Northern Australia Tour | Kakadu, Kimberley & the Outback

Explore Ancient Landscapes & Cross the Red Desert on The Ghan Luxury Train

Carbon Data

Journey to the back of beyond on a singular itinerary that connects three of Australia’s most remote tracts of wilderness via private chartered flights. In the vast Red Center, watch the sun set over the monolith of Uluru (Ayers Rock), and wonder at more stars than you've ever seen before. From Alice Springs, board The Ghan for the storied train passage across the desert to Katherine up north. Then head for the "Top End" of the Land Down Under—the tropical reaches of the Outback. With interpretation from our Expedition Leader and Aboriginal guides, delve into the watery wilderness of Kakadu, thick with crocodiles. Fly on to the Kimberley, where the beehive stacks of the Bungle Bungle Range form an otherworldly landscape. In Australia's far-flung north, the Dreamtime shapes primal terrain where human cultures have been integrated with the land for more than 65,000 years.

Trip Highlights

The Ultimate Outback Experience

With your naturalist Expedition Leader and Indigenous guides, explore the iconic landscapes and Aboriginal heritage of Uluru, Kakadu and and the Bungle Bungles

Explore in Depth by Boat, Train, Air & on Foot

Gain an intimate view on nature on bush walks and river cruises, and survey its vast grandeur on scenic flights and a 750-mile rail journey aboard The Ghan

View Unique Wildlife & Ancient Rock Art

In five national parks and three World Heritage Sites, see 65,000-year-old rock paintings, and look for wallabies, wallaroos, dingos and saltwater crocodiles

WWF In Action

Click here for more information about the conservation work WWF is currently doing to protect Australia's koalas.

No One Offers You a Bigger Encounter with Australia's Untamed North

The Great Australian Outback—few places evoke a stronger sense of adventure. While Australia is hardly an unknown destination, the remote north is ripe for discovery. Our wide-ranging journey is crafted for the wildest possible encounters. Join a distinctly Nat Hab-style expedition as we delve into a montage of red deserts, sculpted gorges, tropical rivers and floodplains, sandstone mountains, waterfalls and springs.

An All-Encompassing Northern Australia Adventure
This isn't your typical Australia tour. Experience the unharnessed landscapes of Australia's Red Center and Top End, enjoying plenty of comfort though we never stray far from wilderness. Explore contrasting ecosystems on this in-depth nature immersion: the savanna, shrublands and sand dunes around Uluru; Kakadu's gorges, woodlands and wetlands; and the diverse terrain of the Kimberley, with its freshwater rivers, waterfalls, canyons, pockets of rain forest and layered sandstone mountains.
World-Class Nature Destinations
We visit five national parks and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this impressive and diverse itinerary, a collection of places that enjoy world renown for their stunning natural and cultural features, including endemic wildlife and rock art sites more than 60,000 years old.
Our Expertise Grants You Access to Rare Experiences
Australia's wild Top End—the northern tier of the Northern Territory—is immense, and its star attractions are hard to reach. Frankly, it's tough terrain to navigate on your own. But we've linked it up on a seamless itinerary uniting exceptional natural diversity. And through our connections, you'll be privy to locations and adventures not offered by more conventional companies.
An Overnight Journey Aboard One of the World's Most Famous Trains
Since 1929, The Ghan has been making the passage across Australia's vast Outback, connecting Adelaide in the south to Darwin, 1,850 miles north. We ride the rails for about half this distance, enjoying the train's refined elegance between Alice Springs and Katherine. Spent a night in your private sleeper car, which converts to a comfortable lounge space by day, and watch the expansive views roll past from the Outback Explorer bar and art deco environs of the Queen Adelaide Dining Room.
Scenic Flights Give You Perspective You Won't Get Otherwise
We fly you from Uluru to Alice Springs, eliminating a full day of rugged driving while providing one of the most spectacular aerial experiences in Australia: a view on Uluru from above! You'll also enjoy a helicopter flightseeing adventure in the Kimberley that includes surveying the wondrous terrain of the Bungle Bungles for photos you'll never get on the ground. Plus our other chartered flights over northern Australia's wildest reaches!
Private Chartered Flights Get You Farther, Faster
This element is key to making this ambitious itinerary work. The only way to expeditiously get from one remote place to the next is via chartered flights, and we have included four. Otherwise, we would be looking at returning to distant cities and making inconvenient commercial connections that literally eat up entire days of your time. You've come all this way to explore wild nature—and we make sure that's what you are doing! Yes, it costs more—but the value added to your experience is exponential.
Private Boat Cruises
Exclusive excursions on chartered boats bring you closer to the regions natural wonders. Floating through Kakadu’s vibrant wetlands, we'll see saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, agile wallabies, black wallaroos, and myriad species of birdlife. Another cruise will take us into an ancient gorge slicing through the rock art-adorned sandstone cliffs in Nitmiluk National Park.
Carefully Chosen Lodgings Immerse You in Australia's Wildest Places
Experience Nat Hab's signature brand of luxury: staying closest to nature! Plumb the watery reaches of Kakadu from our Indigenous-owned lodge, listen to the night sounds of the bush from your luxury tented safari camp in the Bungle Bungles, stargaze from our desert lodge in view of mighty Uluru, and spend a night on board The Ghan, one of the world's most famous trains.
A Distinct Nature Focus with Aboriginal Perspective
Nature is the primary force sculpting Australia's vast landscapes, but humans have been at home here for millennia. From savanna to swamp to tropical rain forest, this is Aboriginal homeland. Through private and intimate cultural encounters, including guided botanical walks, interpretive experiences at rock art sites more than 65,000 years old, and boat trips with Aboriginal-owned and operated ecotourism enterprises, witness how local people are bringing the wisdom of traditional sustainable living and land management to Australia's national parks today.
Some of the Best Stargazing on the Planet
The places we stay are so far away from urban areas and extensive artificial light that you are literally under some of the darkest skies on Earth. As the night sky becomes a vanishing natural resource worldwide, embrace this rare chance to see stars on a scale you simply can't imagine—and may never witness like this again.
Explore with Just 12 Travelers
In a small group, we can seek out more remote nature highlights and stay in intimate lodges, surrounded by nature and close to wildlife. With fewer people, you get a deeper, more peaceful nature experience. And with local guides supporting our Expedition Leader throughout, you get the exceptional attention and interpretation you deserve.
Maximize Your Time in Nature with Flights Between Destinations
Australia is a huge country. That's why we fly between many of our itinerary highlights. Less time on the highway maximizes time in the wild among the landscapes and wildlife you came so far to see. Compare closely: Many companies offer longer itineraries that don’t spend near as much time in nature.
The World’s Finest Naturalist Guides
Natural Habitat Adventures has a well-deserved global reputation for employing the highest-quality guides in the industry. Our Expedition Leaders have years of experience and training, including resources from WWF's top scientists. You won’t find more knowledgeable—or more personable—guides than those who work with us. Our philosophy is simple: a nature adventure is only as good as the guide who leads it, so we provide the very best! Read our Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders.
Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Australia Adventure
Natural Habitat Adventures is proud to offer our exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise for yourself!
Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.
Natural Habitat Adventures Is World Wildlife Fund’s Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat Adventures its worldwide travel partner—a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!