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START END 11 Jun 2024 ➔ 16 Jun 2024
SAVE: $640
WAS$4265
NOW $3625
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
Roam beyond the ordinary and save up to 15%* on selected tours with Last Minute Deals
This is your chance for a dream trip, your adventure, your exciting journey through places we've been exploring for over 100+ years. They are truly beautiful, and we promise you that you won't find a group of people more passionate than us to ensure your holiday is a spectacular one. Visit World Heritage-listed sites, wilderness areas, pristine beaches and glacial lakes with distilleries, wineries and all the farm gates in between. All the complicated stuff? We’ll take care of it.
Prices are per person in USD based on Adult Twin Share. Child Price and Single Price may be available.
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Immerse yourself in the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station precinct and learn about the overland telegraph line as you discover its historic buildings. Explore the West MacDonnell Ranges on a walk through the dramatic Simpsons Gap. Relish spectacular views across Alice Springs from Anzac Hill before some free time to explore the town or relax by your resort pool. Join your fellow guests at the Tali restaurant for a Welcome Dinner.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
We head off along the 4WD Giles Track, crossing dry riverbeds and outback landscapes, to Kings Canyon Resort. The flickering glow of this evening's fire, dancing under the canopy of a starry Southern Hemisphere sky, is the perfect accompaniment to your Local Dining Experience Under a Desert Moon. This degustation menu with matching wines is the perfect end to the day. Sit back and listen to the sounds of the outback come alive at night in the company of new friends.
Gaze across the deep chasm at the edge of Kings Canyon as you embark on a sunrise 6km rim walk past the domed ‘Lost City' and down into the luscious ‘Garden of Eden'. Immerse yourself while visiting the Wanmarra Community with local Aboriginal people and learn about the Luritja and Pertame people’s spiritual connection to the land. Discover bush food and bush medicine used for spirituality and healing. Wandering across desert landscapes leaving Kings Canyon behind and arriving for lunch at Curtin Springs Station, a vast farming property. Feel the stirring of something bigger than you as you arrive in Ayers Rock Resort, your launchpad to Australia's fiery heart in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This afternoon, travelling to Uluru as the day fades, the outback sun bids a fiery farewell. This is the perfect backdrop for included sparkling sundowners while overlooking Uluru.
Hotel:
Sails in the Desert Hotel
Enjoy a relaxed start to the day before exploring, and learning about the spiritual connection the local Anangu caretakers have with the land. Skirt the red walls of Uluru, hear ancient tales and see rock art, when visiting the Mutitjulu Waterhole. Relax by the resort pool or take to the skies to see Uluru from above before an afternoon visit to Kata Tjuta for a walk through Walpa Gorge. This evening enjoy dinner at Ilkari Restaurant.
Hotel:
Sails in the Desert Hotel
Observe the shifting lights of Bruce Munro’s impressive Field of Light art installation as the desert awakens and the sunrise lights up across Uluru. Traverse the vast and fascinating outback before arriving in Alice Springs. Enjoy free time to wander around the town. The Todd Street Mall has cafés and Aboriginal art galleries to explore. This evening, immerse yourself against the backdrop of the outback at our open-air bush BBQ Celebration Dinner. Located off the beaten track in the heart of the East MacDonnell Ranges, you'll enjoy drinks as a bush balladeer sings classic Australian songs and shares stories of outback living, under the Southern Hemisphere’s Milky Way.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
Relax this morning as your journey comes to an end. You might choose to take an optional hot air balloon ride to experience the scenic landscapes of the outback before your journey comes to an end.
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START END 11 Jun 2024 ➔ 16 Jun 2024
SAVE: $640
WAS$4265
NOW $3625
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
Welcome to Darwin! This morning meet your Journey Director and board your luxury vehicle to begin your journey of discovery in the Top End. Travel across the Finniss River to Litchfield National Park. You'll visit tumbling Florence Falls and you'll also enjoy a swim to cool off at Wangi Falls, surrounded by tropical monsoon rainforest and hear about its importance in Aboriginal custom. (Swimming is seasonal and opening controlled by NT Parks). Get ready for a cross-country journey into the magnificent Kakadu National Park. Keep your eyes open for Crocodiles as you cross the South Alligator River, Brolgas, Magpie Geese and Jabiru as you traverse along the long grasses of the marshes and wetlands. Kakadu really is a diverse UNESCO world heritage site. This afternoon check into the renowned Crocodile Hotel in the town of Jabiru and enjoy the wonderful Aboriginal Art Gallery within the hotel before getting to know your fellow travellers over dinner with wine.
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
This morning there’s a chance to take to the air an optional scenic flight over Kakadu. One of the best ways to experience the enormity of this wonderful National Park as well as the diversity from waterfalls and billabongs to flood plains and wildlife. Join your Journey Director on a walk at Kakadu’s stunning Ubirr rock art site. You'll see ancient rock art and take a walk to discover remarkable views over the surrounding wetlands and escarpments from the fantastic vantage point, Nadab lookout. After lunch the famous Yellow Waters Billabong boat cruise will be a highlight of your journey. You will see a myriad of different bird species, spot estuarine crocodiles and simply enjoy the stunning billabong and floodplains system. Returning to your hotel you will have the chance to relax and unwind with a refreshing dip in the hotel’s shaded outdoor pool or even wander through the on-site art gallery before enjoying a delicious dinner with wine.
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
This morning you’ll visit Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) to see its fascinating Aboriginal rock art for yourself. You’ll also hear first-hand from your Journey Director a detailed interpretation of the art and the rich Aboriginal culture as you explore the various outdoor ‘galleries' with art that dates back some 20,000 years. You will continue driving through the ancient lands of Kakadu National Park through to the town of Katherine and further on to Nitmiluk National Park. Indulge in five-star luxury at Cicada Lodge, a stunning architect designed eco-lodge surrounded by nature, where each room has a private balcony that opens to the glories of Nitmiluk National Park. Cool off from the heat of the day while enjoy a swim in the pool as the sunsets before a beautiful dinner.
Today meet Manuel Pamkal who will welcome you with a traditional performance on the didgeridoo. Manuel was born and raised immersed in his rich traditional Dalabon culture. He’ll share with you stories of growing up in the bush and teach you the fine art of rarrk (cross hatch) painting using a special brush from a reed called Julk. Call on the artist within you and paint your own masterpiece to take home! Enjoy lunch back on the deck at Cicada Lodge overlooking the natural surroundings, before time at leisure. This evening, relax on a Local Dining Experience cruise along Katherine River. Marvel at the gorges while you spot wildlife such as freshwater crocodile and barramundi, and learn about the history and culture of the local Jawoyn people. Enjoy the peaceful ambiance during the candle-lit three course dinner onboard your boat.
Hotel:
Cicada Lodge
Enjoy a leisurely start to your day or get up early to experience the National Park completely immersed in the mystical morning light. Travel north along the Stuart Highway stopping at Edith Falls along the way for a relaxing dip. Continue to Adelaide River War Cemetery. During WWII, Adelaide River was the headquarters to a large military base and a cemetery was created especially for those who gave their lives in the service and defence of their country. Your Inspiring Journey concludes on arrival in Darwin.
