EXPLORER HIGHWAY
Routing: Adelaide to Darwin
Duration: 16 Days
Code: A37
From AUD$2,740.00* per person, based on standard double/twin share accommodation.
Includes: 15 nights’ accommodation, 16 days unlimited km use of an intermediate sized car, Nit Nit Dreaming 2 Gorge Cultural Cruise in Katherine, 1.5hr Yellow Water Cruise in Kakadu, Full Breakfast in Wilpena Pound & Kings Canyon and fully detailed itinerary with local and regional maps.
From AUD$3,130.00* per person, based on superior double/twin share accommodation.
Includes: 15 nights’ accommodation, 16 days unlimited km use of an intermediate sized car, Nit Nit Dreaming 2 Gorge Cultural Cruise in Katherine, 1.5hr Yellow Water Cruise in Kakadu, Full Breakfast in Wilpena Pound & Kings Canyon and fully detailed itinerary with local and regional maps.
DAY 01: Adelaide to Clare Valley (142 km)
Collect your vehicle and commence your journey, travelling north past Gawler to Clare and the Clare Valley Wine Region. This
region is situated in the beautiful northern Mount Lofty Ranges, the town of Clare nestled among wooded hills and orderly
vineyards. Visit the nearby heritage towns of Burra and Kapunda and don’t miss the oldest winery – the beautifully historic
Sevenhill Cellars established by the Jesuits in 1851.
DAY 02: Clare Valley to Wilpena Pound (307 km)
Heading North today from the Clare Valley you will have quite a pleasant drive and will take around 4 hours; we recommend
you stop along the way to enjoy lunch at Black Rock before continuing on up to Wilpena Pound. This extraordinary landscape
is 800 million years old and has been home to Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years.
DAY 03: Wilpena Pound
Today is a day at leisure to explore Wilpena Pound. Why not take a scenic flight (own expense), to enjoy the stunning scenery
and discover the history of this natural wonder. Or a half day 4WD tour (own expense) that will give another perspective of this
amazing landscape.
DAY 04: Wilpena Pound to Port Augusta (162 km)
Travel back down south, along the Hawker-Stirling North Road. There is plenty of time to stop in at the sleepy towns of Hawker
and Quorn before arriving back in Port Augusta for the night. Port Augusta is a busy seaport town which is the last major centre
along the road linking Western Australia with South Australia.
DAY 05: Port Augusta to Coober Pedy (546 km)
Leaving Port Augusta travel north on the Stuart Highway into the real outback and desert of Australia. Travel on to the unique
township of Coober Pedy. The name ‘Coober Pedy’ is Aboriginal for ‘white fellow’s hole in the ground’. This is extremely
appropriate as most of the population live underground in dug-outs to protect them from the severe summer temperatures,
often reaching 45C.
This afternoon is at leisure.
DAY 06: Coober Pedy to Marla (234 km)
Take more time this morning to explore Coober Pedy, an option to explore this region, is the Desert Cave Tour (own expense),
which will take you to visit the working opal mine, and learn about the history and quirkiness of the unique underground city.
When leaving Coober Pedy, continue travelling north on the Stuart Highway and pass through Cadney Homestead and onto
Marla, which marks the start of the famous Oodnadatta Track.
DAY 07: Marla to Ayers Rock (517 km)
Leaving Marla, continue travelling through Kulgera, then continue north another 75 kilometres to Erldunda and then turn off
to Ayers Rock and Yulara Resort. This afternoon head out to the Rock, we suggest taking a slow drive around it before heading
to “Sunset Strip” to see the famous Uluru.
DAY 08: Ayers Rock
An entire day at leisure to explore all that the region has to offer. Take a walk around the Rock, a visit to the Cultural Centre,
a Harley ride around the Rock or a scenic flight (own expense). This afternoon try a picnic lunch at the Olgas and a walk
through the Valley of the Winds before viewing another spectacular sunset.
DAY 09: Ayers Rock to Kings Canyon (321 km)
This morning is at leisure to explore more of Ayers Rock. You may wish to rise early to experience the beautiful sunrise over
Uluru or take a walk into the majestic Olga Gorge. Leaving Ayers Rock behind take the Lasseter Highway and pass by the
majestic flat topped mountain, Mt Conner. Turn left and take the Luritja Road to Kings Canyon. Skirt the rim of the Canyon and
hold your breath as you gaze 300 metres down to the valley floor. The soaring sandstone walls frame the “Garden of Eden”,
a unique waterhole surrounded by palms and ferns.
