Darwin to Alice Springs Itinerary

“Huge tanks house all sorts of scaly creatures, from lizards, fish, snakes and turtles to saltwater hatchlings and enormous 5.5m long mega crocs with names like 'Wendell', 'Houdini' and 'Chopper'. For adrenaline junkies, you can get lowered into Chopper's tank during feeding time with only a thin plexiglass box around you, but even the rare chance to have a 360-degree look at a huge saltwater croc was jaw-dropping and really made us appreciate the power of these incredible animals.” - Saxon and Nic at Crocosaurus Cove

There are so many other incredible experiences to choose from, including Darwin Aviation Museum, Mindil Markets and the Darwin Arts Festival (runs annually in August). Take a wander around Charles Darwin National Park before driving south to cool off in the stunning waterfalls and gorges of Litchfield National Park. Park up for the night at Wangi Falls in the Litchfield National Park, or if you're travelling with your four-legged friends, head just outside the park to the pet-friendly tourist park.

“You've got to see them to believe them – it's quite incredible that the millimetre long creatures who run around the few small ventilation openings build these enormous structures all on their own.” - Saxon and Nic

Make your way to Blyth Homestead to soak up the history of this region before heading inland for the afternoon. Be sure to stop in Katherine for any last-minute supplies before heading to Mataranka for an afternoon soak in the natural hot water of Bitter Springs.

Spend the night at Mataranka Homestead and take advantage of the bar and entertainment on site. If you’re lucky, you may have the opportunity to experience true Aussie entertainment with Nathan Griggs, Australia’s number one whip cracker entertainer, as he performs his five-time Guinness World Record whip routine.

Take a walk and a picture of these formations before driving to Wycliffe Wells Holiday Park to sleep for the night. Be sure to check out the UFO-related sites at this holiday park and read the news clippings of reported alien sightings before heading to bed.

“Proudly proclaiming to be the UFO Capital of Australia, this camping park boasts full sized statues of aliens, flying saucers, cowboys-meet-intergalactic-traveler-murals and a whole wall of newspaper clippings from the area”. - Saxon and Nic

If it’s a Sunday, be sure to check out the Todd Mall Markets, where you can find local Aboriginal art, sorbet, and fresh local honey. Then head to the Alice Springs Desert Park to see the flora and fauna that thrive in these desert conditions. Here you can see emus, dingos, and even meet the large birds of the area.

Then head to the beautiful mountain bike trails to see Alice Springs from above. If you don’t have your bike with you (check the requirements of your van before you pack your bike) you can take a walk instead. Be mindful of the riders and make sure to stock up on any supplies before heading to Uluru.

When you arrive, you can make your way into the park, where you can check out nearby Kata Tjuta domes, get involved in an Aboriginal art experience and head to the sunset carpark early to grab a spot to watch the sunset.

Book in for the night at Ayers Rock campground - have a swim in the pool, have a BBQ dinner, enjoy the restaurant, or treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Sounds of Silence with a four-course bush tucker inspired menu on the dunes overlooking Uluru, or check out the Field of Light tours.

“The magic of this enormous, mythical, colour-changing monolith was in the air as we meandered along a small part of its base during the informative (and free!) Mala walking tour. It is a cliché that you just have to see certain places in real life to experience how amazing they are, and Uluru is definitely one of them.” - Saxon and Nic

Once you have done all your exploring, buckle up and drive the camper about 5 hours back to the Mighty Alice Springs branch to return the van and fly home.

“All this red dust that we'd been finding in the nooks and crannies of Rhino suddenly made sense as something a lot bigger, more ancient and more powerful than us in our little campervan. Experiences are hard to put into words and even harder to show on a postcard. As for Australia's Red Centre, you're just going to have to pack your batteries in dust-safe ziplock bags and head over here to live it for yourself.” - Saxon and Nic

Keen to see the Red Centre for yourself?

If you’re looking to rent a van for your own Red Centre campervan trip, be sure to check out all our latest deals and book your Mighty camper today in a branch or online. If you’re looking for more travel inspiration and ways to budget for your trip, you can read more on our blog.