Travel the land 'Down Under'. Sleep under the stars in a bush camp, take a hot air balloon ride, then grab a cold beer with all your new friends at one of the oldest Territory pubs. Gorgeous gorges & national parks leave you breathless as you get to know the backyard of Australia, plus Darwin offers the draw of the big city with shopping & nightlife not to be missed. Why stop there? Take your new found love of 'Down Under' & set out exploring the rest of this island continent with a Beaches & Reefs or Rainforest Adventure.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Accommodation
10 nights accommodation including:
7 nights in a hotel
2 nights in a lodge
1 night on an outback bush camp
Meals
14 meals including 10 breakfasts and 4 dinners
What else is included
National Park fees
Alice Springs Reptile Centre entry
Uluru sun set with drinks & nibbles
Alice Springs Aboriginal 'Dreamtime Bushtucker' tour
Experienced tour guide
Options
Single Room - enquire for price
Local activities and excursions
pre/post night accommodation
reverse direction - Darwin to Alice Springs
Need to Know
Max luggage size: 73cmx50cmx25cm
Max luggage weight: 20kg + 1 small carry on
Price is per person based on shared accommodation
To book:
Call Oz Adventures on
0333 234 3941
With Oz Adventures you can enjoy the type of holiday you are looking for - with the help of our Free Planning Service.
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Mix and match any of our hostels, hotels and touring options to create your complete Australia adventure. |
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All our consultants have travelled downunder and their expert advice will make your adventure special. |
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Fully protected - We are ABTA & ATOL bonded and part of Freedom Australia. |
Contiki Experience
49 years on, the Contiki spirit is stronger than ever. We travel to over 40 countries on 5 continents. We have more fun. We meet more people. And we're trusted by travellers all over the world.
18-35 is All Contiki Do
No one older. No one younger. Travel with us & you'll meet people your age, make friends from all over the world & share some incredible times together.
Lots of Holiday. Less Hassle.
Lugging a heavy backpack in the rain? Getting lost? Hanging around wasting time? Not with Contiki! We do the hard work for you, so you can get on with having a good time.
Free Time. All included.
All our tours are flexible and give you free time every day. So you'll have plenty of time to do your own thing.
Must see sights. All included.
Every tour has Included Highlights included in the price of your tour. Wherever you are, we'll line up trips to famous monuments, guided walking tours, organised nights out & more. At no extra cost.
Fresh food. Every day.
All Contiki tours include breakfast every day & many dinners. But we don't cover every meal, especially lunches, so you can explore in your free time, meet the locals & try things out on your own.
Local know how
Get off the beaten track with our expert local guides, who'll share their knowledge, so you can discover even more.
With Oz Adventures you can enjoy the type of holiday you are looking for - with the help of our Free Planning Service.
![]() |
Mix and match any of our hostels, hotels and touring options to create your complete Australia adventure. |
![]() |
All our consultants have travelled downunder and their expert advice will make your adventure special. |
![]() |
Fully protected - We are ABTA & ATOL bonded and part of Freedom Australia. |
and tell us:
Group Adventure prices are seasonal but your Oz Adventure consultant will tell you the actual price before
you commit yourself, and answer any questions you have.
Our opening hours are 9.30 to 7.00 Mon to Fri and 9.30 to 5.00 Sat.
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