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Trafalgar
OFFER ID 1556189
Outback Adventure
Looking for the best of the Outback Look no further than this two-week journey into dazzling landscapes, rich Aboriginal culture, and classic local characters from the Red Centre to the lush, tropical Top End. Just like its name, this is the Outback Adventure that ticks every box.
Dining Summary
14 nights from $5,989 per person
Trafalgar Tours: Outback Adventure
Day 1 - Welcome to Adelaide
Hello, adventurers! Kick off your 15-day Outback adventure in Adelaide (flights to arrive prior to 12.30pm). This beautiful city is known for its festivals, sporting events, colonial churches and architecture, amazing food, and as the gateway to renowned wine regions the Barossa and McLaren Vale. You begin your journey on a city sights tour passing the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide Botanic Garden, Parliament House. and Adelaide Oval. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy a guided tour of Adelaide Central Market with a Local Specialist. Lucky you, you’ll visit your guide’s favourite stalls in this massive fresh produce market of more than 80 traders - browsing right where the chefs and locals shop. Try Artisan cheeses, quirky Australian native foods, and fresh fruits and nuts with a focus on what’s in season. Celebrate the first night of your trip with a Welcome Reception at your hotel, sipping a local wine or brew as you bask in stunning views from the city's tallest building and get to know your Travel Director and fellow travellers. Then make your way to dinner at the Japanese-inspired Koomo Restaurant and Bar for a delicious feast and raise a glass the adventure that awaits over the next two weeks.
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza
Meals: Welcome Reception
Day 2 - Heart of the Flinders Ranges
Rise and shine for a big day of art, culture, and wine. You’ll begin travelling to the Clare Valley, one of Australia’s oldest and undiscovered wine regions, to join a Local Specialist at Knappstein Enterprise Winery. Sip on the award-winning wines like the area’s celebrated Rieslings and world-class reds and tour the heritage-listed property. Then it's time for an exclusive look at the world-renowned panoramic landscapes at the Jeff Morgan Gallery. Jeff himself will greet you for a tour of his panoramic paintings of the Flinders Ranges, one measuring 33 metres long. Be amazed at the dramatic scenery of the rugged Australian outback before exploring it for yourself. You’re headed into the heart of the Flinders Ranges for your stay at Wilpena Pound Resort - tucked in South Australia’s largest mountain range and owned by the Aboriginal people who have lived here for thousands of years. You’ll be welcomed by an Aboriginal Elder or member of the local community, learn about the area, and, with your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, contributes to the future of the adnyamathanha people, the original owners of this land.
Accommodations: Wilpena Pound Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Port Augusta on the Spencer Gulf
Start a full day of history with epic views of Wilpena Pound at Wangara Lookout. Enjoy a walk along a creek through bush and pines arriving at Hills Homestead - eyes peeled for kangaroos along the way. At the cottage, learn about the original settlers who struggled to survive in this harsh environment. Then head through Pichi Richi Pass, part of the first stage of the Great Northern Railway in 1879 linking Port Augusta and Darwin, to Quorn. Soak in Quorn's history as a vital railway junction during WWII on a guided walking tour before arriving in Spencer Gulf’s Port Augusta. Here you’ll visit the Wadlata Outback Centre, travelling through their 'Tunnel of Time' to the days of the dinosaurs learning how the Flinders Ranges and Outback evolved, the people who once owned the land, and those who live there today. Well acquainted with stories of this rugged and history-rich landscape, end the day relaxing over a Regional Dinner at a local Aussie pub.
