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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.
Tonight, get to know your group over a couple of "bevvies" at a popular local spot in Alice Springs. Channel all of the excitement of arriving in a new place by enjoying live entertainment in an authentic tavern with your new adventure pals.
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.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
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!
Anzac Hill Hike
FreeTake a short hike to the top of Anzac Hill to see panoramic views of Alice Springs and a memorial for Australian veterans.
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.
From late October - early March, if the temperature is forecasted to be 35°C or above we will be following the summer itinerary and visiting the West MacDonnell Ranges instead of Kings Canyon.
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 Indigenous 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 Indigenous 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
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!
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.
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 local food experience in the Clare Valley along the way.
Travel through the Clare Valley, stopping to enjoy a local food experience featuring South Australia's best regional produce. Arrive in Adelaide, known as the "city of churches'.
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!
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Adelaide
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!
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
Dolphin Swim and Cruise
120-130AUD per personThere 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
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.
Kangaroo 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.
Day 8Adelaide/Halls Gap
Skip sleeping in this morning and travel inland to Grampians National Park. Trek 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.
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
Open your eyes to the smells and sounds of the lush forest of Grampians NP and lace up those hiking boots for an early morning walk within the park. Are you feeling historical? Visit an Indigenous Cultural Centre where you can choose to throw a boomerang, sample local delicacies like emu or kangaroo, and walk through gardens planted with native herbs and plants to help you learn about the history of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. Then drive along the iconic Great Ocean Road, viewing sites like the collapsed London Arch on the way to Port Campbell.
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.
Brambuk Cultural Centre
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:
BreakfastDay 10Port Campbell/Melbourne
No need to say goodbye to the Great Ocean Road just yet! Continue travelling along the road with the group making visits to Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles along the way. It’s no wonder that the 12 Apostles are the star of the show on the Great Ocean Road. They are the kind of landmark that somehow finds a way to be more stunning in person than in photos.
Gaze in wonder at smooth pearlescent bays surrounded by clear, blue water, flanked by yellow-washed cliff faces, and feel the wind whipping through your hair. Then travel past world-famous surf beaches before walking through the rainforest one last time in Great Otway National Park. After soaking up all the nature you can, continue to the hip city of Melbourne in the evening.
Tour ends on arrival 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.