Itinerary
- Day 1
Darwin
Pick up your rental car in Darwin and start exploring the Northern Territory's capital. Walk through Smith Street Mall to check out local shops and grab something to eat. If you're visiting between May and October, head to Mindil Beach Sunset Market on Thursday or Sunday evenings, where you'll find food stalls, local crafts, and live music along the waterfront.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Explore Darwin city
- Shop at Smith Street Mall
Optional Activities
- Visit Mindil Beach Sunset Market (Thursdays and Sundays, May to October)
Landmarks Smith Street Mall Mindil Beach Sunset Market - Day 2
Litchfield National Park
Head out to Litchfield National Park, about 119 km from where you're starting. The park has some great waterfalls worth seeing, and you'll be staying at Litchfield Outback Resort, which sits roughly 18 km outside the park boundaries. It's a good base for exploring the area.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Litchfield National Park - Day 3
Litchfield National Park to Kakadu National Park
From here, you'll drive about 285 km to reach Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive takes most of the day, so you'll check in for two nights at either Hotel Anbinik Kakadu or Cooinda Lodge Kakadu depending on what works for you.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Kakadu National Park - Day 4
Kakadu National Park
This morning starts with the Yellow Water Cruise on the Billabong, where you'll see wildlife in their natural habitat. After lunch, head to either Nourlangie or Ubirr Rock to check out the rock paintings made by indigenous people. Both sites have great cultural significance and offer different perspectives on the area's history.
Included Activities
- Yellow Water Cruise on the Billabong
- Visit to Nourlangie or Ubirr Rock indigenous rock paintings
Landmarks Yellow Water Billabong Nourlangie Rock Ubirr Rock - Day 5
Kakadu National Park to Katherine
You'll drive about 425 km south to Katherine today, stopping in Pine Creek along the way to see old historic mining equipment. By evening, you'll be settled at The Contour Hotel Katherine for the next two nights. It's a good spot to rest up before exploring the region.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Stop at Pine Creek to view historic mining equipment
Landmarks Pine Creek - Day 6
Katherine
Spend the day in Katherine National Park checking out the gorges, monsoon rainforest, and waterfalls like Edith Falls. You can hike through different trails, take a sunrise or sunset boat cruise on the Katherine River, or learn about the Jawoyn people's spiritual culture and connection to the landscape. The rock formations are really impressive from the water.
Included Activities
- Exploration of Katherine National Park gorges and waterfalls
- Sunrise or sunset boat cruise on Katherine River
Optional Activities
- Hiking through Katherine National Park
- Edith Falls visit
- Jawoyn cultural experience and rock face viewing
Landmarks Katherine National Park Edith Falls Katherine River - Day 7
Katherine to Kununurra
Today's a long drive of about 515 km through Gregory National Park as you head toward Western Australia on the Victoria Highway. You'll cross the NT border and arrive at Hotel Kununurra in the evening, where you'll stay for two nights. Bring snacks and drinks for the road.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Gregory National Park - Day 8
Kununurra
Kununurra is the eastern entry point to the Kimberley, and there's plenty to do here. Take in the red rugged landscape, check out Lake Argyle, which is one of the largest lakes in the southern hemisphere, and explore the wildlife-rich rivers and wetlands. You can spot crocodiles, wallabies, and over 240 bird species if you're patient and observant.
Optional Activities
- Lake Argyle visit and exploration
- Wildlife viewing - crocodiles, wallabies, and birds
- Exploration of ancient national parks in Kimberley region
Landmarks Lake Argyle Kununurra - Day 9
Kununurra to Halls Creek
Drive about 360 km to Halls Creek, an old gold mining town surrounded by desert and outback scenery. Stop by the Aboriginal Art Gallery to see local work and culture. You'll spend one night at Kimberley Hotel before continuing south.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Aboriginal Art Gallery
Landmarks Halls Creek - Day 10
Halls Creek to Fitzroy Crossing
Continue driving roughly 290 km to Fitzroy Crossing, located where the Fitzroy River sits. This small outback town has a significant Aboriginal community. Take a boat trip through Geikie Gorge to see the rock formations and wildlife, then stay the night at Fitzroy River Lodge.
Included Activities
- Boat trip in Geikie Gorge
Landmarks Fitzroy River Geikie Gorge - Day 11
Darwin to Broome
Drive roughly 400 km south to Broome, the historic pearl diving hub. The journey takes around 5 to 6 hours depending on road conditions. After you arrive, settle into Seashells Resort Broome for the next two nights. Spend the rest of the day getting oriented and grabbing dinner near the resort or in town.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
- Day 12
Broome
Explore Broome and the surrounding region. Visit Beagle Bay if you're interested in a quieter beach experience, or spend time at Cable Beach, which is about 6 km from town and stretches for 20 km. You can swim in the warmer months or take a camel ride along the sand.
