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This itinerary is valid for all 2019 departures. To view the itinerary for departures beginning in January 2020, click here.

Melbourne to the Red Centre

13 days, Melbourne to Alice Springs

Stunning scenery on a clear day while driving down the Great Ocean Road.
Map of the route for Melbourne to the Red Centre
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Itinerary

Day 1Melbourne

Arrive at any time.

Tonight, get to know Melbourne as a group. Spend some time socializing in the rooftop seating area at the Space Hostel where you are staying. Then maybe head to the bar attached to the hostel called Blue Moon Karaoke for some great beer and cheap eats. Make sure you get those vocals ready because someone is getting up and singing before the night is over.

There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city. If you arrive early enough, head into the city to take in the 'cultural capital of Australia'. Get lost in the city's famous laneways, go on the hunt for the perfect flat white (hint: Melbourne loves its coffee shops), catch the tram to St. Kilda, or wander around the über-cool Fitzroy neighbourhood.

Please ensure to arrive before 7pm for an important group welcome meeting where you can meet your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members.

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends

Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.

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Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow

Myki Explorer Public Transportation Pass
Melbourne
15AUD per person

From St. Kilda to Fitzroy, make the most of your time in Melbourne with a Myki Transportation Pass, giving you access to all tram travel throughout the city.

Yarra Valley Wine Tour
Melbourne
175-200AUD per person

The Yarra Valley is home to dozens of vineyards and wineries set along the banks of the Yarra River itself. It is considered on of Victoria's premier wine regions making it an idyllic escape from Melbourne. Stroll the grounds of these establishments, sip a glass of chardonnay, and relax in this beautiful setting.

Day 2Melbourne/Port Campbell

Say hello to the Great Ocean Road — arguably the most iconic road in all of Australia! You won’t even mind waking up early for views like the ones you’ll see as you drive to Port Campbell. Travel up the famous surf coast visiting quaint towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay en route. Get in touch with nature on an included rainforest walk in Great Otway NP.

Then gaze in wonder and feel the wind whip through your hair as you admire the 12 Apostles, the kind of landmark that somehow finds a way to be more stunning in person than in photos.

Private Vehicle
Melbourne – Port Campbell7h300km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Twelve Apostles Visit
Port Campbell National Park45m-1h

Stop at a scenic lookout point along the Great Ocean Road and capture the beautiful views over the ocean and the Twelve Apostles. Now with only seven formations still standing, these iconic attractions were once limestone caves which eroded to become arches and eventually stacks up to 45m (147 ft) in height.

Loch Ard Gorge Visit
Port Campbell National Park15m-30m

Located along the Great Ocean Road, beautiful Loch Ard Gorge shows the process of erosion in action. See offshore stacks and blowholes, and watch short tailed shearwaters soar over the nearby island. This location is a perfect backdrop for a group photo. Get snapping!

Rainforest Walk
Great Otway National Park30m 1-2km

Take in the beautiful greenery of the Great Otway National Park on a leisurely walk with your CEO.

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Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow

Helicopter Ride
The Twelve Apostles
145AUD per person

A series of limestone cliffs stretching into the ocean, the 12 Apostles is one of the most iconic sites in Victoria. Get a birds eye view of these massive rock columns and watch the swells of the ocean crash into them from above. Prepare to be awed by the sheer size of these cliffs and one of Australia's most famous coastlines.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 3Port Campbell/Halls Gap

Open your eyes in the laid-back coastal town of Port Campbell and lace up those hiking boots for a visit to the Tower Hill Wildlife Reservation. Walk through the verdant landscape and be on the lookout for the wildlife that has multiplied on the inside of this volcanic crater. Trek through the forest with those cameras at the ready before continuing on to Grampians National Park for your next adventure!

Start the day visiting more attractions of the Great Ocean Road including The Arch and the now broken London Bridge. Visit Tower Hill State Wildlife Reserve for a chance to see animals endemic to Australia such as koalas, emus and kangaroos. Opt to visit an Indigenous Cultural Centre to learn about the significance of the area to the indigenous people. End the day with an evening walk in the Grampians NP.

