Northern Territory Explorer

Starting From AUD $5,759
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It’s hard to comprehend how vast (and diverse) the Northern Territory is until you’ve cruised through its gorges, discovered wonderment in national parks, eased into thermal springs and discovered ancient Aboriginal history. This epic Northern Territory tour from Darwin takes in sights from Uluru to Kakadu, Alice Springs to Katherine Gorge. Expect cruises, sunrises and sunsets, Aboriginal rock art, classic outback pubs – and a few surprises.

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the steamy NT capital Darwin
  • Visit World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park
  • Visit Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge
  • Enjoy epic landscapes of Uluru.

Tour Itinerary

(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner (SD) Specialty Dinner
Tour Code: NDAU

1
Welcome to Darwin
Day 1
Welcome to Darwin
Get to know the steamy NT capital at your own pace – you’ll fast find that the characters here are almost as colourful as the sunsets. You’ll enjoy the latter over drinks and nibbles with your Travel Director and fellow adventure-seekers. A tasty entrée to your 11-day Northern Territory tour from Darwin
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
Located close to the Darwin CBD and featuring 121 well-appointed guest rooms and positioned amongst the entertainment and dining hub of Darwin’s seafront promenade.
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2
Darwin (B)
Day 2
Darwin (B)
Today is about getting your Darwin bearings on a city tour revealing the events that have shaped the city over the decades, from wars to natural disasters. You’ll be a Darwin expert after visiting attractions like East Point Military Reserve and the Darwin Museum. The afternoon is at your leisure. If you’re at a loss for ideas, we can point you in the direction of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Facility, perhaps, or the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, loaded with 200+ stalls. Grab a bite and watch the day end with your feet in the sand.
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
Located close to the Darwin CBD and featuring 121 well-appointed guest rooms and positioned amongst the entertainment and dining hub of Darwin’s seafront promenade.
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3
Darwin - Kakadu (B, D)
Day 3
Darwin - Kakadu (B, D)
Aboriginal culture is strong in this part of Australia, and its kept alive by Traditional Landowners on this morning’s tour. Dive deep into Aboriginal heritage on a family-owned experience highlighting art, music and bush tucker. Your next deep dive is into the heart of Kakadu, a World Heritage listed national park that is one of Australia’s most important living ecosystems. Today’s Kakadu tour will whet your appetite for a full day of wildlife immersion tomorrow.
Mercure Crocodile Kakadu, Jabiru
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel is an idyllic retreat located in Kakadu National Park.
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4
Kakadu National Park (B)
Day 4
Kakadu National Park (B)
Kakadu is vast, spanning almost 20,000 square kilometres. The best way to gain appreciation for just how immense it really is from the air on an optional (but highly recommended) morning flight. Now that you have your bearings, take to the land to discover ancient Aboriginal rock art and cruise the wildlife-packed Yellow Water Billabong to search for enormous saltwater crocs – your eagle-eyed guide knows where to look. End your Kakadu tour on a high, watching the sun set over floodplains.
Mercure Crocodile Kakadu, Jabiru
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel is an idyllic retreat located in Kakadu National Park.
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5
Kakadu - Katherine (B, D)
Day 5
Kakadu - Katherine (B, D)
From one glorious national park to another… today’s backdrop is the end-of-Earth escarpments of Nitmiluk National Park, carved by rivers millions of years ago. Cruising through Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is a humbling experience even before you know the region’s history. Small wonder freshwater crocs and all manner of birds call the cavern home. See how many sets of eyes you can see peering at you from the water’s surface.
Contour Hotel Katherine
Contour Hotel is only a short drive from all the Katherine region has to offer.  Set amongst 4 acres of tropical gardens it is the ideal base to explore.
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6
Katherine - Tennant Creek (B, D)
Day 6
Katherine - Tennant Creek (B, D)
If the Elsey Homestead looks familiar, that’s because it starred in the 1982 Aussie drama We of the Never Never. Today it’s better known for its Mataranka thermal hot springs. Pop on your swimsuit and have a soothing soak, the magical setting surrounded by palms. The only thing more refreshing is a cold beverage at the Daly Waters Pub, self-declared as Australia’s ‘original outback pub’. You can imagine the kind of swagger the locals bring. Visitors are encouraged to leave their mark as well; a memento, perhaps, or autograph on the walls. You’ll arrive in Tennant Creek with a new appreciation for country life.
Bluestone Motor Inn, Tennant Creek
This property is makes a great base from which to explore the diverse nature and culture of the Australian outback, the Bluestone, as this property is affectionately known locally — is the perfect place to stay at the halfway mark along the track from Alice Springs to Darwin.
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7
Tennant Creek - Alice Springs (B, D)
Day 7
Tennant Creek - Alice Springs (B, D)
The Stuart Highway is long (2,700 kilometres), very straight and very flat. Which makes the appearance of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) on the horizon all the more dramatic. These massive granite boulders pock the countryside. But they’re not just a pretty sight – they’re a sacred place for the Aboriginal community, created by the fossilised eggs of the Rainbow Serpent. Get the lay of the land atop Alice Springs’ Anzac Hill. From this vantage, the East and West MacDonnell Ranges appear to stretch to the horizon.
Doubletree by Hilton, Alice Springs
Located on the banks of the Todd River, this hotel is two kilometres from the town centre and adjacent to Alice Springs Golf Club, within 10 minutes of Alice Springs Desert Park and Anzac Hill, which stands above the town.
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8
Alice Springs (B)
Day 8
Alice Springs (B)
Sleep in, take to the skies in a hot-air balloon as the desert awakens, explore the West Macs on a guided tour… this morning is yours to spend as you choose. Save some energy for this afternoon’s Alice Springs tour and visit to the historic Telegraph Station – the reason the town was formed, to connect the country and allow smooth communication. It’s still not always easy to communicate in the outback, with many children getting an education through remote learning. Discover how the School of the Air operates, ensure that all kids have access to information and skills needed in later life.
Doubletree by Hilton, Alice Springs
Located on the banks of the Todd River, this hotel is two kilometres from the town centre and adjacent to Alice Springs Golf Club, within 10 minutes of Alice Springs Desert Park and Anzac Hill, which stands above the town.
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9
Alice Springs - Uluru (B)
Day 9
Alice Springs - Uluru (B)
From the moment you wake up until the last of day disappears, spiritual Aboriginal culture is all around on today’s Northern Territory tour. Get set to be in awe over Dreamtime stories about the creation of Uluru, the world’s largest monolith. It’s particularly pretty at sunset when the fading rays change the desert’s colour with every sip of your sparkling wine.
Outback Hotel & Lodge, Ayers Rock
The Outback Hotel & Lodge offers comfortable, affordable hotel rooms with private bathrooms and Australian hospitality has its own style that combines both professionalism and genuine warmth.
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10
Uluru (B, D)
Day 10
Uluru (B, D)
There aren’t many things worth getting up in the dark for. Sunrise over Uluru is one. It’s a magical time of day, the shifting light casting the countryside aglow. Exploring the base of ‘the Rock’ on an Uluru tour, you’ll begin to understand why this part of the country is so special to the Anangu people, who have called the region home for millennia. Go at your own pace this afternoon. We wouldn’t blame you for taking a dip in the resort pool to cool off. But if you want to see the monolith in another different light, opt to chopper around it, in a helicopter or on the back of a Harley. Either way, you’ll have plenty of stories to tell over your Farewell Dinner.
Outback Hotel & Lodge, Ayers Rock
The Outback Hotel & Lodge offers comfortable, affordable hotel rooms with private bathrooms and Australian hospitality has its own style that combines both professionalism and genuine warmth.
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11
Farewell from Uluru (B)
Day 11
Farewell from Uluru (B)
Another reason to rise early: to catch the (optional) Field of Light art installation that blankets the desert floor. Your spirit will glow just as brightly as you bid farewell to this epic Northern Territory tour.

