3-day Eclipse tour
Darwin to Devil’s Marbles
Experience one of nature’s rarest events on an unforgettable three-day journey through the heart of the Northern Territory.
Departing from Darwin, travel through the changing landscapes of the Top End and outback, stopping at iconic locations including the Magnetic Termite Mounds, Mataranka Thermal Pool, Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles, Tennant Creek and Leliyn (Edith Falls).
The highlight of the journey is the total solar eclipse on 22 July 2028. From within the path of totality near Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles, experience the dramatic transformation of the landscape as daylight fades and the Moon completely covers the Sun for approximately five minutes.
Combining remarkable natural landscapes, outback history, swimming spots and a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event, this three-day adventure offers a unique way to experience the Northern Territory from Darwin to the heart of the outback and back again.
If you find our tours advertised elsewhere at a cheaper price, please book direct with us and we’ll beat the price.
NT Park Pass not included you must purchase your own NT Parks pass to participate on this tour. You can find out more information here and buy your parks pass using the NT Parks booking system.
Itinerary
22nd July, Solar Eclipse 2028
Day 1
Our adventure begins early as we pick you up in Darwin and travel south into the vast landscapes of the Northern Territory.
Our first stop is at the fascinating Magnetic Termite Mounds, where you'll see the remarkable structures built by magnetic termites. Carefully aligned to minimise exposure to the harsh tropical sun, these tall, blade-like mounds are one of the Top End's most distinctive natural sights.
Continuing south, we travel through the Katherine region, an important crossroads in the Northern Territory and an area with strong connections to the Jawoyn and Dagoman peoples.
We'll make a stop in Katherine before continuing towards Mataranka, famous for its clear, warm thermal springs. There will be an opportunity to enjoy the Mataranka Thermal Pool, where spring water emerges at around 34°C and flows through a beautiful palm-lined setting.
We finish the day travelling towards Three Ways, the famous junction where the Stuart Highway meets the Barkly Highway.
Overnight: Three Way
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own expense
Day 2
Today is the highlight of the adventure.
After breakfast, we travel towards Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, one of Australia's most recognisable outback landscapes. Huge, rounded granite boulders are scattered across the red earth, creating a spectacular natural setting for one of the rarest events on the astronomical calendar.
Today, 22 July 2028, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, producing a total solar eclipse across part of the Northern Territory. Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles lies within the path of totality, and we will experience several hours of changing light and atmosphere until we succumb to complete darkness for approximately 5 minutes.
Our priority is to be in a suitable location within the eclipse path to give us the best practical opportunity to experience totality.
The exact positioning and timing of the day may remain flexible. Weather, road conditions and local circumstances can all influence the best viewing location, so guests should be prepared for adjustments to the itinerary if required. It is a rare experience that you will remember long after the journey is over.
After the eclipse, we'll continue towards Tennant Creek. Here we'll explore some of the area's fascinating outback history, including the Tennant Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve. The station formed part of the Overland Telegraph Line, the enormous communications network that connected Australia with the rest of the world. The original line stretched approximately 3,600 km and followed the route of John McDouall Stuart's 1862 expedition.
From Tennant Creek we turn north again, travelling through the vast Barkly and Top End landscapes towards Daly Waters, one of the Territory's most famous outback stopping places.
Overnight: Daly Waters
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner at own expense
Day 3
After breakfast we begin our journey north towards Darwin, with a final opportunity to experience the changing landscapes of the Northern Territory.
Our journey takes us towards Leliyn (Edith Falls) in Nitmiluk National Park. Surrounded by rocky escarpments and monsoon forest, the falls and swimming areas provide a beautiful contrast to the dry inland landscapes experienced during the eclipse journey. We'll stop for a swim and a chance to explore the area before continuing north towards Darwin.
As we travel back towards the Top End, the landscape gradually changes once again. Dry inland country gives way to savannah woodland and tropical vegetation, bringing our three-day eclipse adventure full circle.