Private Vehicle
Port Campbell – Grampians National Park3h260km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

London Arch Visit
Port Campbell National Park15m-30m

Stop by the rock formation named the London Arch, formerly the London Bridge, until part of the arch collapsed in 1990. This brief stop on the Great Ocean Road showcases the art of nature -- the erosion of limestone and the beautiful rock formations it creates.

Tower Hill State Wildlife Reserve Visit
Tower Hill15m-30m

Visit Tower Hill State Wildlife Reserve west of Warrnambool for a chance to see animals endemic to Australia such as koalas, emus and kangaroos. Learn more about this large volcanic crater and wetland and the role it plays in Indigenous history. Set off on one of the self-guided walking paths, then visit the Worn Gundidj Centre to see cultural displays and crafts.

Brambuk Cultural Centre
Grampians30m

Dive into ‘Dreamtime’ and experience the stories, food, and art of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. Go on a guided walk through gardens planted with native herbs and plants, get up close to some rock art, and opt to pay to throw a boomerang’ before heading to Bushfoods cafe to sample some local delicacies like kangaroo pie -- anyone still hungry?

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 4Halls Gap/Adelaide

Skip sleeping in this morning to get out and about in Grampians National Park. Wander through lush forest, view the craggy sandstone Wonderland range in the distance, and examine impressive Indigenous rock art. Home to some pretty amazing scenic lookouts this national park will grant you with many photo opportunities so make sure those cameras are charged before heading into the thick of it all. Walk to the stunning Balconies for expansive views of the Victoria Valley below, then stop at one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria; Mackenzie Falls and watch the water cascading down cliff faces as it creates rainbows in the air. Close your eyes, breathe in the fresh air, and find peace in the moment. As the day winds down head to Adelaide with the group and find some nightlife to enjoy as the stars fill the sky.

Early start to explore more of Grampians NP. Walk to the stunning Jaws of Death Balconies, visit MacKenzie's Falls, and travel onto Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.

Grampians National Park Visit
Grampians National Park1h-5h 3-8km

Walk past lookouts, sandstone ridges and other various rock formations. Be rewarded with sweeping views of the natural landscape.

The Balconies (Jaws of Death) Visit
Grampians National Park1h 2km

Set off from the Reed Lookout overlooking Victoria Valley, and enjoy a short walk with beautiful scenery to the Balconies, formerly called the Jaws of Death. Check out the gorgeous view, but be careful not to lean too far over the edge!

MacKenzie Falls Visit
Grampians National Park30m-1h

MacKenzie Falls is the only waterway in the region that flows year-round and it is also the most visited waterfall in the Grampians; take a short walk and check out the falls out from a viewing platform. In Spring, see wonderful wildflowers in bloom along the path.

Private Vehicle
Halls Gap – Adelaide6h-6h30m500km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 5Adelaide

Get ready to stuff your face in the food and wine capital of Australia; Adelaide. Wander the clean laneways and sample your way from place to place as the sun warms your skin. With an emerging art scene, natural beauty, interesting attractions, and incredible restaurants, Adelaide has tons to see and do. Get out and discover the hub of South Australia!

New travellers may join you for the rest of your adventure. You are welcome to join them at a group meeting this evening, followed by an optional dinner.

Your Discover Moment
Adelaide Full Day

There's plenty to see and do in Adelaide, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like hitting the beach, going on a haunted tour of the Old Adelaide Gaol, and visiting local wineries. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

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Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow

Adelaide Central Market
Adelaide

Looking for a bite to eat? Head over to Adelaide Central Market, the city's premiere fresh food and produce market since 1869. Wander the stalls and meet some of the locals – just don't forget to grab some snacks from one of the 80 vendors at the market.

