Down Under from Bottom to Top

Welcome to Adelaide, South Australia's capital city, nestled in one of Australia's most celebrated wine regions.

 Cosmopolitan Adelaide is filled to the brim with culture, flavours, events, and entertainment. With spacious boulevards and vibrant inner-city districts, sophisticated architecture and lush gardens, South Australia's capital has it all.

Tonight you are spoiled for dining options: Adelaide's reputation as a foodie destination is well deserved. Famous for culinary creativity and blessed with outstanding local produce, there truly is something for everyone.

Accommodation: Adelaide - 2 Nights

Today is yours to discover Adelaide however you desire.

History buffs will love the staggering variety of exquisite churches around every corner, many dating back to the 19th century. After a morning of exploring, grab lunch at Adelaide Central Market: This bustling hub contains over 80 stalls offering cheese, seafood, patisseries and artisan produce. It's a fantastic place to indulge in a spot of people-watching.

For a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter, head to Glenelg beach and join a cruise in search of wild dolphins. Or if you'd like to try some local grape varieties, the iconic Penfolds vineyards and Magill Estate cellar door are a mere 15 minute drive from town.

Adelaide is known as the Festival Capital of Australia - from comedy and cabaret to food and fashion, there's always something on no matter when you visit.

Kangaroo Island

Australia's third largest island Kangaroo Island is a treasure trove of picture-perfect beaches, great fishing, native wildlife and stunning landscapes. This peaceful haven is your home for the next two nights as you embark on a guided Kangaroo Island Wildlife Tour.

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Tour: Day One

Collect your car and journey from Adelaide to Cape Jervis with vineyards, coastal views and rolling hills to admire along the way. Arriving on Kangaroo Island, introduce yourself to several island habitats to see wildlife in their natural environments.

You'll walk among sea lions at Seal Island Conservation Park, enjoy a delicious gourmet picnic style lunch, explore the island's spectacular beaches and enjoy a stunning bushwalk. Keep an eye out for koalas, echidnas and wallabies!

As the day draws to a close, you'll see the kangaroos leave the safety of the bush to begin grazing on the open pastures. It doesn't get much more Aussie than this.

Accommodation: Kangaroo Island - 2 Nights

Approximate Distance: 210 km | 130 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 43 mins

At the western end of the island you'll discover the remarkable Flinders Chase National Park, one of the oldest and most important national parks in South Australia.

You'll see at close range some of the 10,000 Long-nosed Fur Seals in their colony at Cape du Couedic and discover the formation of Remarkable Rocks. These large granite boulders balance dramatically on the cliff edge, which plunges 75 metres into the turbulent Southern Ocean below.

At Admirals Arch see where the powerful forces of nature have cut through the headland to create this natural geological formation. A delicious gourmet style picnic lunch with South Australian wine will be served in a secluded bush setting.

By special permit, enter the Kelly Hill Conservation Park to see native wildlife emerge from the safety of the bush land to graze on the open plains.

Waking up in your island paradise for one last time, you'll be transferred to the mainland for your return to Adelaide.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy any last-minute sightseeing, feast on South Australian artisan produce, and sample a few more of those oh-so-fine wines. Tomorrow you'll see first-hand the dramatic contrasts of Australia's climate and scenery as you make your way into the desert.

Accommodation: Adelaide - 1 Night

Approximate Distance: 210 km | 130 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 43 mins

Leaving South Australia behind it's time to fly to the beating heart of Australia's Red Centre: Alice Springs.

Alice Springs

Situated in the geographic centre of the country, the thriving outback town of "Alice" is the gateway to some of Australia's most iconic landscapes. Nestled between the beautiful MacDonnell Ranges, surrounded by gorges and stark desert plains, Alice Springs is home to outstanding galleries of traditional and contemporary works from local indigenous artists.

Alice may be 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) from the nearest ocean and 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) from the nearest major cities (Adelaide and Darwin), but the town is packed with personality and local colour you can't find anywhere else. You won't forget your visit in a hurry.

Accommodation: Alice Springs - 2 Nights
 

Explore Alice Springs and immerse yourself in the beauty and mystery of Australia's deserts.

At the Alice Springs Desert Park you can wander through the ancient landscape and discover the plants, animals and culture of the place.

Suggested Activity: West MacDonnell Ranges Day Tour

• We highly recommend a day tour to the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges, a wonderland of beautiful gorges and waterholes, flora and fauna.
• Along the way you'll take in Simpsons Gap, Angkerle (Standley Chasm) and Ellery Creek Big Hole,
• a wonderful swimming spot which carves its way through a gorge in the Ranges.
• The tour also includes Glen Helen Gorge, Ormiston Gorge and the ancient cliff-face paintings at Ochre Pits.

