Alice and Kakadu (start Alice Springs)

Fly over the international date line on your way to Australia.

Check into the All Seasons Oasis Hotel to meet up with your Contiki Crew. Go on a tour of the Outback’s unofficial capital, ’The Alice’, famous for its remote location, its Aussie characters & its reputation as the national hub for Aboriginal art. Visit ANZAC Hill lookout, Alice Springs Reptile Center, the important Aboriginal cultural site of Simpson’s Gap & West MacDonnell National Park. You'll also get to see Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

Hotel

Meet your Contiki crew, then travel across the Tropic of Capricorn with time at Ti Tree, Wycliffe Well and Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). Tonight stay in the 'true-blue' Aussie Outback town of Tennant Creek.

Hotel Dinner

Heading north, we stop by Renner Springs, which serves as a border between the lush tropics of the north and the red desert of Australia’s centre.

Next up: the oldest pub in the Northern Territory, Daly Waters, licensed since 1893. Check out the knick-knacks and memorabilia that cover the walls of this Australian institution. Grab a bite to eat here and maybe meet a local character or two.

Afterwards, we pull into Mataranka Thermal Springs where you can have a swim in the thermal pools at a bush resort, where the mineral waters are a comfortable 34 degrees.

In the afternoon, we arrive in riverside Katherine – it’s a total change of scene after the dry desert. Your Tour Manager will organise an optional dinner tonight, so you can relax by the pool.

Hotel Breakfast

Kick start the day with our optional cruise through the gorgeous Nitmiluk Gorge. This National Park serves up vivid orange cliffs and rock formations that have been carved out by the river over hundreds’ of years. Keep an eye open for fresh water crocs and learn about local wildlife and folklore from our Local Guide.

Later on, cool off in the swimming hole at either Edith Falls or Gunlom, deep in the heart of the national park.

We overnight in Australia’s largest national park, Kakadu, known for its ancient rock art, some of which is up to 20,000 years old.

Lodge Breakfast, Dinner

We spend the day exploring some of this 20,000 sq km World Heritage listed site. It’s packed with swamps, rainforest, wetlands, woodlands, plants, insects and 75 different types of reptiles.

Our included boat cruise takes us out onto Yellow Water, a lush inland lagoon. You’ll see some rock art, birdlife and even learn about the Aboriginal history of the area.

We get the background on local indigenous culture at the Warradjan Cultural Centre before we explore the “rock galleries” of Ubirr, where time-old paintings line the cave walls. Depending on the season, you can watch the sun set over this stunning site before we head back to the hotel for dinner.

Lodge Breakfast

Today, we head to stunning Litchfield National Park on our way to Darwin. We stop by the termite mounds, a local natural curiosity, which are up to 4 metres high and are literally magnetic – your Tour Manager will fill you in on the details.

Then we hit the famous falls that make up the park - 4 waterfalls pour over a wide plateau into deep, picture-perfect waterholes surrounded by thick rainforest. Experience this natural playground and take a dip in the transparent waters.

This evening, we make our way to Darwin where we maybe try lucking out at the casino or go dancing & party the night away.

Hotel Breakfast

Today we crusie around Darwin on a city sightseeing tour before we hit the Darwin Museum and find out about the unlucky past of the Northern Territory’s capital.

This afternoon enjoy some free time ot explore Darwin, where you could jump on a relaxing Harbour cruise or if you feel the need for speed, perhaps a Jet Boat ride. Later this evening, we head back to the hotel where your tour ends. Say goodbye to your new friends and Tour Manager.

Breakfast