Arrive in the Northern Territory’s capital city of Darwin. There are direct flights from Asia and most of Australia’s major cities. Staying in a centrally located hotel or apartment, you have a have a night here to enjoy this relaxed, friendly city. Darwin is compact and the town centre and lively Waterfront area are easy to explore on foot.

Darwin hotel

Pick up your Apollo 4×4 campervan this morning for your National Park adventure. Drive east out of Darwin onto the Arnhem Highway and head for the Kakadu National Park. A suggested stop is at the Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre, and then perhaps Adelaide River for an optional Jumping Crocodile cruise. The scenery on the way is dramatic and colourful with bird life, wetlands and high escarpments. A visit to the Bowali Visitor Centre is a must to learn more about this unique environment.

Towering over Kakadu National Park’s wetlands is the huge 500 km long Arnhem Land Escarpment which was created about 2 billion years ago. This ancient landscape will leave you with a feeling of majesty and awe. Kakadu’s natural geological features, including rock formations, powerful waterways, towering cliffs, spectacular waterfalls and quiet, peaceful streams and lagoons, as well as its diverse wildlife, and unique plant life, together with some of the country’s best Aboriginal art galleries, add up to a truly magnificent area. The value of Kakadu’s treasures is also reflected in the park’s World Heritage listing, awarded for both cultural and natural significance.

Darwin > Kakadu National Park | 151 kms

Leave Kakadu and head south towards Pine Creek. At Pine Creek you rejoin the Stuart Highway and travel on south to Katherine, making a leisurely stop at the beautiful Edith Falls. Katherine is the heart of the real Outback. Attractions in the area include places of historic interest, birds and wildlife in their natural surroundings, caves, gorges, Aboriginal lore and art, and for the adventurers, magnificent waterfalls, canyons and billabongs.

The highlight here is undoubtedly Katherine Gorge, located in the Nitmiluk National Park. Katherine Gorge is a system of 13 gorges all joining by rapids. The main entrance to the National Park is 32 kilometres from the town of Katherine. Over millions of years, torrential summer rains in Arnhem Land during the wet season have caused the waters of the Katherine River to cut thirteen spectacular serpentine gorges. Cut into ancient rock, the canyon walls climb steeply above cool blue water, and there is abundant bird, fish and animal life, including the fresh water crocodile.

Kakadu National Park > Nitmiluk National Park | 180 kms

Litchfield National Park is the Top End’s most accessible natural attraction and offers safe swimming and spectacular waterfalls all year round. The main attractions in Litchfield National Park including Buley Rockhole, Wangi, Tolmer and Florence Falls are all linked by quality sealed roads. There is swimming in specified areas, photography, wildlife observation and bushwalks ranging from a 20 minute stroll to extended walks.

Nitmiluk National Park > Litchfield National Park | 282 kms

After waking up in Litchfield National Park, it is a short drive up the Stuart Highway to return your motorhome in Darwin. After checking-in to your hotel, you will then have the rest of the day to explore the city.

From April to October, nearby Mindil Beach comes alive every Thursday and Sunday with over 200 unique craft and food vendors as tourists and locals gather to witness the renowned Northern Territory sunset over the Timor Sea. Sample some of the territory’s unique food delicacies including crocodile, emu and fresh barramundi whilst listening to the enchanting sounds of the digeridoo being performed within the market.

Litchfield National Park > Darwin | 106 kms

Darwin hotel

This morning, you continue your journey by air to the friendly and historic town of Alice Springs, in the Red Centre, where you have a two night stay.

Established in the 1870s as a telegraph relay station, Alice still retains a sleepy, ‘no worries’ atmosphere. Its visitor centre, Flying Doctor Museum, Reptile Park and Anzac Hill tell the story of early pioneers to the region and there is some great Aboriginal art in the local galleries.

Pick up your car ready to head off on the second leg of your outback exploration.

Alice Springs hotel

Depart Alice Springs and travel south along the Stuart Highway to Watarrka National Park; home to Kings Canyon. This afternoon, you may wish to take a relaxed walk through the peaceful and shady boulder strewn canyon floor.

Kings Canyon is the deepest gorge in the Red Centre and magnificently beautiful. Waterholes on the canyon floor never completely dry up and foster lush growth, which includes palms of ancient biological origin. A path to the rim of the gorge leads to the Lost City, where the rock has worn away to resemble ruins. High in the canyon, and very difficult to reach, is the Garden of Eden, an oasis of waterholes and plant life.

Alice Springs > Watarrka National Park | 308 kms

Kings Canyon Resort

This morning, make an early start to avoid the heat of the day and drive into the Kings Canyon car park to discover the wonders of this ancient geological formation via the rim walk. The walk may take up to 3 hours and is for those with a good level of fitness.

Mid morning, travel back along the Luritja Road to rejoin the Lasseter Highway heading west to Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park. Take a detour en route to explore the domes of Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas), a dramatic series of 36 dome-like rock formations which stand up to 546 metres high and cover an area of 35 square km. Continue on to Uluru.

Uluru (Ayers Rock) is the world’s largest monolith, measuring over 9 km around the base, and rising 348 metres above the Mulga plain. A sacred Aboriginal monument, the walls of the caves which comb the base, are covered in carvings and paintings, many of which are thousands of years old.

Spend an extra day in Ayers Rock Resort, close to Kata Tjuta National Park and the rock itself. If you can, get up early to see the sunrise over Uluru, visit the museum, hike around the base or even fly over it on a helicopter sightseeing tour. You will see why Uluru has been special to the Aboriginal people for thousands of years.

Watarrka National Park > Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park | 294 kms

Outback Pioneer Hotel

After some final souvenir shopping, head to Uluru Airport for your flight back to the UK or to continue on to another Australia region.