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Knobs and Bells pass national loop anticlockwise
You would do this pass if you had the time and wanted to see everything from the wicked East Coast route between Sydney and Cairns, through the Outback from Alice Springs via Uluru to Adelaide and along th South Coast via Melbourne to Sydney.
Yopu can start anywhere and finish anywhere on this route.
Make your own way by flying between Cairns and Alice Springs or another city or travel overland at own expense.
A Blue Mountains Day tour is also included which departs from Sydney.
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Sydney is the starting and finishing point for many popular passes.
If you are starting here, come in and see us at our Oz Ex Site at 804 George St, Sydney Central, to get pre-departure advice and travel planning assistance.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Do a Blue Mountains Day Tour or multi-night package to this popular destination just 2 hours from Sydney
- Note: Fish Hook, Whipper Snapper, Knobs and Bells, Fair Dinkum passes starting or passing through Sydney include a Blue Mountains as a standard inclusion.
- Stay at base Backpackers or Wake Up! Hostel
Find more information on Sydney destination guide
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The area is renowned for its 'Big Banana', a reflection of the prevailing industry in this area.
It wont be last 'Big Thing' you see on the East Coast but it's a bit of a favourite!
Find more information on Coffs Harbour destination guide
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Surf Camp is an overnight stop right on the beach.
Your Oz Experience pass includes a learn to surf lesson here with qualified instructors. The beach at Surf Camp is one of the best learn to surf beaches on the coast.
Warning: Surfing is addictive and may be very good for your health!
You will pay a Local Payment of AU$50 directly to Mojo Surf at Surf Camp. This covers 1 night of hostel dorm accommodation, dinner and breakfast.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Staying longer if you want more wave action. Accommodation, Learn To Surf and Meal packages available at Surf Camp for extended stays
Find more information on Surf Camp destination guide
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If you are travelling north, Oz Experience will stop in Byron Bay only to pick up and drop off travellers.
If you are travelling south, Byron Bay is an overnight stop for the bus.
Byron Bay is the type of place that most of our travellers spend at least a few days.
Book your accommodation early in summer and at peak times (Easter) to ensure yourself a bed.
Oz Experience recommends:
Find more information on Byron Bay destination guide
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Next up you will head into Surfers Paradise, which is the centre of the Gold Coast: golden sands, theme parks, and great bars and clubs.
Oz Experience will pick up and drop off travellers getting off here at the conveniently placed Transit Centre.
Oz Experience recommends:
Find more information on Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast destination guide
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If you're heading north, Brisbane is an overnight stop for the bus.
If you're heading south, you will stop and pick up and drop off travellers in Brisbane.
Oz Experience recommends:
Find more information on Brisbane destination guide
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The Glasshouse Mountains, remnants of active volcanoes from times past. Sailing past in 1770 Captain Cook saw them and thought they looked like Glasshouses in his home of Yorkshire: Active Volcanoes or an overactive imagination?
Find more information on Glasshouse Mountains destination guide
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Oz Experience only stops at Mooloolaba if you or someone else booked to get on or off here. This small seaside town sprawls along the coastline where the beach is the focus of most entertainment for a traveller. There are cruises, jet ski hire, surfing schools available or just chill out have an ice cream and watch the world go by.
Find more information on Mooloolaba destination guide
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Noosa Heads is is so popular mainly because of its safe swimming beach and warm climate year round. It's a comfortable collision of retirees, those looking for a better lifestyle and those passing through like you.
Find more information on Noosa destination guide
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Rainbow beach is now an overnight stop on both directions North and South!
Oz Experience recommends:
- Doing a Fraser Island Guided or Self Drive Safari from here, the Island is only 10 minutes away by ferry
- Taking a walk up onto the Carlo Sandblow - huge sand dune area close to town
- Checking out the coloured sands for which the place is famous
- Go sea kayaking with dolphins
- Staying at Frasers On Rainbow backpackers hostel
Find more information on Rainbow Beach destination guide
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Oz Experience will stop in Hervey Bay long enough to pick up and drop off travellers before continuing on to the "Town of 1770" for the overnight stop.
Oz Experience recommends:
Find more information on Hervey Bay destination guide
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Oz Experience stops here for a short break.
Bundaberg is a prime location if your looking for some work - fruit picking work is almost guaranteed between the months of Feb-Nov, picking Avocados, Tomatoes, Snow Peas and Zucchini.