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START END 09 May 2024 ➔ 13 May 2024
SAVE: $392
WAS$3920
NOW $3528
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START END 06 Jun 2024 ➔ 10 Jun 2024
SAVE: $392
WAS$3920
NOW $3528
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
START END 20 Jun 2024 ➔ 24 Jun 2024
SAVE: $392
WAS$3920
NOW $3528
Availability: Available - Definite
Welcome to Darwin! This morning meet your Journey Director and board your luxury vehicle to begin your journey of discovery in the Top End. Travel across the Finniss River to Litchfield National Park. You'll visit tumbling Florence Falls and you'll also enjoy a swim to cool off at Wangi Falls, surrounded by tropical monsoon rainforest and hear about its importance in Aboriginal custom. (Swimming is seasonal and opening controlled by NT Parks). Get ready for a cross-country journey into the magnificent Kakadu National Park. Keep your eyes open for Crocodiles as you cross the South Alligator River, Brolgas, Magpie Geese and Jabiru as you traverse along the long grasses of the marshes and wetlands. Kakadu really is a diverse UNESCO world heritage site. This afternoon check into the renowned Crocodile Hotel in the town of Jabiru and enjoy the wonderful Aboriginal Art Gallery within the hotel before getting to know your fellow travellers over dinner with wine.
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
This morning there’s a chance to take to the air an optional scenic flight over Kakadu. One of the best ways to experience the enormity of this wonderful National Park as well as the diversity from waterfalls and billabongs to flood plains and wildlife. Join your Journey Director on a walk at Kakadu’s stunning Ubirr rock art site. You'll see ancient rock art and take a walk to discover remarkable views over the surrounding wetlands and escarpments from the fantastic vantage point, Nadab lookout. After lunch the famous Yellow Waters Billabong boat cruise will be a highlight of your journey. You will see a myriad of different bird species, spot estuarine crocodiles and simply enjoy the stunning billabong and floodplains system. Returning to your hotel you will have the chance to relax and unwind with a refreshing dip in the hotel’s shaded outdoor pool or even wander through the on-site art gallery before enjoying a delicious dinner with wine.
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
This morning you’ll visit Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) to see its fascinating Aboriginal rock art for yourself. You’ll also hear first-hand from your Journey Director a detailed interpretation of the art and the rich Aboriginal culture as you explore the various outdoor ‘galleries' with art that dates back some 20,000 years. You will continue driving through the ancient lands of Kakadu National Park through to the town of Katherine and further on to Nitmiluk National Park. Indulge in five-star luxury at Cicada Lodge, a stunning architect designed eco-lodge surrounded by nature, where each room has a private balcony that opens to the glories of Nitmiluk National Park. Cool off from the heat of the day while enjoy a swim in the pool as the sunsets before a beautiful dinner.
Hotel:
Cicada Lodge
This morning meet Dalabon didgeridoo expert Manuel Pamkal and share in his passion for the rich traditional culture into which he was born. Hear about life in the bush and experience first-hand the fine art of rarrk (cross-hatch) painting. Later, board a special dinner cruise on Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge and learn about the history and culture of the local Jawoyn people.
Hotel:
Cicada Lodge
Emerge from the wilderness to journey north on your return to Darwin, stopping to cool off in the cascading and clear waters of majestic Edith Falls. Later, visit the poignant Adelaide River War Cemetery.
Hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
After a morning flight to Alice Springs your Central Australia Journey Director will share with you their take on what life is like in such an isolated town as Alice Springs. Visit the historic Overland Telegraph Station, site of the first European settlement in the town. Then the stunning landscapes of the West MacDonnell Ranges take centre stage, as you embark on a walk through Simpsons Gap.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
Now we’re off the beaten track exploring the 4WD Giles Track, crossing dry river beds and outback landscapes to Kings Canyon Resort. Another unique Local Dining Experience, Under a Desert Moon, awaits you this evening. The flickering glow of the fire is the perfect accompaniment to sparkling wine and canapés followed by dinner, prepared from fresh produce and ingredients unique to the Australian outback.
Gaze across the deep chasm at the edge of Kings Canyon as you embark on a six-kilometre rim walk past the domed ‘Lost City’ and the luscious ‘Garden of Eden’. If you’d prefer a more relaxed walk you can stroll along the boulder-strewn canyon creek bed. Immerse yourself in First Nations' culture on a visit to the Wanmarra Aboriginal Community and learn about the Luritja and Pertame people’s spiritual connection to the land. Discover bush food and medicine used for spirituality and healing. Leaving Kings Canyon behind travel across desert landscapes to Curtin Springs Station, a vast farming property, for lunch. Afterwards, arrive at Ayers Rock Resort, your launchpad to Australia’s heart, in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This evening, watch as the outback sun bids a fiery farewell, the perfect backdrop for sparkling sundowners at Uluru
Hotel:
Sails in the Desert Hotel
Enjoy a relaxed start to the day before exploring, and learning about the spiritual connection the local Anangu caretakers have with the land. Skirt the red walls of Uluru, hear ancient tales and see rock art, when visiting the Mutitjulu Waterhole. Relax by the resort pool or take to the skies to see Uluru from above before an afternoon visit to Kata Tjuta for a walk through Walpa Gorge. This evening enjoy dinner at Ilkari Restaurant.
Hotel:
Sails in the Desert Hotel
Observe the shifting lights of Bruce Munro’s impressive Field of Light art installation as the desert awakens and the sunrise lights up across Uluru. Traverse the vast and fascinating outback, before arriving in Alice Springs. Enjoy free time to wander around the town. The Todd Street Mall has cafés and Aboriginal art galleries to explore. This evening, immerse yourself against the backdrop of the outback at our open-air bush BBQ Celebration Dinner. Located off the beaten track in the heart of the East MacDonnell Ranges, you'll enjoy drinks as a bush balladeer sings classic Australian songs and shares stories of outback living, under the Southern Hemisphere’s Milky Way.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
Relax this morning as your journey comes to an end. You might choose to take an optional hot air balloon ride to experience the scenic landscapes of the outback before your journey comes to an end.
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START END 09 May 2024 ➔ 19 May 2024
SAVE: $1195
WAS$8560
NOW $7365
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START END 06 Jun 2024 ➔ 16 Jun 2024
SAVE: $1195
WAS$8560
NOW $7365
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
At once cultured yet cool, Adelaide attracts foodies, historians and art aficionados in equal measure. Explore at your leisure, before meeting a local gourmand to tour the city’s legendary Central Market. This place has been selling cheese, green ant gin and artisan bread for 140-plus years, before joining your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Adelaide
One of Australia’s oldest wine regions, the Clare Valley is all rounded hills, rippling vines and native forest. It’s the postcard-perfect setting for historic Knappstein Enterprise Winery, producing sweet-scented rieslings and mineral-rich reds. The route north lands you at Hawker, the gateway to the Flinders Ranges, but there are plenty of reasons to linger, including well-preserved heritage buildings and the Jeff Morgan Gallery. The best is yet to come, as you arrive at Wilpena Pound Resort in the shadows of a staggering natural amphitheatre. Know that your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visit to the resort helps by contributing towards the sustainable economic future of the Adnyamathanha who in turn work with the resort to minimize the environmental footprint and participate in the conservation of the region.
