Day 1 – Alice Springs
Meet your Contiki crew and 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.

We kick of the afternoon with a trip out to Simpson’s Gap & West MacDonnell National Park where you’ll start to appreciate the remoteness of Central Australia. Next we’ll visit ANZAC Hill lookout and Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

Finish the afternoon with a hands on experience at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre where you’ll hear about some of Australia’s unique outback reptiles and, if you're brave enough, hold a python!

Tonight you'll get to know your fellow travellers over dinner

• See the MacDonnell Ranges from ANZAC Hill
• Visit West MacDonnell National Park & see the stunning Aboriginal site of Simpsons Gap
• Alice Springs Reptile Centre experience
• See the dry Todd River which hosts the annual Henley-on-Todd Regatta

Day 2 – Alice Springs to Kings Creek Station
Jump start the day by learning about surviving in the bush with our included Aboriginal 'Bushtucker' tour. Our expert Aboriginal Guide will fill you in on the dos and don’ts of life in the bush, and you’ll even get to taste insects and plants if you’re adventurous.

Next we head to Kings Canyon where you’ll go on an amazing guided hike to places such as the 'Garden of Eden' waterhole and the 'Lost City'!

Finish the day at Kings Creek Station. This working camel & cattle station serves up a real outback experience. Tonight, 'go bush' and sleep under the open sky at our overnight bush camp where you’ll see the desert sky light up with thousands of stars.

• Aboriginal Dreamtime 'Bushtucker' tour in Alice Springs
• Hike to the 'Garden of Eden' waterhole and the 'Lost City'
• Stay at a cattle & camel station
• See the desert night sky & stars
• Sleep in a traditional Aussie 'swag' at an outback bush camp

Day 3 – Kings Creek Station to Uluru
Today we make tracks to Uluṟu! But not before you have an opportunity to Race around the station and appreciate it’s size on an optional Quad Bike excursion!

We drive by ancient (700 million years old!) Mt. Connor for 360° views over the red desert and take a walk through Uluṟu's neighbour - Kata Tjuṯa, or 'The Olgas' - before arriving at Yulara Resort. This environmentally designed resort is all about the outback and has a pool for you to cool off in after the drive.

• Wake up to a bacon & egg breakfast
• See the 700 million year old Mt. Conner & Lake Amadeus
• Hike through Kata Tjuṯa (The Olgas)

Day 4 - Uluru
Start off the morning nice and early and watch the sun rise over this iconic natural wonder from the viewing area.

Get familiar with Uluṟu when your Tour Manager takes you around its base and gives you the background of the spiritual significance of this site for Aboriginal people.

For something different, choose an optional Harley Davidson ride or scenic flight.

Tonight, catch the sun set over the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uluṟu (Ayers Rock), and grab some nibbles and bubbly to toast this amazing view.

• Visit Uluru Cultural Centre
• See Uluṟu at sunrise
• Toast Uluṟu at sunset with drinks & nibbles

Day 5 – Uluru to Alice Springs
It’s an easy-going start to the day today. Your Tour Manager will cook up a storm for breakfast, so load up on bacon & eggs!

We swing by a traditional Australian roadhouse, and then pull back into Alice Springs.

Tonight, join the group for an optional dinner at the Overlander Steakhouse, where you can try out kangaroo, crocodile, camel & steak while listening to Aussie folk songs.

• Indulge in a BBQ 'Big Brekkie'
• Visit a traditional Outback Roadhouse

Day 6 – Alice Springs to Tennant Creek
Get above it all in an optional hot air balloon ride over the red MacDonnell Ranges at dawn this morning. Enjoy a bird’s eye view over these stunning, massive rock formations.

Chill out on the coach as we cut across flat plains and travel through a patch of no man’s land. Stretch your legs at Karlu Karlu (the Devils Marbles), a strange grouping of enormous boulders, and maybe even sight a UFO in Wycliffe Well.

We overnight in Tennant Creek, a “true blue” Aussie outback town, where you’ll get a feel for the size of Australia. In the middle of nowhere, this town is the only point of contact for the million-acre cattle stations of the surrounding area.

• Visit the unique rock formation known as Karlu Karlu
• Visit the site of Australia's last gold rush
• Visit Australia's UFO capital, Wycliffe Well

Day 7 – Tennant Creek to Katherine
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°C/93°F.

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.

• Visit the historic Daly Waters pub
• Swim at the Mataranka thermal pools
• Visit Elsey, the historic "We of the Never Never" homestead

Day 8 – Katherine to Kakadu National Park
Kick start the day with a hike, walk or take our optional cruise through the gorgeous Nitmiluk (Katherine) 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 Edith Falls, deep in the heart of the national park.

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

• Visit Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge & see the sheer rock walls and wildlife
• Cool off in Edith Falls
• Stay near Kakadu National Park

Day 9 – Kakadu National Park
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.

First up it’s Nourlangie Rock with impressive rock art dating back thousands of years. Next we get the background on local indigenous culture at the Warradjan Cultural Centre before our included wildlife boat cruise takes us out to spot crocs & learn about the native birdlife in the area. There may be time to explore the “rock galleries” of Ubirr, where time-old paintings line the cave walls before we head back to the hotel for dinner.

• Visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
• Hike to see the Aboriginal rock art

Day 10 – Kakadu National Park to Darwin
Today, we head to Darwin via stunning Litchfield National Park. We stop by the termite mounds, a local natural curiosity, which are up to 4 metres high and are literally magnetic – your Trip Manager will fill you in on the details.

Then we hit the famous falls that make up the park – four 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 head into Darwin for your last night with the group. Prepare for a big night dancing & partying the night away

• See the termite mounds
• Enjoy a swim at Florence Falls

Day 11 - Darwin
Today we head out on a Darwin City tour. You’ll visit the East Point Military Reserve and Darwin Museum to find out about the history of the Northern Territory’s capital.

Later you have the chance to come face to face with a 5m crocodile. This is Australia’s only crocodile dive where you are safely housed in a perspex cage while a crocodile lazes, swims and even feeds just inches away.

Say goodbye to your new friends and Trip Manager this afternoon as your tour finishes.

• Visit the Darwin Museum & see the Cyclone Tracy display
• See the harbour & East Point Military Reserve