Best Buys
Northern Territory Explorer
11 Day Guided Vacation | Darwin to Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Travel Period
It’s hard to comprehend how vast (and diverse) the Northern Territory is until you’ve cruised through its gorges, discovered wonderment in national parks, eased into thermal springs and discovered ancient Aboriginal history. This epic Northern Territory tour from Darwin takes in sights from Uluru to Kakadu, Alice Springs to Katherine Gorge. Expect cruises, sunrises and sunsets, Aboriginal rock art, classic outback pubs – and a few surprises.
Prices From Code: NDAU
$4810
$6355
Child prices are available on request
Secure your trip with a deposit
Northern Territory Explorer
Best Buys
11 Day Guided Vacation
Darwin to Uluru (Ayers Rock)
It’s hard to comprehend how vast (and diverse) the Northern Territory is until you’ve cruised through its gorges, discovered wonderment in national parks, eased into thermal springs and discovered ancient Aboriginal history. This epic Northern Territory tour from Darwin takes in sights from Uluru to Kakadu, Alice Springs to Katherine Gorge. Expect cruises, sunrises and sunsets, Aboriginal rock art, classic outback pubs – and a few surprises.
Highlights
Flexible Vacations
Darwin life goes at a leisurely pace. Fall into step and explore the steamy NT capital in the only way the locals know how – slow.
Time For You
World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park is wide, wild and wonderful. And packed with wildlife. Choose your own adventure.
Iconic Sites
Have your camera poised: we’re taking you from the wilds of Kakadu to the escarpments of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge and epic landscapes of Uluru.
Sustainable Travel
Supporting Aboriginal-owned and -operated businesses helps ensure the world’s oldest culture thrives into the future.
Natural Wonders
Sunrise over Uluru has this incredible ability to make you forget everything else around you and just focus on the now.
Itinerary
Northern Territory Explorer (Travel Period: 01 Apr 2023 – 31 Aug 2023)
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 Northern Territory tour from Darwin
Hotel: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront, 2 Nights
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 Darwin Museum. 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.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Aboriginal culture is strong in this part of Australia, and its kept alive by Traditional Landowners on this morning’s tour. Dive deep into Aboriginal heritage on a family-owned experience 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. Today’s Kakadu tour will whet your appetite for a full day of wildlife immersion tomorrow.
Hotel: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, 2 Nights
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Included Meals: Breakfast
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 (Katherine) 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. See how many sets of eyes you can see peering at you from the water’s surface.
Hotel: Contour Hotel Katherine
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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. You’ll arrive in Tennant Creek with a new appreciation for country life.
Hotel: Bluestone Motor Inn
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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, 2 Nights
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Sleep in, take to the skies in a hot-air balloon as the desert awakens, explore the West Macs on a guided tour… this morning is yours to spend as you choose. Save some energy for this afternoon’s Alice Springs tour and visit to the historic Telegraph Station – the reason the town was formed, to connect the country and allow smooth communication. It’s still not always easy to communicate in the outback, with many children getting an education through remote learning. Discover how the School of the Air operates, ensure that all kids have access to information and skills needed in later life.
Included Meals: Breakfast
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 Pioneer Hotel, 2 Nights
Included Meals: Breakfast
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 people, 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, in a helicopter or on the back of a Harley. Either way, you’ll have plenty of stories to tell over your Farewell Dinner.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Another reason to rise early: to catch the (optional) Field of Light art installation that blankets the desert floor. Your spirit will glow just as brightly as you bid farewell to this epic Northern Territory tour.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
Perfectly positioned amongst the entertainment and dining hub of Darwin’s seafront promenade, Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront is surrounded by great shopping, a range of pubs and night clubs, as well as some of the most amazing restaurants and cafés in the NT.
No matter how you spend your day, Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront is the perfect place to retreat to. Dive into the refreshing waters of the pool, enjoy some delicious cuisine or a refreshing drink in Curve Restaurant + Bar, or withdraw to your private, comfortable hotel room.
- Broadband and wireless internet access available (at additional cost)
- Telephone - Voice Mail
- In-room safe
- Security peephole
- Hairdryer
- Ensuite
- Shower
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Manual temperature control
- Work desk with lamp
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Flat Screen TV
- In-room Movies (fee applies)
- Mini-bar (surcharge)
Features
The indigenous owned luxury accommodation is uniquely shaped to represent Kakadu's most famous inhabitant, the saltwater crocodile. Relax in the recently refurbished rooms, unwind in your private courtyard, by the shaded outdoor pool or take in the landscaped interior garden view from the balcony.
- Bathtub and shower
- Satellite/cable colour TV
- Broadband Internet access
- Hair Dryer
- Air Conditioning
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Refrigerator
- Ensuite
Features
Contour Hotel Katherine is situated near Katharine town centre, and offers affordable, comfortable accommodation for intrepid travellers.
- Air Conditioning
- Satellite/cable colour TV
- Swimming Pool
- Barbecue facilities
- Wi-Fi (additional cost)
- Gym facilities
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
Features
The Bluestone Motor Inn is the perfect base from which to explore the diverse nature and culture of the Australian outback. Bluestone is the perfect place to stay at the halfway mark along the track from Alice Springs to Darwin and back, or coming west from Mt. Isa.
- Air-conditioning
- Ensuite
- Colour TV
- Internet Access
- Iron
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Swimming Pool
Features
Experience eco-friendly luxury and enjoy stunning views of the majestic MacDonnell Mountain Ranges when you stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs. Conveniently located just off of Stuart Highway, the hotel is only 15 minutes’ drive from Alice Springs Airport and within walking distance of downtown. Enjoy easy access to many businesses, government offices and attractions such as Simpsons Gap, Desert Park and Anzac Hill. Ideal for both corporate and leisure guests, this Alice Springs hotel offers fantastic business and recreational facilities and friendly service from our dedicated staff.
The Outback Pioneer Hotel provides comfortable, clean accommodation for the traveller who is simply looking for somewhere to rest between their outback adventures.
Standard Rooms are comfortable and spacious and feature one queen and one single bed. All rooms have private en suite, television and movies on demand.
Note: Outback Pioneer Hotel is closed due to operational reasons from 01 November 2022 to 31 March 2023
- Air Conditioning
- Heater
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- Private bathroom
- Refrigerator
- ISD/STD phone
- In-house movies
Features
Need accommodation before or after your tour?
Our special discounted rates make booking accommodation with us during your holiday both easy and affordable at selected AAT Kings hotels and resorts. Ask our friendly reservations at the time of booking.
Trip Details
What's included
- • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver that are accredited with Kakadu & Uluru National Parks
- • Local Specialists (Guides)
- • Centrally located premium hotels
What to Bring
- • Camera
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- • Water bottle
- • Warm layers in cooler months
Fitness Requirements
-
• Kakadu – Nadab Lookout - Medium Level of Fitness Required
The climb to the top of Nadab Lookout at Ubirr in Kakadu National Park will not be suitable for all guests. To get to the lookout guests are required to scale up uneven rocky paths and steps to get to the lookout. There is an alternate route on a fairly flat gravel path for those unable climb to the top so they will not miss out on Rock Art.
Dining
- • 10 Full Breakfasts
- • 4 Dinners
- • 1 Farewell Dinner
Flight Information
- • Day 1: Flights to arrive by 3:00pm into Darwin Airport
- • Day 11: Flights to depart any time from Ayers Rock Airport