Find more information on Bundaberg destination guide
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The Oz Experience bus travels into the outback to our overnight stop at Kroombit Cattle Station.
There's a local payment od AU$45 to cover dinner, bunk accommodation and breakfast.
Enjoy the original and world famous (in Kroombit) Goat Rodeo which is included in your pass price.
Don’t go to bed before learning to crack a whip (free) and having a ride on the mechanical bull (also included)!
Oz Experience recommends:
- Experiencing a Goat Muster on horseback (optional at own expense). Your guide will book this for you.
Find more information on Kroombit Cattle Station destination guide
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Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia and there are over 3 million cattle in the region. Beyond cattle dating, ‘Rocky’ as it is known up here can offer you the quintessential cowboy experience. Oz Experience stops here during the day to/from Kroombit Cattle Station.
Find more information on Rockhampton destination guide
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Sarina is where the Oz Experience bus will stop during the day for a break and an included game of Barefoot Lawn Bowls.
Oz Experience recommends:
- You will bowl better when you have a beverage in your hand and have bare feet
Find more information on Sarina destination guide
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Airlie Beach is an overnight stop for Oz Experience.
For the next 2-3 days most of you will say goodbye Oz Bus and hello sunshine and sailing boats …a highlight of the east coast trip. One we hope you remember after the traditional end-of-sailing party.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Booking a Sailing Trip to suit you and enjoy the Whitsunday Islands on board a multi-million yacht.
- Ocean Rafting out to the Islands and Reef.
Find more information on Airlie Beach destination guide
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Oz Experience travels via Bowen, which is a great place to stop and earn some money picking fruit or vegetables.
Find more information on Bowen destination guide
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Ayr is the mango and melon capital of Australia! If you're getting off here it is probably because of work opportunities.
Find more information on Ayr destination guide
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Townsville is an overnight stop for Oz Experience. You can stay in Townsville or travel over to Magnetic Island with your Guide (optional).
Oz Experience recommends:
- Getting a deal and taking the ferry with your Guide to Magnetic Island for the night, or even better staying on longer on the Island
- $89 gets you - 2 nights at Base Backpackers Magnetic Island, return ferry transfer from Townsville, return bus transfer on island, 1 x hot breakfast, 1 x free hour kayak hire, This deal saves you $16. Book this onboard the bus with your Guide.
Find more information on Townsville destination guide
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Tully is the major contender for the Golden Gumboot award, the title given to the wettest place in Australia. Don't let that put you off, the high rainfall is a good thing because it means a lot of water pumping into the Tully River.
Rafting companies like Raging Thunder do most of their rafting down the Tully River, which runs wet and wild down through some awesome rainforest.
Find more information on Tully destination guide
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Oz Ex stops in at Mission Beach during the day, which is one great place to stay over for a few days. The beaches are superb. Relax or go skydiving or white water rafting (optional). If you’re lucky you’ll see a Cassowary, these are seriously big birds with attitude to match.
Find more information on Mission Beach destination guide
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Oz Experience stops long enough here to pick up and drop off travellers.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Getting off here if you want to work in the surrounding vegetable and fruit picking industry
Find more information on Innisfail destination guide
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The Oz Experience bus stops at the Crocodile Farm (special Oz Ex price entry) so you have time to have a good look around.
Your entry includes a tour of the place and some time with local legend Mick. His favourite croc is 'Gregory' - all 5 metres of him. He's reputedly the largest crocodile in captivity in Australia.
You'll also see other crocodiles being fed, snakes, and lizards. You can touch the snakes. It's a cheap and authentic slice of what is unique about Australia.
Find more information on Johnstone River Crocodile Farm destination guide
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Cairns is the popular starting point for many Oz Experience passes and also the finishing point for those heading north.
Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef one of the seven natural wonders of the world; and Cape Tribulation, the world’s oldest living rainforest.
Oz Experience recommends:
Find more information on Cairns destination guide
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Alice Springs is the starting and finishing point for all tours and passes in this region.
There are regular flights to and from Alice Springs to other Australian destinations.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Taking some time out here and spending a few days getting to know the town and doing some of the activities
- Staying at Haven backpackers hostel
Find more information on Alice Springs destination guide
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This is the first stop of the day. A great place to grab some breakfast if you haven't already had some or just a coffee. better than all of that, is to get up close to a camel.
