Whipper Snapper Pass - Darwin to Adelaide

Start in Darwin and finish in Adelaide. This is the pass for you to experience the Outback and the East Coast. Travel from Darwin, starting your pass with a 2 Day 4WD Kakadu National Park tour. Make your own way to Cairns (most people fly) after checking out Uluru (Ayers Rock) on a 2 day tour. Make your way down the East Coast. The pass includes a Blue Mountains Day tour which you can book onto for a great day out from Sydney. Travel along the South Coast finishing via the Great Ocean Road in Adelaide.

Darwin to Kakadu (zz)

Spot crocs (and other wild creatures!) on a cruise along the fresh waters of the Mary River Wetlands. Discover more about the land and its stories at the Bowali Visitor Centre. The whole of Kakadu is spread out before you at Ubirr Rock, where we spend the afternoon. Camp in Kakadu National Park.

Kakadu to Darwin

Jim Jim Falls is our first stop today, and it’s a stunner! This afternoon, the spectacular gorge of Twin Falls is experienced onboard a National Park operated boat and along the boardwalk (seasonal and fees apply). Farewell to Kakadu and travel back to Darwin, arriving late afternoon.

Darwin to Katherine Gorge (zz)

South of Darwin is Katherine. Spend the whole afternoon at the majestic Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk). Experience the striking beauty while canoeing or cruising (own expense) through the gorge itself. Camp near Katherine Gorge.

Katherine Gorge to Tennant Creek (zz)

Not far to the south is Mataranka, where you can revive in a sparkling thermal pool. Next stop is the iconic Daly Waters outback hotel, the Territory’s oldest pub. Camp tonight at an outback station.

Tennant Creek to Alice Springs (zz)

Check out the sacred site of the Devils Marbles, which balance precariously on their rocky perch. A visit to Ti Tree gives you the chance to buy original works of art by Indigenous artists. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn and arrive in Alice Springs late afternoon.

Alice Springs – Kings Canyon – Uluru (zz)

You’ll see why it’s called the ‘Red Centre’ as you travel to Kings Canyon. Hike the full rim of the canyon and see the North and South Walls, the Amphitheatre, the Lost City and the lush, inviting Garden of Eden. In the afternoon it’s back on the road, get ready to view Uluru (Ayers Rock). Camp at Uluru.

Uluru to Alice Springs

Sunrise at Uluru is worth the early start! Walk partway around the base or climb Uluru if you choose. Be fascinated by the red domes of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Return to Alice Springs in the late afternoon. (This safari is included in the Whipper Snapper pass.)

(Make your own way to Cairns, flying or travelling overland)

Cairns to Mission Beach

East Coast, here we come. First stop is Babinda Boulders where we view some seriously big rocks. We then head to Innisfail to visit some very big and very bad crocodiles (optional). Get right up close to these amazing reptiles, but not too close because we want you around for a few more weeks. We stop in at Mission Beach, which is one great place to stay over for a few days. The beaches are superb. Relax or go skydiving or white water rafting (optional). If you’re lucky you’ll see a Cassowary, these are seriously big birds with attitude to match.

Mission Beach to Townsville (zz)

You can stay in Townsville or travel over to Magnetic Island (at own expense) with the driver. And why not: it is the sunniest spot on the Queensland coast with more than 320 sunny days a year! And our chosen hostel is right on the beach. You’ll think you’ve landed in paradise. Get out for some hikes or try and spot koalas in their natural habitat. Look out for the full-moon parties at base backpackers.

Townsville to Airlie Beach (zz)

In the early afternoon we board the bus to Airlie Beach the gateway to the amazing Whitsunday Islands. We travel via Bowen, which is a great place to stop and earn some money picking fruit or vegetables. In Airlie you’ll probably say goodbye to our bus and hello sunshine and sailing boats for a few days. Sailing is one of the highlights of the east coast trip. One we hope you remember after the traditional end-of-sailing party. Don’t forget to book your bus out of Airlie Beach before your sailing trip. Sailing is optional and at extra cost.

Airlie Beach to Sarina

We say farewell to Airlie Beach and head to the Sarina Bowling Club to play bare-foot lawn bowls, which is becoming an Aussie tradition. Your guide will show you how!