Accommodations: Majestic Oasis Apartments
Meals: Breakfast, Regional Dinner
Day 4 - The World Opal Capital Coober Pedy
Continue your deep dive into the history of the land with a visit to Woomera, an isolated, former rocket-testing site of the 1960s. Hear its storied history at the Woomera Heritage Centre and Missile Park. Then its “mining time” as you journey through salt-lake country to the opal capital of the world in Coober Pedy, founded in 1920. A fascinating stop, you’ll be amazed to learn that over half the population of this town live underground in opal mining caves to escape the heat. Meet a Local Specialist who will explain different types of opals and their quality and take you down and through a labyrinth of the town’s head-scratching subterranean facilities. showcasing the different types of early and modern dugout homes. Pop into the shop to browse opal jewellery before your unforgettable Stays With Stories accommodation with a chance to experience ‘dugout’ living. Explore their underground shopping arcade, underground bar, and historic display on mining, opals and what it’s really like to live in Outback Australia.
Accommodations: Desert Cave
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - To Uluru in Central Australia
Journey to the heart of the Red Centre today to World Heritage listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. You’ll experience the true beauty of mesmerizing Uluru over a classic sundowner of appetizers and sparkling wine. Sit back as the surrounding grasses blow and the sky lights up in red and orange illuminating Uluru rising 348 metres. Gazing up at its massive structure, you’ll feel a deep appreciation for and connection to this vast land. After an unforgettable sunset, head to your Stays With Stories experience and home the next two nights at the Desert Gardens Hotel. This indigenous owned hotel is surrounded by the red dirt and desert trees you’ve explored and the perfect spot to immerse yourself in nature. Stay in or join an optional Uluru Barbecue Dinner complete with a stargazing tour of the vast Southern sky.
Accommodations: Desert Gardens
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Uluru Sunrise and Kata Tjuta
Rise and shine early today to witness as once in a lifetime sunrise at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Hot cocoa in hand, sit back as the sun lights up Uluru and its desert surroundings. Get more acquainted with the park on a drive with your Travel Director before putting boots to the ground on a guided walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole. At the base of Uluru, learn from your Travel Director about its ancient rock art that has been preserved for hundreds of years, putting history in the words and pictures of those who’ve lived it. You have some free time to sit by the pool or visit the art galleries and Town Square shopping village before capping off the day with a guided walk through Kata Tjuta’s red-hued sedimentary rock through Walpa (“wind”) Gorge to a lookout. You're fortunate to experience another magnificent Red Centre sunset paired with nibbles and sparkling wine in this more secluded spot. Cheers to grandeur and grand history of Uluru and cheers to adventure.
Accommodations: Desert Gardens
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Journey to Kings Canyon
If you loved yesterday's sunrise, you could take it to another level with a private Optional Experience at the Field of Light installation of artist Bruce Munro. Against the desert backdrop, you’ll watch 50,000 glass spheres light up Uluru in violet, blue, and white like a field of flowers. It’s a unique and dazzling start to your morning that will make you see this land you’ve come to love in a whole new way. You’ll continue your desert adventure on an epic drive from Uluru to Watarrka National Park (named for an Indigenous word meaning “umbrella bush”) exploring the ancient walls of Kings Canyon that rise 100 metres above Kings Creek. Now, lace up your hiking boots and, accompanied by your Travel Director, climb to top of the canyon for a walk around its semi-circular edge. After your ascent, leave the sandstone formations behind to drop into the Garden of Eden’s shaded, lush oasis of greenery. Or take it easier on the creek bed walk. After a day in the desert, your home for the night is Kings Canyon Resort, where you’ll enjoy a dinner surrounded by desert-scapes and a sunset over Carmichael Crag.
Accommodations: Kings Canyon Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - To A Town Like Alice
This morning you're on your way through the Outback to central Australia’s Alice Springs. Learn all about the history of the town at the circa 1871 Telegraph Station. This important site has a deep history of sending messages between Darwin and Adelaide with a single wire, not only connected Australia’s north and south, but also the first communication link between Australia and England. You’ll learn how this town originated on your visit to the circa 1871 Telegraph Station. Hear its beginnings of sending messages between Darwin and Adelaide with a single wire, not only connected Australia’s north and south, but also the first communication link between Australia and England. After a day of rich land and rich history, it's off to Anzac Hill for panoramic views over Alice Springs. Pay a visit to the hilltop Anzac Memorial basking in the views of the Western and Eastern MacDonnell ranges.
