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16-Day-Darwin-to-Melbourne-Cheap-as-Chips
Sunset in Outback Australia Sunset Bubbles Great Ocean Road Tour - Twelve Apostles Sunset Devils Marbles Northern Territory Adventure Kings Canyon Uluru - Ayers Rock

16 day Darwin to Melbourne Cheap as Chips including Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks

Back to Darwin Tours

$4,340.00

Transport:
Mixed (Minibus,All Terrain Vehicle)
Difficulty:
Medium
Accom:
Mixed(Dorm Share and Camping)
Duration:
16 days, 15 nights
Food:
Most Meals
Guided?:
While on Tours
Departs:
Wednesdays(all year) and Saturdays(April to October) between 6am and 7am
Arrives:
Melbourne on day 16 at 7pm approx
Explore Australia’s outback without putting a huge dent in your wallet!

Explore the Outback with this amazing value package and visit all the must see spots. Spend 3 days 2 nights exploring Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks before journeying 3 days south to Alice Springs visiting famous spots like the Daly Waters Pub, Katherine Gorge, Mataranka Thermal Pools and the Devils Marbles.

Visit Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon before crossing South Australia through Coober Pedy and Flinders Ranges.

Spend some time in Adelaide prior to travelling through the Grampians and of course the Great Ocean Road, one of the top ten drives in the world.

Includes –

  • 6 day 5 night Darwin to Alice Springs tour including Kakadu and Litchfield national Parks
  • 2 nights in Alice Springs
  • 6 day 5 night Alice Springs to Adelaide tour
  • 1 night in Adelaide
  • 3 day 2 night Great ocean road tour
  • Meals while on tour as indicated in itinerary (11 Breakfasts, 15 Lunches, 11 Dinners)
  • 7 nights in dorm, 8 nights swag camping
  • Friendly, informative tour guides

“Our Cheap as chips and shoestring trips are a great option for the budget conscious traveller. They’re a combination of tours with accommodation included in between at a price that won’t put a huge hole in your wallet.” – Liz – One Stop Adventures Travel Expert

 

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Description

  •  Explore the Great Ocean Road and Grampians
  •  Spend time in Adelaide
  •  Visit the Flinders Ranges
  •  Stay in the underground opal mining town of Coober Pedy
  •  Visit the Rock!
  •  Explore Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
  •  See the Devil's Marbles and Mataranka Thermal Pools
  •  Explore Kakadu and Litchfield national parks

Below is an Example Calendar itinerary and a written itinerary.

Best Darwin to Melbourne Tour

DAYS 1 TO 3 FOR TRAVEL IN APRIL  & NOVEMBER 2016 TO MARCH .

Day 1 - Darwin to Kakadu national park (Lunch, Dinner)
Departing Darwin at 7am, 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). It’s a little further on to our overnight camp near Mataranka.

• 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 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 art galleries and pioneering history abounds.

• 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 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 9 – 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 10 – 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 11 -  Kata Tjuta 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 12 -  Coober Pedy to 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 13 - 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.
Day 14 -  Adelaide to the Grampians national park (Lunch / Dinner) Departing Adelaide we cruise through the Adelaide Hills with a mid morning stop at a country bakery to grab a bite to eat. We eat lunch before we marvel at Mt. Arapiles then onto the Grampians National Park. Here we hike to the bottom of Mc Kenzie Falls and see breathtaking views from The Balconies.  In the late afternoon, see the kangaroos and other wildlife come out to play. We stay overnight in the heart of the Grampians National Park in hostel accommodation.
Day 15 -  Grampians national park to the Great Ocean Road(Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner) Visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre and spend a great morning hiking the beautiful Grampians. We enjoy lunch at Tower Hill Reserve, the site of a dormant volcano, wetland, lake and home to lots of wildlife. We head south to the Great Ocean Road and Bay of Martyrs, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge, part of the fantastic coastal scenery in this area, finishing the day with a sunset at the spectacular Twelve Apostles. Overnight is in hostel accommodation on the Great Ocean Road.
Day 16 - Great Ocean Road to Melbourne (Breakfast/Lunch) After breakfast, we soak up the beauty of the Otway National Park. Walk through some of the oldest temperate rainforest in the world. Marvel at the historical section of the Ocean Road carved by returned WWI servicemen. It provides one of the most spectacular coastal roads that you will ever see. Explore the artistic seaside villages of Apollo Bay and Lorne. Anglesea, Bells Beach and Torquay (home of Rip Curl and Quicksilver) are all part of the famous surf coast with time to check out the local waves. We stop at the Split Point Lighthouse featured in the Round the Twist television series, before heading through Geelong to arrive in Melbourne approximately 7pm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of camping is done on this trip?

Swag Camping! A swag is a kind of bag that you can sleep in. It has a mattress and pillow inside and you can roll it up for storage. It has a flap you can put over your head for total cover but most people choose to fall asleep staring at the night sky!

Do I need a sleeping bag?

You will definitely want a sleeping bag in Winter as it can get quite cold at night, especially the further south you are and in the Red Centre (Around Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon. In summer it is advisable as it can still be cool at night. We advise to bring along your own sleeping bag, otherwise you can hire one for $50 on the Darwin <> Alice springs section and $30 on the Adelaide <> Alice Springs Section of the trip.

Will i be in the same group the whole trip?

No, this package is a combination of different tours put together and made into one convenient itinerary so that you get the best value trip and see as much as you can! This way you'll get to make as many friends as you can on your travels.

I've heard the flies are bad in summer. Is this true?

In the warmer months there can definitely be a lot of flies while travelling through the outback. It is advisable to bring a fly net in the warmer months.

What clothes do I need?

In summer the temperatures can be extremely hot when travelling through the outback. A shirt and shorts is all that is needed during these months though we recommend a light long sleeved top and light long Pants (Zip off) to minimize your exposure to the sun. It can still get cool at night and in the morning so you will want a jumper as well.

Definitely Bring swimmers as there will be opportunities to swim at some locations. Sunglasses as well as Sunscreen SPF 30+ or better are also a necessity no matter what time of year.

During Winter the temperatures can be mild during the day but cold at night and in the morning when travelling through the centre of Australia. You will want a mixture of warm and cool clothes for this time of year. Long pants, a good jumper, a beanie, gloves and warm socks are recommended for use at night and in the morning. Further North near Darwin the temperature will not be so cold.

At all times of the year you will need a hat, Preferably wide brimmed.

Departs: 

Wednesdays(all year) and Saturdays(April to October) between 6am and 7am

Extra Costs:

Depending on the time of year there is $25 - $40 national park fee to pay for Kakadu national park.

$12.50 payable for Twin Falls Boat Shuttle if in season

We advise to bring along your own sleeping bag, otherwise you can hire one for $50 on the Darwin <> Alice springs section and $30 on the Adelaide <> Alice Springs Section of the trip.

What to bring: Hat, sunscreen, walking shoes, insect repellent, water bottle, and bathers (swimming gear. Otherwise all the usual stuff, and most important a sense of adventure!