14 Day Darwin to Adelaide Cheap as Chips with Kakadu & Litchfield (dry season only)

Below is an example calendar and written itinerary.

DAYS 1 TO 3 FOR TRAVEL IN APRIL & NOVEMBER  TO MARCH 

Day 1 – Darwin to Kakadu National Park (Lunch, Dinner)
Departing Darwin at 7:00am, the first stop on your adventure is Ubirr Rock, one of the main cultural sites within the park. At Ubirr you can view a wide range of Aboriginal rock art which will be interpreted by your guide. Here you will learn about the Rainbow Serpent and climb the Nadab Lookout for excellent views over the surrounding floodplain and beyond into Arnhem Land. In the afternoon visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre to learn about the 40,000 years of aboriginal occupation within the park.  Tonight enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at either our private campsite or air-conditioned accommodation at Cooinda

– Ubirr Rock
– Warradjan Cultural Centre
– Cooinda

Day 2 Kakadu National Park to Litchfield national Park (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Up early to enjoy a crocodile cruise on the Yellow Waters billabong. A must do activity within Kakadu National Park, the award winning Yellow Waters cruise is Aboriginal owned and centres around a spectacular billabong system that is home to some remarkable and diverse wildlife. Spotting crocodiles is only one of the many wildlife viewing opportunities on this unique water system.   Later, enjoy a half day hike and swim at the beautiful Gubara Springs* and/or Gunlom Falls*, and walk to the top of the Nawurlandja lookout with spectacular views over Kakadu. Late afternoon we will drive to Mount Bundy, close by Litchfield National Park and spend tonight at our private permanent campsite with your fellow travellers, or in your lodge room nearby.

– Yellow Waters Cruise
– Gunlom Falls
– Gubara Springs
– Nawurlandja Lookout
– Mount Bundy Homestead

Day 3 – Litchfield National Park to Darwin (Breakfast, Lunch)
Enjoy the short journey to Litchfield National Park. Explore the waterfalls, spring-fed streams and rugged sandstone escarpments of Litchfield. Discover intriguing cathedral and magnetic termite mounds and swim, hike and explore Florence and Wangi Falls* (water level dependent) as well as Buley Rockhole. Return to Darwin in the early evening where overnight hostel accommodation is included.

– Termite mounds
– Florence Falls
– Wangi Falls
– Buley Rockhole

DAYS 1 TO 3 FOR TRAVEL FROM MAY TO OCTOBER 

Day 1 – Darwin to Kakadu National Park (Lunch, Dinner)

You will be collected from your Darwin accommodation at approximately 6.30am where our Top End adventure begins as we travel to the Mary River Wetlands for our cruise. This region is home to over 250 bird species and has the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the Southern Hemisphere. Search for the mighty crocs who rule this waterway, buffalo, birds and other wildlife. Our entrance to Kakadu National Park is at the South Alligator River, a picturesque location for a picnic lunch. There’s the opportunity to purchase Aboriginal arts and crafts at the Bowali Visitor Centre before our late afternoon arrival at Ubirr. Here you will view a wide range of ancient Aboriginal art which will be interpreted by your guide. Learn the story of the Rainbow Serpent and climb the Nadab Lookout for panoramic views over the floodplain and beyond into Arnhem Land. As the day draws to a close we head to our private campsite for dinner and our overnight stay.

– Crocodile and wildlife cruise
– Bowali Visitor Centre
– Ubirr

Day 2 – Kakadu National Park to Litchfield National Park (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

This morning the jewels of Kakadu National Park await. After breakfast and departing camp we travel off road to the majestic Twin and Jim Jim Falls* for a day of adventure and exploration.  Travelling into Twin Falls by 4WD track, a boat shuttle and finally a rocky track and boardwalk we will be rewarded by the beauty of this remote waterfall deep within Kakadu National Park. Afterwards we stay off the beaten track where a walk through monsoon forests and over boulders lead us to Jim Jim Falls. Surrounded by 150 metre cliffs, we spend some time soaking up the natural beauty of this majestic location. This afternoon we depart Kakadu National Park and travel towards Litchfield National Park where we will stop along the way at our private campsite. Tonight, enjoy a hearty meal with your fellow adventurers.

