21 Day Darwin to Adelaide Tour with Kangaroo Island

Today you will arrive any time into Darwin and check into the Melaleuca on Mitchell at your leisure.

Overnight share accommodation included.

Check in time is from 2pm, however if you arrive early, you can leave your luggage with reception, and get out and explore Darwin.

Accommodation

Melaleuca on Mitchell or similar

Meals

None

Start your adventure by departing from Darwin on a 3 day tour of Kakadu and Litchfield.

Head out to the Mary River Wetlands region onboard Corroboree Billabong Wetland Cruise, a great opportunity to spot a huge range of Top End birdlife, not to mention some apex predators… crocodiles!

We journey on to Kakadu National Park visiting the Bowali Visitor Centre which offers a beautiful introduction to the Park’s landscape and wildlife. After some relaxation at camp, we journey north to Cahills Crossing on the border of Kakadu and Arnhem Land.

We will visit one of the best-preserved collections of Aboriginal Rock Art in the world at Ubirr rock upon sunset.

This incredibly significant site showcases many styles of Rock Art and allows us to climb up high for a sunset that will blow you away looking out over the Nadab Floodplain.

After a big day, we head back to our cozy private camp and prepare dinner together, enjoying an evening with our fellow travellers.

Driving Distance: 420km

Hike Distance and Grading: 1km loop Grade 3, flat pathways and a gradual climb up a rock face to the vantage point on top. Requires a minimum moderate fitness and mobility

Accommodation

Jabiru Campground – Permanent Safari Tents (communal bathroom facilities)

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

We rise and shine early and make our way south in Kakadu National Park.

Today we’ll spend the day soaking up the spectacular natural beauty of the area, hiking through lush monsoon rainforests, swimming in pristine plunge pools and waterfalls surrounded by steep escarpments and rocky cliffs.

We aim to visit one or more of the available waterfalls depending on group physical ability to complete the hike(s). This can include any of the following: Motor Car Falls, Moline Rockhole, Maguk (Barramundi Gorge), or Jim Jim Falls. There are many factors affecting accessibility although your guide will ensure you get the best experience possible.

Time permitting, we stop at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie Rock), another indigenous rock art site where
archaeologists have uncovered works dating back over 20,000 years old.

We explore the evolving social, cultural and environmental changes to the area over time before making our way back to camp for a hearty dinner and a well-earned rest.

Driving Distance: 150km

Hike Distance and Grading: 1.5km – 4km Grade 6

Accommodation

Jabiru Campground – Permanent Tents (communal bathroom facilities)

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

An exciting day awaits as we head out of Kakadu National Park and travel towards Litchfield National Park.

We spend the afternoon immersed in Litchfield’s natural oasis of waterfalls, spring-fed streams and rugged sandstone escarpments.

We’ll spend time in any combination of Buley Rockholes, Wangi Falls or Florence Falls for a refreshing soak in picturesque rock holes and waterfalls.

Discover the uniquely impressive Magnetic and Cathedral Termite Mounds before making our way back to Darwin, arriving back to your accommodation at approximately 7:00pm.

Driving Distance: 500km

Hike Distance and Grading: 1 – 2 km Grade 2-3

Accommodation

Melaleuca on Mitchell or similar

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

A free day in Darwin to explore the city at your own pace. There are many activities to be had if you wish, including the main attractions of Crocosaurus Cove and the Cyclone Tracy exhibit at the Darwin Museum.

Those in search of greater adventure can look to book optional activities (at own expense) that include Jet Skiing, Go Karts and a whole lot more.

Accommodation

Melaleuca on Mitchell or similar

Meals

None

This morning you will be jumping on the Greyhound for a journey down the middle of the Northern Territory, to get to Alice Springs.

The Greyhound will depart at approximately 09:55am (subject to change), and arrive the following morning in Alice Springs at approximately 07:35am

Accommodation

Overland Greyhound

Meals

None

After arriving into Alice Springs in the morning, store your luggage with the hostel reception until check-in time in the afternoon, and head out to explore this desert town in the middle of Australia.

Alice Springs has a range of attractions within a short distance from town.

