/f/286255898790625/5693d2f34d/matt_hayden_and_family_riding_camels_with_uluru_camel_tours.jpg)
Follow the trail and embark on a self-drive holiday that will create memories to last a lifetime.
You’ll experience some of the best Australian outback destinations against iconic NT backdrops, in this 14-day itinerary on sealed roads, with some optional four-wheel driving adventures.
Day 1: Arrive in Uluru
Flying into Uluru Airport, you’ll have spectacular views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. At only 3 to 4 hours from most capital cities, it’s closer than you think! Dine under the stars in the evening and listen as your hosts unlock the secrets of the stars. You can also peer through the telescope for a closer look at the night sky.
Day 2: Uluru
Make an early start to view the Field of Light art installation as the sun rises on Uluru. For an unforgettable experience, hop on a camel ride and enjoy spectacular views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta at sunset.
Day 3: Uluru to Kings Canyon (300km)
One of the great ways to explore Uluru is to cycle around the base and discover the desert landscape up close. When you’ve finished exploring the region, take the easy drive on sealed roads to Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park.
/f/286255898790625/1de21602c6/sounds_of_silence_dinner_at_uluru.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/b16f14db83/a_family_at_the_garden_of_eden_on_the_rim_walk_around_kings_canyon.jpg)
Day 4: Kings Canyon to Alice Springs (330km)
Conquer the 6km Kings Canyon Rim Walk in Watarrka National Park and be rewarded with stunning views of the desert surrounds and the surprise of a beautiful, lush waterhole. Head to Alice Springs via the scenic four-wheel drive route and explore the waterholes of the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Day 5: Alice Springs
There’s no better way to start the day in Alice Springs than with a hot air balloon ride at sunrise. That evening, join an expert guide on a nocturnal tour of Alice Springs Desert Park and spot amazing rare wildlife such as the mala and bilby.
Day 6: Alice Springs
Alice Springs is an ideal playground for all! You can pet a python at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre; learn about Australian pioneer history at Royal Flying Doctor Service and School of the Air and create memories that’ll last a lifetime with a camping trip under the stars.
/f/286255898790625/c0d1153c60/2_hot_air_ballooning_alice_springs_image2.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/dc7627d950/matt_hayden_and_family_walking_the_kings_canyon_rim.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/67df0a5ea7/alice_springs_desert_park_ali_sur_u_16097.jpg)
Day 7: Alice Springs to Tennant Creek (500km)
Four and a half hours drive north of Alice Springs is Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles, gigantic boulders scattered across a wide valley. Travel 100km to Tennant Creek and relive the gold rush years on a mine tour at Battery Hill Mining Centre.
Day 8: Tennant Creek to Daly Waters (400km)
There’s a surprising amount to do in Tennant Creek. Saddle up for a bush tucker trail ride or learn about local Aboriginal culture at Nyinkka Nyunyu Art Centre. 4 hours north is the historic Daly Waters Pub, where you can play a game of bowls… in the main street!
Day 9: Daly Waters to Katherine (275km)
Just a 2-hour drive from Daly Waters are the crystal-clear thermal pools of Mataranka. The pandanus-lined pools show that the tropics aren’t far away. After an hour’s drive you’ll be in Katherine, in time for Marksie’s Stockman’s Camp Tucker Night for dinner.
/f/286255898790625/f13103b858/hiking_at_devils_marbles_near_tennant_creek.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/62f6ac50c3/matt_hayden_and_family_camping_at_daly_waters-jpg.jpg)
Day 10: Katherine to Cooinda, Kakadu National Park (250km)
There are so many ways to enjoy Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge); by river cruise, canoe, bush walk or by helicopter. The kids will love the Aboriginal painting workshop at Top Didj, before a 3-hour drive to the next exciting destination, Cooinda in Kakadu.
Day 11: Kakadu National Park
Don’t miss a Yellow Water Billabong cruise to see spectacular wildlife and dramatic scenery. Learn about the local Aboriginal culture with a hands-on tour with local guides, or a free ranger-guided walk through the rock art galleries of Nourlangie or Ubirr.
Day 12: Cooinda, Kakadu to Darwin (300km)
Wave goodbye to Kakadu and hop back in the car towards Darwin, stopping for a wildlife cruise to see huge saltwater crocodiles jump for food on the Adelaide River.
