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Roughing it in AustraliaWould you prefer a typical Australian swag with a campfire than a fancy hotel bed? If the answer is yes, try our adventurous 'Roughing it' itinerary. No need to be a pro at extreme sports or a rugged outdoors type; all you need is a sense of adventure, enthusiasm, sportsmanship and a good level of physical fitness.After your arrival in Darwin you'll have a day to get acclimatised and rested. Then you'll head out in a specially equipped 4x4 truck through the less well known dense rainforests of Kakadu National Park. After spending a night in Darwin to recoup, you'll fly to Alice Springs where you'll head out on a 4-day adventure to Ayers Rock, the Olga's and the remote Palm Valley. Back in Alice, you'll fly to the tropical city of Cairns for a more tranquil rainforest trip to Cape Tribulation and for a reef cruise. Afterwards you'll sail to Fitzroy Island for an active day of sea kayaking. Of course, there will be plenty of time to relax in Cairns (or if you don't feel like relaxing, you could go white water rafting at Tully River) and to visit the trendy city of Sydney. |
| Duration |
22 days Departs daily, Jan - May: Kakadu alternative programme |
Accommodation |
5 nights camping with shared facilities of which 1 in Australian swag, during Kakadu tour upgrade to double occupancy room optional, other nights double occupancy room with bathroom |
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Price |
£1869 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
Transport accommodation, meals, transfers and excursions with Australian guide, as mentioned below |
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Transport |
4x4 or Toyota coaster during tours |
Excludes |
International and domestic flights, meals not mentioned below, tours, transfers. Eco tax, Fitzroy Island, National Park entrance fees, Twin Falls entrance |
Day 1: Darwin arrivalAfter your arrival at Darwin Airport you'll arrange your own taxi or shuttle bus to take you to your hotel. There's plenty of time to have a snack, relax, unwind or have a nap after your long flight and to try to adjust to the humid, tropical climate. If you'd like to get a tan, visit one of the city's popular beaches: Mindil, Vestey's Mandorah or Nightcliff. You could also visit the botanical garden at the Chinese temple to get in a sightseeing mood or go on a romantic sunset harbour cruise. We really enjoyed visiting the night market at Mindle Beach while we were here. This multi-cultural market is held every Thursday and Sunday and features many food stalls with goodies from all over the world. It's also an excellent place to buy a few souvenirs. |
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Day 2: Darwin - Litchfield - Mary RiverAt around 7:00 you'll head out towards the plunging waterfalls at Litchfield National Park. You'll have plenty of time to see several different falls such as Florence Falls. You'll also see the Buley Rockhole and you'll be amazed by the enormous, red clay, magnetic termite hills. At Mary River you'll trade in your truck for a small boat and you'll go on a spectacular cruise through the Mary River Wetlands System, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The flora and fauna in this area is truly unique and naturally you'll see quite a few crocodiles, lovingly referred to as 'salties’ by locals. The cool rainforest, scattered with billabongs, is home to a wide variety of animals. The area is well known for being a great place to fish for the typical Australian ‘barramundi’. You'll undoubtedly wind up finding this fish on your plate before the end of your trip. While at the Point Stuart Wilderness lodge you can go on a hike through the monsoon forest. You'll dine and spend the night at Point Stuart. Lunch and dinner are included today on the Australia 4x4 itinerary. |
Day 3: Mary River - KakaduPoint Stuart has quite an illustrious history. In 1862, John McDouall Stuart ended his exploration of the Australian continent here. It was also base camp for many generations of buffalo and crocodile hunters. These days the area is very well protected. You'll start off this morning with a trip to Ubirr Rock where you'll have a spectacular view of the Arnhem Land flood plains. Aboriginal history dates back an incredible 25,000 years here. The varying landscapes and traditions of the past can all be found in the rock-art on the rock walls. Later on the Australia 4x4 itinerary you'll drive through the tropical lowlands towards the Barramundi Gorge. You'll trek to the top of the gorge and you'll go for a swim in one of the rock holes created by erosion. You'll spend the night at the permanent camp in Kakadu National Park. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today. |
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Day 4: Kakadu - DarwinToday you'll travel to the Mamukala Wetlands and Jim Jim Falls, both located in a beautiful area, deep in Kakadu National Park. You'll be able to walk up to the base of the falls. After lunch you'll a boat will take you to the more remote Twin Falls. Enjoy the majestic waterfalls, while getting a beautiful tan on a river bank beach. Sometime in the afternoon you'll eventually travel back to Darwin where your journey ends around 19:30 - 20:30. You'll spend the night in a fine, mid-class hotel in Darwin. Breakfast and lunch are included today. |
Day 5: Darwin - Alice SpringsThis morning on the itinerary you'll arrange your own transport to the airport for your flight to Alice Springs. Depending on the time of your flight, you could for instance visit the Flying Doctors Service, the historic telegraph office and the ANZAC war monument. However there also more active alternatives.... what about a camel ride? After you arrive in Alice you'll arrange a transfer to your hotel. The airport is close to the city, so it shouldn't be any problem to get there. You'll spend the night at a motel with a swimming pool. |
