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: 4-Star Hotel or similar
Day 2: Katherine Gorge – Darwin to Katherine
Leaving Darwin we travel south through tropical country, passing former WWII airstrips en route to Adelaide River. Make a short stop at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, a site dedicated to those killed in the air raids in Darwin in the 1940’s. Continue to Edith Falls, where there is time for a refreshing swim in the paperbark and pandanus fringed waterhole beneath the falls (conditions permitting). After your included lunch, we join a 2-hour scenic cruise through Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, with a chance to see freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks of the river and many interesting species of birdlife. Our cruise of the first two gorges takes us past sheer rock walls and requires a short walk to reach the second gorge. Back through the township of Katherine, the hub of the region’s cattle and farming industries. Travel via Pine Creek, a historic gold mining town, to our evening stop where you may purchase dinner at Emerald Springs (own expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 4-Star Hotel or similar
Day 3: Darwin City Sights
See the lush Botanic Gardens and the Chinese Temple, which was rebuilt after it was totally demolished by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Tour the historic sites of the city including the East Point Military Precinct. See the Stokes Hill Wharf area, the Mooring Basin, and the Darwin Aviation Museum. There is also time available to explore the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, whose collections encompass Aboriginal art, visual arts, and Northern Territory history and natural sciences.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 4-Star Hotel or similar
Day 4: Kakadu National Park
Depart Darwin and travel through pristine wetlands to Kakadu National Park, with its suite of landscapes varying from red-hued escarpments to floodplains teeming with wildlife. Visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre, then join your local guide on an award-winning cruise to experience the dramatic scenery of the Yellow Water Billabong. Keep an eye out for saltwater crocodiles, a diverse array of smaller wildlife, and the range of birdlife for which this region is renowned.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 4-Star Hotel or similar
Day 5: Guluyambi Cruise
This morning join your Driver Guide to explore the World Heritage Area of Ubirr, where you’ll climb up through the ancient Aboriginal rock art galleries, believed to be 20,000 years old, to the lookout for a view over the surrounding wetlands. Join the Guluyambi Cruise on the East Alligator River. An Aboriginal guide will provide an insight into their culture, including local mythology, the river’s abundant food chain, as well as bush survival skills. With special permission from the local people, you can go ashore in Arnhem Land. Visit the Marrawuddi Art Gallery before returning to Darwin.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 4-Star Hotel or similar
Day 6: Litchfield National Park & Waterfalls
In Litchfield National Park today your first stop is beautiful Florence Falls. After a swim in its pristine rock pool, travel on to Tolmer Falls for a magnificent view of the water cascading down to the deep waterhole below. Wangi Falls, with its large crystal-clear pool, is another relaxing spot for a swim. At Howard Springs Nature Park, you’ll have the opportunity to feed the barramundi and turtles. Return to Darwin in the early evening, where your tour concludes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 4-Star Hotel or similar
Day 7: Say Goodbye to Darwin
After breakfast, transfer to the airport or train station for your onward journey, reflecting on the unforgettable experiences of the past week.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