Hotel:
Wilpena Pound Resort
The river red gums that envelop Hills Homestead will leave you lost for words. You get here on a leisurely walk along Wilpena Creek and continue to Wangarra Hill Lookout for views over the pound’s peaks and curves. The drama is echoed as you climb to Pichi Richi Pass and the historic town of Quorn, where with a Local Guide, you'll hear the importance of this town in the ANZAC's Gallipoli Campaign, before easing into Port Augusta.
Hotel:
Majestic Oasis Apartments
The main attraction in Woomera is a former rocket-testing site, today stocked with disused rockets and missiles. Speaking of space, you’ll think you’ve landed on the moon as you travel through sun-baked country to Coober Pedy, known as ‘the opal capital of the world’. Things get deep as you travel underground to visit the town’s head-scratching subterranean facilities.
Hotel:
Desert Cave Hotel
Emerge from your cave and cross the border into the Northern Territory. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has World Heritage status for a reason; under the gaze of the world’s mightiest monolith, toast the end of the day with a glass of bubbles and a camera full of sunset photos. Help protect the highlights of Australia's wilderness through your bucket list visit to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.
Hotel:
Desert Gardens
Pre-dawn wake-up calls are worth it when you get to enjoy a Red Centre sunrise. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience you’ll encounter the iconic Uluru, or ‘The Rock,’ half a billion years old, standing 348 meters high and taller than the Eiffel Tower. Marvel at the majesty of Uluru as you circumnavigate its base or join a guided walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole. This landscape takes you back to the beginning of time, a sacred place among the Anangu people. More soul-salving landscapes await at Kata Tjuta, cool relief provided as you walk amid its domes to Walpa Gorge.
Hotel:
Desert Gardens
Another sunrise excursion awaits, with this morning’s optional tour to Bruce Munro's Uluru Field of Light – a blanket of 50,000 glowing bulbs. Next chance to stretch your legs is at Kings Creek Station, the largest exporter of wild camels in Australia. All your senses will be activated at Kings Canyon, 440-million years in the making.
Hotel:
Kings Canyon Resort
Things are bigger in the NT outback, from the cattle stations to the MacDonnell Ranges, which stretch like a dinosaur spine toward Alice Springs. Aside from its plethora of Aboriginal galleries and art stores, Alice makes Australian history for her 1872 Telegraph Station, one of 12 along the Overland Telegraph Line between Adelaide and Darwin.
Hotel:
Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs
Aboriginal culture is strong in Alice, as you’ll fast find on a tour revealing the history of the Arrernte people at the Alice Springs Desert Park. The other thing that’s mighty is community spirit – it’s essential when there are so few people scattered over such a vast area of land. Enter the Royal Flying Doctor Service, its base a museum that goes behind the scenes of the life-saving health services delivered to people in remote realms. One of the benefits of being this far-flung is the lack of light pollution. And at Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre, this equates to epic stargazing. Your Be My Guest BBQ dinner here with the Falzon family is enlightening and uplifting.
Hotel:
Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs
1.3 million square kilometers – that’s the eye-watering distance the School of Air’s lessons are broadcast across daily. Learn how teachers interact with children who would otherwise have no access to education. It doesn’tmatter how studious you are, you might just believe in aliens when you pass Wycliffe Well, the self-proclaimed ‘UFO capital’ of Australia. It’s the devil (well, his marbles) that awaits at Karlu Karlu, where precariously balanced boulders appear superglued together.
Hotel:
Bluestone Motor Inn
Since the 1930s, the Daly Waters Historic Pub has been dishing up schnitzels, barramundi burgers and hearty steaks. The walls are lined with treasures that passers-by leave behind. ‘Land of the Never Never’ awaits at Mataranka. Visit a replica of the Elsey Homestead, used in 1982 Aussie drama We of the Never Never. Or wander palm-lined walkways to take a dip in the region’s thermal springs.
Hotel:
Contour Hotel Katherine
The Jawoyn have called Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge home for millennia. You can feel their presence as you cruise the waterway, home to more than a few resident crocs. They’ll make another appearance in Kakadu, when you explore Yellow Water Billabong. You don’t need binoculars to spot the sea eagles, brolgas and kingfishers; they’re everywhere you look.
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
Decisions, decisions: optional morning flight over Kakadu and Arnhem Land, or a sleep in. We vote for the former before you venture toward Ubirr and its ancient Aboriginal rock art. The night is yours in steamy Darwin, where the characters are as large as the shadows cast at sunset.
Hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
Nature rules today, your explorations into Litchfield National Park revealing magnetic termite mounds standing two metres tall. And then there are the waterfalls: Florence, for its dreamy cascades, and Wangi, where youcan cool off in a crystal-clear waterhole (swimming is seasonal). See the NT capital in a new light when you venture out on a Darwin Harbour Cruise, your sparkling wine glass full to toast your last evening on this epic adventure.
Hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
Time to bid adieu and head home to sort through all those photos. Even better are the memories; two weeks of wild outback adventures.
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SAVE: $1064
WAS$7095
NOW $6031
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
Darwin is the kind of place that excites all your senses. It’s always steamy, which means you have a constant glow. The aroma of tropical fruits wafts from markets. The horizons are wide and sunsets blazing. Take in sights and attractions that tell stories of the NT capital’s unexpected history on a city tour. As the day begins to disappear, follow the lead of the colourful locals to the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Your Travel Director will give you the lowdown, highlighting the eclectic range of cuisine on offer – expect everything from Greek to Japanese. What a tasty start to your getaway.
Hotel:
Travelodge Darwin Resort
The ancient landscapes of Litchfield National Park are shaped by water, as you’ll fast discover when exploring this immense protected wilderness. There are lakes and rivers, waterfalls and waterholes. Get set to visit Florence Falls, then take a dip in the gin-clear pool of Wangi Falls, this dreamy setting enveloped by monsoon forest. (Swimming is seasonal and opening is controlled by NT Parks). The landscape is also shaped by termites. The national park is pocked with enormous termite mounds, which are architectural feats complete with tunnels and nursery chambers. Small creatures with a big vision.
Hotel:
Contour Hotel Katherine
Join Manuel Pamkal, Aboriginal artist and prominent Katherine local, at his Top Didj Cultural Experience. You'll learn different techniques behind Aboriginal art styles, and hear about Manuel's life growing up near the King River. Katherine is a little bit tropical, a little bit outback, and a whole lot gorgeous. The region’s main attraction is its gaping Nitmiluk Gorge, which carves the countryside in spectacular form. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, your guides will share their knowledge of plants, animals, dreamtime stories and their culture. Sit back on your boat and enjoy a cruise through this ancient landscape, home to the Jawoyn people for millennia.
Hotel:
Contour Hotel Katherine
Today is your chance to reset your body’s natural rhythms with a morning dip in Edith Falls – because days are better when you begin them with your head under water. (Swimming is seasonal and is controlled by National Parks). This series of cascades in Nitmiluk National Park will set your pulse racing. Before venturing deep into Kakadu, you’re poised for refreshments with a short stopover in the film-set-like town of Pine Creek, where buildings date back to the heady gold rush days. In Kakadu, you’ll take a guided walk to view ancient Aboriginal rock art at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie).
