20 Day Melbourne to Darwin Tour Package including 2 Day Kangaroo Island Tour & Barossa Valley Day Tour

All about the 20 Day Melbourne to Darwin Tour Package including 2 Day Kangaroo Island Tour & Barossa Valley Day Tour

20 Day Melbourne to Darwin Tour Package including 2 Day Kangaroo Island Tour & Barossa Valley Day Tour
Tour itinerary - 20 Days

• Day 1 Melbourne to Twelve Apostles
  The first stops out of Melbourne are the famous surf coast icons, Torquay (home of surf wear brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver), Bells Beach and Anglesea. Further along the Great Ocean Road are the towns of Apollo Bay and Lorne where you can swim, explore or just relax with a cup of coffee. Parts of the Great Ocean Road were carved by returned WWI servicemen; their legacy has created one of the most spectacular coastal roads you will ever see. At the Otway National Park, it’s time for lunch and a walk through some ancient temperate (cool) rainforest. What better way to finish the day than with a sunset at the Twelve Apostles rock formation. Tonight you will stay in hostel accommodation on the Great Ocean Road. (LD)
• Day 2 Great Ocean Road to Grampians National Park
  The highlights today on the Great Ocean Road include Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and the Bay of Martyrs not to mention the spectacular coastal scenery in the area.
  
  After lunch you will leave the coast and head inland to the Grampians National Park. Here you will spend the afternoon hiking to the bottom of MacKenzie Falls and enjoy the views from The Balconies lookout point.
  
  Later in the day, you might see kangaroos and other wildlife come out to play. Tonight you will stay in the heart of the Grampians National Park in hostel accommodation. (BLD)
• Day 3 Grampians National Park to Adelaide
  This morning you will visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre before doing some more hiking in the beautiful Grampians. On the way to Adelaide you will stop at Mt. Arapiles for lunch. In the afternoon sit back and enjoy the landscapes and drive to Adelaide where you will arrive at approximately 7.00pm. Overnight Accommodation included. (BL)
• Day 4 Barossa Valley
  Travel through the Adelaide Hills to the most famous wine-making region in Australia – the Barossa Valley. On the way to your first wine tasting, you will stop at the world’s largest Rocking Horse and the amazing Whispering Wall.
  
  Jacob’s Creek Winery is one of the most well known in Australia and at their Visitor’s Centre you will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the winery, and enjoy an educational wine tasting presentation.
  
  At the small, family-owned winery, Kies, the wines here are only sold at their cellar door. At their rustic winery cottage, you can taste a selection of their wines.
  
  After a Gourmet Pizza lunch, you will get to tour the cellars and taste the wine at the pretty Richmond Grove winery, situated on the edge of the North Para River.
  
  After a quick stop at the Menglers’s Hill Lookout for a view across the valley, the fourth and final winery you will visit is the historic Seppeltsfield winery.
  
  You will return to Adelaide by about 5 pm. Overnight accommodation included. (L)
• Day 5 Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
  Sit back and enjoy the fabulous coastal drive towards Kangaroo Island via the Fleurieu Peninsula. At Cape Jervis you will take the ferry across Backstairs Passage to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.
  
  Once on Kangaroo Island your island experience begins with the panoramic views from the top of Prospect Hill.
  
  Over the next two days you will experience wildlife and wilderness including up close encounters with sea lions on a beach walk at Seal Bay, sand-boarding at Little Sahara, kayaking down the Harriet River, snorkelling and swimming at beautiful North Coast beaches and bush quad biking at sunset (optional extra).
  
  Your overnight accommodation is at a farmhouse at Flinders Chase surrounded by koalas, kangaroos, possums and the occasional echidna. After dinner, which might be an Aussie BBQ or alternative, spend your night storytelling, wildlife spotting and playing the didgeridoo (L,D).
• Day 6 Kangaroo Island to Adelaide
  In the morning we explore Flinders Chase National Park, the largest on the island, with a short hike. Flinders Chase is home to vast tracts of untamed wilderness, the elusive platypus and other wildlife which you might see.
  
  Today we visit Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, where you can view a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals.
  
