This self-drive includes car rental for the entire duration of the self-drive and all hotel accommodation along the route. You will enjoy the day to day driving program, as we have measured the driving distances per day for optimal sightseeing. This way you are sure to see all the highlights along the route and use your time in the most optimal way.

Keep in mind that you are traveling through a vast country that is very hot and dry. Take always enough drinking water with you in the car and on your walks. It is also a good idea to fuel up your vehicle when possible as the next gas station can be far away. Check always the current conditions with the locals (rangers) before you set off on your own.

Day 1: Alice Springs - Ayers Rock: (444 km) Pick up of your rental car, either at the airport or in the city. Please check your rental car voucher for details. 

You need to pick up a permit to travel the Mereenie Loop Road. This you can obtain at the Central Land Council before leaving Alice Springs. Leave The Alice, as locals call it, on the Stuart Highway and drive south. 

Take the Lasseter Highway at the Erldunda Motel. About halfway between Alice and Erldunda you can make a stop at the Camel Outback Safaris, a camel farm where you can take camel rides.

At Yulara Village, check in at your hotel and the place is yours to explore! We recommend a visit to the Olgas or Kata Tjuta as the Aboriginals call this collection of rounded rock. Take the longer walk in the Valley of the Winds (6 km) or a shorter one into Olga Gorge. 

You definitely shouldn't miss a sunset at (Uluru) Ayers Rock. It is quite spectacular to watch the colors change from bright orange to dark purple. Overnight: 2 nights at Emu Walk Apartments.

Day 2: Ayers Rock: The early risers get rewarded with the magnificent sunrise at the rock. You can climb the rock but the Aboriginals would rather that it is not done, since it is a sacred site to them. It's about 1.6 km and a very steep and arduous walk. There is an excellent Aboriginal led Visitor Centre at the base of Uluru. Another Visitor Centre can be found in the village of Yulara.

There are several shorter walks in the area and you can book helicopter flights (not included) to view the heart of the Red Centre from above.

Day 3: Ayers Rock - Kings Canyon: (299 km) Take the Lasseter Highway back to the junction where you take a left to go to Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park. Not nearly as busy as Ayers Rock but at least as rewarding in terms of colors and landscape. 

Kings Canyon is a natural gorge with places such as Lost City and Garden of Eden. Take a short walk before dusk on the bottom of the canyon. Overnight: 1 night at Kings Canyon Resort,

Day 4: Kings Canyon - Alice Springs: (480 km) If you feel reasonably fit you can take the long walk on the top of the canyon but you should rise early in order to avoid the heat. Also, you'll need the day to drive back to Alice Springs.  

Leave Kings Canyon on the unpaved Meerenie Loop Road, where you will need the permit that you  have picked up in Alice Springs. Be sure to allow enough time to travel on the unpaved road. Hermannsburg makes a nice stopover where you can get fuel and something to eat. It is an Aboriginal Community but no permits are required. Just after Hermannsburg the road will be paved again.  Overnight: 1 night at Frontier Oasis Resort

Day 5: Alice Springs - Tennent Creek: (515 km) Heading north on the Stuart Highway you'll find the major attraction of this stretch about 100 km south of Tennant Creek: the Devil's Marbles. These are a pile of giant rounded boulders scattered on both sides of the road. There is a Aboriginal legend to it that explains it's origin. Overnight: 1 night at Goldfields Motor Inn.

Day 6: Tennant Creek - Mataranka: (550 km) A full day on the road. Once more you'll discover the vastness of this continent. There are a few roadhouses and gas stations. The crystal clear thermal pool of Mataranka, next to the Mataranka Homestead makes a welcome change to the dust of the Outback! Overnight: 1 night at Territory Manor Inn

Day 7: Mataranka - Katherine: (105 km) A short drive on the Stuart Highway brings you to Katherine, a bustling little town and the end of a great gorge system for which it has become famous. On the way you can visit the Cutta Cutta Caves, just south of Katherine. Make sure you make the arrangements for your cruise or canoe hire today! Overnight: 2 nights at Katherine Frontier Hotel.

Day 8: Katherine: The entire day to explore Nitmiluk National Park. We recommend you visit the Katherine Gorge - or rather the gorges. There are 13 of it! You can do so on your own by hiring a canoe of you can chose out of several tours that vary in length. On the longer tours you also take hikes and swims and at noon there is an Aussie-style BBQ served.

Day 9: Katherine - Kakadu National Park: (296 km) Continue on Stuart Hwy until you get to Pine Creek. Here you turn of to reach Kakadu National Park - one of the real treasures of Australia! 

There are a number of great gorges, in most of them you can also take a swim (always check: crocodiles!). For Aboriginal Paintings visit either Nourlangie or Obiri Rock. The Yellow Water cruise is also a rewarding experience: especially at dawn and dusk you will see numerous birds and other wildlife - maybe even crocodiles! 

Make sure that you check before all your activities with locals - e.g. the ranger station to find out whether it is safe to do so on your own or not. Keep in mind that in some of the gorges there are crocodiles. Some of the walks are strenuous and you're probably not used to the hot and dry climate.  Overnight: 2 nights at Kakadu Gagudju Cooinda Resort.

Day 10: Kakadu National Park: The entire day to enjoy the wonders of this World Heritage area!

Day 12: DARWIN: Today you'll drop your car at the airport or in town, please check your voucher for details.

More Information:

• For a description of this selfdrive in reverse direction, go to N.T. Overlander
• You may of course combine this self-drive with other Self-drives or Tours. Ask for a Quotation for your specific holiday plans.
• If you need more information on the hotels in this self-drive, click on the hotel name or go to: Hotels & Resorts in the Northern Territory