GRAND AUSSIE TRIP CODE: OXGADS-8 TOPDECKER, meet Australia WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Big cities to small towns, golden sands to crystal clear waters - take a massive bite out of Oz on this grand ol' trip. You'll hop to Fraser Island and sail the Whitsundays and back on solid ground, 26 you'll cover a few thousand miles with stops at Byron, Uluru, Kakadu, an authentic Aussie farm and Cairns (just to name a few). If you want to say you've done the East Coast, this is the trip to Explorer Nights take. Please note: For departures dates in 2017/18 please check out 27 Day Grand Aussie WORTH NOTING… A Sector trip is part of a larger journey, meaning your new friends Android/iPhone This is a sector might continue on or after you leave, or you might be joining a trip app download trip. already in progress. info HI, and thanks for choosing to holiday with Topdeck You can rest assured that we’ll pull out all the stops to make your trip unforgettable. Now it’s time to get excited about your holiday... ON THE BUCKET LIST (INCLUDED) ABOUT YOUR TRIP NOTES + Full + day Fraser Island 4WD experience These Trip Notes contain everything you need to know before including Lake McKenzie your trip departs – including where to meet and what to bring. We recommend that you read these notes thoroughly so you know + Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta what to expect on your trip of a lifetime. Also, you can easily + Visit West MacDonnell Ranges download and print this document off so you can bring it with you when you travel. + Guided hike of Kings Canyon + Experience sunset & sunrise at Uluru Please bear in mind that some points should be taken as a guide + Visit Whitehaven Beach only – after all, everyone’s different! For example, daily spending + Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands money and clothing lists can vary from one person to the next, so don't be alarmed if you don't expect to spend (or even wear) so + Surf lesson at Topdeck's surf camp much! + Magnetic Island PLEASE NOTE: We strongly urge you to refresh this document as close to the time of your departure as possible to MORE INCLUSIONS ensure you have the most up-to-date accommodation list and + Visit Bowali Visitor Centre information available. + Entry to Kakadu National Park + Visit Aboriginal Rock Art sites in Kakadu National Park + Visit traditional Arnhemland (dry season) + National Park entry + Guluyambi Cruise on the East Alligator River (dry season) + Edith Falls + Lawn bowls night + Visit Mount Conner + Uluru sunset drinks & snacks + Sunrise over Uluru + Uluru base walks + Anangu Visitor centre + Guided walk by your Topdeck Crew + Guided hike of Kings Canyon + Garden of Eden walk + Visit Standley Chasm + Visit Simpsons Gap + Airport transfers + Cairns walking tour + Magnetic Island Hopper Pass + Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands + Visit the Big Mango + Private tour of the local wildlife park + Whitsunday sailing + Whitehaven Beach + Snorkelling + Farm sunset + Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience + Visit Lake McKenzie + Visit Central Station + Visit Coloured Sands + Visit Maheno Shipwreck + Visit Eli Creek + Brisbane city walking tour + Surfers Paradise + Byron Bay highlights walking tour + Visit the Big Banana + Surf lesson YOUR TRIP WILL YOUR TRIP WILL Trip currencies START FINISH PICK UP: DROP OFF: + Australia - AUD Darwin Sydney Australia Australia Your Itinerary AWESOME TRIP LEADER DAY 1 | DARWIN TO KAKADU NATIONAL PARK Kakadu, here we come. Inside the 20,000 square kilometre park, we'll head to the village of Jabiru and check out the Bowali Visitors Centre. For the next two nights you'll be calling the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park home. Expect phenomenal wildlife, like-worthy scenery and of course local Indigenous culture. Tonight, get to know your coach mates over dinner. Wet season itineraries Nov - May will vary slightly and will be adjusted to suit the conditions of the day. All included available sights and walks that are open and can be accessed will remain on the itinerary. MEALS: INCLUDED TODAY: + Dinner + Visit Bowali Visitor Centre + Entry to Kakadu National Park DAY 2 | KAKADU NATIONAL PARK Aboriginal rock art sites are high on the list for today, as our Kakadu National Park exploring continues. This morning we venture to Nourlangie Rock to spot some of the most famous Australian Indigenous art works. Then we'll swap artwork for alligators on a East Alligator River cruise in Arnhemland (dry season only). Naturally. Stepping into Arnhemland and getting a look into the Aboriginal lifestyles is a real privilege (we've been given special permission to enter this area). Try your hand at spear throwing while you're there. Then: fancy getting high and mighty? You could take an optional scenic flight over the Escarpment that borders Kakadu and Arnhemland. Then we'll see some