Day 1: Arrive in Darwin
Make your way to Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory and a former frontier outpost. It’s also a gateway to the massive Kakadu National Park. Its popular waterfront area has several beaches and green areas like Bicentennial Park. Also near the water is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, displaying Southeast Asian and Pacific art, plus a pearling lugger and other seafaring vessels.
Our lovely driver will pick you up at the airport and then transfer you to the hotel. You can relax and use the rest of the day to explore the city.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: 3-4 Star Hotel
Day 2: Darwin City Tour
Time: 08:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Duration: 4 Hours
Explore the highlights of Darwin with a guided tour that includes Smith Street Mall, the vibrant restaurants and cafes of Mitchell Street, and the historic St Mary’s Cathedral. Wander through the old Chinatown on Cavanagh Street, visit the Chinese Temple, and enjoy the scenic views from Stokes Hill and Fort Hill Wharf. Discover the trendy Darwin Wharf precinct, the World War II oil storage tunnel, and the Christ Church Cathedral. Take a stroll past the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, Government House, and Parliament House, and relax in Bicentennial Park and The Esplanade. Visit the casino and the famous Mindil Beach market location, learn about Cyclone Tracy at the Museum & Art Gallery, explore the exclusive Fannie Bay, spot wallabies in the grasslands, and enjoy the beauty of the Darwin Botanical Gardens.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3-4 Star Hotel
Day 3: Kakadu Adventure
Time: 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Duration: 13.25 Hours
Depart from Darwin and journey through pristine wetlands to Kakadu National Park, a diverse landscape of red-hued escarpments and wildlife-rich floodplains. Begin your adventure with a visit to the Warradjan Cultural Centre, followed by an award-winning cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong. Here, you’ll encounter dramatic scenery and keep an eye out for saltwater crocodiles, various wildlife, and the region’s renowned birdlife.
Please Note:
- National park entry fee is included in the tour price.
- The Kakadu National Park entry fee of $40 per adult and $25 per child is a government charge, valid for 14 consecutive days, and correct at the time of writing. It is subject to change without notice.
- Hats, sunscreen, insect repellant, sturdy walking shoes, and bottled water are required when participating in walks.
- Our itinerary is subject to seasonal conditions.
Itinerary:
- Skirt Francis Bay on Darwin Harbour and head out on Tiger Brennan Drive
- Pass by Berrimah Naval Defence Base and Palmerston on Darwin’s outskirts
- Look for massive road trains and head east on the Arnhem Highway, passing through Humpty Doo
- Cross the Marrakai Wetlands and over the Adelaide River, home to native birdlife and crocodiles
- Explore the top-end outback bush with eucalypts, palms, and termite mounds
- Arrive at Kakadu National Park on the South Alligator River, a vast pristine wetland and bushland habitat with significant Aboriginal culture
- Take a 1.5 km guided walk around the base of Nourlangie Rock to see ancient Aboriginal rock art
- Enjoy a tropical buffet lunch with cold meats, salad, and fruit
- Embark on a 1.5-hour guided cruise on Yellow Water Billabong, looking for crocodiles, brolgas, magpie geese, and kites
- Visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the traditional ways of Aboriginal people in Kakadu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 3-4 Star Hotel
Day 4: Litchfield National Park
Departs: 7:25 AM
Returns: Darwin, approximately 6:00 PM
Experience the splendor of Kakadu National Park, home to thundering waterfalls, lush rainforest pockets, and historic sacred sites. This haven for hundreds of native bird species also supports a rich range of woodland flora. The traditional custodians of the Park are the Wagait people, many of whom still call the area home.
Itinerary:
- Florence Falls: View the stunning double falls from a high vantage point, then make your way down to take a refreshing swim in the plunge pool.
- Interpretive Guided Walk: Enjoy a scenic walk through the bush and monsoon vine forest with an expert guide.
- Tolmer Falls: Capture spectacular photos of these falls, home to colonies of rare ghost and orange horseshoe bats.
- Lunch: Take a relaxing break at the Litchfield Cafe and enjoy a delicious meal.
- Wangi Falls: Swim in the large and accessible plunge pool, perfect for a final dip of the day.
- Howard Springs Nature Park: Feed the barramundi and turtles in this peaceful nature park.
- Magnetic Termite Mounds: Marvel at these upright structures created by local termites, standing like magnetic compasses and perfect for a unique photo opportunity.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 3-4 Star Hotel
Day 5: Katherine Gorge
Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, surrounding a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Previously named Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park.
Please Note:
- A reasonable level of mobility is required to take this tour.
- Itinerary is subject to seasonal conditions.
Itinerary:
- Head south out of Darwin on the Stuart Highway, passing through endless outback scrub and WWII airstrips.
- Visit Adelaide River War Cemetery, a memorial of the Darwin air raids in the 1940s.
- Morning tea stop (own expense).
- Travel the western side of Nitmiluk National Park to the superb Edith Falls. Enjoy time for a swim in the waterhole below the falls (conditions permitting) or relax on the grassy banks.
- Aboriginal rock art throughout the park displays a spiritual nature.
- Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at the Katherine Gorge Visitors Centre in Nitmiluk National Park.
- Browse the Display Centre and Heritage Museum; the Centre offers a range of souvenirs and artefacts handmade by the Jawoyn people.
- Nitmiluk National Park: Take a two-hour guided tour and scenic cruise through Katherine Gorge. Look for freshwater crocodiles on the banks.
- After the first gorge, take a short walk along the side to the second gorge.
- Marvel at the stark, sheer, and richly coloured escarpments of the Katherine Gorge canyon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 3-4 Star Hotel
Day 6: Say Goodbye to Darwin
Transfer to Darwin Airport or The Ghan Train Station for your onward journey, concluding your unforgettable Northern Territory adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