Why not visit the Araluen Cultural Precinct, School of the Air, Old Telegraph Station, Desert Wildlife Park, Anzac Hill, the Western Macdonnell Ranges or soar above the desert in a hot air balloon.

Alice also has a range of quirky bars or cafes, so there are plenty of options for food and drink.

Accommodation

YHA Alice Springs or similar

Meals

None

You have another opportunity today to explore activities in and around Alice Springs at your leisure.

Accommodation

YHA Alice Springs or similar

Meals

None

An included transfer departing from Alice Springs, will have you arriving at approximately 1pm into Yulara.
At 2 pm, you will meet your Storyteller Guide in front of the Desert Gardens Hotel.

After a meet and greet, visit the Cultural Centre in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to soak up its mesmerising natural beauty and rich culture.

Uluru and Kata Tjuta both hold great spiritual significance as they are places where many creation stories converge. Many of these stories are kept secret from outsiders, but you’ll learn a little about the local Anangu culture and appreciate the beauty of their land through exhibits and free presentations with Anangu and park rangers.

After setting up camp this evening, head to a viewing platform to experience the famous changing colours of the magical Uluru at sunset.

This is a great time to contemplate the vastness of the desert. Tonight, get to know your fellow travellers over our first campfire dinner and roll out your Aussie swag for the first time underneath a sky full of sparkling stars.

Today we only drive around 60km.

Accommodation

Swag camping at Ayers Rock Resort Campground

Meals

Dinner

Rising early, breathe deep and soak up the serenity of a sunrise over Uluru.

As the sunlight plays with the landscape, the rock formations change colour before your eyes.

Next, it’s time to get close to Uluru, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. At 348 metres high and some 550 million years old, feel a powerful presence the moment you set eyes on it.

A guided 10km Uluru base walk is your best opportunity to connect with the rock and learn its stories.
Relax beside tranquil waterholes, take a break under a magnificent Sheoak tree and peer into hidden caves.

After lunch, return to camp for some free time.

Relax by the pool or engage in some of the activities at Ayers Rock Resort, such as a didgeridoo performance, a guided garden walk or discovering artifacts at the museum.

Enjoy a tasty dinner at camp tonight.

Today we only drive around 50km. You may walk up to 10km today if you do the full Uluru base-walk. However, shorter Uluru walks are available.

Accommodation

Swag camping at Ayers Rock Resort Campground

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we depart Yulara and make our way towards Watarrka National Park and Kings Canyon.

But first, it’s time for another untamed moment as Kata Tjuta materialises before you.

Rising 546 metres above the ground, this sacred site is a defining feature of the Red Centre.

Translating to the Pitjantjatjara word for ‘Many Heads’, the site’s ridges and ravines are closely connected with numerous Indigenous creation-time stories.

Embark on the Valley of the Winds guided walk for a moment in nature you will never forget.

A sanctuary for plants and animals, including wallabies and gorgeous wildflowers, we’ll wander along the narrow creek valley between two of Kata Tjuta’s largest domes.

After a lunch stop, travel to Kings Creek, where we will enjoy the one-hour Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience.

Learn about areas of importance for the Luritja and Pertame (Southern Arrernte) people as they share stories about bush tucker and art.

This afternoon, arrive at our camp at Kings Creek Station and enjoy some chill time before dinner at your leisure.

Today you will cover about 325kms.

Accommodation

Swag camping at Kings Creek Station

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

It’s an early start this morning for the spellbinding Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which is guaranteed to be one of the most magical experiences of your life.

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.

Take in the 360-degree views and journey through Priscilla’s Crack, made famous by the classic Australian movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

From there, see the sandstone domes known as the Lost City and the lush greenery and watering hole of the aptly named Garden of Eden.

Rest your legs and settle in for a long drive today as we travel across the Northern Territory and South Australian border.

There are plenty of stops along the way before we arrive in Coober Pedy, ‘The Opal Capital of the World’. Due to scorching temperatures, most of the town is underground, with residents living in cave-like houses carved into the hillsides.

Tonight, you will stay in a unique underground bunkhouse and have some free time to explore and grab dinner at one of the many eateries. It’s big numbers today, covering approximately 760km.

