Two Week Darwin to Uluru Road Trip Itinerary

Darwin is closer to Singapore than Sydney, highlighting Australia’s vast scale. This multicultural, fast-evolving city has a relaxed atmosphere and warm tropical climate. 

Shaped by cyclones and wartime bombing, it has been rebuilt multiple times, blending modern architecture with a distinctive frontier-town character. 

Sunset Dinner Cruise
End the day aboard the Charles Darwin sunset cruise, enjoying a 2-hour harbour journey with sweeping views of the city skyline and sparkling waters. Relax on deck as the sun sets and enjoy a dinner service featuring locally inspired cuisine, all set against iconic Top End scenery for a calm and memorable evening on the water.

Included Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Darwin - 3 Nights

Embark on an unforgettable Top End adventure with an all-inclusive tour that offers a day of breathtaking experiences. 

Top End Safari Camp Day Tour
Begin with a spectacular helicopter flight, soaring over stunning floodplains and taking in the region's incredible natural beauty. Next, feel the thrill of an airboat ride through winding channels and lush rainforest, where you'll have the chance to spot crocodiles, an array of birdlife, and even buffalo in their natural habitat. Unwind with a peaceful billabong cruise and savor a delicious lunch on a comfortable pontoon surrounded by serene waters. The adventure concludes with an up-close encounter as you witness a thrilling crocodile feeding, featuring one of the giant rescue crocs personally captured by Wild Territory's renowned Matt Wright. This is a day filled with excitement, relaxation and unforgettable wildlife experiences.

Included Meals: Lunch

Make a return day trip to discover spiritually significant waterfalls, ancient rainforest and unspoilt woodland in abundance at Litchfield National Park. Known for its cascading waters, natural spas and whirlpools, this is the ideal place for a refreshing swim.

Litchfield is also famous for its bizarre landscape of giant termite mounds. Standing up to two metres tall, they are astounding feats of architecture not to be missed.

Don't miss the Lost City, a dramatic gathering of 500 million-year-old rocky outcrops looking very much like a sandstone town.

Approximate Distance: 115 km | 71 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 30 mins (each way)

Kakadu National Park is renowned for the richness of its Aboriginal cultural sites. It covers an area of 19,804 square kilometres which is the size of Israel or nearly half the size of Switzerland! 

Aboriginal people have occupied the Kakadu area continuously for at least 40,000 years.

There are more than 5000 cave paintings and rock carvings illustrating Aboriginal culture over thousands of years. Kakadu is a magnificent area with many different landforms and habitats. There are over 60 species of mammals and a great many reptiles including goannas, frill-necked lizards and the frightening saltwater crocodile. The Park also supports more than 280 species of birds what is about one-third of Australia's bird species.

Approximate Distance: 305 km | 190 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Kakadu - 2 Nights 

Yellow Water Billabong is Kakadu's most famous wetland and is located at the end of Jim Jim Creek, a tributary of the South Alligator River. 

The river system is the largest in Kakadu and contains extensive wetlands that include river channels, floodplains and backwater swamps. About one third of Australia's bird species are represented in Kakadu National Park, with at least 60 species found in the wetlands. Whistling Ducks and Magpie Geese are the most abundant. There are plenty of crocodiles in their natural habitat, and buffalo on the floodplains, as well as a huge Jabiru's nest nearby.

Outstanding Rock Formations at Burrungkuy
Take a self guided walk at the walls of the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art site, in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, which have served as a shelter and canvas for thousands of years.

The paintings are a window to a rich spiritual tradition and can be reached by the circular 1.5 kilometre Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art walk.

Katherine is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory, located about three hours south of Darwin on the banks of the Katherine River. 

Rich in pioneering history, it was named by explorer John McDouall Stuart in 1862 and later became a key base for early settlement, with its heritage still visible today. Surrounded by remarkable natural landscapes, it is an ideal gateway to the Gulf region, Kakadu’s southern reaches, and the Victoria River area. 

Nitmiluk Gorge Sunset Dinner Cruise
In the evening, step aboard a Nitmiluk Gorge cruise, gliding through towering sandstone cliffs along the Katherine River while learning about Jawoyn culture and the gorge’s deep spiritual significance.

Included Meals: Dinner

Approximate Distance: 260 km | 162 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 45 mins

Accommodation: Katherine - 2 Nights 

Begin the day at Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, a striking limestone landscape south of Katherine, known for its rare bat species, diverse birdlife, and unique tropical cave systems of significant scientific and conservation value. 

