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This itinerary is valid for all 2019 departures. To view the itinerary for departures beginning in January 2020, click here.
The Red Centre to Melbourne
10 days, Alice Springs to Melbourne
Itinerary
Day 1Alice Springs
Arrive at any time.
Your 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.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
Alice Springs Hot Air Ballooning
305AUD per personBook an early morning hot air balloon flight and see the Outback from a perspective like no other.
Alice Springs Desert Park
25-40AUD per personGet a glimpse of authentic Aussie flora and fauna at the Alice Springs Desert Park. This open-air park highlights the creatures of the Outback in re-created natural habitats. If you've been itching to spot some rare and elusive wildlife, like the bilby, now's your chance!
Royal Flying Doctors Service Museum Visit
16AUD per personLearn all about the Royal Flying Doctor Service and its role in the lives of Australians. Find a replica of the 1920s bush planes first used by the service, and uncover the stories of pilots, engineers, doctors and nurses who brought much-needed medical care to people who live in remote inland communities.
Day 2Alice Springs/Uluru
Depart early and travel to the Red Centre. Hike the awe-inspiring Kings Canyon (seasonal) before continuing on to Uluru.
Depart early for the Red Centre. Travel to Kings Canyon and embark on an optional walk, weather permitting, through the gorges and valleys of Watarrka National Park.
Continue on to the Yulara campground for the night.
During the summer (late October - early March), due to high temperatures we'll be visiting the Ochre Pits and Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges instead of Kings Creek. During the winter, if the temperature is forecasted to be 35°C or above we will also be following the summer itinerary.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Kings Canyon Hike
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.
Day 3Uluru
Visit an Aboriginal culture centre and enjoy the informative Mala Walk at Uluru. Catch the sunset over Uluru with a glass of bubbly in hand. Camp under the stars of the night sky—the only way to really experience the Outback.
Visit the Aboriginal Cultural Centre to get a better understanding of the area before embarking on the Mala Walk around part of the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock). Learn the significance behind this iconic destination for the local people.
Experience the colourful sunset at Uluru while enjoying a glass of bubbly. Marvel at the night sky while bunking down in a swag (canvas bedroll) for the night.
Uluru Mala Walk
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
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.
Uluru at Sunset
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!
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Valley of the Winds Walk
FreeWalk 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.
Outback Astronomy Tour
60-70AUD per personEnjoy 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 Helicopter Flight
180-360AUD per personSee some of the highlights of the red centre from a bird's-eye view. Take to the air and choose between a 15-minute loop around Uluru, or opt to also see Kata Tjuta on a 25-minute flight.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 4Uluru/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 across the Outback 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 then importance of opal to the area.
This is one of a few long travel days on this itinerary. The vast expanses of the Outback make long drives necessary to travel between towns – so strap in and enjoy the desert scenery, get to know a fellow traveller, and chill out on this epic Outback roadtrip!
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Guided Mine Tour
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:
BreakfastDay 5Coober Pedy/Ikara-Flinders Ranges
Admire the Outback while travelling to the Flinders Ranges for the night.
Prepare for an early morning start for the travel day to Flinders Ranges.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 6Ikara-Flinders Ranges/Adelaide
Explore the Flinders Ranges before travelling to Adelaide. Enjoy a wine tasting in the Clare Valley along the way.
Travel through the Clare Valley wine area, making a stop for a wine tasting and demonstration to learn about the development of the vineyards in the area. Arrive in Adelaide, known as the "city of churches'.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Foodie Moment: Wine Tasting
Stop by a local winery and sample some of the different grape varietals while learning a bit more about wine production and its history in the Clare Valley. Try some Riesling, the local favourite (considered the best in Australia, if not the world), along with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Adelaide
Enjoy a free day to discover Adelaide. Opt to go on a dolphin-spotting cruise (seasonal), or check out more wineries.
With an emerging art scene, natural beauty and attractions, and incredible restaurants, Adelaide has tons to see and do. Get out and discover the hub of South Australia!
Your Discover Moment
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!
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Cleland Wildlife Park
22AUD per personKangaroo Island Day Trip
283AUD per personRemote, 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.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Adelaide/Halls Gap
Set off early and travel inland to Grampians National Park, known for its sandstone mountain range and impressive rock art. Trek through the forest, lush with vegetation and wildlife.
Depart early and travel inland to Grampians NP, known for its sandstone mountain range and impressive rock art. Walk to the stunning Balconies and visit MacKenzie Falls.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
The Balconies (Jaws of Death) Visit
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
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.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Halls Gap/Port Campbell
Early morning walk in Grampians NP and visit to an Aboriginal cultural centre (time permitting), then travel along the Great Ocean Road, stopping at the Arch.
Enjoy an early morning walk in Grampians NP, lush with vegetation and wildlife. Opt to visit an Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the significance of the area to the indigenous people. Drive along the Great Ocean Road, viewing sites including the collapsed London Arch.
Grampians National Park Visit
Walk past lookouts, sandstone ridges and other various rock formations. Be rewarded with sweeping views of the natural landscape.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
London Arch Visit
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.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Brambuk Indigenous Cultural Centre Visit
3AUD per personDive in to 'Dreamtime' and experience the stories, food and art of Australia's Indigenous peoples. Attempt to blow into a didgeridoo, paint and then throw a boomerang, or go on a guided walk through gardens planted with native herbs and plants. Head to the Bushfoods cafe and sample the local delicacies -- kangaroo, emu, and crocodile. Anyone still hungry?
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Port Campbell/Melbourne
Travel along the Great Ocean Road. Visit Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles, then travel past world-famous surf beaches. Walk through the rainforest in Great Otway National Park. Tour ends upon arrival to Melbourne in the evening.
Explore the scenic attractions of the Great Ocean Road including the picturesque Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles formations. Stop at the Great Otway National Park for an included rainforest walk en route to Melbourne.
Tour ends upon arrival in Melbourne in the afternoon. Consider booking post-tour accommodation in Melbourne to explore the city.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Loch Ard Gorge Visit
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!
Twelve Apostles Visit
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.
Rainforest Walk
Take in the beautiful greenery of the Great Otway National Park on a leisurely walk with your CEO.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.