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
If you want a different perspective, sign up for an optional scenic flight over the national park, revealing just how wide, wild and wonderful this part of the world really is. Australia is home to some of the oldest art in the world, and much of it decorates rock walls at Ubirr – this jaw-dropping site protects Aboriginal rock paintings and carvings dating back more than 20,000 years. If you thought that was impressive, wait till you see the view over Kakadu from the top of the escarpment. This afternoon, there’s nothing between you and nature, the dramatic escarpments, waterholes and abundant wildlife of Kakadu looming large. Speaking of large, there are saltwater crocs to spot while you drift away on a Yellow Water Billabong cruise. Your local guide will share the secrets of these ancient waterways. Top off your holiday sharing a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director and travel mates.
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
Following your Kakadu tour, you may also spot enormous ‘salties’ lurking in river crossings you pass by. Plus you may also see them at Fogg Dam. But here you will definitely witness a cacophony of birds. This really is a twitcher's paradise. A fitting (and slightly noisy) end to this epic wilderness journey.
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SAVE: $375
WAS$2499
NOW $2124
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
Get to know the steamy NT capital at your own pace – you’ll fast find that the characters here are almost as colourful as the sunsets. You’ll enjoy the latter over drinks and nibbles with your Travel Director and fellow adventure-seekers. A tasty entrée to your 11-day odyssey.
Hotel:
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
Today is about getting your Darwin bearings on a city tour revealing the events that have shaped the city over the decades, from wars to natural disasters. You’ll be a Darwin expert after visiting attractions like East Point Military Reserve and the MAGNT (Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory). The afternoon is at your leisure. If you’re at a loss for ideas, we can point you in the direction of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Facility, perhaps, or the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, loaded with 200+ stalls. Grab a bite and watch the day end with your feet in the sand.
Hotel:
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
Aboriginal culture is strong in this part of Australia, and its kept alive by Traditional Landowners on this morning’s tour. 100% Aboriginal owned and operated family business, Pudakul offers cultural and nature-based cultural experiences from the Adelaide River Flood Plains on Aboriginal owned land Limilngan-Wulna. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, dive deep into First Nations heritage, highlighting art, music and bush tucker. Your next deep dive is into the heart of Kakadu, a World Heritage listed national park that is one of Australia’s most important living ecosystems.
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
Kakadu is vast, spanning almost 20,000 square kilometres. The best way to gain appreciation for just how immense it really is from the air on an optional (but highly recommended) morning flight. Now that you have your bearings, take to the land to discover ancient Aboriginal rock art and cruise the wildlife-packed Yellow Water Billabong to search for enormous saltwater crocs – your eagle-eyed guide knows where to look. End your Kakadu tour on a high, watching the sun set over floodplains.
Hotel:
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
From one glorious national park to another… today’s backdrop is the end-of-Earth escarpments of Nitmiluk National Park, carved by rivers millions of years ago. Cruising through Nitmiluk Gorge is a humbling experience even before you know the region’s history. Small wonder freshwater crocs and all manner of birds call the cavern home.
Hotel:
Contour Hotel Katherine
If the Elsey Homestead looks familiar, that’s because it starred in the 1982 Aussie drama We of the Never Never. Today it’s better known for its Mataranka thermal hot springs. Pop on your swimsuit and have a soothing soak, the magical setting surrounded by palms. The only thing more refreshing is a cold beverage at the Daly Waters Pub, self-declared as Australia’s ‘original outback pub’. You can imagine the kind of swagger the locals bring. Visitors are encouraged to leave their mark as well; a memento, perhaps, or autograph on the walls.
Hotel:
Bluestone Motor Inn
The Stuart Highway is long (2,700 kilometres), very straight and very flat. Which makes the appearance of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) on the horizon all the more dramatic. These massive granite boulders pock the countryside. But they’re not just a pretty sight – they’re a sacred place for the Aboriginal community, created by the fossilised eggs of the Rainbow Serpent. Get the lay of the land atop Alice Springs’ Anzac Hill. From this vantage, the East and West MacDonnell Ranges appear to stretch to the horizon.
Hotel:
Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs
Sleep in, take to the skies in a hot-air balloon as the desert awakens, visit the Alice Springs Desert Park. It's home to a vast range of plants and wildlife native to the area. You can really experience the beauty and diversity of this incredible landscape. The Arrernte people, traditional owners of the park, are also on hand to share their local wisdom and knowledge. this morning is yours to spend as you choose. Save some energy for this afternoon’s visit to the historic Telegraph Station – the reason the town was formed – and School of the Air, to gain an insight into outback and remote learning.
Hotel:
Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs
From the moment you wake up until the last of day disappears, spiritual Aboriginal culture is all around on today’s Northern Territory tour. Get set to be in awe over Dreamtime stories about the creation of Uluru, the world’s largest monolith. It’s particularly pretty at sunset when the fading rays change the desert’s colour with every sip of your sparkling wine.
Hotel:
Outback Hotel & Lodge
There aren’t many things worth getting up in the dark for. Sunrise over Uluru is one. It’s a magical time of day, the shifting light casting the countryside aglow. Exploring the base of ‘the Rock’ on an Uluru tour, you’ll begin to understand why this part of the country is so special to the Anangu, who have called the region home for millennia. Go at your own pace this afternoon. We wouldn’t blame you for taking a dip in the resort pool to cool off. But if you want to see the monolith in another different light, opt to chopper around it on a scenic helicopter flight. Either way, you’ll have plenty of stories to tell over your Farewell Dinner.
Hotel:
Outback Hotel & Lodge
Another reason to rise early: to catch the (optional) Field of Light art installation by artist Bruce Munro that blankets the desert floor. Your spirit will glow just as brightly as you bid farewell to this epic Northern Territory tour.
You’re about to spend the next 10 days with a group of similarly minded adventure-seekers who will likely become best friends before you even leave tonight’s dinner venue. Break the ice over a few cool drinks and a suitably dazzling Broome sunset.
Hotel:
Cable Beach Club Resort
Multicultural Broome became a base for fortune-seekers the world over during its ‘pearl rush’. The pristine waters here grow great oysters, and the resulting pearls are prized by lovers of all things that gleam. Your day here is one of decisions. We wouldn’t blame you for simply enjoying Broome’s tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, discovering colourful Chinatown then following locals to the sand, or a beachside bar, to salute the end of a spectacular day in WA.
Hotel:
Cable Beach Club Resort
Preserved for 125 million years in the reef rock at Gantheaume Point are the imprints of long-extinct dinosaurs. Remarkably, the Broome coast has become one of the most significant paleontological sites in the world. Glimpse their stomping ground before venturing toward Fitzroy Crossing.
Hotel:
Fitzroy River Lodge
This morning stop at the spectacular Mimbi Caves to observe their delicate limestone formations, brilliantly vivid colours and icy cold, crystal clear freshwater pools that remain from the Devonian Great Barrier Reef that formed over 350 million years ago. Dive deep into First Nations culture on a visit to an art gallery, a community venue supporting Aboriginal creatives in the region.