Explore this protected environment and discover its delicate underground ecosystems and rich natural heritage. 

Later, elevate the experience with an unforgettable helicopter flight over Nitmiluk National Park. Soar above the Katherine River and all 13 dramatic gorges, taking in sweeping views of lush vegetation and rugged escarpments. This exhilarating aerial journey offers a breathtaking perspective of one of the Northern Territory’s most spectacular landscapes.

On the road again and down the highway towards Mataranka, which is well-known for its thermal pools. Dont forget to stop in at the iconic pub at Daly Waters as you head for Tennant Creek. 

Continue on to Tennant Creek, which has an interesting mining history all on display at the Battery Hill Mining Centre. 

The Old Telegraph Station is worth a visit, just to wander around and read the informative signs of how life was at this isolated location. The buildings are surprisingly cool inside with the outside temperature sitting at about 38-40 degrees Celsius.

Approximate Distance: 675 km | 419 miles   Total Driving Time: 7 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Tennant Creek - 1 Night 

The road trip from Tennant Creek to Alice Springs on the Stuart Highway consists of a drive of 508km, 316 mi, 6:19 hrs through the sparsely populated Australian outback in the Red Centre. 

The Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) Conservation Reserve is located 1:11 hr drive south of Tennant Creek.  Karlu Karlu Conservation Reserve can be easily accessed via a short sealed road diversion off the Stuart Highway. The remaining road trip from the Devils Marbles to Alice Springs is very sparse, but you will eventually 5 hours later arrive in Alice Springs. Alice Springs was originally founded as part of the Overland Telegraph which was constructed in 1870 – 1872.  The Alice Springs Telegraph Station was established beside a water source which was named Alice Springs. 

Approximate Distance: 510 km | 317 miles   Total Driving Time: 5 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Alice Springs - 1 Night

The East and West MacDonnell Ranges stretch out for hundreds of kilometres on both sides of Alice Springs. 

The traditional owners of the Alice Springs area, the Arrernte people who believe giant caterpillars called the Yeperenye became the Ranges - they entered this world through one of the dramatic gaps in the escarpments of the area. Simpsons Gap sports a permanent pool and rock wallabies live in the gap's rocky ridges. Standley Chasm lights up in fiery colours reflected by the overhead sun at midday. Picturesque swimming holes such as Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge and Redbank Gorge offer refreshing relief on a scorching day.

Included Meals: Dinner Pack

Approximate Distance: 335 km | 208 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 45 minutes

Accommodation: Kings Canyon - 2 Nights

Begin the day with a breathtaking helicopter flight over Kings Canyon, where the vast scale of the Red Centre is revealed from above. 

Soar over towering sandstone cliffs, the Domes of the Lost City, the Garden of Eden, Kings Creek, and Carmichael Crag, while your pilot shares insightful commentary throughout. This aerial perspective captures remote areas of the canyon unreachable by ground, offering unforgettable views and photographic moments. 

As evening falls, experience the immersive Light Towers installation at Discovery Resorts Kings Canyon, where shifting light, sound, and desert landscape combine in a magical sunset setting guided along illuminated pathways to a spectacular lookout.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Pack

Today you will travel via Lasseter Highway and the Luritja Road to reach Yulara, the town closest to Uluru (Ayers Rock). 

Uluru / Ayers Rock is Australia's most recognisable natural icon. Standing 348 metres high, the monolith has a great cultural significance for the traditional Aboriginal owners, the Anangu people.

This evening come and see the 50,000 glass spheres of Bruce Munro's amazing Field of Light installation.

The Magical "Field of Light"
As darkness falls and Uluru is thrown into silhouette, Field of Light illuminates. As far as the eye can see gentle rhythms of colour light up the desert.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Distance: 325 km | 202 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Yulara - 2 Nights

Begin the day with a Kata Tjuta sunrise tour and watch as sunrise washes over its ancient domes, revealing a landscape rich in geological and cultural significance. 

Join a guided walk through Walpa Gorge between towering rock walls, listening to the wind and learning how these formations evolved over millions of years. Experience the quiet power and spiritual presence of this remarkable site as light shifts across the desert. 

As evening falls, witness Wintjiri Wiru near Uluru, where storytelling, music, and cutting-edge technology bring the ancestral Mala story to life. Set against twilight skies, this immersive experience offers a profound connection to Country and the Red Centre’s timeless beauty.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today we say farewell. We know you will enjoy your holiday and our promise to you is to make your travels as hassle-free and hospitable as possible.

Ensuring that today you leave with huge smiles on your faces when recalling your holiday!