30- Day Australia's Best

Welcome to the beautiful tropical city of Darwin. Explore this history-rich, vibrant and balmy gem at the top of Oz. We recommend arriving before the late evening on Day 1 to make the most of your time in Darwin. Two nights accommodation is included. Meals and activities at own expense.

You will be collected from your Darwin accommodation at approximately 7 am for the short journey to Litchfield National Park. Explore the waterfalls, spring-fed streams and rugged sandstone escarpments of this park. You'll discover intriguing cathedral and magnetic termite mounds and swim, hike and explore Florence and Wangi Falls. Enjoy lunch before crossing the 4 Wheel Drive Marrakai Road en-route to our private campsite in the Mary River region where the local wallaby population welcomes us on arrival. This afternoon experience a private 90-minute cruise spotting crocodiles, birds, buffalos and other wildlife. This is a magical experience away from the masses in an area with the one of the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles found in the world. Return to camp, where Wallabies roam free, the pool is inviting and you settle in to your home under the stars.

This morning, we will take the short journey into Kakadu National Park and the culturally significant Ubirr, located within the East Alligator Region of the park. Here you will view a wide range of ancient Aboriginal art which will be interpreted by your guide. Learn the story of the Rainbow Serpent and climb the Nadab Lookout for panoramic views over the floodplain and beyond into Arnhem Land. After lunch we travel along a dirt road to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge). Following a short hike through monsoon forest and a rocky creek bed you will view the waterfall and have the opportunity to cool off with a swim in the clear plunge pool. As the day draws to an end we head to our private campsite at Cooinda. 

Today adventure awaits. Rising early, you will travel into Twin Falls Gorge which is accessed by 4-wheel drive track, a boat shuttle service and a rocky walking track and boardwalk. Once there relax on the sandy banks and admire the falls. There’s more 4-wheel driving as we make our way to Jim Jim Falls where a walk through monsoon forest and over boulders takes us to the waterfall and plunge pool which are surrounded by 150 metre cliffs. You will then spend the day taking in the sheer beauty of the jewel of Kakadu National Park. This afternoon, put your feet up and relax as your guide returns you to your Darwin accommodation after three magical days of adventure, wildlife, rich in cultural history and natural beauty. Overnight accommodation included. 

You will be collected from your Darwin accommodation at approximately 6 am and then our adventure through the "Territory" to Alice Springs begins. The afternoon is spent at Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park which is owned by the Jawoyn Aboriginal people. Ancient sandstone has been carved away by the Katherine River to create a deep and picturesque gorge. You may like to take a boat cruise or paddle a canoe (seasonal) through the peaceful water (both optional and additional cost) before retiring to our campsite nearby.

A great start to the day is a soak in the Mataranka Thermal Pools, a lush oasis fringed by paperbark trees. No trip to the Territory is complete without a visit to the Daly Waters Pub, an important watering hole for explorers and drovers in days gone by and now a great spot for a cold beer, a bit of history and a "fair dinkum outback experience". Our day winds to a close at historic Banka Banka Cattle Station where we camp for the night.

We'll pass through Tennant Creek and then further along the track are the Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) which are a collection of gigantic granite boulders magically balanced on top of one another. Later in the day we cross the Tropic of Capricorn (only 20% of the Northern Territory lays south of this point) then a short time later we arrive into Alice Springs. Dorm or twin room accommodation in Alice Springs is included (dinner is at own expense).

A day of leisure to either relax or explore the Red Centre township of Alice Springs. All activities and meals are at your own expense.

Your Red Centre adventure begins with a stop at the Outback Camel Farm at Stuarts Well where you can ride a camel (own expense). After turning off the Stuart Highway a stop is made at Mount Ebenezer, which is a good place to see and buy Aboriginal art and craft. As we continue our journey, don’t be tricked, the first monolith you will see is Mount Conner (Atila) – not to be confused with Uluru which is still some 100km away. After lunch and your arrival at Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park, stop by the Cultural Centre to expand your knowledge on the history of the area and its people. Your guide will then take you on an interpretive walk around the base of "the Rock". Those choosing to climb will have the opportunity to do so, weather permitting. (Note: Uluru is a sacred site and Anangu, the indigenous custodians, respectfully ask visitors not to climb it). You may also opt to take a longer self-guided walk around Uluru to continue your exploration. It’s then time to watch the ever-changing colours of Uluru at sunset. After dinner, some campfire stories and star gazing, the choice is yours to sleep in swags or tents at your private campsite. 

