Your Top End adventure begins! This morning, you will meet at your local airport to check in with your teachers and group. After saying farewell to your family, you’ll board the flight to Darwin and start the journey north. Here we go!

Welcome to Darwin! Infuse Program Leaders will meet you upon arrival and you can expect a warm welcome to the educational travel program. Get ready, day one is going to be busy!

Tonight, experience Darwin come to life and explore the beachside stalls in search of outback crafts, souvenirs, and unique Top End delicacies at the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. Be entertained by the street performers and marvel at the colourful Territory sunset sinking into the Timor Sea.

This morning you’ll start your road trip through the Top End! First, you’ll travel to a wildlife rehabilitation centre to support the owners with projects such as enclosure maintenance and feeding injured animals. Get up close to some of the NT’s most iconic species: incredible native birds, kangaroos, crocodiles and dingoes.

After you’re finished at the wildlife rehabilitation centre, you’ll travel to the Adelaide River region where you’ll be welcomed onto Country by a local Aboriginal family. These proud Limilngan-Wulna people will teach you all about their land and culture. You will discover medicinal uses for plants, be taught how to basket weave and even learn how to play the didgeridoo and throw a spear. At the end of the workshop, you will be served damper and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and reflect on your experience with your hosts.

The road trip continues this afternoon as you make your way into Kakadu National Park.

Today you’ll start to explore Kakadu and learn about this incredible World Heritage-listed ecosystem. First, you’ll take a wilderness cruise on the river, learning about Aboriginal culture, local mythology, the river’s abundant food chain, traditional uses for many plants and animals as well as bush survival skills.

You’ll get off the boat in Arnhem Land to learn about traditional hunting and gathering implements, then continue to spot saltwater crocs in their natural habitat.

This afternoon you will head to Ubirr – a group of rocky outcrops that contain some of Australia’s best Aboriginal rock art. You’ll walk around the site to see and learn about the artwork in the natural rock shelters, then walk to a lookout for a breathtaking sunset across the floodplain.

After breakfast, make your way to either the spectacular Gunlom Falls or Magook (Barramundi Falls). Climb to the top of the waterfall for sweeping views of the southernmost parts of Kakadu National Park, where you will be rewarded for your climb with a relaxing dip in the crystal-clear plunge pools.

Say goodbye to Kakadu, as this afternoon you make your way towards the park’s southern gates and continue south to Katherine. This afternoon on the educational travel program, we’ll be visiting a private property where you’ll meet an outback cowboy and stay on his station. Learn about working dogs, cattle mustering, whip cracking and bull catching. Get ready cowboys and girls!

Spend today exploring Nitmiluk National Park to see the magnificent Katherine Gorge. Carved by the Katherine River, the spectacular gorges have stunning sandstone cliffs, lush rainforest gullies and intimidating walls.

Taking a boat through the gorge is one of the best ways to see the area and our cruise this afternoon will take you through 2 of the 13 gorges in the park. Aboriginal Guides will tell you stories of their heritage that dates back tens of thousands of years.

Today you’ll be welcomed onto a private property to spend time On Country with a local Aboriginal family. The hosts – Jo, Lucy and their extended family – will spend 2 full days sharing their culture, knowledge, stories and homeland with you.

The experience is designed to be as organic and authentic as possible. Learn first-hand how to hunt and cook traditionally, share in the beauty of Aboriginal culture and connection to Country, visit some rock art sites, learn how to make didgeridoos and weave baskets, spot buffalo and brolgas in the wetlands, hike into an ancient cave and venture across to the coast.

On this part of the educational travel program, you will also support a community project in Woodycupaldiya (Woody) – a small community with only about 40 permanent residents. The project focuses on supporting a new community school run by the local church. You will help with ongoing infrastructure projects to support the refurbishment of the community centre.

Finish your time On Country this morning, pack up camp and say farewell to your hosts mid-morning. You’ll make your way to Berry Springs for a swim in its warm crystal-clear waters on your way back to Darwin.

Upon arrival in Darwin, we will check in, freshen up and then head out along the waterfront for a final dinner together. What a perfect way to finish your last evening in the Top End! We will spend the remainder of the evening sharing our favourite memories and wrapping up the trip in style at our Infuse Ties closing ceremony. Discuss what you learned from the past week on this educational travel program, reflect on your experiences and then it’s time to say farewell and head to the airport for your journey home!