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Day 6: Alice Springs - The Olgas - Ayers RockAt 6:30 you'll travel from the James- and Waterhouse Ranges, Mount Connor and the salt pans to ‘Uluru’, the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock. Along the way you'll stop off and perhaps even go for a short camel ride at the Outback Camel Farm, a typical Outback farm. After lunch you'll drive to the Olga's, otherwise known as Kata Tjuta (Aboriginal for ‘many heads’), where you'll find 28 deep red round rock domes. The largest, Mount Olga, is even 200m taller than Ayers Rock. From here you'll go for a three hour hike through the nearby Valley of the Winds. We considered this hike to be quite spectacular during our stay here. You'll walk past deep red rocks and through green valleys and from time to time a wild parakeet may fly by. You'll be taken back to camp in time to see the breathtaking sunset at Uluru. If you pay close attention you'll see that the rock continuously changes colours. Your accommodation for the night on this Australia 4x4 itinerary is completely in style with your surroundings. You'll spend the night in a 'swag' (sort of a mattress, tent and sleeping bag in one) at a bush camp near Ayers Rock. Lunch and dinner are included. |
Day 7: Ayers Rock - Kings CanyonWake up early for a spectacular sunrise at the 348m high rock. The original inhabitants of Australia, the Aboriginals, consider this mountain to be holy and do not approve of people climbing it. If you would like to respect the Aboriginal culture, you can instead go on a 9.4km hike around the base of the rock. During the hike you'll come across beautiful caves filled with Aboriginal rock drawings and your guide will tell you all about the land and centuries of Aboriginal rituals. The interesting Aboriginal museum in the visitor's centre is a real eye-opener; you'll learn all about the cultural history of Uluru and the Aboriginal 'dream time' stories. After a visit to the museum and lunch, you'll board a bus to Kings Canyon which lies about 300km further down the road. Once you arrive at the next camp you'll have a camp oven dinner by the fire. There will plenty of time to get to know your fellow travellers better. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. |
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Day 8: Kings Canyon - Glen HelenThis morning you'll go on a 4 hour trek past pastel coloured sandstone walls and rock formations with names like ‘the Amphitheatre’ and ‘The Lost City’. They almost seem to look like ruins of some lost city. Many different types of plants grow here, such as rare ferns. In one particularly green gorge you'll find the Garden of Eden. In the summer you'll be able to go for a swim in a small, warm pool surrounded by rock walls in the middle of the desert. As you continue on the Australia 4x4 itinerary you'll also see the North and South Walls, rock walls that shoot up about 200m into the sky. After lunch you'll travel along the Mereenie Loop Track (also known as Red Centre Way) where you'll visit a 120 million year old crater, Gosse Bluff. Afterwards the Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira will explain the white-dot painting technique to you. He will also tell you more about the Aboriginals, their traditions and their community before you continue on to Glen Helen. You'll spend the night in an accommodation in Glen Helen, nestled in the Western MacDonnell Ranges. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. |
Day 9: Glen Helen - Alice SpringsToday you'll travel straight through the vast Western MacDonnell Ranges. Along the way you'll go for a swim at Ellery Big Hole and you'll have time for a trek around the spectacular Ormiston Gorge. Then you'll hop back into the 4x4 for a 'rough' ride across the historic Finke River Track. Finally you'll see Palm Valley looming in the distance; from here you'll eventually return to the starting point of this trip, Alice Springs. You'll be back in Alice around 18:00 - 19:00 on the Australia 4x4 itinerary. Today's exact route can change due to weather conditions or changes made by the Aboriginals since this is their territory you'll be travelling through. Breakfast and lunch are included today. |
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Day 10 - 11: Alice Springs - Flight - CairnsToday you'll have time to explore Alice Springs and to rest up for a bit. Alice was founded in 1871 as a sub-station for the telegraph line from Adelaide to Darwin. The Todd River was named after the head of the postal service at that time, Mr. Charles Todd. The city was named after his wife, Alice. Alice Springs became a centre of tourism in the 60's. The top attractions in the area are the Standly Chasm, Simpson's Gorge and Anzac Hill, which offers an incredible of the city. You can also go on a short hot air balloon ride above Alice for an incredible panoramic view of the desert. On the 11th day of this trip you'll arrange your own transport to the airport and you'll fly on to Cairns where you'll spend the night in a centrally located hotel. |