Optional Activities
- Visit to Beagle Bay
- Swimming at Cable Beach
- Camel ride at Cable Beach
Landmarks Beagle Bay Cable Beach - Day 13
Broome to Port Hedland
Today you're driving a long route, about 615 km, along Eighty Mile Beach and through the Great Sandy Desert with limited stops along the way. Make sure your gas tank is full and bring plenty of water and food. You'll end up in Port Hedland, known for iron ore mining, and stay one night at Hospitality Inn Port Hedland.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Eighty Mile Beach Great Sandy Desert Port Hedland - Day 14
Port Hedland to Karijini National Park
Drive approximately 490 km to Karijini National Park, where you'll find all sorts of different gorges and waterholes to explore. You'll stay for two nights in a glamping tent at Karijini Eco Retreat, which gives you a nice balance of comfort and being close to nature.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Landmarks Karijini National Park - Day 15
Karijini National Park
Spend today exploring Karijini National Park itself. If you have an off-road vehicle, you can navigate the park on your own. Two-wheel drive vehicles aren't allowed here, so book an organized tour if that's what you're driving. Don't miss the view from Oxers Lookout, which is one of the standout spots in the park.
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Karijini National Park (off-road vehicle required)
- Organized tour of Karijini National Park (for two-wheel drive vehicles)
- Oxers Lookout viewing
Landmarks Oxers Lookout - Day 16
Karijini National Park to Coral Bay
Drive roughly 530 km to Coral Bay on Ningaloo Reef. The drive ends at a pristine destination with white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. You'll stay for two nights at Ningaloo Coral Bay and use it as your base for reef activities.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Coral Bay Ningaloo Reef - Day 17
Coral Bay
Explore the underwater world at the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef with its colorful coral gardens. You can dive, snorkel, or swim among the reef and spot whale sharks (March to August), humpback whales (August to October), and manta rays. From there, visit Shark Bay (Gathaagudu), another World Heritage Site with its unique marine park and the world's largest seagrass area containing 12 different species.
Optional Activities
- Diving at Ningaloo Reef
- Snorkeling at Ningaloo Reef
- Swimming with whale sharks (March to August)
- Whale watching - humpback whales (August to October)
- Manta ray viewing
- Exploration of Shark Bay (Gathaagudu)
- Shark Bay Marine National Park visit
- Seagrass area exploration
Landmarks Ningaloo Reef (Nyinggulu) Shark Bay (Gathaagudu) - Day 18
Carnarvon to Monkey Mia
Head south along the coast toward Carnarvon, then continue on to Monkey Mia. This leg covers several hours of driving through coastal scenery. Check in at Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort for a 2-night stay. Later in the afternoon or early evening, you can explore the resort grounds and plan to see the dolphins that visit the beach in the mornings.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
- Day 19
Monkey Mia
Head to Monkey Mia, a nature lover's paradise in Western Australian wilderness with sun most of the year. The main draw here is swimming in the warm blue-green waters and meeting the wild dolphins that come right up to the beach to interact with visitors.
Optional Activities
- Swimming and dolphin interaction at Monkey Mia
- Dolphin watching
Landmarks Monkey Mia - Day 20
Monkey Mia to Kalbarri National Park
Drive about 399 km to Kalbarri National Park, where you can check out deep rocky gorges and nice beaches. The park has several walking trails of varying difficulty. You'll stay one night at Kalbarri Edge Resort, which sits in a good location for exploring the park.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Exploration of deep rocky gorges in Kalbarri National Park
- Beach exploration in Kalbarri National Park
Landmarks Kalbarri National Park - Day 21
Kalbarri National Park to Cervantes
Continue south through Geraldton, called the 'Sun City' because of its great weather year-round. Head to Nambung National Park to see the Pinnacles, thousands of unusual limestone pillars reaching up to 4 m high set in ochre-colored sand. The landscape looks almost lunar, especially at dawn or dusk. After driving roughly 450 km total, stay at Cervantes Pinnacles Motel.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Viewing of the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park
Optional Activities
- Geraldton exploration
- Dawn or dusk viewing at Nambung National Park
Landmarks Geraldton Nambung National Park The Pinnacles - Day 22
Cervantes to Perth
Drive about 240 km south to Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city on your own, or take the ferry out to Rottnest Island (about 19 km away) to see quokkas, the cute dwarf kangaroos. Stay one night at Holiday Inn Perth City Centre.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Exploration of Perth
- Ferry to Rottnest Island
- Quokka viewing on Rottnest Island
Landmarks Perth Rottnest Island - Day 23
Perth
This is your final overnight stay on the road trip. Return your rental car if it's a separate booking, or arrange any individual extension you might want. Perth has good transport links if you need to get to the airport or continue elsewhere.