/f/286255898790625/20213aae2d/a_river_cruise_in_katherine_gorge_in_nitmiluk_national_park.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/7b5f9cc15f/matt_hayden_and_family_fishing_on_a_yellow_water_charter.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/01c7c2c079/a_crocodile_jumoing_on_the_adelaide_river.jpg)
Day 13 & 14: Darwin
The kids will love exploring the great Top End landscape, including the crystal clear waterholes and waterfalls of Litchfield National Park, only 1.5 hours south of Darwin. Time your visit to include a magical sunset at the Asian-inspired Mindil Beach Sunset Markets.
There are many ways to get up close to wildlife in Darwin with crocodile and wildlife attractions nearby. Discover why the Top End is renowned for its world-class fishing with an extended fishing charter, or a half-day Darwin Harbour fishing trip.
/f/286255898790625/92c1994860/matt_hayden_and_family_at_crocosaurus_cove-jpg.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/1af872fde1/matt_hayden_and_family_watching_the_sun_set_at_mindil_beach_sunset_markets_darwin.jpg)
Start in Uluru/Ayers Rock
ExploreDay 1
-
![Sounds of Silence]()
Entered into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, Sounds of Silence offers the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours.
Stay:
Uluru accommodation
Day 2
-
![Field of Light Tours]()
As darkness falls and Uluru is thrown into silhouette, Field of Light illuminates.
-
![A camel tour near Alice Springs wide shot cropped 1]()
Camel riding
YularaTourSee the Red Centre the way the 19th century cameleers did. Choose from short, sunrise and sunset rides at Uluru, or explore Kings Creek Station.
Stay:
Uluru accommodation
/f/286255898790625/bc93fb23a3/a_camel_tour_near_alice_springs_wide_shot_cropped_1.jpg)
Day 3
-
![Outback Cycling Uluru]()
Experience Uluru by bike.
-
![Kings Canyon & Watarrka National Park]()
Feel on top of the world as you walk along the towering red rock cliffs of Kings Canyon and take in views of the forest of palms below.
Stay:
Kings Canyon accommodation
/f/286255898790625/4899x3266/a760721371/woman_exploring_kings_canyon.jpg)
Day 4
-
![Kings Canyon & Watarrka National Park]()
Feel on top of the world as you walk along the towering red rock cliffs of Kings Canyon and take in views of the forest of palms below.
-
![Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges)]()
Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park stretches for 161km west of Alice Springs. Explore and appreciate the scenic beauty and history of the area on foot, swim in a waterhole, or pitch a tent for a longer stay.
Stay:
Alice Springs accommodation
/f/286255898790625/50a81c18bc/car-driving-past-west-macdonnell-ranges.jpg)
Day 5
-
![A hot air balloon being inflated before sunrise in Alice Springs]()
Alice Springs hot air ballooning
Alice SpringsTourFor a unique Red Centre experience, wake before dawn and rise quietly into the fresh morning air in a hot air balloon. You’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the majestic landscapes and wildlife.
-
![Alice Springs Desert Park]()
Alice Springs Desert Park; where the desert comes alive!
-
![Alice Springs Desert Park – Nocturnal Tour]()
Things get a bit wild around here at night!
Stay:
Alice Springs accommodation
/f/286255898790625/93a8e7b37d/a_hot_air_balloon_being_inflated_before_sunrise_in_alice_springs.jpg)
Day 6
-
![Alice Springs Reptile Centre]()
Alice Springs Reptile Centre specialises in things that hiss and slither, which are rare, impossible, or undesirable to come across in the wild.
-
![Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility & Museum]()
See, experience and learn through the wonder of technology as history is brought to life.
-
![Alice Springs School of the Air Visitor Centre]()
For 75 years, the Alice Springs School of the Air has been pioneering education across the Australian Outback.
Stay:
Alice Springs accommodation
Day 7
-
![Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles]()
Discover ancient granite boulders that seem to have dropped from the wide blue skies of the Barkly Tablelands, 95km south of Tennant Creek.
-
![Battery Hill Gold Mining & Heritage Centre]()
Step back in time at the Battery Hill Gold Mining & Heritage Centre, where Tennant Creek’s rich gold mining history comes to life.
Stay:
Tennant Creek accommodation
/f/286255898790625/3578x4472/6704bd7ed7/man_during_dark_sky_at_karlu_karlu_devils_marbles.jpg)
Day 8
-
![Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre]()
Nyinkka Nyunyu (pronounced ny-ink-a ny-oo ny-oo) is a fascinating art centre/gallery and culture museum, which provides visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in local Warumungu culture, to learn about Aboriginal life, history and land in the Tennant Creek region.
Stay:
Tennant Creek accommodation
Day 9
-
![Mataranka]()
Visit the small pastoral town of Mataranka, made famous by the novel We of the Never Never and renowned for its sandy-bottomed thermal pool.
