11 Days Outback Safari (NUAD)

Located in the south of Australia’s Northern Territory, the remote town of Yulara lies only 18 short kilometres from the sacred world heritage site, Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. This isolated town serves as a service hub for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and offers some welcome comfort in the harsh Outback landscape. Visitors use it as a base when exploring the park and viewing the main attraction in the area, Uluru. This epic sandstone formation stands almost 350 metres high and measures 10 kilometres in circumference featuring hidden caves, ancient rock art and otherworldly fiery hues at sunset. Other popular attractions and activities include: the Field of Light Uluru, the Desert Awakenings Tour and the Wintjiri Arts & Museum.

Australia’s Watarrka National Park contains the western end of the George Gill Mountain Range, the home of Kings Canyon. The scenic landscape of rugged ranges, rock holes, and gorges is a refuge for many plants and animals, making the park an important conservation area and major attraction. The canyon features ancient sandstone walls sculptured by the elements, rising 100 metres up to a plateau of rocky domes. History enthusiasts can enjoy discovering the heritage of the Luritja Aboriginal people, who lived in the area for more than 20 000 years, in one of the many guided tours. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch the sunrise from the top of the canyon, dine under the stars at the resort, or take a helicopter ride over Watarrka National Park.

This hardy and remote desert town, initially named Stuart, started out as a telegraph station in the 1870s. Renamed Alice Springs in 1993, it’s the capital of the Australian Outback and the best place to start your exploration of the breathtaking Red Centre – the country’s interior desert region – as well as to experience the vibrant art and culture of the Aboriginal people. Venture out to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and explore Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges, Simpson Desert, and the Devil’s Marbles Conservation Reserve – home to an iconic pair of round granite boulders. While you’re in town, make sure to visit the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve to get a feel of the town’s unique pioneering history.

Located some 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia known for its diverse history, shaped by Aboriginal culture, pastoralism and gold mining. Once the hub of a gold rush in the 20th century, this historic mining town continues to serve as the leading service centre for the surrounding Barkly Tablelands area. The region is characterised by vast open mallee scrubland, surrounded by rocky ranges and brilliant blue skies that give way to millions of stars at night. The town itself is small enough that its attractions can be explored on foot. These include Battery Hill Mining Centre and The Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, an award-winning museum and gallery showcasing the culture of the traditional Aboriginal inhabitants of the area, the Warumungu people.

Set in the Northern Territory of Australia, the town of Katherine is situated on the Katherine River, after which it is named,.Katherine is a serene town located just outside the borders of the Nitmiluk National Park, which is owned by the indigenous Jawoyn Aboriginal people and jointly managed with the local Parks and Wildlife Commission. Tourists use Katharine as a base from which to explore the Edith Falls, scenic Jatbula Trail and the Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park. Alternatively, visit the Top Didj Cultural Experience to take in authentic Aboriginal art and culture, relax in the crystal clear Katherine Hot Springs, or take a walk along the river bed on a path that leads to Katherine Low-level Nature Reserve.

Jabiru is a settlement situated within the boundaries of the Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory. Travellers to Kakadu make use of the town’s facilities that include a newsagent, post office, service station, medical centre, chemist and police station. Just five kilometres from the town is the Bowali Visitor Centre, which offers a wealth of information about the area and the local Mirarr people. Jabiru also offers easy access to several of the park’s other highlight attractions, including Lake Jabir, the Gunlom falls, the Mamukala Billabong wetland and the sacred Ubirr rocks.

Darwin is a tropical seaport in the Northern Territory of Australia that serves as a convenient access point to Katherine Gorge, Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park. The city is a melting pot of different cultures, with more than 50 nationalities represented here. With a strong Asian influence, you can expect a kaleidoscope of cuisines and a cultural blend of Thai, Sri Lankan, Japanese, Indian, Chinese and Malaysian. Darwin's city centre buzzes with a lively tourist vibe, while unique museums celebrate the city's past and galleries showcase the region's rich indigenous art. Sail to the intriguing Tiwi Islands, take a speedboat ride or go fishing in a tinny – the local version of a small boat.