool in the Waterfront Precinct, check out the varied
range of native and tropical flora at the Darwin Botanic Gardens,
discover more about the region at the Museum and Art Gallery of
the Northern Territory, or have a walk along Mindil Beach and catch
an incredible Top End sunset over the ocean. The best thing is,
you’ve got the power to decide! Keep in mind that you’ll have an
early start tomorrow, so feel free to chill out with a good book
today.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 14: Darwin to Mary River via Litchfield
National Park
• Welcome to the Northern Territory! Your adventure begins in the
tropical city of Darwin. Set off from Darwin and head south to Lichfield
National Park, a huge sandstone plateau with dozens of waterfalls.
Explore Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and the Buley Rockholes. After
a picnic lunch, stroll through steamy rainforests and cool off with
a dip in one of Litchfield's picturesque swimming holes. Enjoy some
relaxed time at the campsite and a meal before climbing into bed
at the secluded Mary River campsite.
Notes: Total driving time: about 5.5 hours (approximately 400 km).
Total walking time: about 45 minutes
Accommodation Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1
night) Please note that all tents are twin-share and come with a
proper bed.
Included Activities Litchfield National Park
Meals Included Lunch Dinner
Day 15: Kakadu National Park : Ubirr and Barramundi
Gorge
• After breakfast this morning, head to onto the water on a wildlife
cruise in the Mary River Wetlands, a network of waterways home to
crocodiles and native bird species. Kakadu National Park and discover
ancient Aboriginal rock art in Ubirr. Your guide will lead an interpretive
cultural walk through the numerous rock galleries, before you climb
to the top of a lookout for views over the Nardab floodplain. Tonight,
relax by the pool at the Kakadu campground and enjoy a group dinner.
Note: Total driving time: approximately 6.5 hours (approximately
550 km) Total walking time: approximately 2 hours
Accommodation Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1
night)
Included Activities • Edith Falls Ubirr Rock • Kakadu National Park
Fee • Mary River cruise
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 16: Kakadu to Katherine
•This morning you have the option to take a scenic flight over Kakadu
(at your own expense). The flight takes in views over the Arnhem
Land escarpment, vast flood plains and billabongs. Later spend time
exploring Kakadu’s other major Aboriginal rock art site – Nourlangie
(Burrunggui), while your guide provides a glimpse into how the local
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live. After lunch head
south and stop to visit the historic gold-mining centre of Pine
Creek. Stop for a quick dip at Maguk or Gunlom Falls, before continuing
on to Katherine, where you'll settle in for the night at a private
campsite near Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge).
Note: Total driving time: approximately 5.5 hours (approximately
400 km) Total walking time: approximately 1 hour
Accommodation Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1
night)
Included Activities • Bowali Visitor Centre • Pine Creek Gold-Mining
Centre • Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
Optional Activities • Flight (Fixed Wing Aircraft) over - Kakadu
- from - AUD150
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 17: Katherine Gorge to Darwin
Depending on the season, head out on a morning cruise along the
inky waters of Katherine Gorge, or canoe between red rock walls
that are up to 70 metres high (both of these activities are optional
and at your own expense). This 23 million-year-old landscape was
formed by the Katherine River, which flows from Arnhem Land out
to the Timor Sea. After lunch we head to the beautiful Edith falls
for one last refreshing swim in the huge plunge pool before we hit
the road back to Darwin, where your adventure comes to an end on
arrival.
Note: Total driving time: approximately 5.5 hours (approximately
400 km) Total walking time: approximately 1 hour
Included Activities • Edith Falls • Top Didj Indigenous Experience
Optional Activities • Katherine Gorge Scenic Cruise - AUD95
Meals Included Breakfast Lunch