-
![Katherine]()
Where outback Australia meets the tropics in a beguiling mix of ancient Aboriginal culture, hot springs and waterfalls plummeting through dramatic gorges.
Stay:
Katherine accommodation
/f/286255898790625/5059x3162/4de6f3601d/woman_at_katherine_hot_springs.jpg)
Day 10
-
![Man on a scenic helicopter flight taking a photo in Nitmiluk]()
Katherine scenic flights
KatherineTourSoar above great tracts of spectacular scenery in a light aircraft or witness the magnificent Katherine Gorge from the cockpit of a helicopter.
-
![Nitmiluk National Park]()
Be drawn to the spectacular sandstone country of Nitmiluk National Park and the majestic Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge with spectacular cliffs that glow in the changing light.
-
![Two people canoeing through Nitmiluk Gorge]()
Canoeing & kayaking
KatherineTourPush off from the river bank, fasten your lifejacket, and get your paddles going for an unforgettable journey through stunning landscapes.
-
![Woman on Nabili Dreaming Boat Cruise at Nitmiluk]()
River cruising
KatherineTourTrawl along Katherine River through Nitmiluk National Park and take in the dramatic scenery as you move deeper into the stunning Katherine Gorge.
-
![Two people hiking at Butterfly Gorge]()
Walking & hiking
KatherineSee & doThe Katherine region is a bushwalker’s paradise. It’s also where you’ll find the famous Jatbula Trail.
-
![Manbulloo Homestead Caravan Park]()
Manbulloo Homestead Caravan Park -
![Darwin, Litchfield, Kakadu, Katherine]()
Darwin, Litchfield, Kakadu, Katherine – Carney's Safaris -
![Carney's Safaris]()
Carney's Safaris -
![7 Day Kimberley Loop from Darwin]()
7 Day Kimberley Loop from Darwin – Charter North 4WD Safaris -
![9 Day Kimberley Tour]()
9 Day Kimberley Tour – Charter North 4WD Safaris -
![10 Day Kimberley Tour]()
10 Day Kimberley Tour – Charter North 4WD Safaris -
![Caranbirini Conservation Reserve]()
Caranbirini Conservation Reserve -
![NitNit Dreaming 2 Gorge Tour]()
NitNit Dreaming 2 Gorge Tour – Nitmiluk Tours (Katherine) Gorge -
![Timeless Land 3 Gorge Tour]()
Timeless Land 3 Gorge Tour – Nitmiluk Tours (Katherine) Gorge -
![Giwining Nature Park]()
Giwining Nature Park -
![Southern Rockhole]()
Southern Rockhole -
![Sweetwater Pool]()
Sweetwater Pool -
![Bitter Springs]()
Bitter Springs -
![Butterfly Gorge Nature Park]()
Butterfly Gorge Nature Park -
![Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park]()
Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park -
![Barranyi National Park]()
Barranyi National Park -
![Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park]()
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park -
![Elsey National Park]()
Elsey National Park -
![Judbarra / Gregory National Park]()
Judbarra / Gregory National Park -
![Escarpment Walk]()
Escarpment Walk -
![Keep River National Park]()
Keep River National Park -
![Leliyn (Edith Falls)]()
Leliyn (Edith Falls) -
![Limmen National Park]()
Limmen National Park -
![Mataranka Thermal Pool]()
Mataranka Thermal Pool -
![Northern Rockhole]()
Northern Rockhole -
![Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park]()
Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park -
![Keep River National Park Guided Walk]()
Keep River National Park Guided Walk
-
Stay:
Kakadu accommodation
/f/286255898790625/90d2db2018/man_on_a_scenic_helicopter_flight_taking_a_photo_in_nitmiluk.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/4901x3265/c88664bce1/baruwei_lookout_nitmiluk_national_park.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/239713d9fe/two_people_canoeing_through_nitmiluk_gorge.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/2ed9166a84/woman_on_nabili_dreaming_boat_cruise_at_nitmiluk.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/f81a9f5965/two_people_hiking_at_butterfly_gorge.jpg)
Day 11
-
![Yellow Water Cruises]()
Yellow Water Billabong — Kakadu's most famous wetland — lies at the end of Jim Jim Creek, a tributary of the South Alligator River.
-
![Burrungkuy rock art site]()
The walls of the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art site, in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, have served as a shelter and canvas for thousands of years.
-
![Ubirr]()
Ubirr is one of Kakadu National Park’s two most famous Aboriginal rock art galleries.
