On Track Tours: Adventure tours: Kakadu Dreaming tour

Kakadu Dreaming tour
Including Central Australia- Darwin - Kimberleys

24 days: Motel and cabin accommodation and camping.

Day 1
Perth - Kalgoorlie After leaving Perth, we travel to Cunderdin where we have morning tea and visit the museum in the original pumping station for the Goldfields pipeline. From there our tour takes of though Merredin, Southern Cross and the historic town of Coolgardie before we arrive in Kalgoorlie, our stop for the night. (Museum entry included in the fare.)

Day 2
Kalgoorlie - Laverton Today we start with a tour of Kalgoorlie, including the Super Pit and a chance to see the enormity of open-cut mining today. Then, back in time, we visit the Two Up Ring and a quick toss of the coins. We leave Kalgoorlie and head out to Menzies, Leonora and the Sons of Gwalia Mine. In the afternoon we drive on to Laverton where we set up camp.

Kalgoorlie: The Big Pit. Photo: Anne Atkinson

Day 3
Laverton - Great Victoria Desert This morning we leave the bitumen and head into the remoteness of the Great Victoria Desert, passing through Cosmo Newbury and Warburton before setting up camp for the night with a campfire (bush camp).

Day 4
Great Victoria Desert - Yulara Today we travel through the impressive range country of the great Gibson Desert, named after Alfred Gibson who, as a member of the Giles expedition that first explored this desert, was lost while trying to find water. We call in to the Giles Weather Station and then drive past the Docker River, stopping at Hull River for lunch. Our lunch spot is by a cave in which it is thought that Henry Bell Lasseter's body, his copious notes and diary were found in 1931. Lasseter was a gold prospector who claimed that he had found a rich gold reef west of Alice Springs. Unfortunately, he was unable to find it again, despite several attempts, the last ending in his death. His story is now one of legend and many people have since tried to locate `Lasseter's Reef.' In the afternoon, we come out of the desert and take our first look at the stunning Olgas. Then to Yulara where we camp for two nights.

Day 5
Uluru We spend all day today at Uluru, previously known as Ayers Rock. You can walk around it if you wish, but be sure to take water and wear comfortable walking shoes, as it is a distance of 11km. The walk is well sign-posted with information about various aspects of the rock. You can also visit the National Park Display and information centre. If you wish you can take a flight over Uluru. We go back to our camp for a rest before returning to Uluru for a spectacular sunset viewing and our evening meal. (The flight over Uluru is not included in the fare. It is approximately $180 per person. Lunch is also not included in the fare)

Day 6
Yulara - Kings Canyon A day of stunning red central desert Australian landscape, especially at Kings Canyon where we spend most of the day. You will have time to walk through the Canyon or you may wish to take a helicopter ride over it. (Helicopter flight is not included in the fare.)

Day 7
Kings Canyon - Alice Springs We are off early today to travel though 'Albert Namatjira country', and past Hermannsburg, established by Lutheran missionaries in 1877 as a mission for the local Arrernte people. Namatjira was born in the mission and taught to paint by a watercolour artist. The result was a unique collection of paintings which, while using European techniques of painting, reflects the beauty of the Central Australian landscape from the perspective of one with close spiritual and cultural ties to the land. Alice Springs is where we stay for the next two nights.

Day 8
Alice Springs
Tour bus with dingo
Alice Springs was first settled in 1871 as a waterhole for camel trains and as the site for a telegraph station for the Overland Telegraph. In 1929, the Ghan railway linked Alice Springs to Adelaide. Alice Springs is now midpoint for the Ghan Railway between Darwin and Adelaide. This morning we will visit the original Telegraph Station and then we will drop you off in town. You may wish to visit the Art Gallery and see a small collection of Albert Namatjira's paintings, the art centre and the Strehlow Research Centre that features a very informative exhibition on local Aboriginal culture. The very adventurous among us might like to take a balloon ride, weather permitting. (Lunch and the balloon ride are not included in the fare. Spinifex Ballooning has balloon trips for approximately $200 per person.)

Day 9
Alice Springs - Tennant Creek With the Alice behind us, we travel the Stuart Highway to our next port of call, Tennant Creek, but on the way we call into The Devils Marbles, this is truly an amazing place, the Aboriginal people believe the rocks are the eggs of the Serpent, which is a mythical being of the Dreamtime. Some of the rocks you will see are more than six meters in diameter and are weathered granite.

