Due to the distances travelled, several days involve longer travelling times than normal.

Day 1 (L, D) MELBOURNE, BENDIGO, SWAN HILL
Departing Melbourne we travel the Calder Highway to Kyneton where we stop for a morning cuppa. On to Bendigo, a beautifully preserved town built on the boom of the mid 1800’s gold rush. Visit Deborah Gold Mine before a pub style lunch in the charming Foundry Hotel. In the afternoon we head to Swan Hill and our home for the night, The Comfort Inn Campbell.

Day 2 (B, D) SWAN HILL, MILDURA, RENMARK
Today we follow the course of the Murray River to Mildura with a morning cuppa on the way at Robinvale. Mildura, with its Mediterranean climate, is famous for its oranges and we enjoy a tractor train tour of a working citrus property. In the afternoon we travel through to Paringa and view the impressive suspension bridge before arriving at Renmark and our home for the night, The Renmark Golf and Country Club

Day 3 ( B,L,D) RENMARK, BURRA, CLARE
Renmark is famous for its Rose Festival and this morning we visit Ruston’s Roses, Australia’s largest Rose Garden and home of the National Rose Collection. Following lunch we head to the historic South Australian town of Burra and enjoy an informative guided tour. Our final destination today is the Clare Valley Motel.

Day 4 (B,D) CLARE, PORT PIRIE, PORT AUGUSTA, WOOMERA
This morning we spend some time in the beautiful Clare Valley. Step back in time as we visit the magnificent Bungaree Station – a living record of rural Australia since 1841. We continue to Port Pirie and Port Augusta where we visit the award-winning Wadlata Outback Centre. On to Woomera and our home for tonight the Eldo Motel.

Day 5 (B, D) WOOMERA, GLENDAMBO, COOBER PEDY
This morning we visit the fascinating Rocket Range Museum and discover the pivotal role Woomera plays in the past, present and future of Australia’s history. We continue to Glendambo, a traditional rest stop along the Stuart Highway for Coober Pedy. Upon arrival at the “Opal Capital of the World” we visit Umoona Opal Mine. See an underground home, view an opal cutting demonstration and opal showroom. Purchase quality jewellery at realistic prices, if you wish. Home tonight is the Opal Inn Coober Pedy.

Day 6 (B,L,D) COOBER PEDY, KULGERA, ERLDUNDA
An easy travelling day today as we travel north along the Stuart Highway into the Northern Territory to Kulgera for lunch. During the afternoon we continue to our overnight home, Desert Oaks Motel, Erldunda.

Day 7 (B,L,D) ERLDUNDA, YULARA, ULURU, KATA TJUTA
An early start as we travel on the Lasseter Highway through Mount Ebenezer and Curtain Springs, passing the table-topped Mount Conner before arriving at Yulara in time to visit the Cultural Centre prior to lunch. We visit Uluru (Ayers Rock), drive around “the rock” and visit nearby Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), a massive pile of 36 weathered rocks, prior to viewing the sun setting with accompanying colour changes of Uluru. Home tonight, the Outback Pioneer Motel.

Day 8 (B,L,D) YULARA, KINGS CANYON
You may wish to try an early morning helicopter flight (own expense) or watch the sunrise then, following breakfast, we depart for Kings Canyon. Lunch on route at Kings Creek Station. Enjoy an afternoon walk along the canyon floor, maybe enjoy another helicopter ride to view the canyon cliffs (own expense). Home tonight, Kings Canyon Resort.

Day 9 (B,D) KINGS CANYON, ALICE SPRINGS
Today we travel to Alice Springs, returning to Erldunda and then north along the Stuart Highway. Take in the view from Anzac Hill. Home for three nights, Heavitree Gap Lodge.

Day 10 (B,L,D) WEST McDONNELL RANGES
We visit the West McDonnell Ranges today. Pause at the John Flynn Memorial, visit Simpson Gap and Stanley Chasm (picnic lunch here). Following lunch we visit Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge and the Ochre Pits whose coloured clays are used for Aboriginal ceremonial occasions.