Hotel:
Kimberley Hotel
The Argyle Diamond Mine was once the world’s largest producer of rare pink diamonds. While operations have ceased, you can still visit. Your First Nations guide will explain the Aboriginal significance. The Gibb River Road is the stuff road trip legends are made of. You’ll see why, your route to El Questro Wilderness Park coveringa few kilometres of the epic expanse.
Hotel:
Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities
The best way to wake up? With the sun streaming through your tent. The Kimberley’s sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River, a mecca for those who love a spot of barramundi fishing. Arriving at Chamberlain Gorge, your cruise chariot awaits. Jump aboard to feel very small indeed, your boat dwarfed by soaring 65-metre escarpments. When it’s time to cool down, take a dip in the resort pool or at a waterhole within Emma Gorge.
Hotel:
Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities
Discover how Kununurra’s Hoochery Distillery makes its lip-smacking rums and whiskys. Try a tasting paddle to get your heart started or sit down to a slice of rum cake - morning tea sorted. Kununurra only exists because of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Farming pioneers came here to establish vast cattle stations, the life of one family is chronicled at the Durack Homestead Museum, which you’ll visit before enjoying sunset while cruising the Ord River.
Hotel:
The Kimberley Grande
How active and adventurous do you want today to be? Rise early for a bird’s-eye view of the beehive-like Bungle Bungles on a scenic flight, or stay grounded on a 4WD tour through the national park. Otherwise lace up your walking shoes and wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park, known as the ‘mini-Bungles’ for its rocky resemblance.
Hotel:
The Kimberley Grande
Say goodbye to WA and hello to the NT. Locals come with plenty of country swagger, as you’ll discover when you meet the horseman and award-winning musician Tom Curtain for an afternoon of knee-slappin’ fun on a cattle station. Tom is larger than life, and entertains crowds through songs and bush stories. The ultimate way to discover life on the land.
Hotel:
Contour Hotel Katherine
Nature reigns supreme at Nitmiluk National Park bordering Kakadu. This is Jawoyn land, and a place where you’ll feel your spirit soar. Particularly when you’re cruising through dramatic Nitmiluk Gorge, your boat the only sound in this enormous chasm. The balmy Darwin climate sets the pace for your final city tour: relaxed. Discover the city’s architecture and learn about the events that have shaped life.
Hotel:
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
Eleven days. Countless adventures. A bunch of new friends. And a renewed appreciation for the wild side of Australia. What a journey.
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START END 07 Jun 2024 ➔ 17 Jun 2024
SAVE: $1061
WAS$7075
NOW $6014
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
START END 14 Jun 2024 ➔ 24 Jun 2024
SAVE: $707
WAS$7075
NOW $6368
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
The balmy Darwin climate sets the pace for your city tour: relaxed. Things don’t happen in a hurry here. Even the fiery sunsets seem to linger. You’ll catch one later, but first an orientation tour to meet locals, discover the city’s architecture and learn about the events that have shaped life, from Cyclone Tracy to WWII when the Northern Territory capital was bombed. Now it’s time to watch the day disappear and meet your fellow adventure seekers for a Welcome Dinner.
Hotel:
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
As you begin your travels south, yet more reminders of the impact of WWII line the banks of the Adelaide River, where the headquarters of a military base once stood. Then nature takes over at Nitmiluk National Park bordering Kakadu. This is Jawoyn land, and a place where you’ll feel your spirit soar. Particularly when you’re cruising through dramatic Nitmiluk Gorge, your boat the only sound in this enormous chasm. There’s no time to catch your breath – you’re off to meet larger-than-life character Tom Curtain on a cattle station, where he entertains crowds through song and stories.
Hotel:
Contour Hotel Katherine
Say goodbye to the NT and hello to WA, your introduction to the state the unexpected delights of Kununurra. It’s in the middle of nowhere, and only exists because of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Before it was a twinkle on the map, farming pioneers came here to establish vast cattle stations. The life of one family is chronicled at the Durack Homestead Museum, which you’ll visit before enjoying yet another sunset, this time cruising the Ord River and Lake Argyle. Some experiences burn into your memory.
Hotel:
Kununurra Country Club Resort
How active and adventurous do you want today to be? Rise early to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the beehive-like rock formations of the Bungle Bungles on an optional scenic flight or stay grounded on a 4WD tour through the national park. Otherwise, lace up your walking shoes and wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park, known as the ‘mini-Bungles’ for its rocky resemblance.
Hotel:
Kununurra Country Club Resort
It’s not every day that you get to go behind the scenes of a rum distillery with the family that owns it. Discover how Hoochery Distillery makes its lip-smacking, award-winning rums and whiskys. Try a tasting paddle to get your heart started or sit down to a slice of rum cake – morning tea sorted. The Gibb River Road is the stuff road trip legends are made of. You’ll see why, your route to El Questro Wilderness Park covering a few kilometres of the epic expanse. Now exhale – your safari-style tents for the night are surrounded by an oasis of pandanus and palms.
Hotel:
Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities
The best way to wake up? With the sun streaming through your tent, wildlife all around. The Kimberley’s sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River, a mecca for those who love a spot of barramundi fishing. Arriving at Chamberlain Gorge, an enormous fresh waterhole, your cruise chariot awaits. Jump aboard to feel very small indeed, your boat dwarfed by soaring 65-metre escarpments. When it’s time to cool down, take an afternoon dip, whether in the resort pool or at a waterhole within Emma Gorge. Take your pick.
Hotel:
Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities
Until recently, the Argyle Diamond Mine was the world’s largest producer of rare, and dazzling, pink diamonds. While operations have ceased, you can still visit and go behind the scenes. Your Aboriginal guide will not only point out where the magic once happened, but also explain the significance of this land. Equally important to Aboriginal communities is the Great Sandy Desert, which Halls Gap perches on the edge of. This place is small in population, but big in personality.
Hotel:
Kimberley Hotel
Travelling towards Fitzroy Crossing dive into First Nations culture at an Aboriginal Art Gallery. Before arriving at your accommodation, visit the spectacular Mimbi caves to observe their delicate limestone formations, brilliantly vivid colours and icy cold, crystal clear freshwater pools that remain from the Devonian Great Barrier Reef that formed over 350 million years ago. Following the tour enjoy Billy Tea and damper, made the traditional way, while listening to songs and the Gooniyandi Dreaming story.
Hotel:
Fitzroy River Lodge
Among the most multicultural cities in Australia, Broome became a base for fortune-seekers the world over during its ‘pearl rush’. The pristine waters here grow great oysters, and the resulting pearls are prized by lovers of all things that gleam. A city tour will give you your bearings. Then it’s time to settle in for Broome’s other attraction: its sunsets. Follow locals to the sand or find a perch in a beachside bar to salute the end of another spectacular day in WA.
Hotel:
Cable Beach Club Resort
A day of decisions. Head north to feel the full force of nature on an optional scenic flight over (or heart-starting cruise through) the magical Horizontal Falls. You can also enlist to do both. Or simply enjoy Broome’s tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, hunting for dinosaur footprints and browsing the pearl boutiques in town. It’s hard to resist a purchase; even harder when you go straight to the source at a pearl farm, to see how they’re harvested.