Accommodations: DoubleTree by Hilton
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Sights of The Alice
Dive Into Culture at Alice Springs Desert Park as an Aboriginal guide Local Specialist shares the culture and traditions of the local Arrernte People. Learn about the desert birds like the Barn Owl, emu, and Princess Parrot and animals including the dingo, red kangaroo, and Western Quoll. Next, meet the magnificent Royal Flying Doctor Service with a Local Specialist learning how they provide emergency medical assistance in the Outback. Visit their centre packed with history and even peak inside a replica of one of their small planes. Continue your day of culture at the Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre. You’ll Connect With Locals, the Falzon family, learning about their sustainable, wind and solar powered lifestyle in the rugged Outback. You’re treated to a home-cooked Be My Guest Aussie BBQ as you hear stories of ecology, culture, and life on the farm. To top it all off, sit back and soak it all in as they treat you to a star talk, complete with telescopes, and lead you in guitar accompanied sing-along.
Accommodations: DoubleTree by Hilton
Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest
Day 10 - Mysterious Sightings near Tennant Creek
Kick off your morning in Alice Springs with a fascinating visit to the School of the Air, “the world’s largest classroom”, and if you are lucky enough to be there during school term you might see a live session with kids in some of Australia’s most remote reaches. From schools to natural wonders, your next stop is Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles), an amazing outcrop of precariously balanced granite boulders. Stroll among these massive rocks of up to six metres high that continue to crack and change shape, believed by the Warmungu Aboriginal people to be the fossilised eggs of the Rainbow Serpent. Immerse yourself in the area’s history at your overnight in the former 1930s gold-mining town of Tennant Creek, “the Territory’s heart of gold.” Feast on a hearty meal before resting up before another big day in the Outback.
Accommodations: Bluestone Motor Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 - Katherine Via Thermal Springs
See another side of the Outback wetting your whistle at the historic Daly Waters Pub. This quirky pub has seen its cast of characters from the days when Qantas’ pilots used to stop to refuel on the nearby dirt runway to today’s patrons who follow the “leave something behind” motto sticking a collection of memorabilia to the walls. Grab a cold schooner and leave one of your own treasures behind before continuing to Mataranka’s hot springs. From one “watering hole” to another, here you’ll enjoy a refreshing swim in its crystal-clear, thermal springs or grab a seat on its stairs and seating areas and soak in the healing waters. Journey to where the Outback meets the Tropics arriving in your centrally located hotel in Katherine for dinner.
Accommodations: Contour
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 - To Australia's Largest National Park
Our first stop is Nitmiluk National Park, where, accompanied by a Local Specialist, you’ll embark on an Indigenous-owned two-hour boat cruise along the ancient waterway of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. After admiring the steep cliff walls, and maybe a freshwater crocodile or two on the banks, take to the trails admiring fascinating indigenous rock art. To continue your exploration, a second boat is waiting to take you to the even bigger cliffs of the deep river gorge. Along the way, your guide will share their knowledge of the traditional Jawoyn landowners and their stories of how the gorge was formed. Continue your national park adventures deep into Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At this cultural jewel, you’ll join a Local Specialist to cruise Yellow Water Billabong, famous for its diverse species of birdlife including magpie geese and, yes, crocodiles. After a big day in the outdoors, you’ll stay in the heart of Kakadu at the indigenous owned and totally unique hotel - in the shape of a crocodile.