Day 10
Tennant Creek - Mataranka Still traveling the Stuart Highway, we make our way to Mataranka, stopping at some small towns on the way, such as Newcastle Waters and the Daly Waters Hi-way Inn, a legend in its own right. Daly Waters was an allied air force base in the WWII as well as a repeater station for the telegraph line, then is to our camp site at the famous Mataranka Thermal Springs, site for the filming of the movie We of the Never Never.

Day 11
Mataranka - Katherine A short drive today to Katherine, we have some free time in town, before heading to Nitmiluk National Park and it is here we set up camp and in the afternoon take a wonderful boat cruise of the Katherine Gorges. (Boat cruise included in fare)

Day 12
Katherine - Kakadu National Park Today we travel to Arnhem Land and the Kakadu National Park We arrive at around lunchtime and you have the afternoon to do as you please. There are a number of activities that you can do here, so go and enjoy the sites!

Day 13
Kakadu National Park We start the day with a boat cruise of Yellow Waters which is home to an amazing array of wildlife. After the cruise, the rest of the day is yours. You could go on a tour to Jim Jim Falls or one of the many other small tours available in the park. (Boat cruise is included in fare. Lunch and any additional tours are not included in the fare.)

Day 14
Kakadu National Park - Darwin This morning we travel to Darwin, stopping a several interesting places on the way including The Bark Hut Inn and Humpty Doo, which is home to the largest country music store in Australia. Then to the city of Darwin where we and settle into our accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 15
Darwin Today we take you into Town for some sightseeing, before you have the rest of the day to yourselves. Pickups to and from our accommodation will be made during the day. (Lunch and dinner not included in the fare)

Day 16
Darwin - Timber Creek Back on the road, we now travel to Adelaide River where we join a cruise to see the fantastic jumping Crocodiles, a sight to behold. Later we drive through Katherine again on our way to Timber Creek, which is our stop for the night. (Cruise included in fare)

Day 17
Timber Creek - Lake Argyle A late start today as we have not far to go to Lake Argyle. This massive lake holds nine times the volume of water that Sydney Harbour holds and is the second largest reservoir in the nation. We visit the Durack homestead, which was removed to higher ground as its orginal was flooded when water filled Lake Argyle. (Entrance to homestead included in fare)

Day 18
Lake Argyle - Fitzroy Crossing This morning we have an early start as today is the longest day that we travel on tour. Even though we will be traveling several hundred kilometres, we will still have time to enjoy the majestic scenery of the Kimberleys and stop at Turkey Creek and Halls Creek before arriving at Fitzroy Crossing and our home for the night.

Day 19
Fitzroy Crossing - Broome We begin the day with a cruise of Geikie Gorge It is here that we see fresh water crocodiles and the stunning scenery of the Gorge. Later we drive onto Derby for a look at the town before heading to Broome and our accommodation for two nights. (Boat cruise included in fare)

Day 20
Broome This morning we begin exploring the interesting town of Broome - an old pearling town with a rich history. Established in the 1880s to fish for pearls, the town has always had a distinctive diverse cultural population. Apart from local Aboriginal people, men came from all over Asia to work in the industry that was controlled by European businessmen. Japanese women also played a significant part in Broome's history. This ethnic diversity is reflected in the cemeteries that commemorate the Japanese, Chinese and Malays who were lost at sea working in the pearling industry. Our first visit is to the Japanese cemetery followed by a stroll in Chinatown. Then you area free to explore Broome for yourselves. Tonight we have fish and chips at Cable Beach and watch the magnificent sunset. You might also like to include a camel ride along the beach to cap off your evening. (The camel ride can be arranged although it is not included in the fare.)

Day 21
Broome - Port Hedland Today we travel the Great Northern Highway and enjoy lunch at the famous Eighty Mile Beach, before arriving at Port Hedland and our last night of camping.

Day 22
Port Hedland - Newman Onto Karijini National Park today with our first stop at the Visitors Centre. Then to the spectacular Circular Pool and Fortescue Falls, and the opportunity to swim for those who wish. After a magical afternoon we depart for Newman and our accommodation. (Entry to National Park included in fare)

Karijini National Park, WA

Day 23
Newman - Mt Magnet After a cooked breakfast drive through cattle country and some old mining towns such as Meekatharra and Cue before arriving at Mt Magnet and our accommodation for the night.