Accommodation

Umoona Opal Mine – underground bunk, multi-share

Meals

Breakfast

After breakfast, spend time with some rescued joeys at Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage.

Established in 2008 to take in orphaned kangaroos from the far north of South Australia, it is about the size of Germany! It just so happens the gallery here is a world-class Aboriginal Art Gallery with an extensive range of Aboriginal artefacts and significant works by many of Australia’s best-known Indigenous artists.

Have some time to browse before our next stop at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum.

Here you will learn about Aboriginal and European settlement, see how the early miners lived, and try your hand at ‘noodling’ for opals.

Next, travel into areas seldom seen by most tourists as we leave the sealed roads of the Stuart Highway behind us and travel on unsealed roads to one of the remotest towns in the world, William Creek.

On the way, travel through the largest cattle station in the world, Anna Creek. Gaze out at the endless horizons as we pass by the lake with the longest name in the world, Lake Cadibarrawirracanna.

Arriving in town, set up camp and have a hearty counter meal at the heritage-listed William Creek Hotel.

Fall asleep as you count shooting stars snuggled up in your swag.

Today we travel approximately 170km.

Accommodation

Swag camping at William Creek

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner

Today, continue off the beaten path and travelling along a section of one of Australia’s most iconic unsealed roads, the Oodnadatta Track.

Drive through eerie lunar-like landscapes and, along the way, uncover highlights such as the mind-bending Mutonia Sculpture Park and Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest salt lake.

Grab lunch at one of the quirky outback towns along the way before we arrive at Skytrek Willow Springs Station in the magnificent Flinders Ranges. This 70,000-acre working sheep station features secluded bush camping, walking trails, natural springs and Aboriginal rock etchings.

The Flinders Ranges is famed as having some of the Southern Hemisphere’s clearest skies. So, for the next two nights, enjoy front-row seats to one of Earth’s most spectacular light shows.

After a campfire dinner, roll out your swag under a sea of stars blanketing the ancient landscape and spend the evening marvelling at the Milky Way and counting constellations.

Today we drive approximately 500km.

*Note: The Oodnadatta Track is an unsealed dirt road, and the conditions of the track depend heavily on the weather. If the road is deemed unsafe to drive on, or there is a possibility that sections of the road will close after we have commenced driving on the track, our Guide reserves the right to alter the itinerary and take a different route.

Accommodation

Swag camping at Skytrek Willow Springs Station

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, it’s time to unearth the magnificent Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.

Experience the geological grandeur forged over more than 540 million years. Ancient gorges invite exploration, and beauty reveals itself at every turn.

So, pull on your hiking boots for a hike through tall river red gums and pines, past waterholes, and a historic ruined homestead, culminating with breath-taking views over the surrounding wilderness.

Regeneration is at our core, so meet with a Park Ranger to learn about conservation efforts within Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Then, give back by participating in meaningful conservation work, which will vary depending on the time of year.

After a picnic lunch, take a beautiful scenic drive at Brachina Gorge.

Finally, head back to camp to relax and have our final dinner together.

The total driving distance today is approximately 160km.

Accommodation

Swag camping at Skytrek Willow Springs Station

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After our final breakfast together, it’s time to roll up your swag one last time and set out on the Arkaroo Rock Trail, which has impressive views over the Chace Range.
Arkaroo Rock is also a significant cultural site for the Adnyamathanha people. It has an incredible example of Adnyamathanha rock art depicting the Yura Muda (Dreaming or creation story) of Ikara.

Enjoy a picnic lunch before travelling to Alligator Gorge in the Southern Flinders Ranges.
Located in Mount Remarkable National Park, this is the perfect way to end the tour.

Our last stint on the road will see us travel through the picturesque Clare Valley wine region before arriving in Adelaide at around 6 pm.

Today we travel approximately 450km.

Accommodation

YHA Adelaide Central or similar

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

Today, an early start is required to catch your 6.45am SeaLink bus transfer from Adelaide CBD to the ferry terminal at Cape Jervis. Board the ferry for a 45-minute cruise to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.

