Australia North to South: Darwin to Adelaide (Self-Launched)
13 days · Australia — Northern Territory & South Australia (Darwin to Adelaide)
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£1,278 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic Darwin-to-Adelaide overland route: Litchfield and Kakadu waterfalls, croc-spotting wetland cruises, Katherine Gorge, Devils Marbles, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, Uluru at sunset, underground digs in Coober Pedy and the Flinders Ranges. Instead of a private minibus with a tour leader, you book a mix of small-group day tours for the National Parks (the only realistic way to reach Kakadu/Litchfield without your own 4WD), then use the Ghan or a cheap domestic flight for the long Outback legs and the Greyhound/Premier bus network for the rest. Costs are backpacker-level, using hostel dorms, swag camping and one night underground. Prices are rough GBP estimates and exclude international flights — Australia is genuinely expensive, but you still come out well ahead of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Darwin — rooftop hostel and night out
Darwin, NT
Land in Darwin and check into a hostel in the CBD (Darwin City backpackers cluster around Mitchell Street, right by the waterfront). Take the Darwin Airport Shuttle (~A$18/£9) rather than a taxi. Spend the afternoon at the free Waterfront lagoon or the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (free entry, good Cyclone Tracy exhibit). In the evening: sunset drinks at a rooftop hostel bar, then a wander along Mitchell Street's backpacker strip — Mindil Beach Sunset Markets on Thursday/Sunday nights (May–Oct) are the best free Darwin night out.
🚌Airport shuttle ~£9; walk everywhere in town
🛏Hostel dorm, Darwin CBD (~£22-28/night)
- →Museum & Art Gallery of the NT (free)
- →Waterfront lagoon swim
- →Mindil Beach Sunset Markets (seasonal)
- →Mitchell Street bar crawl
Litchfield National Park day trip — waterfalls and termite mounds
Litchfield National Park, NT
Join a small-group Litchfield day tour booked via Klook/GetYourGuide or a local Darwin operator (~£85-110 including lunch, park entry and pickup). You'll swim at Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole, see the giant magnetic termite mounds, and finish with a wetland cruise on the Adelaide River spotting saltwater crocs. If you'd rather self-drive, Litchfield is 1.5h from Darwin on sealed roads and hire cars are ~£30-40/day shared. Sleep back in Darwin — or, for the proper swag experience, book an overnight Litchfield camping tour (~£130-160) instead of the day trip and sleep under the stars.
🚌Included in day tour pickup, or shared hire car
🛏Hostel dorm, Darwin (~£22-28) — or swag camp in Litchfield if on the overnight option
- →Florence Falls swim
- →Buley Rockhole
- →Magnetic termite mounds
- →Adelaide River wetland crocodile cruise
Kakadu National Park — Ubirr and Nourlangie rock art
Kakadu National Park, NT
Kakadu needs a vehicle, so the cheapest sensible option is a 2-day Kakadu small-group tour from Darwin (~£180-230 including one night's camping/dorm, park entry and most meals) — book direct with a local operator or via Klook. Day one covers the Bowali Visitor Centre, the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the rock art galleries at Ubirr or Nourlangie, with a sunset lookout over the floodplain.
🚌Included tour van from Darwin (~3h drive)
🛏Tour camp or Jabiru hostel/motel (included in 2-day tour)
- →Ubirr rock art & lookout
- →Nourlangie rock art
- →Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
- →Bowali Visitor Centre
Kakadu morning + drive to Katherine
Kakadu to Katherine, NT
Finish the Kakadu tour with a morning swim at a waterfall or a Yellow Water Billabong cruise (often an add-on, ~£45). Back in Darwin by late afternoon, then take the Greyhound bus to Katherine (~3.5h, ~£30-35 booked online in advance). Alternatively, if you ran your own hire car, drive Darwin–Katherine yourself (3h) with a stop at Edith Falls (Leliyn) for a swim on the way.
🚌Greyhound coach Darwin–Katherine ~£32
🛏Katherine hostel or budget motel (~£25-32)
- →Yellow Water billabong cruise (optional)
- →Edith Falls swim (if self-driving)
Katherine Gorge — kayak, walk or helicopter
Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, NT
Morning at Nitmiluk National Park. Cheapest option is the free Katherine Gorge walk to a lookout; better value is a self-guided kayak into the gorge (~A$80/£42 for a half day) or the flat-bottomed boat cruise (~A$99/£52). A helicopter flight is ~A$110-230 if you want the splurge. Afternoon: hire a bike or catch a taxi to Mataranka Thermal Pools (an hour south — easiest done as a half-day tour or by hiring a car for the day, ~£40). Evening: the historic Daly Waters pub is 3h south, so instead have a steak and a beer at a Katherine pub and sleep in town. Overnight bus or early start tomorrow.
🚌Local taxi/bike; optional shared car hire ~£40
🛏Katherine hostel (~£25-32)
- →Katherine Gorge self-guided kayak
- →Gorge lookout walk (free)
- →Mataranka hot springs (optional)
South to Alice Springs via Devils Marbles
Katherine to Alice Springs, NT
Long travel day. The Greyhound runs Katherine–Alice Springs (~11h, ~£75-90) and stops at Tennant Creek; the Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) are 100km south and are best seen on a dedicated day tour from Alice or with your own car. Budget-friendly alternative: take the overnight Greyhound (~£80) and add a Devils Marbles half-day tour from Alice Springs another day (~£60), or hire a car in Tennant Creek. Alice Springs itself is a compact, walkable Outback town — check in and grab a feed on Todd Mall.
🚌Greyhound coach ~£80
🛏Alice Springs hostel dorm (~£22-28)
- →Todd Mall wander
- →Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) — via day tour or self-drive
Alice Springs free day
Alice Springs, NT
A full day to pick your own Outback activities. Good value picks: the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum (~A$18/£10), Alice Springs Desert Park (~A$40/£21, half-day), the free Anzac Hill sunset lookout, and the Telegraph Station historic reserve. Big splurge option is hot-air ballooning at sunrise (~A$350/£185). Book any of these direct or via Klook/Viator. Evening: quirky bars along Todd Street.
🚌Walk / local bus; taxi for Desert Park ~£10
🛏Alice Springs hostel dorm (~£22-28)
- →Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum
- →Anzac Hill sunset (free)
- →Alice Springs Desert Park (optional)
- →Hot-air ballooning (optional splurge)
Kings Canyon (Watarrka) en route to Uluru
Kings Canyon to Yulara/Uluru, NT
Kings Canyon is 3h from Alice and 3h from Uluru — hard without a car. Two realistic options: (1) book a 3-day Alice Springs–Uluru small-group camping tour (~£330-420 all-in, covering Kings Canyon Rim Walk, Kata Tjuta and Uluru sunrise/sunset; this covers days 8-10) — usually the best value; or (2) hire a car in Alice (~£40-50/day + fuel) and drive yourself, staying at Kings Canyon Resort campground (~£25 pitch or ~£60 dorm). Do the 6km Rim Walk early (closed in extreme heat), then continue to Yulara for the night.
🚌3-day Uluru camping tour (included) or self-drive hire car ~£45/day
🛏Kings Canyon campground/swag or Yulara hostel dorm (~£30-40)
- →Kings Canyon Rim Walk (seasonal)
- →Garden of Eden
- →Outback star-gazing
Uluru — Mala Walk, cultural centre and sunset
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT
Start with the free ranger-guided Mala Walk (daily, ~90min) and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre (free entry). In the afternoon, walk part of the base path or do the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta (free, ~3h, go early in heat). Finish with the classic Uluru sunset from the viewing area — bring your own bottle of bubbly from the Yulara IGA rather than paying for the tour version. Park entry is A$38/£20 for a 3-day pass.