Day 24
Mt Magnet - Perth Today we are well and truly on our way home. We drive through wheat and sheep country and townships of Wubin, Dalwallinu and New Norcia before arriving in Perth, after wonderful and truly scenic tour.

[ Adventure tours ] [ Home page ]

Whilst we endeavour to maintain this website with accurate and up to date content, changes and errors
may occur and therefore all details must be verified with On Track Tours at the time of booking.
This URL: http://www.ontracktours.com.au/adventuretours/kakadu-dreaming.html Last revised 24 Mar 2007.
Text and images © On Track Tours except where otherwise specified in photograph credits.

24 days: Motel and cabin accommodation and camping.
Day 1 Perth - Kalgoorlie	After leaving Perth, we travel to Cunderdin where we have morning tea and visit the museum in the original pumping station for the Goldfields pipeline. From there our tour takes of though Merredin, Southern Cross and the historic town of Coolgardie before we arrive in Kalgoorlie, our stop for the night. (Museum entry included in the fare.)
Day 2 Kalgoorlie - Laverton	Today we start with a tour of Kalgoorlie, including the Super Pit and a chance to see the enormity of open-cut mining today. Then, back in time, we visit the Two Up Ring and a quick toss of the coins. We leave Kalgoorlie and head out to Menzies, Leonora and the Sons of Gwalia Mine. In the afternoon we drive on to Laverton where we set up camp.

Day 3 Laverton - Great Victoria Desert	This morning we leave the bitumen and head into the remoteness of the Great Victoria Desert, passing through Cosmo Newbury and Warburton before setting up camp for the night with a campfire (bush camp).
Day 4 Great Victoria Desert - Yulara	Today we travel through the impressive range country of the great Gibson Desert, named after Alfred Gibson who, as a member of the Giles expedition that first explored this desert, was lost while trying to find water. We call in to the Giles Weather Station and then drive past the Docker River, stopping at Hull River for lunch. Our lunch spot is by a cave in which it is thought that Henry Bell Lasseter's body, his copious notes and diary were found in 1931. Lasseter was a gold prospector who claimed that he had found a rich gold reef west of Alice Springs. Unfortunately, he was unable to find it again, despite several attempts, the last ending in his death. His story is now one of legend and many people have since tried to locate `Lasseter's Reef.' In the afternoon, we come out of the desert and take our first look at the stunning Olgas. Then to Yulara where we camp for two nights.
Day 5 Uluru	We spend all day today at Uluru, previously known as Ayers Rock. You can walk around it if you wish, but be sure to take water and wear comfortable walking shoes, as it is a distance of 11km. The walk is well sign-posted with information about various aspects of the rock. You can also visit the National Park Display and information centre. If you wish you can take a flight over Uluru. We go back to our camp for a rest before returning to Uluru for a spectacular sunset viewing and our evening meal. (The flight over Uluru is not included in the fare. It is approximately $180 per person. Lunch is also not included in the fare)
Day 6 Yulara - Kings Canyon	A day of stunning red central desert Australian landscape, especially at Kings Canyon where we spend most of the day. You will have time to walk through the Canyon or you may wish to take a helicopter ride over it. (Helicopter flight is not included in the fare.)
Day 7 Kings Canyon - Alice Springs	We are off early today to travel though 'Albert Namatjira country', and past Hermannsburg, established by Lutheran missionaries in 1877 as a mission for the local Arrernte people. Namatjira was born in the mission and taught to paint by a watercolour artist. The result was a unique collection of paintings which, while using European techniques of painting, reflects the beauty of the Central Australian landscape from the perspective of one with close spiritual and cultural ties to the land. Alice Springs is where we stay for the next two nights.

