Central Australia Tour

Our touring team have landed! During the early hours of Saturday morning (4am!!), 27 Year 10 students and 3 staff have embarked on a journey of a lifetime. The staff and students flew from Melbourne to Alice Springs and from there, will travel north towards Darwin. Along the journey they will witness Uluru, King's Canyon, Kata Tjuta,  Ubirr Rock, Katherine, Litchfield National Park, Yellow Waters cruise plus much more! 

Despite some missing luggage, the tour has started off successfully and all are enjoying the beautiful landscapes, culture and people. 

Added below are some of the photos we've received. We've also included the itinerary so you can see what our adventurers get up to. 

We wish them all a very safe and enjoyable travel. 

Central Australia Tour Itinerary

Day 1   Saturday 9 September             Melbourne - Yulara                                                                     

Depart Heathmont College at 4am (TBC) for your transfer to Tullamarine Airport to board your flight that departs at approx. 7am to Yulara. On arrival you will be met by Hollands Adventure Holidays coach crew who will drive you to the campground for lunch and set up camp. That afternoon you will have the chance to walk around some of the marked walks and visit art sites at the base of Uluru. You will have the opportunity to visit the Cultural Centre and watch the changing colour of Uluru at sunset.

Accommodation Ayres Rock Campground                                 

Day 2   Sunday 10 September             Yulara-Kings Canyon                                                                                  

Early morning start to pack up camp and enjoy the scenic drive Kata Tjuta for a 2 ½ hour walk through the massive domes of the Valley of the Winds. Upon return we depart to Kings Canyon, with stop at Curtain Springs Cattle Station, where you will have time to walk around the bird aviary at the rear of the roadhouse. Enjoy a viewing from the Mt Conner lookout, another massive formation in Central Australia, we now follow the George Gill Ranges. This afternoon we meet to enjoy Indigenous Bush food and partake in a Medicine Tour before a short drive to our accommodation for the night. 

Accommodation Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon                                                      

Day 3   Monday 11 September           Kings Canyon - Alice Springs                                                     

This morning we walk one of Central Australia’s great walks, Kings Canyon. Early morning start to pack up camp and get walking before the day heats up too much! With its beauty and magnificent views, this 2 ½ hour walk takes us up the escarpment to the top of the sandstone range, there will be plenty of photo opportunities from the various lookouts.

Stop at Cotters Lookout where the view is along the valley below, a rest break in the Garden of Eden before we make our way further around the canyon to the south wall to view the outstanding colours of the sandstone cliffs on the north wall of the canyon, return to the base for a welcome rest and start our journey to Alice Springs.

Accommodation Discovery Resorts – Alice Springs (2 nights) 

Day 4   Tuesday 12 September            Alice Springs                                                                                             

A more relaxed start today, we have a town tour of Alice Springs which will include Anzac Hill dedicated to our present and past Military Personal. After a visit to the School of the Air, we then make our way along the West Mac Donnell Ranges with stops at Simpsons Gap, Glen Helen, and time permitting, Ormiston or Ellery Creek Big Hole.

Return to camp for an early dinner and a visit from the Alice Springs Reptile Centre to learn and perhaps handle some of reptiles of Central Australia.

Day 5   Wednesday 13 September     Alice Springs – Banka Banka                                                                  

After camp pack up this morning, we stop at School of the Air for a tour and viewing on how the remote children of Australia complete their school days. Our journey north takes us to our first stop, Tropic of Capricorn, morning tea break will be at Ti Tree before we make our way to the Devils Marbles to wander around these precarious boulders resting in some unusual positions. After a short break in Tennant Creek, we arrive at Banka Banka Station for our overnight stop.

Accommodation Banka Banka Station 

Day 6   Thursday 14  September Banka Banka – Nitmulk               

Today we will notice the vegetation start to change as we travel further north into the tropics, via Elliot and Dunmarra to Daly Waters, Australia’s first international airport. We’ll have a break for a cool drink and walk around this unique town before making our way to Mataranka Homestead for a swim in the thermal pool.  After a relaxing swim we make our way to Nitmulk National Park for our overnight stop.

Accommodation Nitmulk Camp Ground

Day 7   Friday 15 September  Nitmulk – Jabiru                                                       

We start our day with the enjoyment of a relaxing 2 hour two gorge cruise along the Kathrine River before we travel back to Katherine. We then travel further north along the Stuart Highway to Pine Creek where we turn right onto the Kakadu Highway. After a short break at Mary River Roadhouse, we now enter Kakadu National Park.

On arrival at Jabiru, we set up camp and, time permitting, enjoy a quick swim before travelling to Ubirr Rock for a guided tour around some of the many rock art sites of Kakadu before the easy climb to the top of Ubirr Rock to watch the sunset over the flood plains below.

Accommodation Kakadu Lodge (2 Nights)                                                                            

Day 8   Saturday 16 September                        Jabiru                                                        

Early breakfast before we have a 9am Yellow Waters Cruise at Cooinda, where you we see an abundance of bird life and crocodiles. We will stop at the Waradjin Culture Centre to learn about the Culture and Traditions of the traditional owners of Kakadu.

Our next stop is Nourlangie Rock for a short walk along the path to the Rock Art Sites and Shelters used by the traditional owners for 1000’s of years. We now return to Jabiru for a short tour around the town centre including the Ranger Uranium Mine site and after lunch anyone who needs to stock up on supplies, we will drive you to the shops in the town centre. The rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing around camp.

Day 9   Sunday 17 September                           Jabiru - Darwin                                                      

Pack up camp and we leave Kakadu National Park and travel to Darwin. Upon arrival we will set up camp and have lunch before we start a tour of the city sights, which include Charles Darwin National Park stopping at one of the storage bunkers, East Point with its views back over the bay to Darwin City, Parliament House and Government House. We will also visit the Royal Flying Doctors visitors information centre before dinner at the Mindil beach market to watch the sunset.

Accommodation Free Spirit Resort                 

Day 10   Monday 18 September                       Litchfield National Park                                       

We travel south of Darwin to Litchfield National Park where we will have the chance to walk around some of the massive Cathedral and Magnetic Termite Mounds, visit Tolmer Falls and have a swim at Florence Falls.

After lunch we make our way back to Darwin, pack up camp and have your bags organised for the flight home, have dinner before your Disco Cruise around the bay.

Day 11   Tuesday 19 September                        Darwin – Melbourne         

We go straight from the Disco Cruise to the Airport! For an approx. departure at 2am, arriving in Melbourne approx. 06:45am. 

On arrival at Melbourne Airport and after collecting your luggage your will be transferred back to Heathmont College.