Today, make your way to the heart of the Red Centre – Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it is also known.

Ayers Rock stands 348 metres above the ground and reaches over 700 metres under ground. Uluru is also home to the World Heritage listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is of extreme importance to the local Aboriginal people.

A Night At "Field Of Light" 

Created by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro, the Field of Light art installation has to be seen to be believed.

The experience begins with a convenient hotel pick-up and short transfer to the remote desert location with majestic views of Uluru.

You’re welcomed at an exclusive dune top just after the sun has set on the horizon. Savour a selection of outback canapes with sparkling wine or beer as your host provides insight into the light installation that awaits you. As darkness falls, 50,000 glass spheres gently come to life. Covered under a sky brilliant with stars, Field of Light beckons you to explore and lose yourself momentarily in the rhythms of coloured light. 

(Not suitable for children 4 yrs and under.)

Accommodation: Uluru - 2 Nights

Approximate Distance: 468 km | 291 miles   Total Driving Time: 5 hours 41 mins

After a leisurely morning it's time for a thrilling 4 Wheel Drive expedition through the desert landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Kata Tjuta 4WD Tour

The mighty rock formations of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) are a geological marvel. This collection of monoliths covers more than 20 square kilometres, towering up to 546 metres above the surrounding plains.

Your expert guide will reveal the many attributes of this diverse environment and describe the cultural significance of Kata Tjuta as a sacred Aboriginal men’s ceremonial site.

You will gain in-depth knowledge about the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Walpa Gorge, and because someone else is doing the driving, you can relax and enjoy the scenery.

A 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometre) guided walk through Walpa Gorge takes you through a narrow creek valley between two of Kata Tjuta’s largest domes. Here you'll discover a wealth of native plants and animals including wallabies and gorgeous wildflowers.
 

Fly from Uluru to Darwin and get to know Australia's "Top End," the northernmost section of the Northern Territory.

Darwin

Darwin is nearer to Singapore than it is to Sydney, which gives you an idea of the sheer size of Australia. This multicultural, fast-developing city has a chilled-out feel and a beautiful climate.

Between cyclones and bombing by the Japanese in World War Two, Darwin has been rebuilt several times in its history. While the architecture is modern and stylish, it's still very much a "frontier town" with a small-town feel.

Relax and see a movie at the outdoor Deckchair Cinema, catch the sunset over the Timor Sea, or try street food at the Mindil Beach Markets. You'll feel like a laid-back local in no time.

Accommodation: Darwin - 1 Night

Travel from Darwin to the World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park and explore Yellow Water Billabong on board a cruise in the heart of Kakadu. 

Kakadu National Park

The Kakadu National Park is a great mix of culture and natural beauty. Here you can learn about Aboriginal culture from the traditional owners and view Aboriginal rock art up to 20,000 years old. Around a third of Australia's bird species are located in the National Park, and migratory birds flock to the wetlands in their millions.

Yellow Water Billabong Cruise

The Yellow Water Cruise will open your eyes to a world of wildlife including saltwater crocodiles, sea eagles, whistling ducks and buffalo in their natural habitat. Gliding along the calm waters you'll see rare flora and fauna all around you. There's no better way to experience the wetlands of Kakadu.

Accommodation: Kakadu - 2 Nights

Approximate Distance: 211 km | 131 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 mins

Take a 4WD journey into less accessible landscapes of Kakadu on the remote adventure tour of a lifetime.

4WD Kakadu Adventure Tour

Led by local guides with intimate knowledge of the park, your tour may visit memorable destinations such as Motorcar Falls, Boulder Creek, Gubara Rock Pools, Ikoymarrwa Rock Pool, Maguk Gorge, Gunlom Falls, Jim Jim Falls or Twin Falls.

Your tour is flexible, and the exact locations will depending on conditions and road access, which vary according to the weather and the time of year — part of what makes this region so exciting!

After two days of outback expeditions, it's time to return to the city one last time. There's no hurry, so make time to take the scenic route back to Darwin via Litchfield National Park. Known for its cascading waterfalls, natural spas, and whirlpools, it's 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.

OR... Visit Ubirr, one of Kakadu’s renowned Aboriginal rock art sites, then walk to nearby Nadab Lookout, which affords magnificent views over the surrounding wetlands and escarpments.

Accommodation: Darwin - 1 Night

Approximate Distance: 211 km | 131 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 mins

Enjoy the city of Darwin and all it has to offer. On your last day of touring, you have free time to spend it how you like! Visit Crocosaurus Cove for a chance to hold a crocodile, feed them or simply watch some of the largest saltwater crocodiles in Australia as they interact with each other. Explore Cullen Bay Marina or cruise the Adelaide River (all at own expense). Your Australian Fly/Drive adventure ends here in Darwin.