Day 9 Alice Springs - Tennant Creek	With the Alice behind us, we travel the Stuart Highway to our next port of call, Tennant Creek, but on the way we call into The Devils Marbles, this is truly an amazing place, the Aboriginal people believe the rocks are the eggs of the Serpent, which is a mythical being of the Dreamtime. Some of the rocks you will see are more than six meters in diameter and are weathered granite.
Day 10 Tennant Creek - Mataranka	Still traveling the Stuart Highway, we make our way to Mataranka, stopping at some small towns on the way, such as Newcastle Waters and the Daly Waters Hi-way Inn, a legend in its own right. Daly Waters was an allied air force base in the WWII as well as a repeater station for the telegraph line, then is to our camp site at the famous Mataranka Thermal Springs, site for the filming of the movie We of the Never Never.
Day 11 Mataranka - Katherine	A short drive today to Katherine, we have some free time in town, before heading to Nitmiluk National Park and it is here we set up camp and in the afternoon take a wonderful boat cruise of the Katherine Gorges. (Boat cruise included in fare)
Day 12 Katherine - Kakadu National Park	Today we travel to Arnhem Land and the Kakadu National Park We arrive at around lunchtime and you have the afternoon to do as you please. There are a number of activities that you can do here, so go and enjoy the sites!
Day 13 Kakadu National Park	We start the day with a boat cruise of Yellow Waters which is home to an amazing array of wildlife. After the cruise, the rest of the day is yours. You could go on a tour to Jim Jim Falls or one of the many other small tours available in the park. (Boat cruise is included in fare. Lunch and any additional tours are not included in the fare.)
Day 14 Kakadu National Park - Darwin	This morning we travel to Darwin, stopping a several interesting places on the way including The Bark Hut Inn and Humpty Doo, which is home to the largest country music store in Australia. Then to the city of Darwin where we and settle into our accommodation for the next two nights.
Day 15 Darwin	Today we take you into Town for some sightseeing, before you have the rest of the day to yourselves. Pickups to and from our accommodation will be made during the day. (Lunch and dinner not included in the fare)
Day 16 Darwin - Timber Creek	Back on the road, we now travel to Adelaide River where we join a cruise to see the fantastic jumping Crocodiles, a sight to behold. Later we drive through Katherine again on our way to Timber Creek, which is our stop for the night. (Cruise included in fare)
Day 17 Timber Creek - Lake Argyle	A late start today as we have not far to go to Lake Argyle. This massive lake holds nine times the volume of water that Sydney Harbour holds and is the second largest reservoir in the nation. We visit the Durack homestead, which was removed to higher ground as its orginal was flooded when water filled Lake Argyle. (Entrance to homestead included in fare)
Day 18 Lake Argyle - Fitzroy Crossing	This morning we have an early start as today is the longest day that we travel on tour. Even though we will be traveling several hundred kilometres, we will still have time to enjoy the majestic scenery of the Kimberleys and stop at Turkey Creek and Halls Creek before arriving at Fitzroy Crossing and our home for the night.
Day 19 Fitzroy Crossing - Broome	We begin the day with a cruise of Geikie Gorge It is here that we see fresh water crocodiles and the stunning scenery of the Gorge. Later we drive onto Derby for a look at the town before heading to Broome and our accommodation for two nights. (Boat cruise included in fare)
Day 20 Broome	This morning we begin exploring the interesting town of Broome - an old pearling town with a rich history. Established in the 1880s to fish for pearls, the town has always had a distinctive diverse cultural population. Apart from local Aboriginal people, men came from all over Asia to work in the industry that was controlled by European businessmen. Japanese women also played a significant part in Broome's history. This ethnic diversity is reflected in the cemeteries that commemorate the Japanese, Chinese and Malays who were lost at sea working in the pearling industry. Our first visit is to the Japanese cemetery followed by a stroll in Chinatown. Then you area free to explore Broome for yourselves. Tonight we have fish and chips at Cable Beach and watch the magnificent sunset. You might also like to include a camel ride along the beach to cap off your evening. (The camel ride can be arranged although it is not included in the fare.)
Day 21 Broome - Port Hedland	Today we travel the Great Northern Highway and enjoy lunch at the famous Eighty Mile Beach, before arriving at Port Hedland and our last night of camping.
Day 22 Port Hedland - Newman	Onto Karijini National Park today with our first stop at the Visitors Centre. Then to the spectacular Circular Pool and Fortescue Falls, and the opportunity to swim for those who wish. After a magical afternoon we depart for Newman and our accommodation. (Entry to National Park included in fare)

Day 23 Newman - Mt Magnet	After a cooked breakfast drive through cattle country and some old mining towns such as Meekatharra and Cue before arriving at Mt Magnet and our accommodation for the night.
Day 24 Mt Magnet - Perth	Today we are well and truly on our way home. We drive through wheat and sheep country and townships of Wubin, Dalwallinu and New Norcia before arriving in Perth, after wonderful and truly scenic tour.