Get up early for an Uluru sunrise which is as dramatic as sunset and can be viewed close-by your campsite. After breakfast and a short drive to the landform known as Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), an aboriginal word for “many heads”, you will explore the domes of which there are 36 in total. Here your guide will lead you on a hike through the dry creek beds, domes and beautiful wilderness of the Valley of the Winds. After lunch, it’s time to leave Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park for the drive to your private campsite on Kings Creek Station, a working cattle farm.

This morning you will take a guided walk to see the towering walls, crevices and plateaus of Watarrka (Kings Canyon) where you will visit the Amphitheatre and the Lost City. After lunch, enjoy the return journey back to Alice Springs arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight accommodation is included, dinner is at own expense.

Today you can fly at anytime from Alice Springs to Cairns. Overnight accommodation is included in Cairns. Meals, flight and activities are at own expense.

Spend your days exploring Cairns perhaps opting for a snorkelling trip on the world famous Great Barrier Reef, whitewater rafting on the spectacular Tully River or a day trip to the tropical paradise of Cape Tribulation. However you decide to spend your days, finish off day 15 with an included farewell dinner at 6 pm with your East Coast group meeting at Gilligans Backpacker Resort at 6pm (activities and other meals are at own expense). 

Today we will head south through the stunning Atherton Tablelands. Here we will visit the magnificent Millaa Millaa Falls, the Curtain Fig Tree and the volcanic crater of Lake Eacham.
In the evening we will arrive at our rainforest lodge in the village of Yungaburra. Yungaburra is a beautiful town nestled away from the coastline, amongst beautiful crater lakes, rainforest and tropical fruit farms. From our accommodation tonight you will have the opportunity to go wildlife spotting by canoe, looking for the rare Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo - a real kangaroo that lives in amongst the rainforest canopy - ring tail, brush tail and carnivorous possums, bandicoots, gliders and platypuses.

After your big night of activities we awake this morning to participate in a platypus-spotting walk (in which we have a 98% success rate in seeing the elusive platypus), with the option of biking in the neighbouring area. We then take the long drive to Airlie Beach, our base to the Whitsundays Islands. We suggest counting kangaroos.

Today you will have the option of relaxing in Airlie Beach to rest up and take in the tropical atmosphere of this chilled out town. For those wanting a more action-packed experience you have the option to upgrade to a 2 day/1 night sailing experience. Sail on a maxi-yacht with young, fun-loving people and experience sleeping overnight on a fast sailing yacht. 

This morning we head to Abel Point Marina for our cruise through the magnificent Whitsunday Islands. Our sleek catamaran features a boom net where you can laze about as you watch the blue water break against the sides and the islands slowly cruise by. In the morning we will venture onto Whitsunday Island to take in the breathtaking seven kilometre-long Whitehaven Beach where you can snorkel, swim and even clean your jewellery with the white pristine silica sand. For lunch we return to the boat for a bbq and cruise around the area before returning to Airlie in the late afternoon. If you don’t have a case of the sea legs, then tonight you may want to check out the nightlife which makes Airlie Beach so famous. 

This morning we'll bid farewell to the beautiful Whitsundays region and head to our Outback cattle station for two nights. As we will be driving a lot of the day, we suggest counting kangaroos. In the evening we settle around the campfire for a traditional camp oven dinner.

Awake to the sounds of birds chirping and the crackle of the campfire preparing for your camp oven breakfast. Today is a day of Aussie outback life, as you will try your hand at whip cracking, and lassoing, cow milking and a farm tour of the property. You can also participate in a horse-ride or motor-bike ride through the cattle station (both optional). In between these activities experience a traditional Aussie bbq to keep your energy levels up. In the evening we return to the campfire for another dinner.