Dolphin Swim and Cruise
Adelaide
120-130AUD per person

There are very few places in the world that you can swim with dolphins in the wild, so don’t miss the opportunity to get close to these majestic creatures. Watch them interact and play around you while you swim in their natural habitat. Available mid-Sept to late-April.

The Barossa Valley Food and Wine Experience
Adelaide

Dreamy days and new locations call for one-of-a-kind experiences. Book the Barossa Valley Food & Wine tour for an intimate experience in the valley. The tour includes a full-day of sampling some of the Barossa’s finest wines and gourmet food. You will also have the chance to visit the new Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, the famous Maggie Beer’s Farm shop, and two award winning cellar doors.

Optional Welcome Meeting for Travellers on Combos

You may be a seasoned pro at group travel by now, but there will likely be some new travellers joining the group. Sit in on the welcome meeting to meet the newest members of your group and learn about the next leg of your tour.

Kangaroo Island Day Trip
Kangaroo Island
283AUD per person

Remote, wild, and stunning, Kangaroo Island is the perfect mixture of all things Aussie. Hop over to the island for a day exploring the coastline and creatures that call it home. Prepare for a full day (up to 16 hours) that will leave you enchanted and in love with this slice of paradise just off the mainland.

Day 6Adelaide/Ikara-Flinders Ranges

Enjoy a local food experience in the Clare Valley, then it's on to Flinders Ranges.

Hit the road in the morning. Admire scenic views across the Clare Valley and enjoy a local food experience featuring South Australia's best regional produce. Continue to Flinders Ranges.

Private Vehicle
Adelaide – Ikara-Flinders Ranges6h440km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Your Foodie Moment: Local Food Experience

South Australia is a region renowned for its local produce, which makes it the perfect place to sample local delicacies such as cheeses, olives, pickles, chutneys, jams and other baked goods. Try a few of these tasty treats and learn more about the food culture in this unique part of the world!

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 7Ikara-Flinders Ranges

Explore Wilpena Pound, the heart of Flinders Ranges National Park, for a walk to a natural amphitheatre sacred to the Indigenous Adnyamathana people. Learn about Indigenous art and early settler history.

Take the day to explore the amazing scenery of Flinders Ranges.

Private Vehicle
Ikara-Flinders Ranges – Wilpena Pound30m

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Wilpena Pound Hike
Wilpena Pound1h-3h 2-7km

Enjoy nature's 800 million-year-old natural amphitheater carved out of the mountains in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges NP. Visit Indigenous art sites and learn more about the history and customs of the Adnyamathanha people who have lived here for tens of thousands of years. Keep an eye out for emus, kangaroos, and if you are lucky, the threatened yellow footed rock wallaby.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 8Ikara-Flinders Ranges/Glendambo

Travel from Flinders Ranges to Glendambo with a stop along the way at the salt lake of Lake Hart.

Private Vehicle
Ikara-Flinders Ranges – Glendambo6h440km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Lake Hart Visit
Lake Hart30m

A salt lake in the Australian outback? Why yes, it exists! Pull over from the Stuart Highway for a short visit to Lake Hart, where the salt flats stretch for miles and provide an otherworldly backdrop to sandy desert roads.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 9Glendambo/Coober Pedy

Travel to the town of Coober Pedy, the world's opal mining capital. After a guided tour of a mine, escape the heat like the locals by spending the night underground.

Travel to the unique opal mining town of Coober Pedy, where people live underground to avoid the heat. A guided mine tour gives insight to the mining process and the importance of opal to the area. Overnight like the locals by sleeping in an underground hostel, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Private Vehicle
Glendambo – Coober Pedy3h260km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Guided Mine Tour
Coober Pedy1h

Learn about opals and Coober Pedy's mining history on a tour of an old opal mine. See examples of both hand-dug and machine-dug underground homes, which are a popular way to escape the heat.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 10Coober Pedy/Kings Creek

Take in the vastness of the Outback on a driving day, then bed down in a swag (padded canvas bedroll) around a campfire and sleep under the Outback sky.

