Day 1
Alice Springs
Welcome to Alice Springs! Pick up your rental car and start exploring at your own pace.
Known as the capital of the Outback, Alice Springs is rich in Aboriginal heritage and pioneering history. Far from just hot and dusty, “The Alice” surprises with stunning mountain ranges, refreshing waterholes, ancient gum trees, vibrant wildlife, and even a lush golf course. Quirky events like camel races and dry riverbed regattas add to its charm, while its cinematic legacy lives on in A Town Like Alice. Don’t forget to browse the Gallery of Our Backyard for a glimpse of its striking natural beauty.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters or similar
Day 2
Visit MacDonnell Ranges, stay at Kings Creek Station - Approximate Distance: 295 km | 183 miles | Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins
Drive about an hour to the stunning West MacDonnell Ranges and explore at your own pace. Stretching for hundreds of kilometres, these ancient ranges hold deep cultural significance for the Arrernte people, who believe they were formed by ancestral caterpillars called Yeperenye. Discover scenic spots like Simpsons Gap, home to rock wallabies and a permanent waterhole, and see Standley Chasm glow with midday sunlight. Cool off at beautiful swimming holes such as Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge, and Redbank Gorge. Then, head to Kings Creek Station for a memorable overnight stay at a bush camp.
Overnight: Kings Creek Station or similar
Day 3
Travel to Uluru - Approximate Distance: 290 km | 180 miles | Total Driving Time: 3 hours 15 mins
Drive approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes to Yulara, a remote township near Uluru, Australia's most iconic natural landmark.
Optional:
This evening, you can experience the Field of Light with a Star Pass. As night falls and Uluru becomes a striking silhouette, the desert comes alive with 50,000 solar-powered lights in a dazzling display created by artist Bruce Munro. Spanning the size of seven football fields, this immersive installation—called Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku ("looking at lots of beautiful lights")—offers a magical, otherworldly experience under the stars.
Overnight: Emu Walk Apartments - Uluru or similar
Day 4
Optional Sunrise at Uluru & Sounds of Silence dinner
Begin your day with a sunrise walk along the 12-kilometre base trail of Uluru, where you'll take in its unique geology, sacred waterholes, ancient rock art, and learn about its deep cultural significance to the Anangu people.
In the evening, experience the Sounds of Silence dinner—starting with sparkling wine and canapés on a desert dune, followed by a BBQ buffet of Australian delicacies under a star-filled sky, as a storyteller shares tales inspired by the stars and Aboriginal traditions.
Overnight: Emu Walk Apartments - Uluru or similar
Day 5
Return to Alice Springs via Kata Tjuta - Approximate Distance: 550 km | 342 miles | Total Driving Time: 6 hours
Drive about 40 minutes to Kata Tjuta National Park to marvel at the impressive domes of the Olgas—towering rock formations, with the highest peak standing 200 metres taller than Uluru. Afterwards, begin the 5-hour journey back to Alice Springs.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters or similar.
Day 6
Fly to Darwin
Return your rental car at Alice Springs Airport and fly to Darwin, where you'll pick up your next vehicle. Closer to Singapore than Sydney, Darwin is a relaxed, multicultural city with a tropical climate and a vibrant vibe.
After settling in, unwind with a movie at the open-air Deckchair Cinema, feed crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove, enjoy a Timor Sea sunset, or sample local flavours at the Mindil Beach Markets.
Overnight: Travelodge Resort Darwin or similar.
Day 7
Darwin to Litchfield National Park Approximate Distance: 115 km | 71 miles | Total Driving Time: 1 hour 15 mins (each way)
Litchfield National Park is renowned for its stunning waterfalls, natural rock pools, and whirlpools—perfect for a refreshing swim.
The park is also home to towering termite mounds, some reaching over two metres high—remarkable natural structures that showcase the incredible architecture of these tiny engineers.
Overnight: Travelodge Resort Darwin or similar.
Day 8
Travel to Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park Approximate Distance: 320 km | 199 miles | Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins
Optional:
Take a breathtaking helicopter flight over all 13 of Nitmiluk’s gorges, following the Katherine River into the rugged parklands. Finish with a swim in a remote, pristine rock pool that’s exclusively yours to enjoy.
Continue onwards to Kakadu National Park, where you can explore ancient Aboriginal rock art, learn about traditional culture, and encounter a rich diversity of birdlife and wetlands teeming with wildlife.
Overnight: Cicada Lodge Katherine or similar.
Day 9
Free day to explore Nitmiluk
Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) is a series of 13 stunning gorges carved by the Katherine River in Nitmiluk National Park, located 244 km southeast of Darwin. With walls over 70 meters high stretching 12 km, these gorges were formed 23 million years ago. The park borders Kakadu National Park and holds deep ceremonial significance for the Jawoyn people, the traditional custodians of the land.
Overnight: Cicada Lodge Katherine or similar.
Day 10
Travel to Kakadu - Approximate Distance: 260 km | 161 miles | Total Driving Time: 2 hours 45 mins
Kakadu National Park spans 19,804 square kilometres and is famous for its rich Aboriginal heritage, with over 5,000 ancient rock paintings and carvings. Aboriginal people have lived here continuously for at least 40,000 years. The park features diverse landscapes and habitats, home to more than 60 mammal species and numerous reptiles, including goannas, frill-necked lizards, and saltwater crocodiles.
Overnight: Cooinda Lodge Kakadu or similar.
Day 11
Suggested visit to Ubirr
Explore Ubirr, home to remarkable Aboriginal rock art dating back over 20,000 years. Climb the rocky outcrop for stunning views of the floodplains and escarpments. Many x-ray style paintings from the last 1,500 years depict local food sources like fish, wallabies, and yams. The main gallery also features unique contact art, including an 1880s painting of a white buffalo hunter wearing a shirt and boots.
Overnight: Cooinda Lodge Kakadu or similar.
Day 12
Return to Darwin - Approximate Distance: 305 km | 190 miles | Total Driving Time: 3 hours 15 mins
Darwin stands apart from other Australian capitals with its low-rise, laid-back outback vibe and strong Asian influences due to its proximity to Indonesia. The city is lush and green, filled with palms and the scent of frangipanis, enjoying a tropical climate without distinct seasons. Highlights include museums, parks, art galleries, Mindil Beach sunset markets, beaches, and historic sites. Darwin also serves as a gateway to Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks.
Overnight: Travelodge Resort Darwin or similar.
Day 13
Free Day to explore Darwin
Unvisited in winter and with a laid-back small-town vibe, Darwin is the tropical capital of the Northern Territory, set on a harbour five times larger than Sydney’s. Known for its multicultural cuisine, vibrant outdoor markets, and year-round warm atmosphere, the city showcases rich Aboriginal art alongside strong Asian influences. From crocodile encounters and open-air cinemas to sunset cruises, Darwin blends easygoing charm with exciting experiences.
Overnight: Travelodge Resort Darwin or similar.
Day 14
Farewell from Darwin
After an unforgettable journey, return your rental vehicle at Darwin Airport before boarding your onward flight. We hope you’ve enjoyed every moment of your holiday, and our commitment is to make your travels across Australia smooth and welcoming - leaving you with a camera full of memories and big smiles as you look back on your adventure!
