Leichhardt's Savannah Expedition

Meet your professional touring crew before checking in to your accommodation and spend the evening getting to know your fellow adventurers at a welcome dinner.

Departing Cairns early, we travel west and drive through the scenic Atherton Tablelands. Visit beautiful Millaa Millaa Falls before continuing to Undara Volcanic National Park, where a local Savannah Guide will take us on a tour through the lava tube cave system.

Tonight, enjoy dinner in the open-air restaurant as the outback sunset fades into a clear starlit night.

This morning, we depart Undara and head west to Croydon, passing by Blackbull, and travelling through to Normanton before heading into Karumba. Located on the banks of the Norman River, Karumba came to importance in the 1930s, when it became a stopover point for flying boats on the run from London to Australia.

Joining one of the last great characters of rail travel – ‘The Gulflander', we are taken back in time. This historic little train takes us on a scenic journey from Normanton to Critters Camp*. From here, we head back to Karumba and discover the secrets of the mighty barramundi at The Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre.

A special Sand Island dinner cruise in the Gulf will have you dining on local seafood while watching a sensational gulf sunset. What a way to round out the day!

Please Note: Gulflander journey may change subject to operating hours.

Our journey along the Savannah Way continues as we venture across the Gulf, pausing at Camp 119, the northernmost camp of the historic Burke and Wills Expedition. We then make our way to the striking Leichhardt Falls, a remote and rugged landmark (no swimming here).

After lunch, we travel north, rejoining the Savannah Way near Doomadgee before arriving late afternoon.

Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of Hell's Gate, set on Cliffdale Station and named after the dramatic gap in the escarpment nearby. Today, experience station life with a guided tour and take to the skies on a breathtaking helicopter flight over the Gulf of Carpentaria, following Eight Mile Creek. Keep an eye out for native wildlife along the way. This afternoon, take some time to soak in the atmosphere of this unique outback station before another night under the vast northern skies.

Please Note: A weight limit of 135kg applies to the scenic flight.

Continue along the Savannah Way and cross the border into the Northern Territory. Not far from the NT border, we turn off and head north into Australian Wildlife Conservancy's (AWC) Pungalina-Seven Emu Wildlife Sanctuary.

Together the two properties cover a combined area of around 305,000 hectares and include coastal monsoon rainforest, tall paper bark forests, palm-fringed wetlands, deep gorges and coastal flood plains. The sanctuary is home to over 40 species of mammals, 190 species of birds and 95 species of frogs and reptiles.

On arrival we check in to our safari camp. Built by Outback Spirit in 2019, the camp features unique safari tents with ensuite bathrooms and covered decks, the perfect spot for a two-night stay to discover the area.

Please Note: Seven Emu is owned by Mr Frank Shadforth with 110,000 hectares of the property leased to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy for conservation. Pungalina is wholly owned by AWC.

Step into the untouched wilderness of Pungalina-Seven Emu Sanctuary, a haven of ecological significance in northern Australia. Explore the pristine landscapes on a guided cruise along the Calvert River, where towering sandstone cliffs and lush riverbanks reveal a side of the outback rarely seen. Gain fascinating insights during an ecology tour led by trained AWC staff, showcasing the vital conservation efforts that protect this extraordinary sanctuary.

This morning, we return to the Savannah Way and make our way west to Borroloola on the McArthur River. Visit the Borroloola Museum, located in the original 1887 Borroloola Police Station, and learn about the Gulf Territory's rich Indigenous, droving and WWII history.

We pass through Limmen National Park before arriving at the turn off to Lorella Springs. From here, it's a 30km drive to Lorella Springs Wilderness Park, our home for the next three nights.

Over the next two days we explore all the wonders of Lorella Springs Wilderness Park.

Lorella Springs Station is a privately owned, 4,000-square-kilometre (1 million acres) working cattle property that offers an unforgettable mix of rugged beauty and natural serenity. It's a haven for adventurers, with thermal springs, hidden waterfalls and crystal-clear billabongs tucked among sandstone escarpments. The landscape is alive with wildlife – wallabies, birds and freshwater crocodiles – and the sens of isolation makes every moment feel like a true escape into the wild heart of Australia. Be as active or restful as the mood takes you.

As part of our time here, we'll take part in an exhilarating helicopter flight over the southern ‘Lost City' and also take a drive out to the area to explore ancient sandstone structures where a ground tour with your guides will educate on the local geology, vegetation and birdlife.

At the end of each day's adventures, join your station hosts at the bar for happy hour and mingle with other likeminded explorers journeying across the Gulf.

Please Note: A weight limit of 135kg applies to the scenic flight. All passengers must be weighed prior to boarding the aircraft.

Our travels today take us along one of the most remote sections of the Savannah Way. Used extensively by drovers in the 1870's, thousands of cattle have walked this route on their way from Queensland to the Northern Territory and the Kimberley.

We'll pass through the dramatic scenery of the Limmen National Park before continuing along the Savannah Way towards Roper Bar. This afternoon, we follow the Roper Highway east and press on to Katherine via Mataranka, arriving late afternoon.

This morning, we enjoy Tom Curtain's award-winning Katherine Outback Experience, a show that celebrates the Northern Territory's unique pastoral history and culture through real horse-training and working dog demonstrations. Later, we take a two-hour boat cruise on the ancient waterway that is Katherine River Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park.

The NitNit Dreaming cruise is one of the most popular tours in the region and will take you to the end of the first gorge, where you will experience the beauty of the large boulders, rock pools and sands that make up the crossover to the second gorge. Be awed by the ageless beauty of the towering sandstone walls of this stunning natural landscape.

Departing Katherine, we'll pass through Pine Creek and Adelaide River before arriving in the Territory's capital early afternoon. Along the way, we'll visit Edith Falls, where you can swim in the paperbark-fringed pool at the base of the waterfall. Enjoy free time this afternoon before boarding the Charles Darwin for a delicious Territory-style sunset dinner cruise to celebrate a truly amazing trip.

After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning before being transferred to the airport, or to your accommodation if staying on in Darwin.

Please Note: Every effort will be made by your crew to ensure that the above itinerary is followed. However, Outback Spirit reserves the right to alter the itinerary once on tour as required due to weather and track conditions or other operational considerations.