Day 12: Cairns - Cape TribulationThis day of the Australia 4x4 itinerary begins with a driver picking you up from your hotel in Cairns. Along with other travellers who have booked this trip, you'll travel along a winding coastal road past Queenland's lush green coast. You'll head north towards the rainforests and the charming coastal town of Port Douglas. This is where you'll visit the Rainforest Habitat, for close encounters with the cassowary and tree kangaroo. You'll also have some time to go out and have a look around on your own. The tour continues to Mossman Gorge in the southern most part of Daintree. Along with your guide you'll go on a short walk and a swim in the gorge. Daintree is the oldest national park of the continent. Some of the plant and animal species have lived here for 100 million years without significant changes to their appearance. At the end of the afternoon you'll reach Cape Tribulation and your accommodation for the night. You'll spend the night in a cabin surrounded by jungle, only a few metres away from the beach. After you've settled into your jungle cabin (with private bathroom and air conditioning), you can go for a walk on the beach and let your surroundings sink in. We actually went for a walk in the jungle afterwards and ended up swimming in a creek surrounded by hanging vines. |
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Day 13: Great Barrier ReefYou'll be picked up at your accommodation at 9:00 for a sailing trip on the Great Barrier Reef. With a length of approximately 2000km the reef is considered the world's largest living organism. Apparently the reef can even be seen from the moon! You'll sail out today on a small, 40ft, charming boat called the Rumrunner 9. It will take about an hour for you to reach the reef. During the boat ride you'll have a chance to go snorkelling; all necessary equipment is on board and can be used free of charge. Even if you've done this before, snorkelling here is an experience you won't soon forget. You'll see amazing coral, thousands of colourful fish and rare sea turtles. You can also go for a(n) (introductory) dive (surcharge to be paid on the spot). If you are a certified diver, be sure to bring along your certification, you can go for two dives (surcharge to paid on the spot). For lunch, you'll be treated to a large lunch buffet with plenty of fresh fruit (included). Afterwards you can lounge on deck and sunbathe. At around 16:30 the boat will be back in Cape Tribulation and you'll be driven to your accommodation. |
Day 14: Outback - CairnsThis entire morning and afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. Whether you would like to sleep in or stroll along the beach, it's all up to you. Cape Tribulation has quite a few outdoors activities that you can participate in. After breakfast for instance you could go sea kayaking (AU$39) or go on a trek through the rainforest, if you like a guide will join you. If you would prefer to go out and explore on your own, hire a mountain bike for a bike ride through the area. Even horseback riding on the beach is a possibility. After lunch you'll be picked up for a cruise on the Daintree River. During the cruise be sure to keep an eye out for crocodiles and other wild animals, there's plenty to see here. At around 19:00 you'll be dropped off at your accommodation in Cairns or if you prefer, you can also get dropped off in Palm Cove. |
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Day 15: Cairns - FitzroyWake up early today for a transfer to the harbour. You'll set sail on a luxury catamaran at 8:30 on a 45 minute trip to Fitzroy Island. Once you reach the island, your guide will meet you there and give you a basic canoeing introduction. Afterwards you'll peddle around Fitzroy at your own pace. The island is 3km by 2km and it should take you about 3 hours to peddle around it. You'll also go on a short trek through dense rainforest until you reach the island's lighthouse. After a tropical lunch (included) on a private beach you'll have a chance to go swimming or snorkelling. If you prefer you can also go on an introductory dive at the island's PADI diving centre (approximately AU$65). A glass bottom boat tour is also included today. |
Day 16 - 17: CairnsDuring your last two days in Cairns you'll have time to explore the area on your own. There are literally hundreds of excursions that originate in Cairns. Booking one of them is fairly easy; simply make a telephone call one day before your chosen excursion... there's plenty to choose from. One of the most spectacular excursions, and if you're in the area anyway it's an absolute must, is a rugged white water rafting trip on the Tully River. On the other hand, perhaps after all of the adventures you've been on so far you may just want to stroll by stores, surf shops and exotic restaurants or relax with an exotic cocktail on the Esplanade. |
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Day 19: Cairns - Flight - SydneyToday you'll arrange your own transport to the airport and you'll fly on to Sydney, the oldest and largest city in Australia. Sydney's inhabitants come from nearly every country in the world, yet they nearly all speak English. Sydney is a wonderful, charming, carefree, trendy metropolis that has something for everyone. Sydney is a dash of London, a smidgeon of New York, a sprinkling of the Mediterranean and quite a bit of Asian spice mixed with that Australian 'no worries' feeling and year-round delightful temperatures. |
Day 20 - 22: SydneyDuring the last days of your Australia 4x4 itinerary, you'll have plenty of time to explore Sydney on your own. So what to do while in Sydney? Well, go on a harbour cruise in one of the most beautiful harbours of the world, admire the remarkable architecture of the Sydney Opera House, stroll through the various city neighbourhoods, go for a picnic at Bondi Beach, visit the famous surf beach Manly, go shopping at the Rocks..... there's so much to do, we're sure you won't have time to do it all (all though, you could of course extend your stay if you wish!). Your trip ends on day 22 in Sydney. |
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