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Alice Springs to Melbourne Overland

Alice Springs to Melbourne Overland

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Description

Embark on a Northern Territory and Southern Ocean adventure, from Alice Spings to Melbourne, taking in the region’s biggest and best-known drawcards along the way. Witness Uluru during a stunning sunrise, wander through the majestic canyons of Kata Tjuta and admire the views from Kings Canyon. Drive the famous Oodnadatta Track, and the glorious Great Ocean Road. A region of exceptional landscapes and intriguing cultural attractions, this top to tail exploration of our country is a trip that will leave you with a profound appreciation of Australia’s raw and rugged natural beauty.

Trip Name
Alice Springs to Melbourne Overland
Last Updated
2019-11-20
Days
11
Capacity
24
Highlights
  • Get back to basics with this classic overland adventure. See the highlights and national parks of Australia's Great Ocean Road and Grampians, Flinders Ranges and Red Centre in rugged, authentic style
  • Get up early and see the sun rise over Uluru
  • Check out one of the strangest towns in Australia - built underground
  • See some beautifully remote places in the Flinders Ranges
  • Drive the world famous Great Ocean Road
  • Enjoy the flexibility of a private vehicle, the local knowledge of a passionate guide and the magic of camping under the great southern sky

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES: Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you print and review a final copy prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travellers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any changes once on tour. ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CULTURAL EXPERIENCES & COMMUNITIES: Please note due to cultural sensitivities, entry to particular parts of local First Nations communities may be unavailable. Where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guides are unavailable in the Red Centre an Intrepid guide will lead the interpretive cultural walk. Top End cultural experiences are only available during the dry season (May-Oct) as site is subject to flooding (contact our customer service team for availability). Participants may be absent due to cultural commitments with minimal prior notification and Intrepid reserves the right to amend the itinerary in these circumstances with no obligation to refund. OODNADATTA TRACK: The Oodnadatta Track is an unsealed dirt road, and conditions of the track depend heavily on weather. In the case that the road is deemed unsafe to drive on, or there is a possibility that sections of the track will close after we have commenced driving on the track, our Operations team reserves the right to alter the itinerary and take a different route. If, for safety reasons, the decision is made not to travel on the track, days 2 and 3 will be a variation of the below: Day 2 – Parachina Gorge | Hawker | Flinders Ranges Hike | overnight Quorn multishare (BLD) Day 3 – Port Augusta | Coober Pedy via Stuart Highway | Josephine’s Gallery | Coober Pedy town and underground tour, noodling for opals, opal cutting demonstration | overnight underground bunkhouse multishare (BLD) The relationship between ATA and Intrepid Australia For over 25 years, Intrepid Travel and Adventure Tours Australia have been leading brands in the adventure travel business. With Intrepid’s global product range and Adventure Tours’ local knowledge, the two brands joined force in 2011 to provide the ultimate range of Australian product with Intrepid running all of it’s local trips under the Adventure Tours Australia name. Today we’re proud to bring Aussie-made trips to the world, both here with Adventure Tours and overseas through the Intrepid brand, so no matter which brand you have booked through, you’re travelling with the best.