Accommodations: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Jabiru
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13 - Top End Capital, Darwin
Dive Into Culture at Ubirr, one of Kakadu’s, and Australia’s, renowned Aboriginal rock art sites. Your Travel Director is accredited and well versed to share the history and the stories behind the images in this rocky landscape rich with history. Go for a wander on the loop trail past caves and overhangs before another stunning sight. You’ll stop at Nadab lookout at Ubirr for the most amazing view over the wetlands of Kakadu. And, fun fact for movie buffs, Crocodile Dundee was filmed here! From rock art to modern cityscapes, you’re headed to the multicultural city of Darwin. After settling into your ideally located hotel on the Darwin Esplanade, you might choose to watch a movie under the stars at the Deckchair Cinema or soak up the atmosphere and flavours of the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, to watch the iconic sunset. In a city known for its Asian influenced food, this famous food market has plenty of tempting options for you to choose from.
Accommodations: Hilton Garden Inn
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14 - The Top End - Yours to Explore
Australia brings new sights and traditions with every step of your journey. Today is yours to unlock the best of the Top End with your choice of two Optional Experiences. Head to Litchfield National Park to take in thundering waterfalls, a rainforest, and historic sacred sites. Or join a Tiwi Islands Day Tour to visit a modern-day Aboriginal community. After soaking up the sun on your last big day, return to Darwin for a celebratory evening over dinner with your travel companions. It’s a magnificent final full day of your Outback adventure.
Accommodations: Hilton Garden Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Day 15 - Farewell Darwin
It’s a been two weeks of sun, fun, and adventure in the outback, but all good things must come to an end. Say farewell to your fellow travellers this morning over breakfast before your transfer to Darwin Airport for your onward flight (flights anytime).
Meals: Breakfast
Kakadu National Park in Australia's Northern Territory offers cascading waterfalls, rocky escarpments adorned with aboriginal drawings, and picturesque plateaus. Visitors have the chance to come close to wildlife, and for the more adventurous, travellers can take a crocodile infested river tour. During the dry season visitors can join rangers for free activities throughout Kakadu, including daily art site talks, walks, cultural activities and night-time slide shows. These tours allow visitors the chance to learn more about the diverse history and wildlife of this amazing region.
Darwin
Soak up Darwin's balmy weather and the melting pot of food and cultures in the city's many outdoor festivals and markets. Then explore the region's dramatic history - from World War II air raids to Cyclone Tracey - in the museums and galleries. Sail Darwin harbour at sunset, cruise next to crocodiles and bushwalk through monsoon forest. Swim in the crystal-clear waterholes of Litchfield National Park and visit the colourful communities of the Tiwi Islands. This vibrant, tropical capital has a youthful energy you'll find hard to resist.
Five ways to discover Darwin and its surrounds:
1. At festivals, markets and on the harbour In Darwin, the action happens outside - in markets, parks, by the beach or on boats. You can join the locals with a crate and a plate of sizzling satay at The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets from May to October. Or watch them build boats out of beer or soft drink cans at the annual Darwin Beer Can Regatta in July. At the Deckchair Cinema from April to November you can watch movies under a canopy of stars with a drink from the bar and a picnic dinner. Soak up Darwin's tropical weather with a harbourside dinner at Cullen Bay Marina or a sunset harbour cruise complete with a history lesson.
2. With wildlife and in tropical parklands
Cycle past orchids and bromeliads and traditional Aboriginal plants in George Brown Botanic Gardens. Swim, have a sunset barbecue and explore sacred Aboriginal sites at Casuarina Coastal Reserve. In Berry Springs Nature Park, you can spot birds in monsoon forest and fish in the crystal clear swimming holes. Get up close to fish, birds-of-prey, nocturnal animals and reptiles in the Territory Wildlife Park, a 45-minute drive from Darwin. Have a close crocodile encounter at Crocodylus Park, the Darwin Crocodile Farm or on a crocodile cruise along Darwin's coastal fringe and rivers.
3. Hot on the heels of history
Learn more about Darwin's rich Aboriginal heritage in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Here you can also relive the tragic Cyclone Tracy which hit Darwin on Christmas Eve in 1974. See the Chinese Temple it nearly destroyed in Litchfield Street. Darwin endured 64 Japanese air raids in World War II, and you can watch dramatic footage of the bombings and visit the bunker where Top End defense strategy was planned at East Point Military Museum. See original B52 bomber planes at the Aviation Heritage Centre and a network of walking trails leading to World War II oil tunnels around the Wharf Precinct. In Myilly Point Historical Precinct you can see some of the few surviving cottages designed by architect B.C.G Burnett in the colonial style popular before World War II.
