Northern Territory Explorer: Top End to the Red Centre

Your trip begins with complimentary airport lounge access before boarding your overnight flight from the UK to Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory. 

On arrival in Darwin, a private transfer will take you from the airport to your upscale apartment hotel in the city’s delightful waterfront district. You’ll have time to settle in, get some rest and familiarise yourself with the surrounding area before setting off on a sunset dinner cruise. This two-and-a-half hour journey includes a delicious Northern Territory-style dinner featuring fresh, local produce, accompanied by detailed commentary and magnificent views of Darwin’s iconic sunset – the perfect introduction to your Northern Territory adventure.

The following day is free for you to explore Darwin at leisure. From its fascinating museums and art galleries to its bustling food markets and Crocosaurus Cove, where you can see saltwater crocodiles up close, there’s an extraordinary amount to see and do in this vibrant coastal city. A refreshing dip in the palm-fringed saltwater lagoon is also well worth considering. 

Stay: Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront, Darwin (Superior)

You’ll pick up your hire car this morning, driving around 250 kilometres east along the Arnhem Highway to Jabiru, one of the main towns in Kakadu National Park. This is one of Australia’s largest national parks, UNESCO World Heritage-listed for its cultural and natural importance. It's a beautiful region filled with savanna grasslands, mangroves, tidal mudflats, monsoonal rainforests, epic escarpments and thundering waterfalls, home to a vast array of wildlife and ancient Aboriginal rock art sites. A scenic 30-minute flight will provide you with spectacular views of this vast wilderness region from above. You’ll be spending the night in Jabiru at a laid-back resort surrounded by tropical gardens, with access to an outdoor swimming pool. Consider taking a trip to nearby Ubirr in the evening for stunning sunset views and the opportunity to explore one of the area's finest collections of Aboriginal rock art.

Stay: Anbinik Kakadu Resort, Jabiru (Anbinik Suite) (Standard)

It’s just a short drive today as you continue deeper into Kakadu National Park to your next stop – a secluded, oasis-style lodge with comfortable accommodation, swimming pools, indoor and outdoor restaurants and a peaceful, easy-going vibe. This is a delightful spot to slow down, unwind and recharge in the midst of the national park’s pristine, unspoilt nature. On your way to the lodge from Jabiru, consider taking a detour to visit the extraordinary Aboriginal rock art site of Burrungkuy (also known as Nourlangie). 

Stay: Cooinda Lodge Kakadu, Cooinda (Lodge Room) (Standard)

It’s an early start this morning, but it’s absolutely worthwhile as you venture out on a two-hour sunrise cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong – the largest wetland system in Kakadu, home to the likes of crocodiles, buffalos, wallabies, wild horses and a vast array of bird species. You’ll then take to the road once more, heading south towards Katherine, known as the town where the Outback meets the tropics. Your base is a little further beyond the town itself, a stylish and secluded luxury lodge nestled among bushlands on the banks of the Katherine River – an ideal starting point from which to discover the spectacular sandstone gorges of Nitmiluk National Park. 

You have the whole day free to relax at the lodge or explore Nitmiluk National Park in more depth, whether you fancy hiking, taking a scenic flight or canoeing along the river gorges – or perhaps even a combination of all of these. Later on, you’ll head out on a sunset dinner cruise, journeying into the world of Jawoyn Aboriginal culture and taking in the magnificent sight of the cliff faces glowing under the setting sun. Enjoy a delicious, three-course candlelit meal in these stunning surroundings before returning to the lodge for the night. 

You’ll head back up north today, setting your sights on Litchfield National Park. From cascading waterfalls tumbling into crystal clear rock pools to the tropical monsoonal rainforest and captivating magnetic termite mounds, it’s an extraordinary area that showcases the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the Northern Territory’s Top End. It’s a prime spot for a hike, a swim and a picnic. Then, you’ll return to Darwin, wrapping up the first section of your Northern Territory adventure. 

Stay: Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront, Darwin (Superior)

This morning, you’ll drop your hire car off at Darwin Airport and board a two-hour flight to Alice Springs, the gateway to the Australian Outback. Steeped in Aboriginal cultural heritage and replete with a wonderful local food scene, this is the ideal starting point for adventures into the Red Centre – a vast expanse of desert plains, rugged mountains and rocky gorges, roamed by kangaroos, wallabies and even camels. 

Please note, there is the option to extend your stay in Alice Springs for an extra night to enjoy an early morning hot air balloon experience and a half-day Alice Springs tour.

Stay: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, Alice Springs (Superior)

Today, you’ll venture deep into the Outback as a transfer will take you from Alice Springs to Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) – perhaps the most iconic natural wonder in Australia. You’ll be spending the next two nights in a modern hotel just outside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, set among towering gum trees and an oasis of native gardens. This evening, you’ll be driven out to a remote desert location to see the sunset with Uluru as the backdrop, accompanied by canapés and chilled sparkling wine, followed by a magical evening at the Field of Light. This award-winning art installation comprises 50,000 glass spheres illuminated in ochre, violet, blue and white, gently swaying in the desert.

You’ll be treated to a three-course bush tucker-inspired buffet dinner, accompanied by a startalker to talk you through the sparkling night sky. After dinner, you’re invited to take a walk through the Field of Light to get up close to the installation and immerse yourself in the art.

Having seen it by night, today presents the opportunity to get up close to Uluru on a small group tour to learn more about the geological history and cultural significance of this ancient sandstone monolith in the desert. You’ll visit the Mutitjulu Waterhole (one of the few permanent water sources in the region), undertake the Mala Walk and visit ancient Aboriginal rock art sites along the way, before arriving at the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku viewing area in time for sunset. Enjoy a glass of chilled sparkling wine while soaking up this majestic view of Uluru with the Kata Tjuta domed rock formations in the distance. 

Start your morning with an immersive sunrise experience, in which you’ll be introduced to the work of three prolific female Anangu artists, depicting their deep-running connection to the region’s nature and culture. Before the glowing silhouettes of Uluru and Kata Tjuta come into view, the artwork is brought to life on a sustainably constructed floating platform, as cutting edge laser and light technology sees indigenous iconography gently ebb and flow across the desert canvas. After this spectacular display, tuck into a hearty local breakfast accompanied by Australian chai tea. You’ll then be transferred to the airport for a flight from Ayers Rock to Sydney – a journey of just under three hours – where you’ll be staying in a sleek and centrally located hotel for the final three nights of your trip.

Stay: Amora Hotel Jamison, Sydney (Superior)

Your first morning in Sydney begins with a half-day sightseeing tour, starting at The Rocks, a historic district of cobbled streets and sandstone warehouses where European colonial settlers began to arrive in the late 18th century. Your tour continues through the Central Business District before arriving at Mrs Macquaries Point, from which you’ll be met by superb views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Next, you’ll wind through Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs, before beach stops at Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte. After the tour, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

The following day, you’ll take to the water on a half-day luxury yacht cruise, visiting the hidden corners of Sydney Harbour and secluded waterways, home to Sydney’s resident penguin and seal colonies. As part of the tour, a superb lunch is included at the CYCA, Sydney’s most prestigious private yacht club and host to the famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race. 

Stay: Amora Hotel Jamison, Sydney (Superior)

Return to Sydney Airport to catch your overnight flight home.