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Days
4
Price from
€895EUR
Map of Kakadu Katherine & Litchfield Adventure including Australia

Escape on an outback safari from Darwin to the three major National Parks in the Top End

Journey into the Northern Territory's rugged Top End on this short but sweet four-day tour. Learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legends and customs during the Top Didj cultural experience, go bird and croc spotting in the lush Mary River and see traditional rock art in Ubirr. Climb high to look down on the Nardab Floodplain and then find refuge from the tropical heat in the swimming holes of World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. Discover the history of the First Peoples of Australia at Nourlangie and cruise through the towering rock walls of Katherine Gorge. The reds of the soil and orange of the sunsets will leave you with a lasting impression of the Territory’s beauty and biodiversity.

Start
Darwin, Australia
Finish
Darwin, Australia
Destinations
Northern Territory, Kakadu
Style
Original
Theme
Overland, Short Breaks, Wildlife
Code
PNTY4C
Physical rating
Traveller’s rating
11 reviews
Ages
Min 8
Group size
Min 1, Max 21

Why you'll love this trip

  • See rocky red cliffs, monsoon forests, plunging waterfalls and some of the Top End’s best landscapes on this family-friendly adventure.

  • The Mary River Wetlands feature a wealth of wildlife, including the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the southern hemisphere. Get up close to the snappy beasts on a river cruise.

  • Gain a deeper understand of the history, traditions and culture of the land’s Traditional Owners with a range of interactive experiences.

  • Enjoy the flexibility of a private vehicle, the local knowledge of a passionate guide and the magic of camping under the great southern sky.

  • Visit the Top End’s best-known national park, Kakadu, and savour incredible views over the Nardab Floodplains before enjoying a dip in a pristine waterhole.

  • Cruise the waters of Katherine Gorge by boat or canoe, then get an insight into traditional bush living during an intercultural experience.

  • Hike through the rich greenery of Litchfield National Park, cooling off with swims in Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Buley Rockhole.

Is this trip right for you?

  • You'll spend some nights of the trip sleeping in outback camping grounds. While conditions can be basic and facilities are minimal, this is all part of the adventure. You'll need to pitch in with preparing meals and cleaning.

  • This trip requires a moderate level of fitness as it involves a lot of walking, allowing you to truly enjoy the surrounding nature. Some hikes are longer and more challenging than others. Please bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing.

  • Temperatures in the Top End can be extreme. During the day the weather can be hot (and the Australian sun is strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures really drop, so ensure you have base layers and warm clothing.

  • This trip has a strict luggage limit of 10kg. Excess luggage can not be carried however, it can be stored at Darwin accommodation.

Crocodile at Mary River in the Northern Territory
Group at sign in front of Kakadu National Park
Group at Ubirr Rock in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Jim Jim Falls in the Northern Territory

Itinerary
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Welcome to the Northern Territory’s tropical capital. Leave Darwin in the early morning and travel to Litchfield National Park, home to dozens of freshwater waterfalls, tropical rainforest and crystal-clear swimming holes. Don’t forget your swim suit as there will be plenty of time to enjoy a refreshing dip or two as you visit Florence Falls and Bluey Rockholes. Enjoy a lovely picnic before travelling on to Wangi Falls for a final swim and leisurely stroll through the monsoon forest. Next, it’s on to Mary River National Park for a cruise through the gorgeous Mary River Wetlands – a vast waterway brimming with saltwater crocodiles (the largest in the world!) and native bird species. After a full first day, retire to your campsite for the evening, where all tents are twin-share and come with a proper bed.

Total driving time: about five-and-a-half hours
Accommodation
  • Permanent, furnished tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Litchfield National Park
  • Mary River cruise
Meals Included
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

In giving Kakadu National Park World Heritage-listing, UNESCO described it as a ‘living cultural landscape with exceptional natural and cultural values’. Indigenous people have lived here for more than 50,000 years, to which the ancient rock paintings of Ubirr can attest. Your guide will explain the significance of these artworks during an interpretative cultural walk that finishes on a rocky escarpment overlooking the Nardab floodplain. In the afternoon we head to either Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) or Gunlom Falls (seasonal choice). Swimming spots don’t get a whole lot more inviting than either of these spectacular sites.

Note: Total driving time today is around five hours. Total walking time is up to three and- a-half hours, depending on the trails taken.
Accommodation
  • Permanent, furnished tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ubirr Rock
  • Kakadu National Park Fee
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

This morning you have the option to take a scenic flight over Kakadu (at your own expense). The flight takes in views over the Arnhem Land escarpment, vast flood plains and billabongs. Later spend time exploring Kakadu’s other major Aboriginal rock art site – Nourlangie (Burrunggui), while your guide provides a glimpse into how the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live. After lunch head south and stop to visit the historic gold-mining centre of Pine Creek. Stop for a quick dip at Maguk or Gunlom Falls, before continuing on to Katherine, where you'll settle in for the night at a private campsite near Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge).

Note: Total driving time is about five and a half hours (approximately 400kms)
Total walking time is approximately one hour
Accommodation
  • Permanent, furnished tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Bowali Visitor Centre
  • Pine Creek Gold-Mining Centre
  • Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
Optional Activities
  • Flight (Fixed Wing Aircraft) over - Kakadu - from - AUD150
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Back in the day (ok, it was 23 million years ago), the Katherine River flowed all the way from Arnhem Land to the Timor Sea. These days, the waters have subsided significantly: the Katherine River now flows along hemmed in on both sides by cliffs 70 metres high. It’s the highlight attraction of Nitmiluk National Park though, and you’ll have the opportunity to cruise through it by canoe or boat. After lunch we head to the beautiful Edith falls for one last refreshing swim in the huge plunge pool before we hit the road back to Darwin, where your adventure comes to an end on arrival. Perhaps enjoy one final group dinner in town and toast to your adventure with your new friends.

Note: Total driving time today is around four-and-a-half hours. Total walking time is up to three-and-a-half hours, depending on the group's choice of optional activities.
Included Activities
  • Edith Falls
Optional Activities
  • Katherine Gorge Scenic Cruise - AUD94
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Meals

3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

All Terrain vehicle

Accommodation

Permanent, furnished tented camp (with shared facilities) (3 nights)

Included activities

  • Litchfield National Park
  • Mary River cruise
  • Ubirr Rock
  • Kakadu National Park Fee
  • Bowali Visitor Centre
  • Pine Creek Gold-Mining Centre
  • Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
  • Edith Falls

Reviews

Our Kakadu Katherine & Litchfield Adventure trips score an average of 4.64 out of 5 based on 11 reviews in the last year.

4 Day Kakadu/ Katherine/ Litchfield Adventure, August 2017

Julie Watkins

Review submitted 16 Aug 2017

4 Day Kakadu/ Katherine/ Litchfield Adventure, July 2017

Tracey Pike

Review submitted 06 Aug 2017

Our Kakadu Katherine & Litchfield Adventure trips score an average of 4.64 out of 5 based on 11 reviews in the last year.

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Important notes

1. Tour commences in Darwin on Day 1 at 6.50 am and finishes in Darwin Day 4 at approx 6 pm. Onward travel must be booked for the following day.
2. Strict luggage limit of 10 kg applies in Kakadu excess luggage can be stored at Darwin accommodation.
3. The opening and closing of attractions is dependent on National parks.
4. Please note no single supplement is available for this trip.

Essential trip information

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