After our final bush breakfast we head on south to Rainbow Beach – the gateway to World Heritage Fraser Island. We'll arrive in time for an afternoon swim before settling into our accommodation for the evening with a meal in the bar/restaurant.

Allow us to introduce you to the largest sand island in the world, World Heritage Fraser Island. Your island adventure begins in the morning when your local guide picks you up in Rainbow. After a short 10-minute ferry ride you start your two full days of four-wheel-driving on the roads of sand. During your stay you will have the chance to spot dingoes, swim in crystal clear freshwater lakes and explore the diverse landscapes of this unique habitat. Don’t forget to bring your new boomerang with you to practice your throwing on the beach. Before heading to bed don’t forget to look up to enjoy the millions of stars. In the late afternoon of the second day your guide will return you to your Rainbow accommodation where you have a group dinner. 

Today you will be treated to two unique experiences. You will have the opportunity to hand-feed wild Pacific dolphins as they come into Tin Can Bay every morning. This national park run activity is included in the price of your tour. Then you will be able to design and paint your own boomerang, a traditional Aboriginal hunting implement. Yarra (Bunjalung tribe) and local artist Ze will help you using Aboriginal symbols, animals and activities to create a personal memento of your Australian adventure. Rainbow Beach gets its name from an Aboriginal legend that tells of Yiningie – the spirit of the Gods represented by a rainbow – who was killed in a fight over a woman. When he crashed into the cliffs his spirits created the coloured sands that are visible today. Yarra's Bush Tucker Lunch is an opportunity to experience the true taste of Australia. Yarra is an aboriginal elder of the Bunjalung Tribe who enjoys cooking traditional foods with a modern presentation. Taste kangaroo (or tempeh for vegetarians) prepared in exotic bush tucker spices served with a choice of delicious fresh salads including locally grown greens topped with zesty lemon myrtle dressing. Lunch is served in a relaxed outdoor setting surrounded by the bush tucker garden (weather permitting). You may taste, when in season, the bush foods growing there and learn about local bush foods and medicines. It’s then onto Brisbane, the Queensland capital, to drop off passengers participating in only the Queensland portion of the tour. From there we finish the day in the Queensland holiday capital, Surfers Paradise with a group dinner by the beach.

Following breakfast we welcome you to New South Wales and head to the famous hippie town of Byron Bay where your guide will take you on a town tour including a walk up to the famous lighthouse. You will have most of the day to take in the relaxed vibe here before driving into our beachfront surf camp for the night. Our surf camp is on the Coffs Coast, where the Great Dividing Range meets the ocean. It encompasses 90 kilometres of beaches which makes it one of the best places in Australia to learn how to surf.

For those who have chosen to try their hand at "hanging ten" with an optional surf lesson you will participate this morning. If you would rather watch the waves (and the new surfers) roll in, then laze about our beachside accommodation or walk along the beach. Following the lesson our journey continues south to the beautiful coastal seaside town of Port Macquarie where we visit the Koala Hospital. This hospital established in 1973 to treat sick and injured koalas is also involved in research with the University of Sydney into Koala diseases. With the exception of the supervisor, the hospital is staffed by volunteers and by a charitable organisation, the Koala Preservation Society Australia. Your entry fee here goes towards this noble work.

Today we'll continue our focus on food and wine in this region and after lunch we will travel onto Katoomba in the heart of the Blue Mountains to prepare for our next day of activities.

In the morning it’s on to one of New South Wales’ most picturesque destinations, the World Heritage Blue Mountains. Home to the famous Three Sisters rock formations your guide will take you on a walk down from the lookout to witness the vast land around you. In the afternoon we make our way to the city many consider Australia’s real capital, Sydney. After checking into our accommodation we re-join for a final group dinner. 

What better way to complete your East Coast adventure than by spinning around the most famous harbour in the world, Sydney Harbour, in a jet boat past the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. You will then have the rest of the afternoon and all of day 30 to explore some more of Sydney’s famous attractions. Go for a swim or stroll at Bondi or Manly Beach, climb the Harbour Bridge or Centrepoint Tower or visit the Hunter Valley to sample fine Australia wine. (Accommodation not included on day 30).