ancient Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr before climbing to the top of a rocky lookout for beautiful views over the Nardab floodplain. Enjoy the sunset before heading back to our lodge. **Wet season itineraries Nov - May: will vary on this day with access to some areas cut by high water levels. Your crew will ensure that you see and participate in as many areas / activities that are open and available within Kakadu, and include an optional sightseeing boat cruise (substituted when access to East Alligator River is unable). MEALS: INCLUDED TODAY: + Breakfast + Visit Aboriginal Rock Art sites in Kakadu National Park + Visit traditional Arnhemland (dry season) + National Park entry + Guluyambi Cruise on the East Alligator River (dry season) DAY 3 | KAKADU NATIONAL PARK TO KATHERINE Check out the southern parts of Kakadu this morning. We'll grab some picnic bits and head to one of the NT's best al fresco lunch spots. Explore the magical Edith Falls and have a dip in one of the world's most idyllic natural pools. Cooled off and refreshed we are on the road again and headed for Katherine. As the day draws to a close, we round it out with an evening game of lawn bowls and a BBQ with some locals at the nearby Country Club. MEALS: INCLUDED TODAY: + Breakfast + Edith Falls + Dinner + Lawn bowls night DAY 4 | KATHERINE TO LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK Katherine Gorge is well known as a superb spot for a cruise (see for yourself with an optional boat trip). With its dramatic cliffs plunging down to the pandanus-lined Katherine River, the gorge is all yours to explore. We get back on the famous Stuart Highway heading for Batchelor, the gateway to the stunning Litchfield National Park. MEALS: OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: + Breakfast + Katherine Gorge Cruise DAY 5 | LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK TO DARWIN National Park, pools and a picnic are the order of the day. In Litchfield NP you'll see waterfalls, pockets of rainforest and beautiful pools. Check out giant termite mounds, Wangi Falls and slip into the natural pool of Florence Falls. Then venture over to the Buley Rock Holes for another soaking. After lunch outdoors, we'll take on the short drive and last leg of our discovery back into the heart of Darwin. MEALS: + Breakfast + Lunch DAY 6 | DARWIN A free day in Darwin. What to do? There's Mindil Beach for chilling on, a fair few food markets to feast at and plenty of shops for a spot of souvenir shopping. Tonight you could hit the lively waterfront. MEALS: + Breakfast DAY 7 | DARWIN TO ALICE SPRINGS Today we'll take to the skies, bound for Alice Springs where you'll meet up with your new Northern Territory crew. MEALS: + Breakfast DAY 8 | ALICE SPRINGS TO ULURU We're hitting the red ground running as we pull into Yulara. It's off to the breathtaking Uluru in the afternoon for a guided tour, and a glass of bubbles as the glow of sunset morphs through 50 shades of red. Tonight hone your Aussie BBQ skills and cook your own steak (or veggie burger) and maybe grab a 'coldie'. Welcome to the outback, mate. MEALS: INCLUDED TODAY: + Breakfast + Visit Mount Conner + Dinner + Uluru sunset drinks & snacks + National Park entry DAY 9 | ULURU Start your day with a big bowl of 'oh my god' thanks to a breathtaking sunrise back at Uluru. Follow in the footsteps of the traditional owners of this sacred World Heritage site with a full base walk, where you can escape the crowds and check out hidden waterholes. Keep watch for wedge-tailed eagles, spinifex hopping mice and thorny devils. Or splurge on a scenic flight and soar over the rock. Later, join a meditative dot painting class in the Aboriginal Art Markets and give yourself a free astrology lesson, stargazing at the endless Southern night sky. MEALS: INCLUDED TODAY: OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: + Breakfast + Sunrise over Uluru + National Park entry + Scenic flights + Uluru base walks + Camel ride in the outback + Anangu Visitor centre + Guided walk by your Topdeck Crew DAY 10 | ULURU TO KINGS CANYON Kakadu, here we come. Inside the 20,000 square kilometre park, we'll head to the village of Jabiru and check out the Bowali Visitors Centre. For the next two nights you'll be calling the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park home. Expect phenomenal wildlife, like-worthy scenery and of course local Indigenous culture. Tonight, get to know your coach mates over dinner. Wet season itineraries Nov - May will vary slightly and will be adjusted to suit the conditions of the day. All included available sights and walks that are open and can be accessed will remain on the itinerary. MEALS: INCLUDED TODAY: + Dinner + Visit Bowali Visitor Centre + Entry to Kakadu National Park DAY 11 | KINGS CANYON TO ALICE SPRINGS If you would walk 500 miles (steps), then you'll make it through the toughest part of the Rim Walk - Heart Attack Hill.