Day 11 (B,D) ALICE SPRINGS DESERT PARK, RFDS BASE, TODD MALL, SOUNDS OF STARLIGHT THEATRE
This morning we visit the award-winning Alice Springs Desert Park with desert habitats and free-flying bird of prey displays. In the afternoon visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service base before some free time to explore Todd Mall and other town attractions, or purchase a souvenir or two. Dinner together.

Day 12 (B,L,D) ALICE SPRINGS, AILERON, BARROW CREEK, DEVILS MARBLES, TENNANT CREEK
Departing “The Alice”, we travel north along the Stuart Highway, morning cuppa at Aileron and lunch at Barrow Creek. Visit the Devils Marbles, an impressive collection of granite boulders, then to Tennant Creek. According to legend, the settlement sprang up when a beer wagon broke down here! Visit Bill Allen Lookout for panoramic views of the area. Home tonight, Eldorado Motel.

Day 13 (B,L,D) TENNANT CREEK, NEWCASTLE WATERS, DALY WATERS, MATARANKA, KATHERINE
An earlier start today as we continue north, calling at Attack Creek Historical Reserve, morning cuppa at Renner Springs, Newcastle Waters and the Overland Telegraph Monument on route to Daly Waters Hotel, our lunch destination. During the afternoon continue to Mataranka and Katherine – home of the Tindal RAAF airbase. Our home for two nights, Knotts Crossing Resort. Tonight we dine underneath the stars, by the camp-fire and enjoy a “Stockman’s Camp Tucker Night.”

Day 14 (B,L,D) NITMILUK CRUISE, KATHERINE MUSEUM, SPRINGVALE HOMESTEAD
A relaxing day today. A highlight of our holiday as we enjoy a two hour Nitmiluk Cruise at Katherine Gorge. (Note: Some walking is undertaken between the two gorges; reasonable fitness needed.) Time to view the exhibits in the Visitor Centre prior to lunch. Visit the Katherine Museum and Knotts Crossing, site of the 1870’s original township, a shanty pub and an overland repeater station.

Day 15 (B,L,D) KATHERINE, PINE CREEK, KAKADU NP, COOINDA, YELLOW WATER CRUISE, JABIRU, SOUTH ALLIGATOR
This morning we continue to Pine Creek and enter Kakadu National Park. At Cooinda enjoy another highlight, the Yellow Water Cruise. Abundant bird life and also many crocs, both saltwater and freshwater varieties. We visit Bowali Visitor Centre and Jabiru township prior to arriving at our overnight home, Aurora Kakadu at South Alligator.

Day 16 (B,D) JUMPING CROCS CRUISE, WINDOWS ON THE WETLAND, HUMPTY DOO, BATCHELOR
Today we enjoy the Adelaide River Queen Jumping Crocs Cruise which allows us to view crocodiles so close you can almost touch them. (But don’t!) At Humpty Doo we join the Stuart Highway to Batchelor and our home for tonight, Best Western Batchelor Resort.

Day 17 (B,D) BATCHELOR, LITCHFIELD NP, WANGI FALLS, DARWIN
Visit the amazing Litchfield National Park with its huge termite mounds. Enjoy Florence and Wangi Falls before continuing to the award-winning Territory Wildlife Park. Explore the Wetland, Woodland or Monsoon Vine Forest areas and see wildlife up close in their natural habitats. On to Darwin and our home for two nights the Travelodge Mirambeena Resort. This evening enjoy outdoor dining tonight at Stokes Wharf.

Day 18 (B,L,D) DARWIN
Today we explore the city, visiting Darwin Botanic Gardens and East Point Military Museum situated at East Point, an important military location during WWII. During the afternoon we visit the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory with its Cyclone Tracy exhibition. Later enjoy a sunset dinner cruise on Darwin Harbour.

Day 19 (B) DARWIN, MELBOURNE
This morning we visit the uniquely beautiful Parliament House, located in an area rich in Territory history, overlooking Darwin Harbour. See the facade of Christ Church Cathedral, the only part remaining after Cyclone Tracy. Sadly our holiday comes to an end as we fly to various interstate locations, having completed a most enjoyable “Thru the Centre” holiday. Flights depart at varying times. For Melbourne passengers coach transfers are available to Southern Cross Station coach terminal or Forest Hill Chase.