Day 1 - Alice Springs/Kata Tjuta/Uluru
Welcome to Alice Springs. Hit the road and head off to Uluru for lunch, before exploring the 36 rocky landforms of Kata Tjuta. In the evening, watch the sun set over Uluru. The perfect end to a remarkable day is awaiting you back at camp, as you enjoy a delicious spread of food and wine with your group. If the weather permits, sit outside under the stars. Note: Total driving time today is around four and a half hours. Total walking time is approximately one hour.
Day 2 - Uluru sunrise
An early start this morning is rewarded with an Uluru sunrise. While the morning is fresh enjoy a walk around the base of the rock, gaining insights into the land and the local Mala people on an interpretive cultural walk with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Guide. Once you’ve had lunch, perhaps purchase some art and craft of the First Peoples of Australia, at the Uluru Cultural Centre. Travel onto the exclusive campsite within Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon), where the group will eat and sleep for the night. Note: Total driving time today is around three and a half hours. Total walking time is approximately two hours (or up to 4 if you do the full 8.5km base walk.)
Day 3 - Kings Canyon rim walk
Put your hiking shoes on after breakfast and head out to explore the formations and towering rock faces of Kings Canyon. The sheer size of the canyon is breathtaking. Trek for 6 kilometres along the Rim Walk, which takes you through a natural amphitheatre, past the striped sandstone domes of the ‘lost city’ and into the green oasis of the Garden of Eden. Stop for lunch before making your way to a campsite on the homestead of Erldunda, where you’ll spend the night at the Desert Oaks campsite at Erldunda, where you can meet one of Australia most unique wildlife species, the Emu at the Erldunda emu farm. Note: Total driving time today is around three hours. Total walking time is approximately two and half hours hour.
Day 4 - Coober Pedy
Depart early this morning and make your way to Coober Pedy, crossing the Northern Territory/South Australian border on the way (approximately five hours in total). Take a break to stretch your legs and enjoy lunch in the outback town of Marla. Coober Pedy is known as ‘The Opal Capital of the World’ and was one of the locations used to film the third Mad Max movie. Due to extremely hot temperatures in the area most of the town is constructed underground, with residents living in cave-like houses carved into the hillsides. Upon arrival, take a guided tour of the town, underground opal mine and museum. End the day hanging out with some rescued joeys at Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage. Tonight stay in a multi-share underground bunkhouse in Coober Pedy. Note: Total driving time today is around four and a half hours. Total walking time is approximately half an hour.
Day 5 - Quorn / Wilpena Pound
Leave Coober Pedy behind and head to the quintessential country town of Quorn. After lunch enjoy expansive views of the Flinders Ranges as you drive towards Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheatre of rocky mountains. Enjoy an easy group hike to explore the area, then settle into your camp among the trees. Driving time today is about 5 hours.
Day 6 - Quorn / Warren Gorge
Return to Quorn via a winding country road that passes rugged mountain ranges and crumbling colonial-era homesteads. Spend the day exploring this wild country. Hike through the orange rock spires of Warren Gorge, taking in pockets of unique flora along the way. Trek through low-lying native shrubbery and gnarled trees. As the sun sets, rest your weary limbs in the comfort of your accommodation for the evening, a historic grain mill.
Day 7 - Adelaide
Make your way back to Adelaide through the rolling hills and vineyards of wine country, arriving in the early evening. As your journey comes to an end here, we will drop you at your Adelaide city accommodation. Total driving time today is around four hours. Total walking time is approximately two hours.
Day 8 - Adelaide
Spend two days exploring Adelaide and surrounds. Perhaps take a tour of the wine region, head to Glenelg foreshaw or check out Leigh Street and Peel street for some night life and people watching.
Day 9 - Adelaide
Another full day to explore this lovely little city. Head up into the Adelaide Hills to try some delicious pinot noir, or check if there is an event at the National Wine Centre. The Botanic gardens are worth a stroll as is the Adelaide Oval if there is cricket or AFL on. Finish the evening in the East End, tasting some of Adelaide's fine wine and amazing food.
Day 10 - Adelaide to The Grampians
Leaving Adelaide in the morning, drive across the state border into Victoria and enter the Grampians. Go for a walk to view the Jaws of Death, hike down to McKenzie Falls and take in the incredible views from Reeds Lookout. Head into the heart of the Grampians, stopping en route for lunch. The last stop of the day will be a spot in the Grampians National Park where kangaroos, wallabies and koalas are often spotted. Tonight's accommodation is at either Brambuk Backpackers or the Grampians YHA. Note: Total driving time today is about seven and a half hours (approximately 550kms) Total walking time will be about two and a half hours (approximately 3.5kms)
Day 11 - The Grampians to Melbourne
After an early morning start, begin the journey along Australia's glorious Great Ocean Road. Explore Port Campbell National Park, checking out London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge and the iconic Twelve Apostles rock formation, then sit back and soak up the mesmerising coastal views en route. Experience a guided walk through an ancient and rare temperate rainforest. Stop at Kennett River for the chance to spot koalas before passing through the charming beach towns of Apollo Bay and Lorne. Make the most of a great photo opportunity at some famed surf locations before we stop for a beach walk and then hit the highway back to Melbourne. Note: Total driving time today is about seven and a half hours (approximately 550kms) Total walking time will be about two hours (approximately 2kms)

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (1 nt),Dormitory (5 nts),Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (3 nts),Underground Multishare (1 nt)

Transport

Minibus,Private vehicle

Map