The best time of day for the Kings Canyon Rim Walk is early in the morning when it is cool.
DAY 10: Kings Canyon (321 km)
This morning is at leisure to explore more of Ayers Rock. You may wish to rise early to experience the beautiful sunrise over
Uluru or take a walk into the majestic Olga Gorge. Leaving Ayers Rock behind take the Lasseter Highway and pass by the
majestic flat topped mountain, Mt Conner. Turn left and take the Luritja Road to Kings Canyon. Skirt the rim of the Canyon and
hold your breath as you gaze 300 metres down to the valley floor. The soaring sandstone walls frame the “Garden of Eden”,
a unique waterhole surrounded by palms and ferns.
The best time of day for the Kings Canyon Rim Walk is early in the morning when it is cool.
DAY 11: Kings Canyon to Alice Springs (475 km) OR Kings Canyon to Alice Springs via the Mereenie
Loop Road (322 km) 4WD access only
We recommend taking the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon early this morning, but it will be very early in the morning to allow you
enough time to drive onto Alice Springs. Depart Kings Canyon and return to the Lasseter Highway and turn left. Pass the
Henbury Meteorite craters, formed around 4,700 years ago. Take the Stuart Highway north to Alice Springs. Spend the rest of
the day exploring this beautiful part of the Australian Outback.
Enjoy a full day of leisure in Alice Springs today, to explore the attractions and the surroundings areas or to simply rest up after
the long drives of the past few days. Why not visit the Old Telegraph Station, the Aviation Museum or the original Royal Flying
Doctor Service. The Alice Springs Desert Park provides a great opportunity to observe the bird and animal life in the desert,
and is well worth a visit.
DAY 12: Alice Springs to Tennant Creek (508 km)
Leave Alice Springs and travel through the small towns of Aileron, Ti Tree and Barrow Creek. 96 kilometres south of Tennant
Creek are the Devils Marbles. The Marbles consist of hundreds of huge round boulders, precariously balanced one on top of
the other. Tennant Creek has an interesting founding story – legend has it that the town was formed when a beer wagon broke
down and drivers stayed to drink the cargo – and never left!
DAY 13: Tennant Creek to Katherine (673 km)
Make an early start for a long drive today. Continue north along the Stuart Highway. 25 kilometres out of town is ‘Three Ways’,
this is the intersection of the Barkly and Stuart Highways. Continue north through this scrub and desert land to Daly Waters.
On the drive to Katherine, you will drive through Mataranka. There are thermal springs at Mataranka, a great spot to stop and
relax for a while. From Mataranka it is only 106 kilometres on to Katherine, the major intersection between northern, southern
and western routes.
DAY 14: Katherine to Kakadu (310 km)
This morning take the included 2 hour gorge cruise. Katherine Gorge is a system of 13 gorges all joining by rapids and
is located 30 kilometres from the town centre; here the river flows between towering walls of colour.
This afternoon restart the journey north and travel 92 kilometres to the small town of Pine Creek. Depart Pine Creek and join
the Kakadu Highway. Pass the Mary River Roadhouse before arriving in Cooinda. This afternoon a visit to the Bowali Visitor
Centre which is 2.5 kilometres from Jabiru, is highly recommended to gain a better appreciation of Kakadu.
DAY 15: Kakadu
You have a full day to explore the Kakadu National Park. Drive around to explore the beauty that Kakadu National Park has
to offer, the most accessible Aboriginal art sites not to be missed that are accessible by road are Ubirr Rock and Nourlangie
Rock. Or take a Scenic Flight (own expense) to enjoy views from above.
DAY 16: Kakadu to Darwin (210 km)
This morning take your 1.5 hour cruise on Yellow Waters for views of colourful birdlife and the ever present crocodile. The
scenery of Kakadu is dramatic and the area has prolific wildlife and birdlife. In addition, the aboriginal rock art is amongst the
finest rock art in the world and there are 120 known galleries in an area of 5 square kilometres on the escarpment, with some
paintings carbon dated back 23,000 years. The most accessible sites by road are at Ubirr Rock and Nourlangie Rock.
Depart Kakadu and make your way north west into Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory.
Your vehicle will need to be returned tomorrow by the same time it was collected on Day 1 to avoid additional charges.
*Prices are subject to availability and conditions apply. Valid until 31 March, 2021. For dates after this or if you would like to make any changes, please contact us direct for a quote.
