Crocodiles, coral reefs and the Outback

Your journey begins in the most famous city of the southern hemisphere, Sydney. As you leave the plane, the realisation will probably hit you that you're actually on the other side of the world. Like most Australia travellers, you may start out by taking a picture of yourself smiling in the Australian open air. This marks the beginning of your incredible east coast Australia itinerary. You'll be picked up at the airport and taken to the city, where a room will be waiting for you at our favourite Sydney hotel. Since most flights arrive in Sydney in the evening, you'll probably want to freshen up a bit and then head out for dinner at Darling Harbour. As you exit your hotel you'll walk straight into the famous harbour district with its restaurants, terraces and bars. After dinner, your long day of travel will probably cause your energy to crash fast. If you feel anything like we did when we arrived, you'll be craving a nice cool pillow to lay your head on. An early night will do wonders for you the following day.... and you'll be ready to take on Sydney by morning.

Wake up early this morning on the east coast Australia itinerary for an early flight to Ayers Rock (Uluru). You'll arrive around 13:00, just in time for a transfer to the Desert Gardens resort. Once you arrive you'll have some time to settle in before a short lunch. At around 13:45 you'll be picked up for your 10-day Outback trip to Darwin. The first stop in the afternoon is 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. If the weather is good, you'll go for a 3-hour hike through the nearby Valley of the Winds. We really enjoyed this spectacular hike. You'll walk past deep red rocks and through green valleys while an occasional wild parakeet may fly by. With a little luck you may even see an entire group of wild parakeets flying right above you. Be sure to bring along enough water and use sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays. After your hike you'll return to Ayers Rock in time for an unforgettable sunset. At this time of day the red rock changes colours every minute. You'll see the rock change from orange, to deep red to deep purple. Eventually you'll dine in at camp (Yulara) and spend the night in a comfortable tent beneath an incredibly clear starry sky. Lunch and dinner are included today.

You'll have another early start today, but we're guessing you won't mind since you'll get to see a spectacular sunrise at the 348m high Ayers 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 could instead go on a 9.4km hike around the foot of the rock. During the hike you'll come across beautiful caves filled with 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 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. At the end of the day, as you arrive at the next camp, you'll have an oven dinner by campfire. There will be plenty of time to get to know your fellow travellers better. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today on the east coast Australia itinerary.

Put on your walking shoes today, because this morning you'll head out to explore the awe-inspiring rock formations at Kings Canyon. The pastel coloured sandstone walls of the canyon are about 200m tall and you'll find a variety of plants growing there, such as rare ferns. On the east coast Australia itinerary you'll go on a 4 hour hike past beautiful rock walls and formations with names like ‘the Amphitheatre’ and ‘The Lost City’. The rocks here look like ruins of some lost city. In one particularly green gorge you'll find the Garden of Eden. You'll be able to go for a swim in a small, warm pool surrounded by rock walls in the middle of the desert (during the summer). After lunch you'll travel through the sand dunes and the rugged desert back to Alice Springs. On your arrival in Alice around 19:00 you'll be taken to the motel where you'll spend the night. Breakfast and lunch are included today.

Today you'll have time to explore Alice Springs and to rest up a bit. Alice was founded in 1871 as a sub-station for the telegraph line from Adelaide to Darwin. The Todd River is named after the head of the postal service at that time, Mr. Charles Todd. The city was named after his wife, Alice. Alice Springs is now a small town with approximately 20,000 inhabitants. It's located in the heart of the flat desert and surrounded by the Mac Donnell Mountain Range. The city has a bit of a pioneer's atmosphere, probably because it's so far from the large cities in the south or east. As the sun shines it casts an almost heavenly glow on the white buildings in the red and yellow landscape. The bright rays of sunlight are always beating down on the sand and the river that runs straight through the city is almost always dry. All of this creates a very unusual looking city. Early in the afternoon you'll catch a plane and you'll fly over the Outback to Darwin. Later in the afternoon you'll arrive in Darwin and as you leave the plane you'll step out into pleasant temperatures. You can catch a taxi cab to your hotel near the centre of the city. You may want to head into the city for a bite to eat and to prepare yourself for your adventurous trip through the wetlands.