4. Under the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park
Make time for a day trip to the waterfalls and plunge pools, wildlife and birdlife, ranges and rainforest of Litchfield National Park, a one-and-a-half hour drive from Darwin. Swim in the crystal-clear swimming hole at the base of Florence Falls and bush-walk through monsoon rain-forest to Walker Creek. Picnic next to roosting fruit bats at Wangi Falls and see sweeping valley views at Tolmer Falls. Take a wildlife cruise on the Reynolds River, part of a working cattle station. Explore this Tarzan landscape with traditional Aboriginal owners the Wagait people or peer into a pastoral past in the ruins of Blyth Homestead.
5. On a trip to the Tiwi Islands
Join in the excitement of the Tiwi Islands Grand Football Final, held every March in Nguiu. Browse and buy Tiwi art, distinctive for its strong design, decorative features and vivid colours. Take billy tea and damper tea with Tiwi ladies as they demonstrate traditional weaving and painting. Then watch them perform a traditional dance and a smoking ceremony to clear bad spirits. Catch big barramundi on a fishing tour on the Tiwi coast. You'll find a warm welcome and a lush landscape of rainforest, beaches and rock pools on Melville and Bathurst Islands, together known as the Tiwi Islands. Explore them on a day or overnight tour, traveling a 20-minute flight or two-hour ferry from Darwin.
The world's largest monolith, located 280 mi/450 km southwest of Alice Springs, is a truly stunning sight, especially at sunset when its burnt-orange glow seems to set the desert on fire. Called Uluru by the Aborigines, the sandstone rock is huge (1,140 ft/350 m high, 9 mi/13 km around) and reddish brown most of the time, taking its color from iron oxide, or rust. Its presence is made more powerful by the mostly barren plain that surrounds it and disappears into the horizon. In 1985, ownership of the rock was returned to its traditional owners. It is rarely referred to as Ayers Rock anymore.
Considered sacred by the Aborigines for thousands of years, the rock is now part of the expansive Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. The park includes the Olgas/Kata Tjuta, a cluster of 36 giant domelike rock formations about 20 mi/35 km west. If you want to visit both, plan to spend at least one night. You'll want to see Uluru at both sunset and sunrise. The Olgas are equally magnificent at both times of day. (But be prepared to jockey for position at either place; tour buses disgorge hundreds of visitors laden with binoculars, cameras and video equipment.)
Start your visit to the park with a stop at the cultural center. Run by the Anangu (a local Aboriginal clan), the center is a wonderful introduction to the unusual rock formations and to the people who lived in their harsh shadows for centuries. Aboriginal artwork and artifacts are on display. You can also see re-enactments of life in the bush and watch informative videos. Most visitors explore the rock as part of a tour led by park rangers, Anangu guides or private tour companies. But you can also pick up a printed walking guide at the cultural center and set off on your own.
Only one trail leads to the top of the rock, and it's fairly steep—those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, asthma, fear of heights or the like should remain earthbound. The Anangu prefer you walk around—not on—the rock because of its spiritual importance. If you do decide to climb it, allow two to three hours and take along a snack and plenty of water. The view from the top is spectacular, but hiking around the base is more educational and less strenuous. We suggest taking one or more of the shorter walks that pass water holes and rock paintings, allowing you to observe the rock's many faces at a leisurely pace. (Walking around the entire base of the rock takes about three hours.)
Allow at least an afternoon to visit the Olgas/Kata Tjuta. A frequent debate among visitors is whether the Olgas outshine the rock. It's a close call—the Olgas are taller, reaching 1,790 ft/545 m at the highest point. Made of conglomerate (pebbles and boulders cemented together by mud and sand), they are off-limits to climbers, but you can explore some of the valleys and chasms between the rocks.