Inclusions

Attractions Included

  • Explore the steamy NT capital Darwin
  • Visit World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park
  • Visit Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge
  • Enjoy epic landscapes of Uluru.

Coach Features

  • 48 Seat coach
  • Restroom
  • Air conditioned

Experiences Included

  • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver that are accredited with Kakadu & Uluru National Parks
  • Local specialist guides
  • Centrally located premium 4-star hotels

Meals Included

  • 10 Full Breakfasts
  • 4 Dinners
  • 1 Farewell dinner

Fitness Requirements

  • Kakadu – Nadab Lookout – Medium Level of Fitness Required
    The climb to the top of Nadab Lookout at Ubirr in Kakadu National Park will not be suitable for all guests. To get to the lookout guests are required to scale up uneven rocky paths and steps to get to the lookout. There is an alternate route on a fairly flat gravel path for those unable climb to the top so they will not miss out on Rock Art.

Visited Locations

  • Darwin
    Darwin is the capital of Australia's Northern Territory Darwin and is a coastal city, situated along the western shoreline of the Northern Territory.
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  • Katherine
    Katherine is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is situated on the Katherine River, after which it is named, 320 kilometres southeast of Darwin.
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  • Tennant Creek
    Tennant Creek is a town located in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is the seventh largest town in the Northern Territory, and is located on the Stuart Highway. 
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  • Alice Springs
    Alice Springs is a remote town in Australia’s Northern Territory, halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, it’s a popular gateway for exploring the Red Centre, the country's interior desert region. 
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  • Karlu-Karlu (Devils Marbles)
    These ancient granite boulders that seem to have dropped from the wide blue skies of the Barkly Tablelands, are located 95 kilometres south of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. 
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  • Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
    In Australia’s Red Centre lies the spectacular Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Home to many ancient wonders, the park is most famous for the enormous monoliths it’s named after. 
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Attractions

  • Katherine Gorge Cruise
    Trawl along Katherine River through Nitmuluk National Park and take in the dramatic scenery as you move deeper into the stunning Katherine Gorge
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  • Yellow Water Billabong
    A cruise on the famous Yellow Water Billabong should give you the opportunity to see a stunning variety of birdlife such as sea eagles, brolgas and with any luck, fascinating little kingfishers.
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Available Dates

Dates Price per person
Available
28 May 2025 - 07 Jun 2025 $5,759$7,510
Available
25 Jun 2025 - 05 Jul 2025 $5,759$7,510
Available
23 Jul 2025 - 02 Aug 2025 $5,759$7,510
Northern Territory Explorer
Days
11
Price from
AUD $5,759 per person twin share