Sarina to Kroombit Cattle Station (zz)

Leaving the coast we travel into the outback and our overnight stop at Kroombit. There’s a local payment to cover bush dinner, bunk accommodation and breakfast. Don’t go to bed before cracking a whip and having a go at the mechanical bull ride!

Kroombit to Hervey Bay

We don’t leave the cattle station until we get on the horses and round up the goats (optional activity). Then be part of a real-life mini-rodeo which is loads of laughs and included in your pass. Stay behind for more of the cattle station or get back on the bus to Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach. Along the way you may wish to get off the bus to visit the Town of 1770 for a few days.

Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beach (zz)

Rainbow Beach is the shortcut to Fraser Island so the best place to start your guided or self-drive four wheel drive island adventure. We think the really cool thing about Rainbow is that once your back from Fraser Island there’s so much else to do. Rainbows got beaches, great natural attractions like the Carlo Sand Blow and the coloured cliffs, and even dolphin feeding. Rainbow Beach is a laid back beach town that some say was like Byron Bay 20-years ago. Hop off and do the dolphin feeding and the local cultural walk.

Rainbow Beach to Noosa

After a few back roads we’re onto the highway and it’s not long before we turn for the Sunshine Coast and a stop in the holiday spot of Noosa.

Noosa to Brisbane

The Glasshouse Mountains, remnants of active volcanoes from times past. Sailing past in 1770 Captain Cook saw them and thought they looked like Glasshouses in his home of Yorkshire: Active Volcanoes or an overactive imagination?

Brisbane to Gold Coast

Our first drop-off point is Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast: golden sands, theme parks, and great bars and clubs. It’s a lot of high-rise buildings, but it’s a lot of fun. Try it out for a couple of days yourself and see.

Gold Coast to Byron Bay (zz)

South and across the border into New South Wales and Byron Bay; a great beachside town with a cool vibe and interesting locals. We’re sure you’ll love it and want to stay longer. Enjoy! Take a cheap day tour to Nimbin, town of happy hippies.

Byron Bay to Surf Camp (zz)

Today is a short journey to Spot-X for our afternoon surf lesson. Surfs-up! Its time for your included 3-hour surf lesson – all gear supplied: wetsuits, surfboards, professional surf instructors, water, sunshine, and lots of fun. Surfing can be addictive so you might not want to leave the tranquil and uncrowded Spot X surf beaches.

Surf Camp to Sydney

We get up early today for the journey to Australia’s largest city. Stay longer if you reckon surfing’s your thing and you’re not quite ready for the big smoke! It’s a cruisy day with lots of bush, cool tunes and a coastal lunch stop before we reach Sydney late in the afternoon.

Blue Mountains Day Tour from Sydney

We head out of Sydney past the Sydney Olympic site to our first stop where we view wild Eastern Grey Kangaroos in native bush habitat. These 'roos’ are pretty big and you can get up close and personal. We do a 2-3 hour loop walk near Wentworth Falls to see this waterfall, lookout points and surround. You will walk through changing vegetation, hanging swamps, and under rock ledges giving you an overview of the dramatic Blue Mountains environment. Lunch is included - you'll eat a nutritious lunch, everything from fruit, sandwiches, salads and more.

After lunch, we walk down the historic Furber Stairs into Jamison Valley through lush rainforest, past picturesque Katoomba Falls and view the incredible 3 Sisters rock formations. From the bottom of the Jamison Valley, board the Scenic Railway (fare included), the steepest railway in the world and ride up to the valley rim. For those staying longer we’ll drop you off in Katoomba at the award-winning YHA @ 5.00pm and pick up others. The YHA is an impressive heritage building and you can experience some local nightlife in this historic town. We cruise back into Sydney after an action packed day and drop you off at 7.00pm (approximately) at the office where we picked you up.

Sydney to Thredbo Alpine Village(via Canberra) (zz)

Our first stop today is the capital city of Australia – Canberra - where the Prime Minister hangs out. See for yourself how a custom-made capital city is built as you take in the view from Mount Ainslie, take a tour of Parliament House, check out a few embassies and see other city highlights. We travel via Cooma, learning about the historically important Snowy Hydro-Electric Scheme on our way to Thredbo.

