Darwin, Red Centre and Kangaroo Island Explorer

Begin your Ocean to Outback adventure in Australia’s compact, tropical city Darwin, with its Asian influences, magnificent sunsets and huge diversity of wildlife. Join a half day city tour with a knowledgeable guide and see the Botanic Gardens, Chinese Temple and explore the Stokes Hill Wharf area. The tour also includes entry into the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory where you can learn about local history and view Aboriginal art collections.  

Included day tours:

• Darwin City Sights

Optional add-ons / upgrades: Upgrade to a one bedroom suite for stunning harbour views and separate living area.

Travel Designers recommendation: Be sure to book a table at Pee Wee’s at the Point to experience unique dining with fresh local produce and sweeping sea views. 

Leave Darwin and head along the Arnhem highway towards Kakadu National Park and the Wildman Wilderness Lodge. Situated on the Mary River wetlands, this stylish eco-lodge offers the perfect environment to explore the diversity of the local area. Join an airboat safari where you will encounter abundant birdlife and salt water crocodiles as they bask in the sun, or take to the air on a scenic flight to admire the beauty of these stunning wetlands from above.

Travel Designers recommendation: Rent a mountain bike and take a ride around the property following the 10 wildlife totem poles to learn about the top wildlife you may encounter at the retreat.

Leisurely make your way back to Darwin this morning to spend one night back in the city before travelling south into the Red Centre. Spend your afternoon at Berry Springs Nature Park where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the natural pools or head down to the waterfront to wander around Mindil Beach sunset markets with its host of arts and crafts, street performers, food stalls and musicians.

Optional add-ons / upgrades:

• Darwin Sunset Cruise

Travel Designers recommendation: Make sure you keep an evening free and catch a movie under the stars at the open air deckchair cinema down by the waterfront. 

Today fly from Darwin to Ayers Rock Airport in the Red Centre. This evening will be spent dining on a gourmet BBQ dinner under the stars at the ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner experience.  Enjoy a glass of Australian sparkling wine as the resident astronomer guides you through some of the world’s best stargazing. Join a sunrise tour for a fantastic way to see the ever changing colours of Uluru. Travel to the viewing area and watch as the first rays of sunlight creep across the outback and then round off your day with a visit to the ‘Field of Light’, a unique light installation with Uluru as its backdrop by internationally acclaimed artist, Bruce Munro.

Included day tours:

• Sounds of Silence Dinner

• Field of Light - Star Pass

• Uluru Sunrise Tour

Optional add-ons / upgrades:

• Uluru (Ayers Rock) Helicopter Flight

Travel Designers recommendation: For a real taste of luxury and uninterrupted views of Uluru, upgrade your accommodation to stay at the Longitude 131°.

Fly to Alice Springs and check into the DoubleTree for a two night stay. Pay a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor service and learn about the importance of this service to outback Australian’s in isolated regions, or take a scenic flight to view the ever-changing landscape of the outback; one of the best ways to watch the colours change as the sun goes down.

Optional add-ons / upgrades:

• Outback Ballooning

Travel Designers recommendation:  Visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary early evening to see the roo’s when they are most active, you may even be able to help bottle feed a joey!

Today, fly south to the vineyard city of Adelaide, home to the famous Adelaide Festival and Fringe Festival. Embark on a city tour which will introduce you to a blend of historic buildings, cafes, restaurants and culture. The tour includes stops at St Peters Cathedral, the Adelaide Oval and Haigh’s chocolate factory. Spend your evening exploring the city’s laneways full of vibrant small bars and restaurants that cater for every taste.

Included day tours:

• Adelaide City Tour

Optional add-ons / upgrades:

• Murray River Highlights

Travel Designers recommendation: Catch the tram and travel about 30 minutes out of the city to the beach at Glenelg to explore the white sandy beach, sidewalks, cafes and heritage hotels. Alternatively, head for the Adelaide Hills for the chance to hold a koala and hand-feed kangaroos in Cleland Wildlife Park.

Discover some of Australia’s finest food and wine experiences on a trip out to Barossa. Only an hour north of the city, the region is home to farmers markets, speciality restaurants and an abundance of cellar doors. Try your hand at blending your own wine on Penfolds ‘Make Your Own Blend’ tour, guided by an expert wine educator your finished product will be bottled for you to take away and enjoy.

Included day tours:

• Make Your Own Blend at Penfolds

Travel Designers recommendation: Make sure you stop at the Apex Bakery in Tanunda, the breads, pasties and cakes are the best in the local area. Alternatively, get up early and enjoy your own breakfast with the kangaroos at The Louise. 

Travel back into the city at your own pace. Head over to Adelaide Central Market with more than 80 stalls, cafes and restaurants. Browse the huge variety of food stalls and try some of the samples on offer. Soak up some culture and take a walk down one of Adelaide’s best known streets. North terrace is home to Government House, The State Library and the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Travel Designers recommendation: If time allows, extend your stay and head out to the Eyre Peninsula, an aquatic playground where you can swim with sea-lions, dolphins and even sharks. 

Today join your friendly guide to commence a two night Highlights of Kangaroo Island tour. Transfer to Cape Jervis for your ferry crossing and over the next two days discover why Kangaroo Island is known as Australia’s ‘zoo without fences’. Visit to Seal Bay, home to a huge sea lion colony who love to laze around basking in the sun, and have a chance to walk amongst them in their natural habitat.

Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch in a heritage-listed natural bush property before a bush walk to spot koalas and echidnas. Explore the western side of the island by visiting Flinders Chase National Park and taking a walk in search of kangaroos, wallabies, birdlife and the incredible Remarkable Rocks which balance dramatically on the cliff edge above the Southern Ocean.       

Travel Designers recommendation: Just a short stroll from your hotel, you can find the pelican feeding spot. Watch an abundance of pelicans flock to this spot every evening where the local 'Pelican Man' waits with their dinner.

Accommodation: Highlights of Kangaroo Island tour (Ozone Hotel)

Arrive back in Adelaide following your tour and spend your final day in Australia delving deeper into this sophisticated city. Use the free city tram service to explore or take a tour out to the Adelaide Hills for spectacular views of the city and coastline. Visit a winery or two and walk the streets of Adelaide’s oldest German settlement of Hahndorf where you can sample local produce including traditional German beer at the Hahndorf Inn.

Travel Designers recommendation: Grab your trainers and walk up to Mount Osmond Reserve. Packed with walking trails, creeks and wildlife it’s great for views stretching out over the whole city all the way to the sea.