20 Day Kakadu, Lost City & Gulf Adventure
Departs: Tour Completed
TOUR COST: from $5068 pp twin share
An exciting Outback Holiday that is the ultimate Northern Territory experience. The tour encompasses the Best of the Top End and the Gulf. Remember the well known jingle “You’ll Never Never Know if you Never Never Go?” Well this is your chance to go and discover the Northern Territory. Experience the lush tropical Top End with thermal springs, Katherine Gorge Cruise, Litchfield and Kakadu, Yellow Waters Cruise and then there is cosmopolitan Darwin. The best attractions are showcased: see vivid outback landscapes, flora and fauna, awesome gorges and a tropical top end paradise. Be amazed at the ancient landscape as you take a heli flight over the ‘Lost City’ at Cape Crawford. Watch the sunset over the Arafura Sea at Karumba. Join us on a tour of a lifetime filled with excitement and adventure, as we experience together the magnificence of a pristine wilderness that is unequalled throughout the world for remoteness and beauty.
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY — ROMA (D)
Friday 23rd May: An early start for travelling companions joining between Hervey Bay and Caboolture. Brisbane passengers join at Brisbane Roma Street Transit Centre for departure at 9:30am. Stop in Toowoomba for lunch (own expense). Continue westward passing through the agriculturally rich area of the Darling Downs, before arriving in Roma. Stay Kings Motor Inn.
DAY 2 ROMA — QUILPIE (BD)
Saturday 24th May: Tour the highlights of Roma before journeying to Charleville to learn the fascinating history of this pioneer town. Leave civilisation behind and venture into the heartlands of the Mulga Country. The Diamantina Development Road leads us to the frontier opal town of Quilpie. Stay Quilpie Motor Inn (triple share may be required).
DAY 3 QUILPIE — BEDOURIE (BLD)
Sunday 25th May: Traverse west to cross the stark plains of the Channel Country. Cross over the legendary Cooper Creek to arrive at Windorah. Continue along the Diamantina Development Road to Bedourie, the administrative centre of the Diamantina Shire Council which has much to offer visitors. Stay Simpson Desert Oasis Resort.
DAY 4 BEDOURIE — MT ISA (BLD)
Monday 26th May: Moving north we arrive into Boulia mid morning to experience the Min Min Encounter, learning the story surrounding the myth of the mysterious Min Min Lights. Stop for lunch in Dajarra, once the largest trucking depot in the world. Continue on to Mt Isa. Stay Fortland Burke & Wills Motel.
DAY 5 MT ISA — TENNANT CREEK (BD)
Tuesday 27th May: Today we are bound for Tennant Creek. Travel the Barkly Highway through Avon Downs and treeless plains where there is little natural surface water. Bores pump water to the surface through sub-artesian basins. At Three Ways turn south onto the Stuart Highway and head for Tennant Creek. Stay El Dorado Motor Inn.
DAY 6 TENNANT CREEK — MATARANKA (BD)
Wednesday 28th May: This morning visit Newcastle Waters township which is part of a large, historic cattle station in the Barkly Tablelands. Economically dependent on droving in the early 1900s, the arrival of road trains in the 1960s reduced it to a virtual ghost town. The National Trust's Jones' Store, built in 1934, has been preserved as a museum. Travel through the scattered settlements of Renner Springs and Elliott. Visit the Elsey Homestead replica of ‘We of the Never Never’ fame and at Elsey National Park swim in the famous Mataranka Thermal Pools. Stay Territory Manor.
DAY 7 MATARANKA — DARWIN (BLD)
Thursday 29th May: Enjoy a guided tour of the Cutta Cutta Caves. These 500 million-year-old limestone caverns are an important roosting site for the endangered Orange Horseshoe bat. Northward to the Adelaide River to visit the beautiful grounds of the Adelaide River War Memorial. Travel towards Darwin and there delight in a sightseeing tour that includes The Esplanade, Fannie Bay, East Point Reserve, the Military Museum and the Territory Museum and Art Gallery. 3 Night Stay Poinciana Inn.
DAY 8 DARWIN — FREE DAY (B)
Friday 30th May: A free day in Darwin to explore the city at leisure or enjoy an optional sightseeing tour (own expense).
DAY 9 DARWIN — SIGHTSEEING (BL)
Saturday 31st May : Spend the day in the lush wilderness of Litchfield National Park, with a swim and picnic lunch at beautiful Wangi Falls.