Hotel:
Cable Beach Club Resort
Eleven days, countless memories, a bunch of new friends… you’ll leave Broome with your travel wanderlust ignited.
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START END 28 May 2024 ➔ 07 Jun 2024
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WAS$7075
NOW $6368
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
START END 25 Jun 2024 ➔ 05 Jul 2024
SAVE: $1061
WAS$7075
NOW $6014
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
The WA capital is colourful in more ways than one. There are alleys lined with eye-popping street art, and wildflowers blanket Kings Park. Discover the sights, then meet your fellow adventurers at a Welcome Dinner.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Perth
Talk about starting on a high. First stop is Yanchep National Park, where, on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, your Aboriginal guide decodes native plants and tells Dreamtime stories. Just as scene-stealing are Nambung National Park’s Pinnacles, limestone structures jutting into the sky. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to sailors lost during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial.
Hotel:
Mantra Geraldton
Prepare yourself for the ‘living fossils’ at Hamelin Pool, home to the most abundant colony of stromatolites in the world. The state’s World Heritage listed Shark Bay is also characterised by Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells.
Hotel:
Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort
If you didn’t fall in love with the gin-clear waters and powdery sand of Monkey Mia last night, you will today. Meet the dolphins that turn up to the shore every morning, then spend the afternoon at leisure. Optional sunset cruise, perhaps? Or a scenic flight over the bay?
Hotel:
Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort
Did you know the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum played a role in the 1969 moon landing, and was instrumental in the space race? Your visit here is interactive, so prepare to try on space suits and climb aboard a supercraft simulator.
Hotel:
Best Western Hospitality Inn Carnarvon
Today’s cruise in a glass-bottomed boat allows you to glimpse the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast in comfort. Gliding around Coral Bay, your guide will point out colourful corals, turtles and angelic fish.
Hotel:
Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort
Depending on the time of year, Ningaloo Reef is home to both whale sharks and humpbacks. You can opt to snorkel with both (ethically) or book a sunset cruise to see some breaching and blowing, sparkling wine in hand.
Hotel:
Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort
A frontier like no other, Karijini is where gorges seem to cleave off the edge of the Earth, waterfalls tumble from escarpments and remote turquoise rock pools shimmer like precious gems. Expect dazzling stargazing from your safari tent.
Hotel:
Karijini Eco Retreat
It took billions of years to create Karijini’s geological wonders: the red layered cliffs, the quiet gorges, the soaring gum trees and distinctive termite mounds. If you packed your swimsuit, cooling off under waterfalls comes highly recommended.
Hotel:
Karijini Eco Retreat
The Pilbara is sparsely populated, but you will find people in Port Hedland. There are plenty of local characters to meet over dinner at your hotel.
Hotel:
Hospitality Port Hedland
The reason Broome was born is because of pearls. Today, it’s just as well known for its Indian Ocean sunsets, best enjoyed from a vantage on the Cable Beach sand.
Hotel:
Cable Beach Club Resort
Today is yours to explore. Stay in town and shop for pearls, wander the coast on the lookout for dinosaur footprints. Or simply enjoy Broome’s tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach.
Hotel:
Cable Beach Club Resort
Preserved for 125 million years in the reef rock at Gantheaume Point are the imprints of long-extinct dinosaurs. Remarkably, the Broome coast has become one of the most significant paleontological sites in the world. Glimpse their stomping ground before venturing toward Fitzroy Crossing.
Hotel:
Fitzroy River Lodge
This morning stop at the spectacular Mimbi Caves to observe the delicate limestone formations, brilliantly vivid colours and icy cold, crystal clear freshwater pools that remain from the Devonian Great Barrier Reef that formed over 350 million years ago. Dive deep into First Nations culture on a visit to an art gallery, a community venue supporting Aboriginal creatives in the region.
Hotel:
Kimberley Hotel
While the Argyle Diamond Mine has stopped producing rare pink diamonds, you can still visit with an Aboriginal guide. From here you’re on the epic Gibb River Road to El Questro Wilderness Park.
Hotel:
Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities
The Kimberley’s sounds follow you to Chamberlain Gorge, your boat dwarfed by its soaring escarpments. Afternoon remedy? A splash in the pool, perhaps, or a dip in the waterhole within Emma Gorge. Take your pick.
Hotel:
Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities
Kununurra was born through the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. It now waters crops like sugarcane, turned into lip-smacking rum at Hoochery Distillery. A sunset cruise here is something you won’t forget in a hurry.
Hotel:
The Kimberley Grande
Today is one of decisions: An optional flight over (or 4WD tour of) the Bungle Bungles? Or a wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park.
Hotel:
The Kimberley Grande
NT locals come with plenty of country swagger, as you’ll discover when you meet award-winning musician Tom Curtain for an afternoon of knee-slappin’ songs and stories on a cattle station.
Hotel:
Contour Hotel Katherine
Nature rules at Nitmiluk National Park, where you cruise through dramatic Nitmiluk Gorge. Your northern sojourn reveals the region’s historic events, all the way to Darwin.
Hotel:
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
It’s hard to believe this epic adventure has come to an end. Three weeks of incredible memories to take home with you.
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START END 04 Jun 2024 ➔ 24 Jun 2024
SAVE: $1259
WAS$12590
NOW $11331
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
Get set for a good dose of coastal drama today as you journey north from Freo all the way to Geraldton. But before you get there, pause in Yanchep National Park, a union of bush and wetlands that is as spectacular as it is sacred. The best way to understand its significance to First Nations communities is in the company of an Aboriginal guide. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, there are Dreamtime stories and didgeridoo playing, and hands-on learning with traditional tools. Just try not to leave more informed than when you arrived. Two national parks in one day – your next stop is Nambung. We’ll forgive you for thinking you’ve been transported to the set of a sci-fi movie when you arrive at this moonscape, studded with limestone pillars stretching into the sky. Welcome to The Pinnacles. Arriving in Geraldton, more moving moments await at the evocative HMAS Sydney Memorial.
Hotel:
Mantra Geraldton
Shark Bay is one of the planet’s greatest wilderness areas – if you don’t believe us, chat to UNESCO about the World Heritage listing they gave this pocket of WA. A window in time and a wildlife refuge, it’s all powdery white coves and gin-clear waters that naturally attract a plethora of wildlife. This afternoon, take in the bounty at your own pace, perhaps on a sunset cruise to spot sea creatures great and small, or from the air, where your bird’s-eye view reveals just how wide and wonderful the coast really is. Come dusk, be sure to find an oceanside perch and a cold beverage. Cheers to the end of another amazing day in WA.
Hotel:
Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort
If you need a reason to be up with the birds, make the dolphins of Monkey Mia it. These wild bottlenoses swim to shore every morning to greet visitors before heading off to surf the waves. It’s a hard act to follow. But then again, so is Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells that pile up to 10 metres deep. Hamelin Pool is home to the world’s largest colony of stromatolites. They appear rock-like, but are actually living, and they date back to the beginning of life on Earth. Talk about putting things into perspective. We hope you brought your stamina – there’s more to come. Kalbarri National Park was carved by the Murchison River millions of years ago. The gorge that remains is particularly pretty during wildflower season, when acacia, banksia and caladenia are in dazzling bloom.