You can also go for a short ride on the camel (own expense) and get the experience of what it is like high up on the back of the camel.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Not getting spat on by a camel
Find more information on Outback Camel Farm destination guide
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Erldunda is a place for a break, a toilet stop and an ice cream before continuing on.
Find more information on Erldunda destination guide
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The Oz Experience bus will overnight near the actual Canyon at our permanent campsite. The campsite has great views and is well away from other tourist areas. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment.
Your Guide will lead your group on a walk around the Canyon rim for stunning views iand experiences closs to the cliff edges.
Find more information on Kings Canyon destination guide
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The Oz Experience bus will overnight at Yulara at our permanent campsite, as close as anyone can camp next to Uluru. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment.
You will see sunset (with complimentary sparkling wine to enhance the experience) and sunrise change the light over Uluru.
You will have the option to walk around or up (not encouraged by the traditional Anangu Aboriginal owners) Uluru.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Walking the 9.4km around Uluru - changing rock surface and shaded waterhole you will see gives a greater understanding of this rock as you walk around.
Find more information on Uluru Ayers Rock destination guide
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Gain a further insight into the local Anangu Aboriginal culture of the Uluru area when you visit the award winning cultural centre. The centre is conveniently positioned near the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock).
Find more information on Uluru Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre destination guide
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At Kata Tjuta, the ‘place of many heads’, a short distance from Uluru you will do a walk to explore part of the area of the unusual weathered rock 'domes'.
Find more information on Kata Tjuta The Olgas destination guide
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The Oz Experience bus will stop overnight here. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment.
You will sleep underground where the temperature is a constant 22 degrees Centigrade year round.
Coober Pedy is the Opal capital of the world. To learn more about opals you will go on an Opal Mine Tour and 'Noodling' experience.
Find more information on Coober Pedy destination guide
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Rawnsley Park is an overnight stop for the Oz Experience bus. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment.
This working sheep station enables people to discover and experience the operation of a working sheep station and has received several awards for its quality.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Watching the sun go down over the Flinders Ranges from here
Find more information on Rawnsley Park destination guide
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At Wilpena Pound you will go on a 2 hour+ walk carrying water and snacks to the top of Mount Ohlssen Bagge, for a beautiful view of this interesting Flinders Ranges landform.
Find more information on Wilpena Pound destination guide
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Parachilna is an overnight stop for the Oz Experience bus. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment. This small town (population 4 and a few dogs) will show you some of the districts hospitality
Oz Experience recommends:
- Soaking up the atmosphere of the place with a cool beverage in the pub.
- Trying some Kangaroo, Emu or Camel that might be cooked on the barbeque for dinner! Vegetarians catered for.
Find more information on Parachilna destination guide
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Enjoy a return walk to the Aboriginal rock art site known as the Yourambulla Caves. There are interpetive boards explaining some of the symbolism of the designs you will see. The walk to the caves, view and artworks are a great reward.
Find more information on Yourambulla Caves destination guide
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Oz Experience has many passes start, finish or overnight in Adelaide.
Oz Experience recommends:
Find more information on Adelaide destination guide
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More than likely you will see some peculair White Kangaroos at Bordertown when you stop there. They are actually not albino roo’s as they have dark eyes not red/pink. They are a direct result of genetic breeding.
Find more information on Bordertown destination guide
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Oz Experience stops here to refuel, to pick up and drop off travellers and for a break to/from Adelaide.
Find more information on Horsham destination guide
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The Grampians, Gariwerd as the Aboriginal People know it, is famous for its rugged mountain ranges, superb scenery, wild life, bushwalks, waterfalls (particular McKenzie Falls), rock climbing, and abseiling as well as the wild flowers which bloom between August and November.
Find more information on Grampians National Park destination guide
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The Oz Experience bus overnights in Halls Gap, on the edge of the Grampians National Park. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment.
Halls Gap sits in the shadow of a mountain range and you can do short walks straight from the town. There are a range of backpacker accommodation options here for those who wish to stay longer.
Find more information on Halls Gap destination guide
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This is the largest town in the region of the Great Ocean Road with some 30,000 people. The town is a popular place for whale watching in the winter months at Logans Beach. Oz Experience will stop here during the day.
Find more information on Warrnambool destination guide
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Port Campbell is another one of those 'oh so cute' coastal towns that you pass and Oz Experience stops at.
