TEN DAYS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND THE NORTHERN TERRITORY - SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES OF AUSTRALIA
Adelaide – Kangaroo Island – The Barossa – Darwin - Arnhem Land – Kakadu – Bamurru Plains
Wildlife, Wineries and the remote Outback
Discover the wineries of the Adelaide region and observe Australia’s unique wildlife on nature’s paradise - Kangaroo Island. Swim in crystal clear waterholes in world heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and meet local Aboriginal communities in remote Arnhem Land. Enjoy a safari-style bush experience in a luxury lodge set amidst floodplains teeming with birdlife.
At a glance
- Adelaide – Kangaroo Island (30 minutes by air)
- Adelaide – Barossa Valley (1 hour)
- Adelaide – Darwin (3h 40m by air)
- Darwin – Kakadu and Arnhem Land
- Bamurru Plains – Darwin (2.5-hour drive)
Day 1: Adelaide
Adelaide Central Market, Adelaide, South Australia
Spend today exploring Adelaide and surrounding areas. A hub for fabulous food, wine and internationally acclaimed festivals, Adelaide has much to offer.
Highlights
- Discover the gourmet delights of Adelaide Central Market, one of Australia’s largest produce markets, on a Discovery tour with Food Tours Australia.
- Wander the galleries, museums and colonial buildings of North Terrace, Adelaide’s cultural boulevard
- Check out the wine bars, boutiques, art house cinemas and elegant restaurants on nearby Rundle Street.
- Explore Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, Hahndorf, and visit The Cedars, the historic home of famous artist Sir Hans Heysen.
- Visit the beachside suburb of Glenelg and swim with dolphins with Temptation Sailing.
Day 2: Adelaide to Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
Middle River, Kangaroo Island, SA
Today fly to Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third largest island known for its diverse wildlife and nature reserves, including Flinders Chase National Park.
Spend the next two days with Exceptional Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Island on a KI 2 Day In Style Tour. There is a wide range of accommodation options to choose from.
Highlights
- Take a walk down a country track through tall Eucalyptus trees where koalas snooze overhead.
- Look for small wallabies almost extinct on the mainland, a kangaroo found only on Kangaroo Island and a variety of other birds, plants and animals.
- Enjoy lunch at a private bush camp including fine South Australian wines.
- At Seal Bay Conservation Park take a private tour with your guide among Australian sea-lions.
Day 3: Kangaroo Island
Exceptional Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Continue exploring on Day 2 of your KI In Style tour with Exceptional Kangaroo Island.
Highlights
- Travel to the wild west end – a wilderness of over one hundred thousand hectares.
- Explore the dramatic natural shapes of the Remarkable Rocks and experience the power of the Southern Ocean at Admirals Arch – home to a large colony of Long-nosed fur seals.
- Get off the beaten path to seek more wildlife encounters.
Day 4: Kingscote to the Barossa
Appellation Restaurant, The Louise, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Return to Adelaide and transfer to the Barossa – the heart of Australia’s wine industry, home to gourmet delights and an area blessed with a rich cultural heritage. There is a strong sense of cultural identity and community spirit, which adds to the appeal of the region. With over 70 cellar doors to choose from, there are plenty of wineries to visit including world-famous wineries such as St Hugo, Yalumba, Seppeltsfield and Jacob’s Creek as well as a number of smaller family and artisanal tasting rooms.
Spend tonight in the heart of the Barossa at The Louise, a boutique vineyard retreat with sweeping vistas across thousands of acres of verdant vineyards.
Highlights
- Make your own bottle of blended wine to suit your own taste on a Blend Bar Experience at Jacob’s Creek .
- Stay at The Louise, in one of its 15 luxuriously appointed suites, each with their own private terrace, overlooking the vineyards and vistas of the Barossa.
- Dine at Appellation, The Louise’s award-winning restaurant and one of Australia’s finest regional dining experiences.
- Explore the region – activities include hot air ballooning, cycling, hiking, bespoke tasting experiences and a visit to the acclaimed Barossa Farmers Market (Saturday morning only).
Day 5: The Barossa
St Hugo, Barossa Valley, South Australia
This morning see kangaroos up close in their natural habitat on The Louise’s unique Breakfast with the Kangaroos experience.
Spend today exploring the Barossa and tour some of the region’s most iconic wineries.
Highlights
- Breakfast with the Kangaroos – enjoy a picnic style breakfast with the local wildlife.