*In ski season (June to September) we stay in Jindabyne and during winter, have time to play in the snow at the ski resort of Perisher/Smiggins (optional toboggan hire or snow tube at own expense). (D)

Thredbo to Lakes Entrance via Snowy River Country (zz)

Grab your hiking boots and cameras, this morning we’re going to the “Roof of Australia”. There’s a chairlift (own expense, but we get a great deal!) express up the mountain! You can walk to the summit of Australia’s highest mountain, Mt Kosciuszko, or to the viewing point. After lunch, it’s a spectacular drive along Barry Way, watching the Snowy River wind along below us. Tonight we stay in the coastal town of Lakes Entrance, the Gateway to the Gippsland Lakes and Australia’s longest beach – Ninety Mile Beach. (BD)

Lakes Entrance to Wilsons Promontory National Park and Melbourne (zz)

We travel to mainland Australia’s most southerly point, Wilsons Promontory National Park. Walk along gleaming beaches, hike along amazing granite rock formations and learn about coastal flora and native wildlife. You might even see emus and wombats! We finish our tour travelling to Melbourne through pastoral landscapes in South Gippsland. (B)

Melbourne to Princetown (zz)

We begin our journey travelling via Geelong to Torquay - stopping to shop at Quicksilver and Rip Curl - before continuing on to world famous Bells Beach. Here we commence our journey on the renowned Great Ocean Road, one of the most spectacular coastal roads in Australia. Hugging the coastline we stop to view Koalas, pass through the seaside town of Lorne then break for lunch at Apollo Bay. In the afternoon we travel through the magnificent cool temperate rainforest of the Otway NP, spend time at the awesome Otway Fly, (a 25 metre high elevated tree top walk) and view sunset at the Twelve Apostles. Tonight we stay in the coastal township of Princetown.

Princetown to Grampians National Park (zz)

We take the Gibson Steps down to the beach for another look at the Twelve Apostles and then check out Loch Ard Gorge before continuing along the western end of the Great Ocean Road viewing London Bridge, Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands. We take a break at Warrnambool; where you may view whales (seasonal). Travelling on through country Victoria, we arrive at the magnificent Grampians National Park, calling in at Brambuks Aboriginal Cultural Centre before accepting the challenge of a hike to the “Pinnacle”. We finish the day with a walk to The Balconies and Reeds Lookout before arriving at our accommodation in the ‘Heart of the Grampians’ at Halls Gap.

Grampians National Park to Adelaide

Today we spend the morning hiking to the bottom of MacKenzie Falls and Hollow Mountain for breathtaking views over the north of the Grampians before leaving this magical place. Travelling west, we break for lunch at Horsham then continue through the agricultural district of Victoria, into South Australia and Bordertown; home of the rare White Western Grey Kangaroos. We cross the mighty Murray River, the longest river system in Australia, then pass through the picturesque Adelaide Hills arriving into the city of Adelaide.

Additional Fee to Pay the Driver: AUD $480.00

This includes:

Darwin Kakadu Safari

1 night permanent camp site
Meals: 1 Breakfast, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner

Melbourne to Sydney

2 night’s multi-share accommodation (including bed linen)
Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Dinner
National park fees

Adelaide to Melbourne

2 nights multi-share accommodation (including bed linen)
Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners
Park entry fees, entry to Otway Fly Treetop Walk

Uluru Safari

1 night permanent camp site
Meals: 1 Breakfast, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner
Uluru National Park fee

Alice Springs to Darwin

2 nights permanent camp site
Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Additional to pay to Kroombit Cattle Station: AUD $45.00

This includes:

1 night Bunkhouse dorm accommodation
2 course bush dinner and breakfast

Additional to pay to Mojo Surf Camp: AUD $45.00

This includes:

1 night multi-share accommodation
1 dinner and 1 breakfast

There is also a National Park fee of AUD $12.50 to enter Kakadu Park, which must be paid on departure. While visiting Kakadu Park we will go on a boat transfer to Twin Falls (seasonal).

NOTE: The 2012 - 2013 season rates are valid from the 1st April 2012 to the 31st March 2013. The 2013 - 2014 season rates commence on the 1st April 2013.