This morning you'll head out early once more on your way to Litchfield National Park. You'll have the entire morning to admire different waterfalls such as the Florence, Tolmer and Wangi. You'll also get to see the Buley Rock Hole and you'll be amazed by the enormous red clay magnetic termite hills. At Mary River you'll trade in your bus for a small boat for a spectacular cruise through the Mary River Wetlands System, the largest wetlands of the southern hemisphere. You'll get to see extraordinary flora and fauna, such as many, many crocodiles (lovingly referred to as ‘salties’). The cool rainforest, with its billabongs running through it, is home to all types of animal. The area is a favourite among fishing enthusiasts who come to fish for the typically Australian ‘barramundi’ here. You'll probably find this fish on your plate at some point during your east coast Australia itinerary trip! Tonight you'll stay at the remote Point Stuart Wilderness lodge, where you can go on a short walk through the monsoon forest to explore its wide variety of plants. You'll dine and spend the night at the camp. It has a bar, bistro and swimming pool. Lunch and dinner are included today.

Today you'll travel on to the famous Kakadu National Park. This national park is home to crocodiles, creeks, mangroves and all types of wildlife. The park also has a very rich Aboriginal history and has many rock drawings. The Ubirr Rock, with its spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding ' flood plains’ of Arnhem Land, is your first stop in the large national park. Ubirr, located approximately 280km east of Darwin, has an Aboriginal history that dates back an incredible 25,000 years. The diversity of the landscape and the social practices that were once common can still be found depicted as rock-art on rock walls. This afternoon you'll trek across dirt roads through the park to the Barramundi Gorge. After a nice hike, you can treat yourself to a refreshing swim in the middle of the rugged nature that surrounds you. If you swim across the 'pool' to the Maguk waterfall, you'll get an vigorous back massage from the falling water. Tonight you'll spend the night in a camp in the heart of the Kakadu National Park. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.

Get ready for some 4x4 action on route to the 213m high Jim Jim Falls. You'll reach the falls in a remote spot in the park by travelling along an adventurous rugged dirt road. Accompanied by a guide you'll hike to the foot of the falls and you'll have time to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. After lunch a boat will take you to the more remote Twin Falls. During this boat ride you'll undoubtedly be humbled by the beauty of the deep canyons, green valleys and powerful waterfalls. After a while you'll get to enjoy the impressive falls while getting a wonderful tan on a secluded river beach. In the afternoon you'll travel along a bumpy dirt road back to the paved road to Darwin. You'll arrive at your hotel in Darwin around 20:30 after an adventurous trip through the heart of Australia. Breakfast and lunch are included today. Today's programme on the east coast Australia itinerary may differ during the tropical summer months of December through May (depending on the weather, which is uncertain of course). The Jim Jim and Twin Falls are often closed during these months since the road leading to the falls usually becomes impossible to drive on. However, one advantage of visiting the park during these months is that the park is quiet. It's important to know that Twin Falls is located in Aboriginal territory. The boat service to the falls is run by the Aboriginals; they can decide to close the falls whenever they choose.

Today you'll have plenty of time to kick back and rest up after your trip through the Outback. You'll spend the night in a resort hotel with elaborate facilities, among which a swimming pool. We will arrange for you to stay in a comfortable room, after the Outback we're sure you'll crave some creature comforts. Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory. It's the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities. Visiting Darwin is like having a ticket to the tropics; you'll see palm trees, stifling heat, rotating fans above verandas and locals who live life at a slow pace. After a cyclone destroyed the city in 1974, Darwin was rebuilt. This is why the city has a very modern and open atmosphere. As you walk along the streets you'll mostly see travellers, Aboriginals and Asians. 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 weekend and features many food stalls with goodies from all over the world. It's also an excellent place to buy a few souvenirs.

This day begins with a driver picking you up from your hotel in Cairns. Along with several 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 wander about and have look on your own. The tour then goes on to the 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 over 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. At the same time you'll only be a few metres away from the beach. After you've settled into your jungle cabin (with private bathroom and air conditioning), 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. It was truly heaven.

You'll be picked up at your accommodation at 9:00 for a boating 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! Your boat's name is the Rumrunner. Since most boats leave from Cairns en head off to other parts of the reef, a ride on the Rumrunner is quite a unique experience. First stop is Cape Tribulation. Less people leave from here, so the ship is smaller and therefore the entire atmosphere of the trip is different. It's more laid-back and romantic. The Outer Reef, the part of the reef with the most untainted coral, is only an hour from Cape Tribulation. Most boats from Cairns don't even sail to the Outer 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. 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. For lunch, you'll be treated to an large lunch buffet with plenty of fresh fruit (included). Afterwards you can lounge on deck and sunbathe. Towards the end of the afternoon the boat will head back to Cape Tribulation and you'll be driven to Palm Cove. This is a town north of Cairns with beautiful beaches and palm trees; the perfect place to spend a few days enjoying sun, sea and sand.

