Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Ayers Rock On arrival, transfer to Voyages Desert Gardens hotel & welcome. At around 5pm we will head out for our Field of Lights tour. This is a magical, self-guided walk through the Field of Lights. This art installation is a global phenomenon by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro who has come ‘home’ to the place that inspired him, Uluru. More than 50,000 slender stems crowned with frosted-glass spheres bloom as darkness falls over Australia’s spiritual heartland. Welcome dinner this evening will be at the Resort. Overnight at Desert Gardens Hotel – Garden View Room.
Day 2
Ayers Rock Today we have an early morning start and travel towards Uluru, its vast shape rises from the sand dunes as the early dawn light highlights it presence in this country. Your guide will take you to a special location with uninterrupted views to watch the sun rise over this amazing monolith. Enjoy a picnic breakfast before we experience the highlights of Uluru. Your guide will escort you on a short walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole at Uluru where you will learn the creation stories of Liru (venomous snake) and Kuniya (Python). We will drive around the base of Uluru before heading to Kata Tjuta. Travel to Kata Tjuta where your guide will reveal the many attributes of this diverse environment. Arriving at Walpa Gorge we will walk between the mighty conglomerate domes and hear how these many domes that make up Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. Return to the hotel around midday for an afternoon and evening at your leisure. Optional excursion highlight to enjoy the ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner. Overnight at Desert Gardens Hotel – Garden View Room.
Day 3
Ayers Rock / Kings Canyon Either enjoy a relaxing morning or go on an optional Scenic Flight to enjoy breathtaking aerial views. Afterwards we will depart Ayers Rock and travel to Watarrka National Park at the western end of the George Gill Range to the impressive Kings Canyon. Tonight you will experience an outback dining delight ‘Under a Desert Moon’, a unique experience only found at the resort. You will be taken to a hidden location where your table is set up under a canopy of stars in the great Southern sky. A fire flickers as you are served a five-course dinner created from seasonal, locally sourced produce with paired wines. Overnight at the Kings Canyon Resort.
Day 4
Kings Canyon / Alice Springs After breakfast, undertake the famous Rim Walk. Climb the escarpment to take in the magnificent views of the Red Centre then embark on the Rim Walk through the beehive-like sandstone domes that are the haven for more than 600 plant species. Kings Canyon is considered botanically the richest region in central Australia. As an alternative to the Rim Walk, you can undertake the Kings Creek Walk to marvel at the canyon walls rising more than 300 metres from the valley floor, or explore Kathleen Springs. Depart Kings Canyon and travel to Alice Springs, stopping along the way to see the desert sights. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon & evening at your leisure. Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Overnight at the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters – Deluxe room.
Day 5
Alice Springs Today after breakfast you will explore the West MacDonnell Ranges, a long series of mountain ranges consisting of parallel ridges. Within the ranges are magnificent gaps and gorges, dramatic scenery and important refuges for a unique collection of plants and animals. We take a visit to some spectacular locations along the West MacDonnell Ranges, including Stanley Chasm, Simpson’s Gap, Ellery Creek Bighole, Ormiston Gorge & Glen Helen Gorge. We explore & appreciate the scenic beauty and history of this amazing area. Tour length is between 8.30am to approx. 3.30pm. Return to hotel to enjoy the rest of the afternoon & evening at your leisure. Overnight at the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters – Deluxe room.
Day 6
Alice Springs / The Ghan overnight rail After breakfast, take a morning tour to visit the heart of the Red Centre – Alice Springs. See how the pioneers lived in what was once an isolated outpost of the 19th century. Visit the Reptile centre, hold & learn about the reptiles of the region. Visit the Royal Flying doctor service museum to understand how this outback medical service operates, covering millions of miles across the region to offer a ‘mantle of safety’ to tens of thousands of outback residents, since it began in the 1930s. Take in the views from the top of Anzac Hill. Return to the resort in time for lunch & to freshen up before departing around 4pm for the Alice Springs train station to board The Ghan. Overnight on board The Ghan – Gold Class Cabin.
Day 7
The Ghan / Darwin As you continue travelling in superb comfort through the Northern Territory, enjoy the sumptuous dining The Ghan has to offer. Start your day with breakfast before a stop at Katherine where you will have the chance to explore from the water or land with your choice of off train experiences. Once back on board, share lunch & laughter with new & old friends as the train makes its way through lush, green tropics to arrive at Darwin terminal around 8pm. Transfer to the hotel to enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. Overnight at the Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront – Premier Studio Room.
Day 8
Darwin / Arnhem Land Today you head off on the Arnhem Land Injalak Hill Day Tour. A traditional Aboriginal guide will show you excellent examples of rock art on Injalak Hill ( Long Tom Dreaming ), witness some of the best Aboriginal Rock art paintings in Australia. The view from the top of the hill is simply breathtaking, looking out across the floodplains & around the Arnhem-land escarpment. At the Injalak Art & Craft Centre there is an opportunity to browse or purchase goods from this non-profit Aboriginal organisation. There will also be time to watch the traditional Aboriginal people painting and to see the women weaving pandanis baskets. With its stunning scenery of billabongs & birds, this escarpment is truly a place where you can escape and experience this unique, untouched haven of the Northern Territory. Overnight at the Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront – Premier Studio Room.
