13 Day Melbourne to Alice Springs
Marvel at our coast lines, bed down at outback station, explore Aboriginal culture, catch the magnificent colours of Uluru at sunset and explore the Red Centre.
Rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park. Coast the Great Ocean Road. Evening walks in Grampians National Park. Clare Valley wine tasting. Sleep underground at Coober Pedy. Champagne sunset viewing of Uluru and hikes at Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Kings Canyon.
|
Includes:
|
|
Itinerary
See MapDay 1 Melbourne
Arrive in Melbourne at any time. There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city. Please try to arrive before 7pm for an important group welcome meeting where you can meet the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members. If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city take in the 'cultural capital of Australia'.
Day 2 Great Ocean Road/Port Campbell (1B)
Depart early morning for the journey to Port Campbell. Check out the famous surf town of Torquay, Bells Beach and Lorne en route. Make a stop at Great Otway National Park for an included rainforest walk. Explore the scenic attractions of the Great Ocean Road including the picturesque Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
Estimated travel time: 5 hoursTravel distance: 300 km
Day 3 Grampians National Park (1B,1D)
Start the day visiting more attractions of the Great Ocean road including The Arch and the now broken London Bridge. Visit Tower Hill National Park for a chance to see animals endemic to Australia such as koalas, emus and kangaroos. Visit an Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the significance of the area to the indigenous people. End the day depending on the time with an evening walk in the Grampians National Park before staying overnight in Halls Gap.
Estimated travel time: 3 hoursTravel distance: 260 km
Day 4 Mt Gambier (1B,1D)
Early start to explore more of Grampians National Park. Walk to the stunning Jaws of Death Balconies, visit Mc Kenzie's Falls, and travel onto the country town of Mount Gambier. We stay at a refurbished old English jail for the night where you can take a self-guided tour around this historic site.
Estimated travel time: 4 hoursTravel distance: 310 km
Day 5 Adelaide (1B)
Stop off at Blue Lake before travelling to Coorong National Park. This park is stunning because of its dune systems, lagoons, coastal vegetation and variety of bird life. Participate in a number of short walks to appreciate the scenery before heading on to Adelaide for the night. An optional group dinner gives you a chance to sample local cuisine and wines from the region.
Estimated travel time: 4 hoursTravel distance: 330 km
Day 6 Flinders Ranges (1B,1D)
Early departure this morning. 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. South Australia has earned its place as one of the top wine regions in the world. A stop at Quorn Historic town provides a nice chance to explore before going to a sheep station for the night.
Estimated travel time: 4 hoursTravel distance: 350 km
Day 7 Outback (1B,1L,1D)
Take the day to explore the amazing scenery of Flinders Ranges. Wilpena Pound is a stunning natural amphitheater of mountains. Visit Aboriginal Art sites while on a guided tour of the area by your CEO. Your CEO will explain about the early settler history before settling in at Beltana Homestead for the night.
Estimated travel time: 1 hourTravel distance: 50 km
Day 8 William Creek (1B,1L,1D)
We follow the Oodnadatta Track, strewn with ruins of failed early settler activity, along the route of the equally unsuccessful original Ghan Railway route. Stop to explore a number of historic settler sites along the way. Visit the Arabunna Aboriginal Centre to learn about the importance of the area to indigenous people. Visit the dry salt lake of Lake Eyre and take a dip in the remote thermal springs. Overnight at the Historic William Creek Hotel. Due to the size of the town the accommodations here are rather basic.
Estimated travel time: 3 hoursTravel distance: 200 km
Day 9 Coober Pedy (1B)
Travel a very basic track 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. Overnight like the locals by sleeping in an underground hostel, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Estimated travel time: 3 hoursTravel distance: 150 km
Day 10-11 Uluru (2B,1L,1D)
Cross the border to the Northern Territory, where Australia's most iconic view awaits. 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. If you would like a bit more coverage, tents are also available.
The next morning, awake before sunrise to do the Mala Walk around part of the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock) while learning its significance to the locals. Visit the cultural centre to get a better understanding of the area.
Between November and March, there is extreme heat with temperatures averaging between 43-46°C in the middle of Australia, especially around Uluru and Kings Canyon. This can lead to heat exhaustion and potentially become very dangerous. Be sure to drink plenty of water and replenish electrolytes by drinking sports drinks, coconut water or water mixed with electrolyte powder packets.
The Mala Walk at Uluru is not permitted if temperatures exceed 40°C. During these hot months, we will endeavour to offer all walks early in the day to avoid the heat. Our CEOs will monitor the weather conditions to gauge the safety of any included walks and may need to call off a given day's walk due to extreme heat.
Estimated travel time: 9 hoursTravel distance: 750 km
Day 12 Kings Creek (1B,1L,1D)
Travel to the rock formations of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and, heat permitting, walk through the Valley of the Winds to explore the surrounding area before continuing onto Kings Canyon. Enjoy another night under the stars the traditional way, by sleeping in a swag (canvas bedroll). If you would like a bit more coverage, tents are also available.
Opt to take a scenic helicopter flight over the area.
Estimated travel time: 5 hoursTravel distance: 450 km
Day 13 Alice Springs (1B)
Enjoy the morning taking in the scenery or by going on an optional 4 hour walk through the gorges and valleys of Kings Canyon of Watarrka National Park. Travel to Alice Springs via the homestead of Erldunda. Located halfway between Adelaide and Darwin, Alice Springs is the base for all trips through the Red Centre.
The tour ends upon arrival to Alice Springs in the evening at approximately 6pm. Opt to join the group for a night out in Alice Springs. Feel free to book onward travel from 8pm or later today.
Estimated travel time: 4.5 hoursTravel distance: 375 km
- Trip length:
- 13 Days
- Group size:
- Max 21
- Start:
- Melbourne
- End:
- Alice Springs
- Vehicle:
- Airconditioned 4WD Mini Bus
- Sleep:
- Camping and Hostels
- Physical Demand:
- Comfortlevel:
- What's included:
- Operator:
- G Adventures
Reviews
Leave a review: