2009 Alice to Darwin

The colourful ochre reds of the McDonnell Ranges, the outback scenes of salt bush in bright red sand and, of course, the extraordinary Devils Marbles.  The Mataranka oasis of hot springs in the middle of the outback as described beautifully in the Australian Classic by Mrs Aeneas Gunn in the book “We of the Never Never.”  The Katherine Gorge and other magnificent rock formations all the way to the top.

One rest day to explore the surroundings.  We are offering a complimentary bus tour to the spectacular Katherine Gorge where you can canoe all day or walk the beautiful gorge cliff tops.  All part of the AllTrails package.

Tennant Creek known as the 'Golden Heart of the Northern Territory' in reference to the friendly locals and because it is the site of Australia's last gold-rush in the 1930s. Until the 1930s gold rush era, the repeater station, built in 1872 for the Overland Telegraph Line, was the only building that stood in this area, alongside the creek.

Renner Springs  is located 150 km north of Tennant Creek  along the Stuart Highway. Renner Springs was established when Dr Frederick Renner noticed an unusual flock of birds while working on the Overland Telegraph line in 1877.

Mataranka is on the Explorer’s Way tourism drive, the main artery that connects Adelaide and Darwin, and is renowned for its thermal pool – a sandy-bottomed lagoon fringed by palm forest.

Katherine is often called the 'Crossroads' of the north due to its location and is where the outback meets the topics. The well known and spectacular Katherine Gorge in the Nitmiluk National Park near the town has many ancient rock paintings.

Pine Creek is located at the junction of the Stuart and Kakadu Hwys. Another small town made famous during the gold rush period.