🚌Tour vehicle or hire car; park shuttle if staying in Yulara
🛏Yulara campground/swag or hostel dorm (~£30-40)
- →Mala Walk (free, ranger-guided)
- →Cultural Centre (free)
- →Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds (free)
- →Uluru sunset viewing
- →Outback astronomy tour (optional ~£35)
Uluru to Coober Pedy — underground living
Coober Pedy, SA
The long haul south. Best budget route: fly Yulara (Connellan) to Adelaide isn't cheap, so most travellers take a small-group Uluru–Alice transfer then the Ghan, OR book a Yulara–Coober Pedy leg as part of a 3-day Uluru–Adelaide camping/overland tour (~£450-550, which is genuinely the cheapest way to cover this stretch). Independent option: hire a car one-way (Yulara to Adelaide, ~£60-80/day plus one-way fee) and drive the Stuart Highway 8h to Coober Pedy. Once there, tour a working opal mine (~A$35/£18) and sleep underground in a dugout hostel (~£30-35).
🚌Overland tour / one-way hire car (shared) / Ghan connection
🛏Underground hostel dugout, Coober Pedy (~£30-35)
- →Opal mine tour
- →Coober Pedy town & golf course (played at night, free to watch)
- →Underground church
Coober Pedy to the Flinders Ranges
Ikara-Flinders Ranges, SA
Continue south to the Flinders Ranges — this is 6h by road and there's no public transport, so it's either the overland tour (Day 10-12 of the Uluru–Adelaide itinerary) or a shared hire car. Arrive at Wilpena Pound, the huge natural amphitheatre at the heart of the ranges. Walk to the Wangara Lookout or Hills Homestead (free, ~2h) and do the short Sacred Canyon or Arkaroo Rock rock-art walks. Stay in the Wilpena Pound campground or a Rawnsley Park cabin/bunkhouse.
🚌Overland tour or shared hire car
🛏Wilpena Pound campground or Flinders Ranges bunkhouse (~£25-35)
- →Wilpena Pound walks (free)
- →Arkaroo Rock Aboriginal rock art
- →St Mary Peak lookout
Flinders Ranges to Adelaide via the Clare Valley
Clare Valley to Adelaide, SA
Morning in the ranges, then drive south through the Clare Valley wine region (~5h to Adelaide). Stop in Clare or Auburn for a cellar-door tasting (many are free or ~A$10-15) and a pub lunch — the equivalent of the tour's 'local food experience'. Arrive into Adelaide in the evening; the city has hostels around the Central Market and North Adelaide. Finish with a cheap meal in the Adelaide Central Market precinct or Gouger Street Chinatown.
🚌Overland tour / hire car; or Clare–Adelaide bus ~£20 if unaccompanied
🛏Adelaide hostel dorm (~£25-32)
- →Clare Valley cellar door tasting
- →Adelaide Central Market
- →Gouger Street dinner
Adelaide — depart
Adelaide, SA
Final morning. Free things to do before your flight: the Adelaide Botanic Garden, the free Art Gallery of South Australia and South Australian Museum on North Terrace, or a tram to Glenelg beach (free tram to the bay, ~30 min). Adelaide Airport is a 20-min bus (J1/J2, ~A$6/£3) or ~A$30 taxi from the city. Depart at any time.
🚌Adelaide Metro J1/J2 bus to airport ~£3
🛏—
- →North Terrace museum precinct (free)
- →Glenelg beach tram
- →Adelaide Central Market
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,278 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,072 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,278
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Australia North to South: Darwin to Adelaide (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,278 per person for 13 days in Australia — Northern Territory & South Australia (Darwin to Adelaide). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,278 — a saving of roughly £1,072 (46%) per person.
How long is the Australia — Northern Territory & South Australia (Darwin to Adelaide) trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Australia — Northern Territory & South Australia (Darwin to Adelaide).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, road-trip, backpacker trip through Australia — Northern Territory & South Australia (Darwin to Adelaide), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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