DAY 10 DARWIN — KAKADU (BD)
Sunday 1st June: We cross the Marakai Plains to Kakadu National Park. On the way board the “Adelaide River Queen’ to view the amazing jumping crocodiles. Visit the Bowali Visitor Centre and gain an insight into the natural habitats, landscapes and wildlife of Kakadu park. Then north to Ubirr to the Aboriginal rock art site that offers spectacular escarpment views. Next, inspect magnificent Nourlangie Rock to view ancient Aboriginal rock art. Stay Gagudju Resort.
DAY 11 KAKADU — KATHERINE (BLD)
Monday 2nd June: Join an early morning cruise along the tranquil Yellow Waters Billabong as your guide provides commentary on the region’s natural history, abundant flora and wildlife. Departing Kakadu journey into beautiful Nitmiluk National Park for a totally different cruising experience through the towering cliffs of Katherine Gorge. Learn about the regions rich flora and fauna, and the significance of the gorge’s Aboriginal art. Stay Knott’s Crossing Resort.
DAY 12 KATHERINE — CAPE CRAWFORD (BLD)
Tuesday 3rd June: Enjoy a delicious home style lunch at the historic Daly Waters Pub. Then join the Carpentaria Highway to strike out in an easterly direction across vast barren plains, passing through many cattle stations on the way to Cape Crawford. Stay Heartbreak Hotel.
DAY 13 CAPE CRAWFORD — SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Wednesday 4th June: After breakfast be stimulated by the experience of a lifetime, when in small groups you will board helicopters and wing toward the barren and desolate country of the “Lost City”. Fly among the towering sandstone karsts, columns and spires, then set to ground to be dwarfed by the varied shapes and awed by the stillness. Our guide will explain all ground details to you before the ‘chopper’ ferries you back to the Heartbreak Hotel.
DAY 14 CAPE CRAWFORD — BURKETOWN (BLD)
Thursday 5th June: Journey further north to Borroloola, a popular fishing spot on the banks of the MacArthur River. On through the more isolated bush tracks that lead the way to Wollogorang Station and to Hells Gate. In the afternoon travel past the Aboriginal settlement of Doomadgee and cross the Nicholson River to Tirranna Roadhouse before arriving in historic Burketown. Stay Burketown Hotel and Caravan Park.
DAY 15 BURKETOWN — KARUMBA (BD)
Friday 6th June: Continue our journey into the Gulf Country as we head east to inspect the Burke and Wills Memorial ‘Camp 119’, pausing to admire the explorers adventurous spirit. Continue through flat wetlands, home of the Jabiru and dancing Brolga. Pause at Normanton for lunch (own expense) and time to explore the town. See the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria from Karumba Point. Stay Karumba Lodge Hotel Motel.
DAY 16 KARUMBA — RICHMOND (BLD)
Saturday 7th June: Back via Normanton, stop at Bang Bang Jump Up rock formation, arriving for morning tea at the Burke & Wills Roadhouse. Follow the Wills Development Road to Julia Creek, turn east along the Flinders Highway to arrive at Richmond mid afternoon for a guided tour of Kronosaurus Korner Fossil Centre. Stay Enriken’s Pioneer Motel.
DAY 17 RICHMOND — CHARTERS TOWERS (BD)
Sunday 8th June: Follow the Dinosaur Trail as we make our way through Hughenden to Charters Towers. Enjoy a few hours of free time for lunch and exploring the town before a guided tour of Venus Gold Battery, which gives a fascinating insight into how gold was extracted from ore. Tonight enjoy the Ghost After Dark Show on Tower Hill where the ghosts of the past have a starring role. Stay Park Motel.
DAY 18 CHARTERS TOWERS — EMERALD (BLD)
Monday 9th June: Trek along the lonely Gregory Development Road, passing through large cattle stations. Time to purchase your morning tea at the isolated Belyando Crossing. Enjoy a picnic lunch in Clermont before continuing on to Emerald for an opportunity to wander the town. Stay Emerald Meteor Motel.
DAY 19 EMERALD — GLADSTONE (BD)
Tuesday 10th June: Continue along the Gregory Highway past the Fairbairn Dam for morning tea at Springsure. Stop at Moura Information Centre to view the mining museum. Just outside Moura at Apex Park view the 150th Meridian. Enjoy a guided tour of the Queensland Heritage Park at Biloela before continuing on to Gladstone. Stay The Reef Motel.
DAY 20 GLADSTONE—HERVEY BAY (B)
Wednesday 11th June: Enjoy a town tour before travelling south on the Bruce Highway with drop-offs enroute. Farewell your holiday friends who shared this wonderful holiday with you. Arrive Brisbane mid afternoon.