Alice Springs to Kakadu: Self-Launched Outback to Tropics Adventure
6 days · Northern Territory, Australia
G Adventures charges £1,200
No-markup version: ~£625 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 6-day 18-to-Thirtysomethings run from Alice Springs to Darwin — covering the Devils Marbles, Mataranka Hot Springs, Katherine Gorge, Edith Falls, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Instead of a private tour van and swag camping with a group, you'll use the public Greyhound/autobus network plus an overnight bus to cover the long Outback legs, base yourself in hostels and campgrounds, and self-book the Katherine Gorge boat trip, Kakadu cultural tours and Litchfield croc cruise directly. This one is genuinely tight to save money on because Outback transport and park tours are pricey and dispersed — the savings come from cutting the tour markup, camping/self-catering, and skipping optional extras. Costs are rough backpacker estimates for one person, ex-flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Alice Springs — Outback town warm-up
Alice Springs
Fly into Alice Springs (ASP) and take the Alice Wanderer airport shuttle (~A$16/£8) into town, or a taxi (~A$30/£15). Check into a hostel dorm in town (Alice Springs YHA or Haven Backpackers, ~£20-25/night). Spend the afternoon on a self-guided wander: Todd Mall, the Reptile Centre or Royal Flying Doctors Service Museum (~A$16/£8). In the evening head to a pub like Bojangles or the Todd Tavern for a feed and a beer. Do your Outback supplies shop now (water, snacks, sun cream) and confirm your bus tickets for tomorrow.
🚌Airport shuttle (~£8) or taxi (~£15)
🛏Hostel dorm in Alice Springs (~£22)
- →Todd Mall self-walk
- →Royal Flying Doctors Service Museum (~£8)
- →Outback pub dinner
Devils Marbles & on to Daly Waters
Daly Waters
The big transport day. Public transport on this route is limited — the practical option is the Greyhound Australia coach north towards Tennant Creek, which stops at the Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) for a leg-stretch and photo stop. Book this leg in advance (Alice Springs–Tennant Creek or through to Daly Waters, ~A$100-140/£50-70 depending on fare type). The red granite boulders at sunset are the highlight and free to visit. Continue to Daly Waters and overnight at the famous Daly Waters Pub — camping/cabin options from ~A$30-40 per person; the pub itself is the attraction, covered in travellers' memorabilia, with big Outback meals and live music most nights.
🚌Greyhound Australia coach (~£55)
🛏Daly Waters Pub campground/cabin (~£18-22)
- →Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) stop
- →Daly Waters Pub evening
Mataranka Hot Springs & Katherine Gorge
Katherine
Continue north by Greyhound to Mataranka (~A$40-55/£22-30). The Mataranka Thermal Pools (Bitter Springs and Rainbow Springs) are free and a brilliant swim stop — thermal water, palms overhead. Then catch the afternoon coach into Katherine (~A$20/£11). Base yourself at a Katherine hostel or caravan park cabin (~£25). In the afternoon, self-book a Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) activity directly: the flat-bottomed boat cruise through the gorge is ~A$99/£50, or the self-guided kayak hire is ~A$80-90/£42-48. The free Katherine Gorge walk to the lookout is a solid alternative if you're watching the budget. Optional helicopter flights from ~A$110/£57 if you fancy it.
🚌Greyhound coach Mataranka–Katherine (~£11)
🛏Katherine hostel/caravan park (~£25)
- →Mataranka Thermal Pools (free)
- →Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge boat cruise (~£50) or kayak hire (~£45)
- →Gorge lookout walk (free)
Edith Falls & into Kakadu
Kakadu National Park / Jabiru
This is the trickiest leg to do without a car. Options: (1) join a day tour from Katherine that includes Edith Falls (Leliyn) and transfers into Kakadu (~A$150-200/£80-105), or (2) hire a car in Katherine one-way to Darwin if you're travelling with others (splitting a one-way hire over 2-3 days can work out cheaper per person than multiple tours). Edith Falls has a beautiful plunge pool and loop walk (free entry). Continue into Kakadu (park pass A$25/£13, valid 7 days) and base in Jabiru — Anbinik Kakadu Resort does camp/cabin sites from ~A$35/£19 per person, or the Aurora Kakadu for a budget motel room. Evening: self-cater or grab dinner at the Jabiru Bowls Club.
🚌Tour transfer or shared one-way car hire (~£45-60)
🛏Kakadu camp/cabin in Jabiru (~£20)
- →Edith Falls (Leliyn) swim and walk
- →Kakadu park entry (~£13)
Kakadu rock art & Litchfield croc cruise
Kakadu / Litchfield National Park
Morning in Kakadu: visit Ubirr or Nourlangie for the rock art galleries and escarpment views (self-drive or join a Kakadu cultural tour — Bowali Visitor Centre can point you to Indigenous-run operators; half-day tours ~A$120/£62). Then head south to the Adelaide River for a jumped-crocodile cruise (Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruises, ~A$45/£24, book direct or via a day tour) and into Litchfield National Park (free entry) — Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and the Buley Rockhole swimming holes. Camp or cabin in Litchfield (~£20-25) or push on to Batchelor.
🚌Self-drive or day tour transfer (~£40-50)
🛏Litchfield/Batchelor campground or cabin (~£22)
- →Ubirr/Nourlangie rock art (park pass included)
- →Adelaide River jumping croc cruise (~£24)
- →Litchfield falls and rockholes (free)
Termite mounds & finish in Darwin
Darwin
Morning in Litchfield: the magnetic termite mounds and cathedral termite mounds (free), plus a last swim at Wangi or Florence Falls. Then transfer to Darwin — if self-driving, ~1.5 hrs (~£25 in fuel/share); if not, there are day tours returning to Darwin, or catch a bus/shuttle to Batchelor and onward. Arrive Darwin in the afternoon/evening, check into a city hostel (Darwin YHA or Frogs Hollow, ~£25) and celebrate with sunset at Mindil Beach or Cullen Bay. Trip done — bush camping, crocs, gorges and hot springs, ticked off independently.
🚌Self-drive fuel share or shuttle/bus to Darwin (~£20-25)
🛏Darwin city hostel (~£25)
- →Magnetic and cathedral termite mounds
- →Wangi Falls swim
- →Mindil Beach sunset
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£625 | £1,200 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £575 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£625
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 Alice Springs to Kakadu: Self-Launched Outback to Tropics Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £625 per person for 6 days in Northern Territory, Australia. 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 £1,200 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £625 — a saving of roughly £575 (48%) per person.
How long is the Northern Territory, Australia trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Northern Territory, Australia.
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, hiking trip through Northern Territory, Australia, 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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