Visting independently? It'll cost you $35 to get the Uluru Express to Ayers Rock. Get the sunset tour with combined walk, it's the same price as the sunset tour alone. The Olgas are $50, the gorge walk is quite disappointing though. Don't forget you need to add $25 to all this for the park three-day pass. Bring a mosquito net -- flies will drive you mad.
The only reason for going to Darwin is to access Kakadu National Park. I and my two children (daughter, fifteen, and son, seventeen) signed onto a three-day camping tour of Kakadu with Kakadu Dreams. Nez was our guide, and presented us with a fantastic view of this immense park. Camping is the only way to really grasp this incredible area. My daughter became entranced with the digi, and purchased the "right" one just before we rolled back into Darwin.
Tennant Creek … I stayed here for one night and that was just the right time as there is not much to see or do.
Alice Lodge Backpackers in Alice Springs … You must have got a different person to the rest of us Cathy.....
Melaleuca on Mitchell in Darwin … Great hostel, definitely the best I have stayed in. It is really clean and the pools are brilliant. Volleyball on a Wednesday is a laugh. The rooms are really clean and comfortable and air-conditioned with a fan also, though the air-conditioning only works from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bathrooms are very clean and the bar is great, with two happy hours. It's a really friendly hostel. I'm travelling on my own and found it great to meet people. There is also a 24-hour supermarket across the road, which is good, as all the places to eat nearby will be closed when you fall out of one of the many pubs. It's the best hostel ever. You will love it here.
Annie's Place Hostel in Alice Springs … My friend and I stayed here and had a great time. The meals are really good value and scrumptious — it is great to have a bar and swimming pool on the hostel grounds. The owner and the owner's dog Bear took a liking to me, but unfortunately I had to leave all too soon! We love Mulga, he's really funny — you must go to Annie's Place in Adelaide, too!
HI - Alice Springs Pioneer YHA Hostel in Alice Springs … This is a bit old, as it has been ten years since I was there, but it is one of my all time favorite hostels with the swimming pool.
Frogshollow Lodge & Backpackers in Darwin … We had a great time, and the comment book at the hostel reflects this. Top spot!
Banyan View Lodge (YWCA) in Darwin … This is the cleanest, friendliest and trouble-free budget accommodation in Darwin. Management are cheery and helpful and committed to the efficient management of the premises. The kitchen is clean, and well equiped with pots and pans, cooking utensils, cutlery, and crockery. None of that deposit rubbish that goes on elsewhere is here and yes there are teaspoons to stir your coffee. Bedding was good quality inner spring matresses with a quality linen service with good quality white hotel sheets. The unisex showers and toilets are clean. Rooms are mainly twins and there are some four-bed dorms in which I stayed. I noticed that the place was serviced by pest control during my stay so that problems with insects and mites should not be an issue here. My only issue with the dorms that it was difficult to store my stuff as the others present had spread themselves out a bit. A delightful back garden area and swimming pool is a great place to relax and there are two TV lounges in the…
Annie's Place Hostel in Alice Springs … This is a lovely little place and from what i've heard from other backpackers, it's the best one. (people who havent stayed there wish they had!) go there, its real nice and much cheaper than the bad other ones. go to the kangaroo santuary in town!
Annie's Place Hostel in Alice Springs … I recommend this hostel and their tour to everyone I meet! It just had such a cool, relaxed vibe and the rooms were really nice, en suite and all with TVs, and so cheap compared to the rest of Oz. Really cheap and good bar meals, very friendly staff. The tour was brilliant, and our guide Shawn was awesome. I met so many friends on the tour. If I had more money I'd go back!
Annie's Place Hostel in Alice Springs … The three-day tour was fantastic — excellent —wonderful. And I must say that CHRIS is very professional (I am a driver, too) and so friendly that you could fall in love with him. Take care!
mariapilot2003@yahoo.ie
Melaleuca on Mitchell in Darwin … This is the best hostel I have stayed in so far. For being a big hostel, it was always clean and tidy. The staff were helpful and easily recognized by the uniform that they wore. The bar and pool area is a great place to relax and meet people. The rooms are good size with comfortable beds and air-conditioning. Bathrooms are very clean. It is very secure with swipe cards gaining you access to all areas, and also to your dorm. No real downside to this hostel apart from you have to pay a deposit for everything, sheets, swipe cards, and crockery. Excellent hostel. I would recommend it to anyone.
Annie's Place Hostel in Alice Springs … I stayed in Annie's Place in March, and it was amazing. The hostel is really clean, the rooms are spacious and en suites, the meals are cheap and good, and we did the tour. And now I just tell everyone to do it!! This tour is just perfect!! You sleep in swags, and the guide (Will) was really nice. We had good fun. Just go there!!!
Melaleuca on Mitchell in Darwin … Just perfect. This without a doubt is the best hostel in Darwin. It is sterile looking but it is worth it. It's clean and tidy. There are two pools, which I don't think I could get cleaner if I cleaned them myself — they were spotless. The mattresses have a waterproof cover — great for preventing bed bugs. Deposits for sheets and keys and plates, etc., is high but don't let this put you off. The manager is friendly and helpful. I highly recommend it.
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