Stay:
Kakadu accommodation
/f/286255898790625/582cabc6c3/1006885043c4d4f862dc789b9b0a2997.jpeg)
/f/286255898790625/2449x1633/084f4ce4e5/sunset_at_ubirr_kakadu_national_park.jpg)
Day 12
-
![A woman watching a crocodile getting fed from a boat on adelaide river]()
Darwin crocodile cruises
Darwin & SurroundsTourJoin a cruise on the scenic Adelaide River and see powerful saltwater crocodiles propel themselves high out of the water to snatch their prey.
Stay:
Darwin accommodation
/f/286255898790625/f65c68d18b/a_woman_watching_a_crocodile_getting_fed_from_a_boat_on_adelaide_river.jpg)
Day 13
-
![Buley Rockhole]()
Enjoy a refreshing swim in the cascading pools of Buley Rockhole.
Stay:
Darwin accommodation
Day 14
-
![Crocosaurus Cove]()
Located in the heart of Darwin City, Crocosaurus Cove is home to the world’s largest display of Australian reptiles, including the iconic saltwater crocodile.
-
![Two men having a laugh while fishing on a charter]()
Fishing around Darwin
Darwin & SurroundsTourFrom sparkling Darwin Harbour and the Mary River wetlands to the Tiwi Islands and the Dundee Coast, the Darwin region is an angler’s paradise.
-
![Humbug Fishing]()
Humbug Fishing -
![Vision Sportfishing Charters]()
Vision Sportfishing Charters -
![Remote Adventures NT]()
Remote Adventures NT -
![River & Reef Fishing Charters]()
River & Reef Fishing Charters -
![Just Doon It Barramundi Fishing Charters]()
Just Doon It Barramundi Fishing Charters -
![Airborne Solutions]()
Airborne Solutions -
![Nautilus Aviation]()
Nautilus Aviation -
![Estuary Escapes Fishing Charters]()
Estuary Escapes Fishing Charters -
![Darwin Harbour Fishing Charters]()
Darwin Harbour Fishing Charters -
![Barefoot Fishing Safaris]()
Barefoot Fishing Safaris -
![HeliFish]()
HeliFish -
![Barra or Blue Fishing Charters]()
Barra or Blue Fishing Charters -
![Offshore Boats]()
Offshore Boats -
![Spring Tide Safaris]()
Spring Tide Safaris -
![Australian Wild Tours]()
Australian Wild Tours -
![Barra Private Tours]()
Barra Private Tours -
![VIP Northern Territory]()
VIP Northern Territory -
![Alure Fishing Charters NT]()
Alure Fishing Charters NT
-
/f/286255898790625/aa794b9cb4/two_men_having_a_laugh_while_fishing_on_a_charter.jpg)
Finish in Darwin
Explore-
:quality(80)/f/286255898790625/4899x3266/fc132d9bcf/magestic_uluru.jpg)
Overview3,031km34 activities14 days -
Day 1293m1 activities -
Day 212km2 activities -
Day 3314km2 activities -
:quality(80)/f/286255898790625/4899x3266/a760721371/woman_exploring_kings_canyon.jpg)
Day 4343km2 activities -
:quality(80)/f/286255898790625/93a8e7b37d/a_hot_air_balloon_being_inflated_before_sunrise_in_alice_springs.jpg)
Day 519km3 activities -
Day 68km3 activities -
:quality(80)/f/286255898790625/3578x4472/6704bd7ed7/man_during_dark_sky_at_karlu_karlu_devils_marbles.jpg)
Day 7513km2 activities -
Day 82km2 activities -
Day 9683km2 activities -
:quality(80)/f/286255898790625/90d2db2018/man_on_a_scenic_helicopter_flight_taking_a_photo_in_nitmiluk.jpg)
Day 10261km6 activities -
Day 11133km3 activities -
:quality(80)/f/286255898790625/f65c68d18b/a_woman_watching_a_crocodile_getting_fed_from_a_boat_on_adelaide_river.jpg)
Day 12305km1 activities -
Day 13300km3 activities -
Day 14132km2 activities
Keep exploring
More itineraries you might like
/f/286255898790625/8e4572dbee/aerial_view_of_uluru_and_the_surrounding_area.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/7250816562/aerial_view_of_uluru_and_the_surrounding_area.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/abdfcdf0f0/aerial_view_of_a_4wd_driving_on_the_stuart_highway_through_the_desert_landscape_near_alice_springs.jpg)
/f/286255898790625/7279907827/maruku_arts_workshop_uluru.jfif)
/f/286255898790625/eb73ce1477/keep-in-touch.jpg)