Find more information on Port Campbell destination guide
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Near Port Campbell you and your Guide will take the Gibson Steps down to the beach for a look at the Twelve Apostles and then check out Loch Ard Gorge before continuing along the western end of the Great Ocean Road viewing London Bridge, Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Taking a Helicopter Flight over the 12 Apostles and coastline (own expense). Your Guide can organise your flight and time to do the flight is organised around the normal days itinerary.
Find more information on 12 Apostles destination guide
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Princetown is an overnight stop for Oz Experience and is the closest town to the Twelve Apostles. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment.
Find more information on Princetown destination guide
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This elevated tree top walk is unique in its kind insofar as it is the longest (more than 600 meters) and tallest (can reach about 25 metres high) in the world.
Normal admission costs AU$19.50 but entry is included with your pass.
You'll do a short walk here and learn about the giant forest trees and special ecology of the area from a new perspective high in the forest canopy.
There's also a 45 metre high spiral lookout point for those looking for some extra excitement!
Find more information on Otway Fly destination guide
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The Oz Experience bus will stop here long enough to pick up and drop off Oz Experience travellers who might wish to stay/have stayed on longer in Apollo Bay.
Find more information on Apollo Bay destination guide
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Oz Experience stops here for a break - there are more galleries, boutiques and cafes here than elsewhere on the Coast. If you choose to stay here it's a great place to rest up and chill out.
Find more information on Lorne destination guide
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Torquay is the home of the Rip Curl pro surfing event every Easter at the famous Bells Beach surf break. Oz Experience stops at Torquay for a bit of shopping at the factory outlets for Rip Curl and Quiksilver clothing. You will also stop at nearby Bells beach to see the surf pump in to shore.
Find more information on Torquay / Bells Beach destination guide
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Melbourne is a diverse and interesting city to interest all tastes for many days.
It is the starting and finishing point for many passes.
Oz Experience recommends:
Find more information on Melbourne destination guide
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At Wilsons Promontory National Park you will have time to hike and explore!
Walk on squeaky beaches and watch the ocean of Bass Strait pound on to the Australian mainland’s most southerly point.
Your guide will take you on a walk along spectacular granite rock formations with fantastic views and learn about the coastal flora and native wildlife (maybe even sighting emus and wombats)
Oz Experience recommends:
- Having your swim gear handy for a swim at the Prom in summer.
Find more information on Wilsons Promontory destination guide
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Arrive for your overnight stop at the coastal township of Lakes Entrance; the Gateway to the Gippsland Lakes and Australia’s longest beach - Ninety Mile Beach. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Getting off here if you are into fishing or need a quiet place to chill out for a few days
Find more information on Lakes Entrance destination guide
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You will travel along the The Barry Way - a remote un-sealed road that cuts across the Snowy Mountains on the Victoria and New South Wales state border.
It is a road rarely travelled by the general public but it offers spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and rivers including the Snowy.
Find more information on Barry Way destination guide
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This is an overnight stop for the Oz Experience bus. Accommodation and meals are included here as part of your Local Payment. Here you’ll get to enjoy the mountain life; perhaps a sauna, swim or a drink at the bar while taking in the magnificent view of the lake.
Seasonal itineraries:
Let the bus do all the work as we climb high into the Australian Alps (seasonal Nov-May). Enjoy a rewarding hike to the glacial Blue Lake along an alpine track (2½ hour round-trip) absorbing stunning views and the peak of Mt Kosciuszko (the highest point in Australia).
During winter, (Jun–Oct) we visit the ski village of Perisher/Smiggins for fun in the snow (optional hire of toboggans or snow tubes at own expense).
Oz Experience recommends:
- Give yourself a few days here in winter for additional alpine walks or go skiing/snowboarding at the nearby Perisher and Thredbo resorts (own expense)
- Go 'hot dogging' behind a power boat on lake Jindabyne in summer
Find more information on Jindabyne destination guide
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You will travel to Australia’s capital city of Canberra checking out Parliament House and other highlights on a city tour.
After lunch we pass through Cooma, learning about Australia’s great engineering feat the ‘Snowy Hydro-Electric Scheme.
Oz Experience recommends:
- Getting off in Canberra for a few days to see the National Gallery and National Museum. Well worth staying here.
- Stay at the YHA Canberra
Find more information on Canberra destination guide
Flinders Ranges in the South Australian Outback 
Sydney Harbour skyline 