Your Untamed Escapes Guide will meet you here and give you an overview of the adventure ahead for the next few days.

Hop on board the bus and take a scenic coastal drive to Pennington Bay on the island’s south coast. With powerful swells rolling in, this beach is famed for its epic surf breaks. Climb the 500 steps to the top of Prospect Hill, the highest point on Kangaroo Island, for rewarding views and to get your bearings.

Next, travel to one of the island’s most breathtaking beaches, Emu Bay.
Here we will have lunch and time to cool down with a swim in the turquoise waters before weaving our way through a labyrinth of caves and emerging at Stokes Bay.

Voted the best beach in Australia in 2023, enjoy some free time to snorkel among the rock pools or soak up the magical landscape surrounding you.

Visit Kangaroo Island’s first cellar-door microbrewery – the perfect place to relax.

Come late afternoon, arrive at our eco-campsite at the eastern end of the island, where the isolation, ruggedness and beauty are striking.

After dinner, head out on a nocturnal wildlife-spotting adventure. Night time is when many of the native animals found on the island are at their most active.

Tonight, roll out your swag underneath the billions of stars of the Milky Way and feel an incredible connection with nature.

Today we drive approximately 240 km

Accommodation

Swag Camping at Pelican Lagoon Lodge

Meals

Lunch

After breakfast, we’ll set our coordinates for Flinders Chase National Park, located at the north western point of the island. This park is renowned for its rock formations, impressive beaches, and abundant wildlife.

At Admirals Arch, wander along a boardwalk as you soak up the serenity and keep your eyes peeled for the resident New Zealand fur seals. Marvel at the iconic Remarkable Rocks, shaped by nature for over 500 million years. Take a bush walk at Weirs Cove before a picnic lunch to refuel.

This afternoon you will have the chance to make your journey meaningful by taking part in a volunteer conservation effort at the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. This 2,000-hectare wilderness sanctuary is a haven for native wildlife such as koalas, kangaroos, possums, echidnas, reptiles, and birdlife.

Like most of Kangaroo Island, it was devastated by the 2020 bushfires and has since become a story of resilience, recovery, and regeneration. Our conservation work depends on the time of year but may involve seed collecting, tree planting or counting wildlife.

Next, it’s time for an incredible wildlife encounter. Seal Bay is home to the third-largest colony of endangered Australian sea lions, with around 800 calling the bay home. Join a 45-minute tour with the National Parks & Wildlife guides, who know pretty much everything there is to know about these beautiful creatures. Follow a boardwalk through the dunes down to the beach, and on the way, pass sea lions snoozing or even lying in the middle of the beach path and learn about conservation efforts to save this endangered species.

After a full day, head back towards camp to reflect and relax over dinner before rolling out your swag and counting shooting stars.

Today we drive approximately 295 km.

Accommodation

Swag Camping at Pelican Lagoon Lodge

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

It’s up early today to take the short drive to Penneshaw for your 8.30 am ferry back to the mainland. But we have time for one last bush walk before farewelling your Guide.

Once you arrive in Cape Jervis, your SeaLink bus connection will have you back in Adelaide at 11 am.

After arriving at the terminal, make your way to your accommodation and store your luggage with reception until check-in time so that you can spend the afternoon exploring Adelaide.

Accommodation

YHA Adelaide Central or similar

Meals

Breakfast

This morning you will head off on your first tour to the Barossa Valley with Taste the Barossa.

This is a great day out, firstly visiting the worlds’ largest rocking horse and wildlife park in Gumeracha.

Your first winery stop for the day will be an interactive tasting at Jacobs Creek, one of the best-known wineries in the world. We then experience a second wine tasting and same great home-made pizza for lunch at Lambert Estate Vineyard.

After lunch you will take in majestic views of the region from the Menglers Hill Lookout before stopping at your third and final structured wine tasting at Wolf Blass Wines as you return to Adelaide in the late afternoon with a new bunch of mates.

Accommodation

YHA Adelaide Central or similar

Meals
Lunch

Your itinerary finishes today.

If you have free time in the city before departing Adelaide, after check-out store your luggage with reception.

Meals

None