NORTHERN TERRITORY DRIVE ROUTE

EXPLORERSSUGGESTED 14WAY DAY ITINERARY If you love adventure, you can’t beat a trip along the Explorers Way, one of the great Australian road trips. DO THE NORTHERNThe 3245kmTERRITORY journey crosses right through the heart of Australia from Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north. It passes through some of Australia’s favourite natural icons, including Uluru and Kata Tjuta, Wattarka/Kings Canyon, The MacDonnell Ranges, Karlu Karlu/Devils’ Marbles, Nitmiluk National Park and DO EXPLORERSthe waterfalls ofWAY Litchfield National Park. Do part of it or the full length for an amazing, adventure-filled experience.

DARWINDO DARWIN 1 GARIG GUNAK BARLU COBOURG Ride the swell at the Wave Pool, eyeball MELVILLE NATIONAL PARK PENINSULA Do something new in Australia’s tropical ISLAND a croc in the ‘Cage of Death’, or enjoy

BATHURST one ofcapital Darwin’s city - famousRide the swellAsian at inspiredthe Wave ISLAND Murganella ARAFURA SEA COBOURG Pool, eyeball a croc in the ‘Cage of Death’, MARINE PARK markets in Australia’s tropical capital city. Whileor enjoy in one Darwin of Darwin’s why notfamous explore Asian

Oenpelli one ofinspired theNhulunbuy Top markets. End’s Whilst much in loved Darwin why not DARWIN (Gunbalunya) natural icons – Litchfield National Park. exploreG OVEone of the Top End’s much loved Hwy Jabiru PENINSULA Arnhem ARNHEM natural icons – Litchfield National Park. Batchelor KATHERINE Cooinda LAND LITCHFIELD Adelaide River KAKADU Where the outback meets the tropics NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL PARK Hayes Creek - discoverDO KATHERINE a region full of gorges and 2 Daly River Bulman Pine Creek NITMILUK mistyWhere waterfalls, the outback thermal meets springs the tropics and - (KATHERINE GORGE) Arnhem Rd ancient cultures. Located in Nitmiluk Peppimenarti NATIONAL PARK discover a region full of gorges and misty Manyallaluk Central National Park, the mighty Katherine KATHERINE Barunga waterfalls, thermal springs and ancient Roper Bar Gorge is also a must do, with dozens of CUTTA CUTTA CAVES NATURE PARK ELSEY NATIONAL cultures.GULF TheOF mighty Katherine Gorge is PARK spots to enjoy a dip in the water. GREGORY Roper Hwy alsoCAR a PmustENTARIA do, and the Nitmiluk National NATIONAL PARK Mataranka STUART Park it sits in has dozens of spots to enjoy Timber Victoria Hwy MATARANKA Creek Larrimah a dip in the water. Victoria Buntine Hwy Mataranka, a small community located River Borroloolaonly 100km south of Katherine, is more Daly GREGORY than justDO aMATARANKA stopover on the Explorers NATIONAL Waters Hi-Way 3 Inn Carpentaria Way. Why not stop, relax and take a PARK Top Springs Hwy Dunmarra dip inMataranka, the Mataranka a small orcommunity Bitter Springs located Buchanan Hwy thermalonly pools, 100km bubblingsouth of Katherine, up at a fairlyis more Newcastle constantthan justtemperature a stopover onof the34 Explorersdegrees Way. Kalkarindji Waters Wollogorang Elliott Celsius.Why not stop, relax and take a dip in the Mataranka Thermal Pools the region is Barkly Stock Route known for, bubbling up at a fairly constant Renner Springs DALY WATERS Lajamanu In betweentemperature Katherine of 34 degrees and Tennant Celsius. HI GHWAY Creek is a unique pub that could only belongDO in DALYthe NT. WATERS Daly Waters attracts Barkly Hwy visitors from all over Australia and 4 Three Ways beyond,In between wanting Katherine to relax and after Tennant a long Creek is TENNANT drivea and unique enjoy pub Daly’sthat could famous only belong outback in the CREEK tucker,NT. cold Daly beerWaters and attracts live music.visitors fromDaly all is a mustover do Australia on your and NT beyond, adventures. wanting to relax KARLU KARLU / Wauchope DEVILS MARBLES after a long drive and enjoy Daly’s famous Wycliffe Well CONSERVATION ALICEoutback SPRINGS tucker, cold beer and live music. RESERVE Visit the spiritual heart of Australia, Ali Curung Daly is a must do on your NT adventures. GHWAY with rivers and ranges millions of HI Barrow Creek years old and an ancient Aboriginal cultureDO rich TENNANT in art and stories. Discover 5 STUART the stunning landscapes, remote Ti Tree Get to know the ancient Aboriginal communities, and a unique pioneering traditions and the Dreamtime. Learn about Sandover Hwy history. Alice Springs is your basecamp Aileron the early history of the pioneers, the Gemtree to adventure and it’s easier to get here TJORITJA than introductionyou think! of telegraph communications, WEST MACDONNELL TREPHINA GORGE NATURE PARK NATIONAL PARK mining, police and hospital infrastructure Glen Helen Ross River ULURinU the KATA region TJU at TennantTA NATIONAL Creek’s fascinating WATARRKA Mereenie Larapinta Dr PARKarray of museums. NATIONAL PARK Hermannsburg ALICE SPRINGS (KINGS CANYON) Loop FINKE GORGE Home to Australia’s most recognisable Rd RAINBOW VALLEY Lake NATIONAL PARK Neale Luritja Rd CONSERVATION natural icon, Uluru is an unforgettable Ernest Giles Rd RESERVE DO ALICE Lake bucket list item. Watch the breathtaking 6 Amadeus CHAMBERS PILLAR KATA TJUTA AYERS ROCK Mt HISTORICAL RESERVE change of colours at sunrise and / MT OLGA RESORT Ebenezer Visit the spiritual heart of Australia, with Erldunda sunset; walk, cycle and segway around Lasseter Hwy rivers and ranges millions of years old Curtin the 10kmand an base ancient and Aboriginal wander culturethrough rich a ULURU / Springs field of 50,000 spindles of light. Be in art and stories. Discover the stunning AYERS ROCK sure not to miss visiting the majestic landscapes,SIMPSON remote communities, and a Kata TjuDESERTta rock formations and striking Kingsunique Canyon pioneering while in history. this spectacular Alice Springs is part ofyour Australia. basecamp to Adventure and easier to get here than you think! SUGGESTED NORTHERN TERRITORY DRIVE ROUTE 14 DAY EXPLORERS WAY ITINERARY DAY 1-4 - 846km DAY 8 - 130km ADELAIDE TO WEST MACS, ALICE & COOBER PEDY GLEN HELEN Along the journey from South Australia Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges are to Coober Pedy, why not stop into Port an easy day trip from Alice Springs along Augusta, a great base to explore the a sealed road. There are many stops Southern and Central Flinders Ranges. along the way to enjoy. Walk along the trail at Simpsons Gap or stand between DAY 5 - 734km the sheer walls of Standley Chasm. To cool off why not enjoy a swim at Ellery COOBER PEDY TO ULURU Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Once you have arrived at Uluru-Kata Helen Gorge or Redbank Gorge. DAY 12 - 106km Tjuta National Park - discover the spiritual heart of the Australian Outback. MATARANKA TO Home to the great icons of Uluru and KATHERINE Kata Tjuta, this desert region is blessed Katherine is the NT’s fourth largest with natural wonders, world class dining town, and a perfect base to check out experiences and rugged beauty. the nearby gorge country. Why not explore the vast Nitmiluk National Park’s thirteen gorges via a helicopter joy flight, canoe or join a guided cruise. About 40km north of Katherine is Leliyn Falls (Edith Falls) – a great place for a cooling swim.

