11D Northern Territory Dreaming

Meet your Journey Director and begin your journey of discovery in the Top End. Travel across the Finniss River to Litchfield National Park. Visit tumbling Florence Falls and enjoy a swim to cool off at Wangi Falls, surrounded by tropical monsoon rainforest and hear about its importance in Aboriginal custom. Get ready for a cross-country journey into the magnificent Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. 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.

From waterfalls and billabongs to flood plains and wildlife, you may choose to experience the enormity of the Kakadu National Park with an optional scenic flight. Join your Journey Director on a walk at Kakadu’s stunning Ubirr rock art site and admire the ancient rock art. Discover remarkable views over the surrounding wetlands and escarpments from the fantastic vantage point, Nadab lookout. Enjoy the stunning billabong and floodplains system as you spot a myriad of different bird species and estuarine crocodiles on the famous Yellow Waters Billabong boat cruise.

Start your day with a visit to Nourlangie to see its fascinating Aboriginal rock art for yourself. Hear from your Journey Director first-hand 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. Continue through the ancient lands of Kakadu National Park through to the town of Katherine and further on to Nitmiluk National Park.

Get welcomed with a traditional welcoming tune played on the didgeridoo by Manuel Pamkal, a Dalabon man born and raised immersed in the rich traditional culture. Listen to his stories of growing up in the bush and learn about the fine art of rarrk painting using a special brush from a reed called Julk. Thereafter, call up the inner artist within you and paint your own masterpiece to take home! Lunch will be enjoyed back on the deck of Cicada Lodge overlooking the natural surrounding and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. In the evening, indulge in a special sunset dinner cruise along the Katherine River as you marvel at the gorges, spot wildlife, and learn about the history and culture of the local Jawoyn people.

Enjoy a lay in or get up early to enjoy the National Park completely immersed in the mystical morning light. Travel north along the Stuart Highway stopping at the gorgeous Edith Falls for a relaxing dip and some lunch. Continue to Adelaide River War Cemetery. During WWII, Adelaide River was the headquarters to a large military base and a large cemetery was created especially for those who gave their lives in the service and defence of their country.

After a morning flight to Alice Springs your Journey Director will share their take on what life is like in this isolated Australian town. 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 at your accommodation.

Head off the beaten track and explore along the 4WD Giles Track crossing driver riverbeds and outback landscapes to Kings Canyon Resort. The flickering glow of this evening’s fire under the canopy of a starry southern hemisphere sky is the perfect accompaniment to your degustation dinner.

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. Leave Kings Canyon behind and wander across desert landscapes to Curtin Springs Station, a vast farming property, for lunch. 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. End the day with included sparkling sundowners while overlooking Uluru and watching the outback sun as it bids a fiery farewell.

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, see rock art, and then visit Mutitjulu Waterhole. Consider taking to the skies with an optional experience to see Uluru from above before an afternoon visit to Kata Tjuta for a walk through Walpa Gorge.

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 outback to Alice Springs and have some free time to wander around the town. Consider exploring the cafés at Todd Street Mall and Aboriginal art galleries. This evening, head off the beaten track into the heart of the East MacDonnell Ranges where you’ll enjoy an open-air bush BBQ Dinner and drinks as a bush balladeer sings classic Australian songs and shares stories of outback living, under the Southern Hemisphere’s Milky Way.

Spend the day at leisure. You can consider taking an optional hot air balloon ride to experience the scenic landscapes of the outback one more time before your journey comes to an end.