Private Vehicle
Coober Pedy – Kings Creek10h760km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

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Optional Activities - Day 10 HideShow

Kings Canyon Helicopter Ride
Kings Canyon7m-30m
95-285AUD per person

Get a birds-eye view of Kings Canyon from the large bubble windows of a 4-passenger helicopter.

Quad Biking Around Cattle Station
Kings Canyon
105AUD per person

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 11Kings Creek/Uluru

Enjoy a morning walk through the gorges and valleys of Kings Canyon. Drive to Uluru, where Australia's most iconic view awaits. Experience the colourful sunset at Uluru while enjoying a glass of bubbly.

Enjoy the morning taking in the scenery or by going on an optional 4km walk through the gorges and valleys of Kings Canyon of Watarrka National Park.

Kings Canyon Hike
Kings Canyon3h-4h 5-6km

HIke through beautiful Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park on this walk that visits the natural amphitheatre, the North and South walls, and the Garden of Eden.

Private Vehicle
Kings Creek – Uluru4h30m420km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Uluru at Sunset
Uluru30m-1h Evening

Enjoy a glass of bubbly, and watch the setting sun transform Uluru into a glowing monolith bathed in deep reds and oranges. Capture the moment with your camera but also take a moment to soak in the serenity of the scene just with your own eyes. Magic!

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 12Uluru

Enjoy the Mala Walk at Uluru to learn the importance of the rock to Indigenous Australians.

The next morning, awake before sunrise to do the Mala Walk around part of the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock) while learning its significance to the local Indigenous people. Visit the cultural centre to get a better understanding of the area.

Opt to pre-book the "Uluru & Kata Tjuta Helicopter Ride" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

Uluru Mala Walk
Uluru1h-1h30m Morning 2km

Take a guided walk along the northwest side of Uluru to learn about the history of the area, hear the stories of the Anangu people and gaze upon these awe-inspiring uplifted sandstone rock formations.

Indigenous Cultural Centre Visit
Uluru

Learn about Indigenous Australian culture in the area to get a better perspective of the history, beliefs and present-day life of the Anangu people. Discover the wild world of bush tucker (indigenous food), find out which plants are used in bush medicine, and hear creation stories.

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Optional Activities - Day 12 HideShow

Outback Astronomy Tour
Uluru
60-70AUD per person

Enjoy a tour of the night sky, learning how Indigenous people of Australia used the stars for mythology and seasonal predictions while getting a chance to stargaze through telescopes and binoculars. The Outback is one of the best places to stargaze, with low humidity and surrounding light - take a peek and see whats out there!

Uluru & Kata Tjuta Helicopter Ride
Uluru

To fully appreciate the sheer size and splendor of Uluru, you need to experience it from above. Get a bird's eye view of the iconic red rock, and take in the vast expanses of desert surrounding the 'Heart of the Red Centre'. This is one ride you don't want to miss!

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 13Uluru/Alice Springs

Discover more of the Red Centre with a hike through the beautiful Valley of the Winds in Kata Tjuta. Transfer to Alice Springs, where the tour ends upon arrival in the early evening.

Travel to the rock formations of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and, heat permitting, walk through the Valley of the Winds to explore the surrounding area before continuing onto Alice Springs.

The tour ends upon arrival to Alice Springs in the evening.

Valley of the Winds Walk
Kata Tjuta / Mount Olga1h-4h 2-7km

Walk through the Valley of the Winds to explore the beautiful, red, domed rocks that comprise the site. Visit two separate lookouts for great views over the area.

Private Vehicle
Uluru – Alice Springs4h30m375km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Departure Day

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.

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Optional Activities - Day 13 HideShow

Camel Ride
Uluru5m-10m
7-15AUD per person

Spend 45 minutes on a guided camel ride with incredible views of Uluru and Kata Tjutas. Learn about the Outback landscapes and the importance of camels to the history of the Red Centre.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Melbourne to the Red Centre

| 13 days - Melbourne to Alice Springs - Sold Out