Most visitors fly to Uluru or drive from Alice Springs. About the only place to stay in the area is the Ayers Rock Resort, or Yulara, whose five hotels and a campground can accommodate visitors in all price ranges. Longitude 131 is a magnificent safari camp with 15 luxury tents. Dozens of tours leave from Ayers Rock Resort, including sunrise camel rides around the rock, sunset champagne dinners in the desert, Aboriginal culture tours and stargazing. You can also rent a car there and explore on your own.
Because of the excessive heat in summer, the best time to visit is April-November (winter in Australia). Always take along plenty of drinking water. If you are flying to the Outback, we suggest going overland one way from Alice Springs (four to five hours) but flying the other way—the desert drive is scenic, but it can be tedious the second time around. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru.
Adelaide
This elegant city is known for its colonial stone architecture, expansive parklands, lively festivals and incredible sense of space. Explore the museums and libraries of North Terrace, dine on dedicated 'eat streets' or picnic in gardens that sprawl over almost half the city. Go bike riding in Botanic Park or row past rose gardens in Rymill Park. Swim with dolphins or learn to sail in Glenelg or fish from the jetty in Henley. Just beyond the city centre you'll find the picturesque Adelaide Hills and the world-class wineries of the Barossa Valley.
Five ways to immerse yourself in Adelaide:
1. Hit the eat streets
Sample everything from Asian fusion to Argentine cuisine in the exotic, bustling foodhalls of Chinatown. Embrace the alfresco ambience of Rundle Street in Adelaide's East End or live it up in one of the city's many elegant wine bars and fashionable restaurants. Enjoy a beach sunset with your meal in the coastal suburbs of Glenelg and Henley Beach or wind down with a wine at the National Wine Centre. If you're a fresh food addict, Adelaide Central Markets offer premium produce from growers across the state.
2. Feel green and serene in Adelaide's parks
Hire paddleboats and bikes in Elder Park or row past formal rose gardens in Rymill Park. Picnic in the local's beloved Botanic Park or cycle from the hills to the coast in River Torrens Linear Park. For serious tranquility, head to the classic Japanese oasis of Adelaide-Himjei Garden. Adelaide's 29 parks take up almost half of the city, and come with walking trails, quiet spaces and sporting fields for everything from football to archery.
3. Head for the coast
Swim with dolphins or learn to sail in Glenelg, which bustles with sidewalk cafes, alfresco dining and summer entertainment. In the beach suburb of Henley, you can fish from the jetty or go on a culinary world tour at the ethnic food stores and eateries. Explore the museums, markets and historic harbour of Port Adelaide, the city's maritime heart. Or see heritage buildings and colourful summer sideshows in family-friendly Semaphore. Further along the spectacular Le Fevre Peninsula, you can swim on protected beaches and walk one of the state's few heritage-listed jetties at Largs Bay.
4. Soak up Aboriginal and European heritage
Do a cultural tour of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens with traditional custodians the Kaurna people. You'll learn how native plants have been used for sustenance, shelter, ceremonies and medicines for thousands of years. Browse the world's largest collection of Aboriginal antiquities at the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the South Australian Museum and visit Tandanya, the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. Adelaide also has a proud European heritage for you to explore -in the museums and libraries of North Terrace, in Adelaide Town Hall and in Port Adelaide, the state's first declared heritage area.
5. Escape to the hills
Drive to the Adelaide Hills, where the picturesque farmlands and charming villages have inspired many generations of artists. Stay in Bavarian-inspired chalets and browse the bakeries, craft shops and galleries of Hahndorf, Australia's oldest surviving German village. Visit The Cedars, once the gracious old home and studio of famous landscape artists Sir Hans Heysen. Then hit the markets of Lobethal, a fairytale town which celebrates Christmas with metres and metres of colourful lights.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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