Outback Icons (Small Group)

Adelaide sets the tone with its elegant blend of culture, cuisine and creativity. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over a drink before heading out to discover the city's highlights. At the legendary Adelaide Central Market, join a local gourmand for a behind-the-scenes exploration, tasting your way from stall to stall as you uncover the flavours that make this city such a favourite for food lovers.

Leave the city behind and travel into South Australia's celebrated wine country. In the Clare Valley, visit Knappstein Enterprise Winery, where rolling vineyards and crisp country air frame a tasting of fragrant Rieslings and rich red wines. Continue north to Hawker, where Jeff Morgan's larger-than-life artworks capture the scale and spirit of the Outback.

Later, arrive at Wilpena Pound Resort for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, set beneath the dramatic natural amphitheatre of the Flinders Ranges. It is a striking introduction to a region of ancient landscapes and untamed beauty.

River red gums frame Hills Homestead on an easy walk along Wilpena Creek to Wangarra Hill Lookout, unveiling sweeping views across Wilpena Pound. Travel on to heritage listed Quorn, once a former railway hub on the route of the original Ghan and the Central Australia Railway. Continue through the dramatic Pichi Richi Pass to Port Augusta for a visit to the Wadlata Outback Centre, tracing the region's journey from dinosaurs to today, the formation of the Flinders Ranges and beyond.

Trace the edge of the Outback to Woomera, once a major rocket-testing site and now home to a fascinating aerospace park that reflects Australia's spirit of innovation. The landscapes grow more surreal as you continue north, with sunbaked plains and lunar-like scenery leading the way to Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world. With a Local Specialist, delve into the town's underground life, exploring subterranean homes, churches and mines where precious opals are still unearthed today.

Leave Coober Pedy behind as you cross into the Northern Territory and journey towards one of Australia's most iconic landmarks. Uluru rises from the desert with a presence that is impossible to forget. As the sun begins to set, watch the colours of the monolith shift and deepen beneath the vast Red Centre sky. Raise a glass and enjoy delicious bites as you take in this remarkable moment with your fellow travellers.

This evening, you may also choose to pre-book the Uluru Barbecue Dinner as an Optional Experience.

Early starts are well worth it when you witness a breathtaking Red Centre sunrise - words cannot describe how beautiful it is. Encounter Uluru, standing 348 metres tall and dating back half a billion years - even loftier than the Eiffel Tower. At its base, embark on a guided walk to the serene Mutitjulu Waterhole, a place sacred to the Anangu people, steeped in ancient stories.

More soul stirring landscapes unfold at Kata Tjuṯa, where immense sandstone domes guide you into tranquil Walpa Gorge. Sheltered from the harsh desert, this cool corridor nurtures rare plants, spearwood trees, birdlife and animals that flourish in surprising abundance.

Before sunrise, you may choose an Optional Experience to see the acclaimed Field of Light installation, where 50,000 glowing stems illuminate the desert in a mesmerising display. Later, continue through the Outback, passing the striking form of Atila (Mt. Conner), its flat-topped silhouette standing proudly above the plains.

Stop at Kings Creek Station for a unique outback lunch and the chance to try a camel burger before arriving at Kings Canyon. Here, lace up for the Rim Walk, where soaring sandstone walls, weathered domes and hidden rock pools reveal one of the region's most dramatic natural wonders.

Travel through landscapes defined by scale and silence as you make your way towards Alice Springs. Vast cattle stations and the rugged MacDonnell Ranges frame your journey into this historic Outback town. On arrival, visit the Telegraph Station, established in 1872 as one of the links connecting Adelaide and Darwin along the Overland Telegraph Line.

Later, take in far-reaching views from Anzac Hill, where the surrounding ranges and desert light help explain why this region has inspired generations of artists.

Begin with a drive into the West MacDonnell Ranges, where rugged escarpments and ochre-red rock formations create a striking natural backdrop. At Simpsons Gap, discover a tranquil waterhole set between steep cliffs, a place of both beauty and significance. Back in Alice Springs, visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre to learn how vital medical care is delivered across remote parts of the country.

The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish, whether that means relaxing at your hotel or discovering more of the town's galleries, shops and local character.

Visit the remarkable School of the Air, where lessons are broadcast across 1.3 million square kilometres to children living in remote communities. If school is in session, you may see a class taking place. Continue north to Karlu Karlu, also known as the Devils Marbles, where giant granite boulders appear balanced across the landscape in incredible formations shaped over millions of years.

Later, arrive in Tennant Creek, a town with a rich gold mining heritage and a true frontier spirit.

Call in at Daly Waters Pub, an Outback institution known as much for its character as its hearty meals. Since the 1930s, travellers have left behind their mark here, from boots to bras, creating a collection of mementos that tells its own story. In Mataranka, step into the world of We of the Never Never with a visit to the replica Elsey Homestead, or wander palm-lined paths to warm thermal springs for a rejuvenating soak. Later, continue on to Katherine.

Cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and discover a place of immense natural beauty and cultural significance. Framed by ancient sandstone cliffs, this powerful landscape has been home to the Jawoyn people for millennia.

Continue into Kakadu National Park, where a second MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience takes you onto the Yellow Water Billabong. Glide through wetlands rich with life as local guides share insights into the region's plants, wildlife and cultural importance. Keep watch for crocodiles, sea eagles, brolgas and kingfishers as you immerse yourself in the magic of the Top End.

Kakadu's immense scale can be appreciated from the ground or, if you choose, from the air on an Optional Experience scenic flight over this extraordinary wilderness. Back on land, visit Ubirr, where ancient Aboriginal rock art offers a powerful connection to the region's cultural heritage. Climb to the lookout for sweeping views across floodplains and escarpments before travelling on to Darwin.

This evening, you may wish to soak up the tropical atmosphere at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, where global street food and seaside sunsets create a memorable end to the day.

Your final full day in the Northern Territory is fittingly warm and tropical, embracing the relaxed rhythm of the Top End. Spend the day your way, whether it's sleeping in before indulging in a tropical breakfast or setting off on one of our optional experiences. Explore Litchfield National Park, a spectacular blend of magnetic termite mounds, cascading waterfalls, and refreshing waterholes (seasonal swimming). Or why not try a lunch cruise?

No matter how you spend the day, gather in the evening for a memorable dinner, celebrating the incredible experiences shared along the journey.

Your journey comes to an end in Darwin. As you head home, take with you more than photographs. Carry the memories of red desert sunsets, ancient stories, remote communities and the wild beauty of the Outback that made this journey unforgettable.