Heaven 11 (Darwin to Alice Springs)

Location(s):

Darwin, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Alice Springs, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Kings Canyon, Kakadu National Park, Katherine Gorge, Litchfield National Park, Palm Valley, Mary River Wetlands, Ubirr, Jim Jim Falls, Tennent Creek, Glen Helen.

Description:

THIS ITINERARY IS FOR TRAVEL POST 01 APRIL 2011 - IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE DETAILS ON PRE APRIL ITINERARY WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO ITINERARY CHANGES PLEASE ENQUIRE BEFORE MAKING YOUR BOOKING.

Pre-tour overnight dorm accommodation in Darwin is included

Day 1 - Darwin to Mary River
A refreshing start to your day checking out the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park. Travel west into Woolna Country and receive a Cul Cul or unique ‘Welcome to Country’ by the traditional owners of the land the Limilngan – Wulna people. Experience the local Aboriginal Culture, cooking your own bush tucker, playing the didgeridoo, basket weaving and spear throwing. To finish the day we head to the spectacular Mary River Wetlands, where birds aren’t the only wildlife abundant around here; keep your eyes out for lurking crocodiles on our private river cruise! A secluded campsite in the Mary River Region is where we’ll stay tonight. (LD)

Day 2 - Mary River to Kakadu
Discover 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 NP. (BLD)

Day 3 - Kakadu to Darwin
Get 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. Overnight dorm accommodation included. (BL)


Day 4 – Darwin to Katherine Gorge
Leaving Darwin, we stop for a break at Adelaide River on the way to Katherine. We spend the afternoon at the majestic Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk), which is part of the Nitmiluk National Park. Experience the striking beauty while canoeing or cruising (at own expense & seasonal) through the gorge itself. Want to see more? Jump onboard a helicopter flight (at own expense) which will take you high above the vast gorge system. Tonight we stay at our permanent camp near Katherine Gorge. (LD)

Day 5 – Katherine Gorge to Tennant Creek
Not far to the south is Mataranka, where you can revive in a sparkling thermal pool surrounded by lush tropical forest. Next stop is the iconic Daly Waters outback hotel, the Territory’s oldest pub. Nearby lies Australia’s first international airport, but you won’t get a flight back home from here these days! After lunch, we continue south to Tennant Creek where we camp overnight at our private campsite. (BLD)

Day 6 – Tennant Creek to Alice Springs
This morning we check out the sacred site of the Devils Marbles, which balance precariously on their rocky perch. From here we stop in at Barrow Creek Pub, home to the historic Telegraph Station – catch a glimpse of what outback telecommunication used to be like! We cross over the Tropic of Capricorn, before arriving early evening into Alice Springs. Overnight dorm accommodation included (BL).

Day 7 – Alice Springs
Enjoy a FREE DAY to relax and explore Alice Springs. Overnight dorm accommodation included. (Meals at own expense)

Day 8 – Alice Springs to Kata Tjuta & Uluru
Welcome to the Outback! Our first stop is the Outback Camel Farm where you can see the world from the top of a camel if you choose to take a ride (own expense). Next we travel to the Ayers Rock Resort for your first glimpse of Uluru, located in the heart of the Red Centre. After lunch, we explore fascinating Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) on a guided interpretive walk through the Valley of the Winds. We make it back in time for an enthralling desert sunset over Uluru. After dinner, curl up in your swag (Aussie bedroll) and watch the stars come out to play in the darkening sky. (LD)

Day 9 – Uluru to Kings Canyon
Sunrise over Uluru is magical and it’s an early start to catch it. While the morning’s fresh (and your legs are too) enjoy an unguided walk around the base of Uluru. Gain a further insight into the land, its stories and the people who inhabit it at the Cultural Centre, where you’ll also have the opportunity to invest in original arts and crafts by Indigenous artists. We’ll have lunch before heading over to Kings Canyon. We spend the night at our permanent campsite at Kings Canyon Resort. (BLD)

Day 10 - Kings Canyon to Glen Helen
There’s a lot to explore at Kings Canyon and we check out the Amphitheatre, Lost City, the lush and ancient Garden of Eden and the sheer outcrops of the North and South walls. After lunch, we travel along the well-known Mereenie Loop Track (also called the Red Centre Way). We pass the 140 million year old meteorite crater, Gosse Bluff as we travel towards Glen Helen where we camp tonight nestled in the western end of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges. (BLD)

Day 11 – Glen Helen to Alice Springs
Discover the spectacular geological features of Ormiston Gorge, before heading to morning tea at the historic Hermannsburg Mission, established by Lutheran Missionaries in the 1870’s. There’s time to wander around the old church, school house, museum and the art gallery which features works by renowned Aboriginal artist Albert Namitjira. After a hot ‘cuppa’ and piece of traditional German cake prepare for some 4WD action! We travel along the ancient track of the Finke River to access the majestic scenery of Palm Valley and Cycad Gorge, exploring what was once a prehistoric inland sea. Keep your eyes out for the Livistonia Mariae, a tropical palm and one of the rarest trees in the world. The spectacular Western MacDonnell Ranges will continue to impress you all the way back to Alice Springs. (BL)

Operator Name:

Adventure Tours Australia

Operator Description:

An Australian Adventure is one click away. Great coastal and outback tours through Australia are what we do best. Turn scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, horse riding, desert crossing, and bush survival into an Australian adventure of a life time. Visit the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, ancient Daintree rainforest and Cairns and its lush tropical surrounds on one of our east coast adventures. Let the Whitsundays and Fraser Island take your breath away and take in the beauty of Byron Bay. Tour the outback and visit Ayers rock and the red centre while taking in the amazing landscapes of South Australia and the Northern Territory including destinations like Kakadu, Kings Canyon and The Olgas. Maybe a west coast adventure is more your style with glorious sunsets and the likes of the Pinnacles desert, the Bungle Bungles and Monkey Mia intrigue and excite you. The isolation, red soil, stunning beaches, unique culture and the abundance of natural resources make this a land of beauty and contrast. Adventure Tours Australia delivers a national portfolio of memorable and satisfying cultural, nature based and way-of-life experiences with adventure, comfort and quality - for a budget price. For people who are looking for personalised tours, they can choose from a selection of more than fifty touring modules Australia-wide or alternatively request a private charter to suit their personal requirements without the limitation of an organised schedule. Adventure Tours Australia's resources include a modern purpose-built vehicle fleet, permanent campsites, access to exclusive accommodation and one hundred and sixty full-time professional tour guides with the option of multi-lingual guides for private groups. Adventure Tours Australia’s approach to continuous improvement has been influenced by awareness of rapid technological advances and feedback from customers. We have won a multitude of regional and national tourism awards, recognising excellent product delivery and knowledgeable tour guides. We hope to see you on board with us and know that you will have an amazing adventure with Adventure Tours Australia.

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