We arrive back in Darwin later in the day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at own expense
——————————————————
Kapalga Travel reserves the right to alter the route or itinerary schedule to adapt to seasonal changes or if one of our stops becomes closed.
-
Our tours are participation tours, everyone helps out by contributing to the cooking, cleaning, setting up camp, rolling out swags, collecting firewood, lighting the fire, etc. This allows the tour to run more efficiently, helps the group to bond and gives you the opportunity to get involved in the bush camping experience.
Bush camping is all part of the adventure and the experience of the outback. For many centuries Australia’s ancestors survived in the bush living off nature. Sometimes we will bush camp and there will be no facilities such as a toilet and a shower. We do have ways of dealing with this, which will be explained to you by your guide. One way of dealing with not having a shower is by making the most of the swimming opportunities, which occur on most days.
-
Return transport from Darwin
Two nights’ accommodation
Breakfast each morning and lunch on Day 2
Guided eclipse viewing experience within the path of totality
Visits to key NT attractions including Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles, Mataranka Thermal Pool and Leliyn (Edith Falls)
-
• Some meals, as listed.
• NT Park Pass - We don’t include these because it’s a 2 week pass and some people have already purchased, so to save doubling up on this fee we ask you to please buy your own.
-
Our tours aim to get you off the beaten track and into the remote gorges, waterholes and rock art sites. In order to do this, you will be required to hike for several kilometres a day and occasionally swim and climb (swimming is not essential). You’ll be walking on well-trodden paths as well as rocky, dry creek beds and rough trails.
If you are generally healthy and can walk around 8 kilometres a day, our tours are likely to be suitable for you.
We do not recommend pregnant women travel on our tours; this is due to the risks involved with hiking on uneven ground, and the fact that the roads are corrugated and bumpy which can affect unborn babies.
-
Our food is fresh and passengers are often amazed at the meals we are able to cook up in the bush. Our guides aren’t chefs but they can most definitely cook up a great feed in a camp oven or on a BBQ plate.
Our trailers have an 80 litre fridge and an 80 litre freezer so we can deliver nutritious food in the outback.
Breakfast* – Continental style and some mornings we do cook ups
*On day 1 of your tour we’ll pick you up early and we’ll be driving straight away so please have breakfast before you board or pack a snack to eat on the truck
Lunch – Varies from wraps, sandwiches, burgers, salads, cold meats, etc.
Dinner – Roasts, stir-frys, curries, stews, damper, etc.
On the truck we carry camp ovens, frying pans, BBQ plates, pots, etc., so we can cook almost anything.
We cater for vegetarians and gluten-free passengers. Other allergies are also catered for, although our guides are not specialists in these areas, so we ask that you provide some assistance when meals are being prepared to ensure you are correctly catered for. Please make sure you inform us at the time of booking if you have a dietary requirement or allergy.
-
• Sleeping Bag suitable for the conditions (-5 degree Celsius sleeping bag if travelling between May – September)
• Comfortable, appropriate hiking shoes or boots / strapped sandals with ankle support (whichever you feel most confident hiking in)
• Thongs / your comfy breathable shoes for on the truck and around the campsites
• Shoes you are happy to get wet, thongs are fine (You’ll be walking through Tunnel creek)
• Torch
• Large water bottle (2 litre bottle or two 1 litre bottles)
• Swimming gear
• Towel
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Suitable clothing to keep you cool and protect you from the sun
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Toiletries
• iPod / MP3 (We can play your music on the truck)
• Camera
• Jumper / long pants (to keep you warm in the evening)
• Cash for souvenirs
• Small or inflatable pillow
• Rain jacket (from tours running in May, September, October & November)
-
The total cost of this 3-day tour is $ .
A 25% non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking. This can be paid by bank transfer or card. The full amount is due 30 days prior to departure, and we send a reminder 6 weeks prior. Book now.