Hotel:
Kalbarri Edge Resort
If you thought you’d seen it all, wait until Hutt Lagoon appears on the horizon. One of Western Australia’s eye-popping pink lakes, this body of highly salty water changes hue at different times of the year – sometimes it’s bubblegum, often it’s lilac, occasionally it’s red. It’s always incredible. What a blazing way to end your WA stay. But wait, you still have a Farewell Dinner and drinks with your new friends. Don’t forget to exchange email addresses.
Hotel:
Holiday Inn West Perth
Short and sweet, we hope your journey inspired extended West Australian wanderlust.
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Availability:
START END 29 May 2024 ➔ 02 Jun 2024
SAVE: $221
WAS$2215
NOW $1994
Availability: Limited Seats - Definite
The ‘City of Churches’ is, it turns out, also the honorary ‘City of Food’. You only need to wander around the Adelaide Central Market to discover a smorgasbord of local produce. If you have the time to explore slightly further afield, it’s a short drive to the orchards, vineyards and cheesemongers of the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa. Plenty of tasty reasons to arrive early in the South Australian capital. Meet your fellow adventurers this evening with a drink at your hotel.
Hotel:
HotelMotel Adelaide
This morning, embark on a city sights tour before discovering the pretty-as-a-picture Fleurieu Peninsula, the gateway to all manner of wild and wonderful destinations. Not in the least Kangaroo Island, accessed via the Cape Jervis ferry, cruising south over the Great Australian Bight bound for Penneshaw. Bubbling with excitement to arrive on KI? So is Mike, your host at Kangaroo Island Brewery. This is no ordinary brew-house – Mike makes all his beers using rainwater he collects from the roof of his shed. Try a paddle of his liquid gold, or sip wine and cider while chatting with your affable host.
Hotel:
Aurora Ozone Hotel, Executive Rooms
Today mingles wilderness, wildlife and wonderful food in equal measure. Your outlook begins on a high at the Remarkable Rocks. Formed some 500 million years ago, the precariously balanced, rust-hued granite boulders cut a dramatic form against the inky blue of the Southern Ocean and silvery shrubs that cover the countryside. Your outlook is just as wild at Admirals Arch, a natural rock formation within Flinders Chase National Park, and a popular hangout for cacophonous New Zealand fur seals. The colony loll about on just about every surface you can see. They’re petite compared to the creatures found at Seal Bay, where playful seals tumble down the sand to splash about in the water – metres from where you stand. And onto that food and drink. After a two-course lunch at Vivonne Bay Bistro, Peter at Island Beehive will dish up samples of the honey (and delicious honey ice-cream) he makes here using Ligurian bees. They’re found on KI, and nowhere else in Australia. Meanwhile, the owners of Islander Estate Vineyard will pour you a glass or two and talk through the production of their wines.
Hotel:
Aurora Ozone Hotel, Executive Rooms
One of the reason bees are so happy on Kangaroo Island is because they have an immense floral bounty to buzz over at Emu Bay Lavender Farm. Maria and Tony have been tending the land for two decades, and today grow 10 varieties of this fragrant flower. They turn it into all kinds of products, from soaps and beauty products to ice-cream, jam and scones. Dig in. Before you leave the island, follow your nose to Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery. If Australia was an aroma, this would be it. Pick up essential oils, body creams, sweets honey and soaps, and taste their cider. Then bliss out knowing that anything you eat or use not only tastes and smells great, but also has therapeutic properties. Back in Adelaide, relax this afternoon before joining your fellow foodies for a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel:
HotelMotel Adelaide
Bags a few kilos heavier thanks to all that honey, lavender and eucalyptus, it’s time to bid farewell to Adelaide and Australia’s second-largest (but perhaps most beguiling) island.
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NOW $2048
Availability: Available - Definite
Settle into your hotel on the banks of the Yarra River and meet your Travel Director for a welcome reception and dinner at the South Wharf riverside pub, The General Assembly restaurant. It's a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a unique setting.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Join your Travel Director for a city sights tour that includes a private walk through Melbourne's famous hidden laneways. You'll discover the city's eclectic little lanes, arcades, café society and fascinating street art. There's time afterwards to explore the city on your own. Or, consider an optional experience to Phillip Island to see the nightly ritual of the Penguin Parade. Or simply relax and watch the world go by.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
If you’re still getting your Melbourne bearings, linger in town to explore boutiques, galleries, and eclectic suburbs. But if it’s time to venture further afield, you might want to sign up to discover the Great Ocean Road, a stretch of coastline that deserves its reputation as one of the most scenic touring routes in the world.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Some parts of Australia are so remote that the only way kids can get an education is remotely via the School of the Air. Your next stop is the birthplace of the Alice Springs township, the historic Telegraph Station. Being this far flung also means there’s no light pollution from cars or skyscrapers. The result? Unrivalled stargazing (and a BBQ feast) with the Falzon family at their eco-oriented Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre.
Hotel:
Mercure Alice Springs Resort
The rusty red landscapes of Uluru beckon as you leave Alice Springs for Ayers Rock Resort, your backdrop this afternoon is the world's largest rock monolith. Follow your guide to the perfect perch to capture Uluru as the last of the day disappears, glass of bubbles in hand (of course).
Hotel:
Desert Gardens
The only reason to get out of bed before dawn? For a magical Uluru sunrise. It's a spiritual place with stories of the Anangu, caretakers of this remote arid landscape revealed while you tour the base. The red desert follows you to Kata Tjuta, where nature humbles as you walk through the towering domes of this ancient rock formation. Cheers to the end of another amazing day.
Hotel:
Desert Gardens
So the other reason to get up early is to view artist Bruce Munro’s installation Field of Light at dawn – 50,000 glowing spindles of light blanketing the desert. An Anangu artist will explain just what makes it so spiritual over an introduction to Western Desert art, introducing totems and symbols important to the region and represented in paintings and installations. Head to your next stop in tropical Cairns.
Hotel:
Hilton Hotel Cairns
Cruising with crocs, a scenic railway ride into World Heritage listed rainforest, a wander along the Cairns Esplanade? Today the choice is yours. Celebrate the end of an incredible day at dinner on Cairns’ waterfront at Salt House for regional seafood plucked straight from the ocean, highlighting fresh, local ingredients, and prepared on their custom-built Argentinian wood fired grill.
Hotel:
Hilton Hotel Cairns
The world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef, never fails to dazzle. Set out on a catamaran to explore this natural wonder of over 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents. Strap on a snorkel or visit an underwater observatory and semi-submersible craft to take in the menagerie without getting your hair wet. A tropical buffet lunch is served on board before returning to Cairns.
Hotel:
Hilton Hotel Cairns
Touch down in Australia’s largest city, with a harbour you could gaze at all day long. And all night. Freshen up, and do just that – at your leisure.