DAY 9 - 510km ALICE SPRINGS TO TENNANT CREEK On your journey from Alice to Tennant, why not stop in at the Devils Marbles, a sacred site known as Karlu Karlu to DAY 6 - 300km the Warumungu people. These massive ancient granite boulders are strewn ULURU TO KINGS CANYON across a wide shallow valley, and DAY 13 - 265km Leave the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National continue to crack and change. Park and drive 300km back along KATHERINE TO LITCHFIELD the Lasseter and Luritja highways to Litchfield National Park’s close proximity Watarrka/Kings Canyon. This majestic to Darwin and unspoiled beauty makes destination features 100m high this park a popular spot with day- sandstone walls, walking trails and views trippers who come from the city for a that will leave you speechless. dip in the Florence Falls plunge pool, Buley Rockhole, and Wangi Falls. Walking tracks, camping facilities and 2WD and 4WD accessible tracks means there is an DAY 10 - 400km adventure to suit everyone. TENNANT CREEK TO DALY WATERS DAY 14 - 130km The Daly Waters Historic Pub is a LITCHFIELD TO DARWIN popular place to overnight that offers Follow the Explorers Way for your backpacker, hotel or motel rooms. first glimpse of the Timor Sea and The pub and grounds are crammed into Darwin, Australia’s northernmost with memorabilia that reveal the pub’s capital city. You will find yourself in a colourful history and who has passed contemporary multicultural metropolis DAY 7 - 474km through its doors. This place is worth a of open-air markets, festivals, Asian- KINGS CANYON TO longer stay, so set up camp for the night. influenced cuisine, and an outdoor lifestyle. ALICE SPRINGS For an unforgettable view of the canyon, DAY 11 - 167KM rise before dawn and follow the 6km DALY WATERS TO trail around its rim. Once you get back MATARANKA on the road, head to the NT’s second Take a break from all the driving largest city, Alice Springs. If travelling and enjoy a rejuvenating swim in the by four-wheel drive, head via Mereenie Mataranka Thermal Pool. Fed by spring Loop, or travel along the sealed Luritja water in the Daly and Georgina basins, and Lasseter highways, before turning it is surrounded by a palm forest and its north onto the Stuart Highway. waters are a constant 34 degrees Celsius.