- Private touring to a selection of tasting rooms.
- Cycling the bike tracks that weave their way through the valley, of hike a portion of the Heysen Trail into the Barossa Ranges.
- Enjoy a 4 Course Degustation menu at St Hugo or splash out on a Prestige Experience with a helicopter flight, VIP tasting and 8-course lunch.
- Visit Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop at Nuriootpa. Maggie is one of Australia’s most loved cooks and here you can sample and buy a wide range of her signature produce – jams, patés, verjuice, olive oils and more.
- Blend your own gin at Durand Distillery (adjacent to Maggie Beer’s).
Day 6: The Barossa and Adelaide Hills to Darwin
Penfold's Magill Estate Winery, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Relax in the beautiful surrounds of The Louise or try a hands-on cooking experience with Italian chef Matteo Carboni from Casa Carboni cooking school.
Alternatively, start making your way back to Adelaide, stopping at Penfolds Magill Estate in the Adelaide Hills for one of their signature experiences.
Take an evening flight from Adelaide to Darwin and overnight in Darwin.
Highlights
- Improve your cooking skills on a 3 hour cooking class with Italian chef Matteo Carboni from Casa Carboni Enoteca and Cooking School.
- See the original hiding spot of Max Schubert’s hidden Grange on a guided historical tour at Penfolds Magill Estate.
- Board a private helicopter to visit the famous Penfold’s 1880s Block 42 vineyards.
Day 7: 4 Days Kakadu and Arnhemland
Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris, Northern Territory
Depart on your 4 Day private charter with Lords Kakadu and Arnhemland Safaris. Specialising in luxury, private touring throughout Kakadu, Arnhem Land, and Kimberley regions, Lords Kakadu and Arnhemland Safaris delivers unforgettable life-changing experiences across the Top End of Australia. Company owner, Sab Lord, grew up in the area that is now Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land and has a unique relationship with many local Aboriginal people who allow his tours access to restricted areas.
Your accommodation for the next two nights will be in a permanent bush camp.
Highlights
- Visit Fogg Dam Reserve, an important feeding and roosting site for a wide variety of both water birds and other animals.
- Experience one of Kakadu’s icons – a Yellow Water Cruise. This 10 square kilometer pristine environment supports an amazing array of plants, birds, crocodiles and Top End wildlife.
- Witness a spectacular Top End sunset.
Day 8: Arnhem Land
Lords Kakadu and Arnhemland Safaris, Northern Territory
Your tour continues today to the Aboriginal Lands of Arnhem Land and the flood plains of the East Alligator River
Highlights
- Meet and watch traditional local artists in action at Injalak Arts and Craft Centre.
- See some of the best rock art examples in Western Arnhem Land on Injalak Hill (Long Tom Dreaming or Kurrkabal).
- Enjoy breathtaking views from the top of Injalak Hill looking out across the floodplains and around the Arnhem Land escarpment.
Day 9: Southern Kakadu
Bamurru Plains Safari Bungalows, Kakadu, Northern Territory
Journey south to the southern end of Kakadu and swim in crystal clear waterholes at Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) before heading north to Bamurru Plains, a ten-room wilderness camp on the Mary River floodplain. This luxury lodge has exclusive access to over 70,000 acres of private land and brings a touch of style to one of Australia’s richest bird and wildlife experiences in a remote and extraordinarily beautiful region.
Highlights
- Swim in crystal-clear waterfalls and waterholes at Maguk.
- Experience sunset over the floodplains with a cold beer or glass of wine before heading back to Bamurru Plains for a three-course dinner.
- Spend the night at Bamurru Plains in its safari bungalows designed to expose guests to the sights and sounds of the bush.
Day 10: Bamurru Plains - Darwin
Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris, Northern Territory
Today continue to sample the signature experiences offered by Bamurru Plains before returning to Darwin. (Activities vary based on seasonal conditions).
Highlights
- Airboat tour – enjoy an exhilarating airboat tour out on the floodplain wetlands of the Mary River catchment and experience this achingly beautiful natural environment and the prolific bird and wildlife it hosts.
- Bird watching – The Mary River catchment is home to approximately 236 species of bird, many of which are found at Bamurru Plains.
- Fishing – the camp’s location on the edge of the floodplains makes it the ideal place to hook one of Australia’s great sports fish, the Barramundi.