Hotel:
InterContinental Hotel Sydney
Bring your stamina: today is one of innumerable highlights. Go behind the scenes at the Sydney Opera House, discovering its architectural and performance secrets. If these sails could talk. Then see the city from the water on a Sydney Harbour Highlight Lunch Cruise enjoying a menu focusing on local food and wine. One icon to another: The world’s most famous beach beckons this afternoon, with your chance to pad along the sand at Bondi with Sydney’s beautiful people.
Hotel:
InterContinental Hotel Sydney
Now you’ve found your bearings in Sydney, why not linger around the harbour – perhaps it’s time to glimpse it from above on a Sydney BridgeClimb? Tonight a Highlight Dinner back in the shadow of the Opera House at Midden restaurant.
Hotel:
InterContinental Hotel Sydney
All you have to do today is sit back and enjoy the view as you cross the Tasman to embark on your next adventure.
We’ll take you out to Mission Bay and Bastion Point – have your camera poised – and then leave you to your own devices in the afternoon.
Get up close with NZ's national bird, the endangered kiwi, at a working nursery and hatchery. See how breeding programs help sustain the population. Then, immerse yourself in the Te Pā Tū Māori Experience, celebrating Māori history, traditions and future aspirations celebrated over forest kai horotai (seasonal canapes) with chef choice aperitif, and a delicious three-course meal.
Hotel:
Millennium Hotel, Rotorua
You're invited to an exclusive Be My Guest morning tea at the Red Barn on a working dairy farm in the Waikato district. Expect country banter and have a go at the forgotten art of butter churning. The feel-good vibes that endure will follow you all the way to Queenstown, the self-proclaimed adventure capital of New Zealand. It makes perfect sense – there are ski fields, white-water river, and bridges strapped with bungy cords wherever you turn. And then there’s the dining scene; whether you’re in the mood for bulging burgers or lakeside tapas, ask us for recommendations on this leg of your Queenstown New Zealand tour.
Hotel:
Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
Sheer cliffs, thundering waterfalls, glaciers and rainforest – if there’s a destination more inspiring than Milford Sound/Piopiotahi in Fiordland National Park, we’re yet to find it. After a cruise here, we’re sure you’ll agree.
Hotel:
Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
Today is all yours. Regroup for a Highlight Dinner at the historic Postmasters Cottage.
Hotel:
Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
Arrowtown, known for its charm, and Cromwell, for its stone fruit. Arriving at Lake Tekapo, you’re far from anywhere. Which practically guarantees dazzling stargazing in the UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Hotel:
Peppers Bluewater Resort
Get an early start to watch the sun rise over the lake or sleep in before heading north through South Canterbury to Christchurch. Take in the sights of a city coming back to life in a whole new way.
Hotel:
Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Travel to Hurunui Hills, a hill-country farm in North Canterbury. Enjoy warm Kiwi hospitality with the Bamford Family. Soak up the stunning scenery while you enjoy morning tea, meet the farm animals, and discover what it is like to live off the land on this unique By My Guest experience. Then visit a local vineyard, Waipara Springs Winery, where it's time to relax over a platter-style lunch among the vines. A big day leads to a big evening, joining your Travel Director for with a celebratory Farewell Dinner.
Hotel:
Distinction Christchurch Hotel
How did three weeks disappear like that? Re-live all the memorable moments on your way home.
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Availability:
START END 23 Jun 2024 ➔ 14 Jul 2024
SAVE: $1113
WAS$14105
NOW $12992
Availability: Available - Definite
Prices are per person in USD based on Adult Twin Share. Child Price and Single Price may be available.
Tour Code | Tour Name | No. of days | Departure Date | Saving PP* | Original Price | Discounted Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | ||||||
CRAA | Outback Contrasts | 6 | 11 Jun 2024 | $640 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$4265 | $3625 |
MNDD | Kakadu's Ancient Secrets | 5 | 09 May 2024 | $392 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$3920 | $3528 |
MNDD | Kakadu's Ancient Secrets | 5 | 06 Jun 2024 | $392 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$3920 | $3528 |
MNDD | Kakadu's Ancient Secrets | 5 | 20 Jun 2024 | $392 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$3920 | $3528 |
MNCR | Northern Territory Dreaming | 11 | 09 May 2024 | $1195 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$8560 | $7365 |
MNCR | Northern Territory Dreaming | 11 | 06 Jun 2024 | $1195 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$8560 | $7365 |
NAAD | Outback Adventure | 15 | 11 Jun 2024 | $1064 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$7095 | $6031 |
NDKD | Top End Highlights | 6 | 23 May 2024 | $375 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$2499 | $2124 |
NDAU | Northern Territory Explorer | 11 | 08 May 2024 | $733 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$4885 | $4152 |
NDAU | Northern Territory Explorer | 11 | 19 Jun 2024 | $733 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$4885 | $4152 |
WBD | Wonders of the Kimberley | 11 | 07 Jun 2024 | $1061 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$7075 | $6014 |
WBD | Wonders of the Kimberley | 11 | 14 Jun 2024 | $707 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$7075 | $6368 |
WDB | Untamed Kimberley | 11 | 28 May 2024 | $707 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$7075 | $6368 |
WDB | Untamed Kimberley | 11 | 25 Jun 2024 | $1061 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$7075 | $6014 |
WPBD | Wonders of the West Coast & Kimberley | 21 | 04 Jun 2024 | $1259 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$12590 | $11331 |
WPMP | Monkey Mia Dolphins & West Coast | 5 | 29 May 2024 | $221 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$2215 | $1994 |
SAKI | Remarkable Adelaide to Kangaroo Island | 5 | 12 May 2024 | $227 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$2275 | $2048 |
Australia and New Zealand | ||||||
IMZB | Highlights of Australia & New Zealand | 22 | 23 Jun 2024 | $1113 (AUNZ ON SALE) |
$14105 | $12992 |
Prices are correct as of 02/05/2024 4:07pm
Save on selected AAT Kings tours (the land tour cost, not air/flights) with Last Minute Deals. Offer valid for select travel departures where stated on our website. Full payment is due 60 days before departure for land only bookings and 90 days before departure for land incl flights/trains, to be eligible for the discount, whichever date comes first stated in your booking conditions. The offer is not combinable with any other discounts. Discounts are subject to availability at the time of booking, with limited seats available. Offers may be withdrawn at any time without notice. For new bookings only. Excludes group and charter bookings. Other standard booking conditions apply. Full booking terms and conditions can be found on our website at aatkings.com/booking-conditions. Contact your travel agent or speak to our experts for more details. Updated Dec 11, 2023.
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Save on selected AAT Kings tours (the land tour cost, not air/flights) with Last Minute Deals. Offer valid for select travel departures where stated on our website. Full payment is due 60 days before departure for land only bookings and 90 days before departure for land incl flights/trains, to be eligible for the discount, whichever date comes first stated in your booking conditions. The offer is not combinable with any other discounts. Discounts are subject to availability at the time of booking, with limited seats available. Offers may be withdrawn at any time without notice. For new bookings only. Excludes group and charter bookings. Other standard booking conditions apply. Full booking terms and conditions can be found on our website at aatkings.com/booking-conditions. Contact your travel agent or speak to our experts for more details. Updated Dec 11, 2023.
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