This morning you'll be picked up at your resort by a transfer that will take you to Cairns. Once you reach Cairns it's best to pick up your hire car right away so that you'll have plenty of time to go for your first drive through Australia. It should almost feel like home in some ways, since you'll be able to drive on the left side of the road. To give you a chance to ease into your new driving environment in Australia, we've only planned a short drive for today (140km which should take you approximately 2.5 hours). You'll drive out of Cairns down slow winding coastal roads on your way to Mission Beach. Your accommodation in Mission Beach is a somewhat spiritual resort located on 50 acres of rainforest covered hills. The owner of the resort will come to get you at the parking lot with a 4x4, since your own compact car won't be able to drive the last 600m to the resort. Mission Beach is where the rainforest meets the sea and where nature is rugged and pure. We considered this a wonderful place to relax and unwind after our adventures in Australia and we're sure you'll agree. Spend the day in the tranquillity of nature and spend the night at a comfortable hotel near palm tree beaches. 

Another early morning today as you head out to Airlie Beach. You'll have quite a long road ahead of you, approximately 500km or 7 hours actually. As you drive along, some roads will run parallel to the sea. Halfway through the drive you'll pass Townsville. This is a pleasant town that looks out upon Magnetic Island. You may want to spend an extra day here exploring this island. It will only take you 20 minutes to reach the island from Townsville. If you take the 'sun bus', you can explore the island at your own pace and get on and off the bus as you please. Be sure to bring along your swimming costume, there are plenty of idyllic bays excellent for snorkelling. While on the island you can also go horseback riding, sailing or kayaking. It will take you another 3.5 to 4 hours to reach Airlie Beach where you'll spend the night in a comfortable chalet. These cabins have every necessary amenity such as a kitchen, tv, shower, toilet and air conditioning. Airlie Beach is a laid-back holiday destination located on a picturesque bay. There are many beaches, small stores and fun bars where you can have a tropical cocktail with new friends or old friends.

Today you'll embark on an incredible sailing trip across the world famous Great Barrier Reef and through the Whitsundays; one of the most beautiful sailing areas in the world. The 74 predominantly uninhabited tropical Whitsunday Islands are mostly covered by dense rainforest and they are all surrounded by an incredibly turquoise sea. As the wind blows through your hair you'll visit the most breathtaking places such as Whitehaven Beach for instance. This is a gorgeous white sandy beach where you'll see manta rays and colourful fish pass by. The sand is so soft you could actually use it to polish jewellery. From down on the beach you can climb up to the island's highest point which overlooks the entire island, the pristine white beach and Hill Inlet. You'll also have enough time to go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. At the end of the day on the east coast Australia itinerary you'll return to the harbour at Airlie Beach and you'll spend one more night in this dreamy town.

Today you'll travel approximately 180km in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. You'll drive through the countryside on to Eungella National Park. At the end of the day you'll spend one night in a lodge near the park on the banks of the Broken River. While you're here, keep on the look-out for a platypus and visit the Illawong Sanctuary to see adorable koala bears, fuzzy wombats and ferocious crocodiles up close. Experience the national park actively by choosing from one of the many walking tracks through the park. Each gives you a great impression of this large natural reserve. For instance, you could go for the 2-hour Rainforest Discovery Walk. If you do this walk in the morning, you're very likely to see a small platypus scurrying for food. If you feel up to a little more action and adventure, do the 3.7km Cedar Grove Track. During this hike you'll have a great view of the Pioneer Valley from different locations along the trail. As you walk along you'll see the sugar cane fields and rainforest covered Clarke Mountain Range.

Today you'll cruise down Bruce Highway until you reach Yeppoon. This route is about 450km and should take you about 5 hours to complete. Once you reach Rockhampton you'll take Yeppoon Road for the last 40km. You'll spend the night in a comfortable chalet within walking distance from Mulambin Beach in a bungalow park with swimming pool, 9km south of the city of Yeppoon. If you have a little more time available on your east coast Australia trip, extend your stay and go on a day trip to tropical Great Keppel Island. This is an excellent place for snorkelling, hiking along one of the many tracks and discovering remote beaches. Spend the night here if you would like to relax and unwind completely in a tropical paradise.