Crossing the Australian Outback

ADELAIDE
On arrival in Adelaide, take a taxi to collect your rental 4×4, located in Plympton, 6 km from Adelaide.
The rest of the day is free to explore Adelaide, the elegant and culturally rich capital of South Australia.

WILPENA POUND
The start of your great Australian adventure… departure for the Barossa Valley, a renowned wine-growing region.
Then on to Wilpena Pound, the very essence of the Outback, home to some of the oldest natural landscapes on Earth: the Flinders Ranges, a region of striking beauty with spectacular gorges, abundant wildlife, and vivid red earth.
You can choose between hiking, a 4×4 tour, or a small-plane flight (at extra cost). We strongly recommend flying over the region by small plane.

ARKAROOLA
Discover the Arkaroola region by crossing the Gammon Ranges National Park, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, covering 610 km², holds fascinating geological formations, towering granite peaks, hot springs, rare animal and plant species, historic mines, and vast plains.

MARREE
This morning, we recommend the Ridge Top Tour (at extra cost).
The Old Ghan Railway Heritage route tells the remarkable story of the first railway line that transformed Australia.
You will pass through Leigh Creek, a major coal-mining town, before reaching the fascinating ruins of Farina.
Then you will arrive in Marree, an iconic site from the pioneer era.
This is the starting point of two tracks that are part of Australian folklore: the Birdsville Track and the Oodnadatta Track.

COOBER PEDY
Along parts of the track, you will see the “dog fence,” the famous dingo-proof fence. Stretching 5,300 km — twice the length of the Great Wall of China — it was built to keep dingoes, Australia’s wild dogs, away from sheep flocks.
Today you will drive the Oodnadatta Track, running alongside Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest ephemeral salt lake. You will pass Coward Springs, whose natural springs attract numerous birds. Be sure not to miss William Creek, the most isolated town in South Australia.
Then head to Coober Pedy, the world’s opal capital, producing 70% of global supply!
It can get so hot in this part of Australia that everyone lives underground! The underground churches, homes, and shops of this small town are genuine attractions.

AYERS ROCK
Cross the vastness of the Outback through the Red Desert, dense savannah, and spinifex scrub to reach Ayers Rock, the largest monolith in the world, rising mysteriously from the desert.
Ayers Rock: a UNESCO World Heritage site at the heart of the Outback, the world’s largest monolith with impressive dimensions — 3 km long, 2.5 km wide, and 330 m high.
In Australia’s Northern Territory, a massif rises from the heart of the vast Australian desert: Uluru. Named Ayers Rock by the British, Uluru stands alone in the middle of an immense plain. Sacred to the Aboriginal people, Uluru can be translated as “Red Centre.” Indeed, Uluru is striking for its vivid red colour, which contrasts with the surrounding landscape. However, several interpretations of the word “Uluru” exist, including “place of shade.”
In the afternoon, set off to explore Kata Tjuta, known to Aboriginal people as “the place of many heads.” On an hour-long walk, you will discover these striking rock formations along the Walpa Gorge trail.
At the end of the day, watch the sunset over Uluru (Ayers Rock) — an unforgettable moment!
The next day, you will witness the spectacular sunrise over Ayers Rock, then walk around the rock: the Mala Walk will lead you to Kantju Gorge and its waterhole. You will be captivated by Aboriginal spirituality, their beliefs, and their mythical ancestors, the Mala (hare-wallaby people), whose presence Uluru bears witness to. You will then visit Mutitjulu, a sacred waterhole where you can see rock art.

KINGS CANYON
Early morning departure to avoid the heat, followed by a three-hour walk through Australia’s largest canyon, at the heart of Watarrka National Park. These gorges, framed by cliffs 270 metres high, open onto an almost perfectly formed natural amphitheatre. An unforgettable 6 km walk follows the trail along the clifftops and around the amphitheatre. This excursion also offers views of several towering waterfalls cascading into the gorge and the surprising tropical garden known as the Garden of Eden.

TENNANT CREEK
The Stuart Highway leads north towards Tennant Creek, roughly midway between Alice Springs and Darwin. Be sure to stop at the Devil’s Marbles, a vast collection of rounded granite boulders. They were formed by molten rock that cooled and solidified beneath a layer of sandstone. The rocks are especially striking at dusk, when they turn a deep red.

KATHERINE
A long drive to Katherine, known for its vast rural stations and national parks. Be sure to visit the gorges of Nitmiluk National Park.

KAKADU
Located about 245 km from Darwin, the park stretches over more than 200 km from the coast inland. It is, without question, one of the natural wonders of the Northern Territory and one of Australia’s crown jewels. It holds an extraordinarily varied flora (no fewer than 1,000 plant species) and fauna, as well as remarkable Aboriginal rock art. Listed as a World Heritage Site, it is notable for having both natural and cultural significance. It also served as the natural backdrop for the filming of “Crocodile Dundee.”
Kakadu National Park offers landscapes of jungle and wetlands, dominated by the Arnhem Land escarpment.
Visit the Ubirr Rock site, where Aboriginal drawings and paintings date back 23,000 years. Since the Aboriginal language was purely oral, these works form the archives of an entire people and an essential record of their traditions.
This art tradition continues, and Kakadu also holds more recent paintings dating from the 1980s.
While in Kakadu, take the opportunity for a morning cruise on the Yellow Water River (or at sunset, as you prefer).
For many, this cruise is one of the most memorable experiences of a visit to Kakadu. Early morning is the best time to observe birds at their most active. It is also a good opportunity to spot reptiles and crocodiles.
In the afternoon, you have the option to visit the Aboriginal site of Nourlangie Rock and the Warradjan Cultural Centre.

DARWIN
This morning you will leave Kakadu National Park heading for Darwin.
Depending on your choice, you can continue on to Litchfield National Park, with its termite mounds, majestic waterfalls, and natural pools. Or head straight to Darwin to explore the city of Australia’s Top End.

Darwin often surprises visitors. A near-essential stop for exploring the natural sites of the Top End, including Kakadu, Darwin has retained something of a frontier-town character, a sort of transit point. This may be explained by its history: the city grew slowly, with little real development, until gold was discovered at Pine Creek in 1871. Today it is an administrative and mining hub and the gateway to Northern Australia.
Return the 4×4 at Darwin airport.

In summary:
– 1 night in Adelaide, 4-star hotel
– 2 nights in Wilpena Pound, resort
– 1 night in Arkaroola, lodge
– 1 night in Marree, motel
– 1 night in Coober Pedy, underground hotel
– 1 night in Erlunda, motel
– 1 night at Ayers Rock, 3–4-star hotel
– 1 night at Kings Canyon, 3-star hotel
– 1 night in Alice Springs, B&B
– 1 night in Tennant Creek, motel
– 2 nights in Kakadu, 3-star hotel
– 1 night in Darwin, 3-star hotel