Northern Territory Explorer

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 dinner with your Travel Director and fellow adventure-seekers. A tasty entrée to your 11-day odyssey.

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.

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.

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 a highly recommended morning flight (own expense). 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 local cruise guide knows where to look.

From one glorious national park to another… today’s backdrop is the escarpments of Nitmiluk National Park, carved out over millions of years. Cruising through Nitmiluk Gorge is a humbling experience even before you know the region’s history.  Hear the ancient story of the cicada, embodying the spiritual connection between the Jawoyn people and their land.

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, something of their own.

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 granite boulders pock the countryside. But they’re not just a pretty sight – they’re a sacred place for the Aboriginal community reflecting cultural beliefs and serving as a sacred site for ceremonies and storytelling. 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.

Visit the Alice Springs Desert Park, 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. 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.

From the moment you wake up until the last of day disappears, spiritual Aboriginal culture is all around during today’s exploring. Get set to be in awe over 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 and nibbles. Choose to extend your evening under the stars with an optional BBQ dinner (own expense).

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 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 Uluru in another different light, opt to chopper around it on a scenic helicopter flight (own expense). You’ll have plenty of stories to tell over your Farewell Dinner.

Another reason to rise early: to catch the Field of Light art installation by artist Bruce Munro that blankets the desert floor (own expense). Your spirit will glow just as brightly as you bid farewell to this epic Northern Territory tour.