– Twin and Jim Jim Falls

Day 3 – Litchfield National Park to Darwin (Breakfast, Lunch)

Today is spent exploring the waterfalls, spring-fed streams and rugged sandstone escarpments of Litchfield National Park. Marvel at the intriguing magnetic and cathedral termite mounds and swim, hike and explore Florence and Wangi Falls. Discover the many rock holes and cascading waterfalls of Buley Rockhole before our early evening arrival back in Darwin.

– Termite mounds
– Florence Falls
– Wangi Falls
– Buley Rockhole

Day 4 – Darwin to Mataranka Thermal Pools(Lunch /Dinner)
You will be collected from your Darwin accommodation at approximately 6.00 am when our adventure through the ‘Territory’ to Alice Springs begins. The afternoon is spent at Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park which is owned by the Jawoyn Aboriginal people. Ancient sandstone has been carved away by the Katherine River to create a deep and picturesque gorge. You may like to take a boat cruise or paddle a canoe (seasonal) through the peaceful water (both optional and additional cost) before journeying to our nearby campsite.

– Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park

Day 5 – Mataranka Thermal Pools to Banka Banka Station (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
A great start to the day, is a soak in the Mataranka Thermal Pools, a lush oasis fringed by paperbark trees. No trip to the ‘Territory’ is complete without a visit to the Daly Waters Pub, an important watering hole for explorers and drovers in days gone by and now a great spot for a cold beer, a bit of history and a ‘fair dinkum outback experience’! Our day winds to a close at historic Banka Cattle Station where we camp for the night.

– Mataranka Thermal Pools
– Daly Waters Pub
– Banka Banka Cattle Station

Day 6 – Banka Banka Station to Alice Springs(Breakfast / Lunch)
We pass through Tennant Creek and then further along the track are the Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) which are a collection of gigantic granite boulders magically balanced on top of one another. Later in the day we cross the Tropic of Capricorn (only 20% of the Northern Territory lies south of this point) then a short time later we arrive into Alice Springs where your trip comes to an end.

– Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu)
– Tropic of Capricorn

Day 7 – Alice Springs

Today is a free day to explore Alice Springs as you please or just relax by the pool

Day 8 – Alice Springs

Today is a free day to explore Alice Springs as you please or just relax by the pool

Day 9 – Alice Springs to Uluru (Lunch, Dinner)

We depart Alice Springs and head towards Uluru. Nothing really prepares you for the Rock – it’s awesome! After lunch we visit the Cultural Centre to learn about the Aboriginal people of the region and walk around the base of Uluru. We end our first day with a spectacular sunset over Uluru. Tonight we camp at the Ayers Rock Resort Campground in comfy swags under the desert stars, our home for the next two nights.

Day 10 – Kata Tjuta (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

A fantastic Uluru sunrise and breakfast before we head to sunrise and breakfast at The Rock, before we hike Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and the majestic Valley of the Winds with its incredibly ancient rock formations before returning to the campsite for relaxing afternoon and another Uluru sunset.

Day 11 – Kings Canyon (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

 Today we visit Kings Creek Station, Australia’s largest exporter of wild camels and our camp site for tonight. We hike Watarrka (Kings Canyon) to experience the fantastic views of the gorge, huge sandstone walls and an immense canyon floor. Here we trek through the Garden of Eden and take a dip in the waterhole to cool down. There is time for you to swim in the pool or take up on any of the optional extra activities they have on offer.

Day 12 – Uluru to Coober Pedy (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today we cruise to Coober Pedy, opal capital of the world. Incredible changing landscape, kangaroos, emus, eagles and road trains all unfold before us and a view of the striking sandstone colours of the Breakaways on the way. On arrival we visit the local kangaroo orphanage and later enjoy dinner, lots of stories and an overnight stay in an underground bunkhouse.

Day 13 – Coober Pedy to The Flinders Ranges (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

 We spend the morning in Coober Pedy and take a tour of the town and an opal mine. We also have the opportunity to “noodle” for opals, visit an opal shop or any of the other underground attractions. We continue our journey south in the afternoon as we travel on down to the foothills of the Flinders Ranges where we sleep among the red gum trees of Stony Creek Bush camp.

Day 14 Flinders Ranges to Adelaide (Breakfast, Lunch)

This morning we hike Dutchman’s Stern for stunning views of the Spencer Gulf and surrounding ranges and plains. We stop at a winery in the Clare Valley before cruising to Adelaide arriving at around 6pm.