  Late in the afternoon you will return to the ferry at Penneshaw for the return crossing to Cape Jervis and the drive back to Adelaide, usually arriving at about 8.30pm. Overnight accommodation is included. (B,L)
• Day 7 Adelaide
  A free day to relax or explore the city of Adelaide. There is plenty to see and do in Adelaide, from taking the train to Glenelg beach or visit the museum or art gallery of SA. Activities and meals are at additional cost. Overnight accommodation is included.
• Day 8 Adelaide to Quorn
  We start our adventure travelling through the vineyards of the Clare Valley wine region, but soon enough we’re heading into the rugged Outback through the historic town of Melrose, gateway to the Flinders Ranges. We enjoy an easy stroll through the awesome Alligator Gorge, which is sometimes bursting with wild flowers. Our first night is spent in the town of Quorn where we stay at historic accommodation. (LD)
• Day 9 Quorn to Coober Pedy
  After an early start we drive to Coober Pedy, where most of the world’s supply of beautiful opals comes from. The landscape here is like you’ve landed on Mars. Enjoy a tour of an opal mine and there’s time to view the underground attractions of Coober Pedy. After a visit to Josephine’s Kangaroo Orphanage and dinner you will sleep underground like the locals do in bunkhouse accommodation. (BLD)
• Day 10 Coober Pedy to Uluru
  Today is all about the journey to Uluru (Ayers Rock). At ‘The Rock’ you will set up camp and enjoy your first Uluru sunset. Plenty of opportunity to get photos of the colours of the sky at sunset and the famous rock of Uluru. After dinner settle into your comfy swag around the camp fire for a night camping under the stars. (BLD)
• Day 11 Uluru
  Today you have a full day to spend around Uluru. Walk around the base and learn about the local Aboriginal people at the Cultural Centre. Lunch is prepared back at the campground and you will have the rest of the day to enjoy the timeless wonder of Uluru. (BLD)
• Day 12 Uluru and Kata Tjuta to Kings Canyon Resort
  Breakfast today is at Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Walk the majestic Valley of the Winds which cuts through the uniquely domed rock formations. After a tasty lunch, we get back on the bus for a drive to Kings Canyon Resort and our overnight stop. Optional extra activities (Camel Safaris, Helicopter Flights and Quad Bike Safaris) are available at Kings Creek Station on the way there. Another wonderful night of camping in your swag under the stars in the outback. (BLD)
• Day 13 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs
  Enjoy the walk around the rim of Watarrka (Kings Canyon) to access the lookout points and enjoy the views of the gorge, sandstone walls and the immense size of the canyon. You will get to see the renowned water hole known as the Garden of Eden. After lunch our destination is Alice Springs where you will arrive at approximately 6:30pm. Accommodation is included in our hostel in Alice Springs. (BL)
• Day 14 Alice Springs
  A day of leisure to either relax or explore the Red Centre township of Alice Springs. All activities and meals are at your own expense. Accommodation is included.
• Day 15 Alice Springs to Banka Banka station
  Your adventure through the ‘Territory’ to Darwin begins by crossing the Tropic of Capricorn just north of Alice Springs. The huge granite boulders known as the Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) make for great photos. Tonight you will camp north of Tennant Creek at historic Banka Banka Cattle Station. (LD)
• Day 16 Banka Banka to Katherine region
  On the drive up the Stuart Highway, the Daly Waters Pub is a great spot to take a break and have a cold beer. Historically, it has been an important watering hole for explorers and cattle drovers. Have a soak in the Mataranka Thermal Pools, a lush oasis fringed by paperbark trees. We drive to Katherine Gorge where you will camp nearby. (BLD)
• Day 17 Katherine to Darwin
  It’s an early start this morning from our camp ground in 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). In the afternoon, relax and watch the changing
  landscape as you travel to cosmopolitan Darwin. Overnight accommodation in Darwin is included. (BL)
• Day 18 Darwin to Kakadu National Park
  The first stop today is the Mary River Wetlands which are renowned for the 250 bird species that can be found here and the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the Southern Hemisphere. To get the best understanding of the area you will take an informative, private two-hour cruise (included) along the Mary River where you can spot ‘crocs’ and other wildlife. Your introduction to Kakadu National Park is at the South Alligator River where you will also have lunch. The Bowali Visitor Centre is a good place to purchase Aboriginal arts and crafts before your late afternoon arrival at Ubirr. 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. Tonight enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at a private campsite at Cooinda. (LD)
• Day 19 Kakadu National Park to Litchfield National Park
  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.
• Day 20 Litchfield National Park to Darwin
  Today is spent exploring the waterfalls, spring-fed streams and rugged sandstone escarpments of Litchfield National Park. Highlights include the large magnetic and cathedral termite mounds and swimming in and hiking at Wangi Falls (seasonal). Go for a final swim in the waterfalls at Buley Rockhole before your early evening arrival back in Darwin. (BL)

Real Aussie Says:

Perfect overland tour from Melbourne to Darwin to see plenty of Australia in just 3 weeks! Highlights are the sunset and sunrise at Uluru. Driving distance from Melbourne to Darwin is over 4000km. So plenty of time on the bus on this tour to take in the outback of Australia and get to know your fellow travel mates. As we make lots of stops, walks and hikes it doesn't feel long sitting on the tour bus. Real Aussie Adventures is about adventure and getting involved. We don’t define by age but our trips are quite active. We get travelers from all over the world, people travelling by themselves, couples and groups.

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Departure information

Starts

Tuesdays from Melbourne city and St Kilda accommodation at 6.30am except for 25 December 2018 and 1 January, 18 and 24 December 2019 and 1 January 2020.

Ends

Darwin

This trip can also be run in reverse

20 Day Darwin to Melbourne Tour Package including 2 Day Kangaroo Island Tour & Barossa Valley Day Tour