Darwin – Kakadu National Park – Katherine – Nitmiluk National Park – Batchelor – Litchfield National Park – Darwin
Cascading waterfalls, rugged escarpments, aboriginal rock art, giant crocodiles and exotic bird life; Australia’s Top End will change how you see the world.
Wind through the Adelaide and Mary River wetlands to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. Here you can explore the freshwater billabongs and waterways which provide excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting, fishing, bushwalking and photography. Learn about the Territory’s pioneering history at Pine Creek before travelling to Katherine to explore the magnificent Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. On your return to Darwin stop and explore the beauty of Litchfield National Park. You can do this ultimate drive on a fully sealed road in a two-wheel drive vehicle.
The Journey:
Sunset, Ubirr, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
The rare and unspoiled beauty of Kakadu National Park is only a 3-hour drive from Darwin. On your way to the park, along the Arnhem Highway, there are several opportunities to see wildlife in their natural environment. Stop at Adelaide River and board a cruise to see huge saltwater crocodiles jump for food from the safety of a riverboat.
Highlights:
Wildman Wilderness Lodge, Northern Territory
Kakadu National Park is World Heritage-listed for both its natural and cultural wealth. The park covers 19,000 square kilometres of dramatic landscapes, from towering escarpments and waterfalls to vast floodplains and savannah woodland. The wildlife in Kakadu is prolific with the park home to more than one third of Australia’s bird species and a quarter of Australia’s fish species. Kakadu also has some of the best and oldest examples of Aboriginal rock art in the country. The Nature’s Way takes in many of the park's major sites including Mamukala Wetlands, the Bowali Visitor Centre, the town of Jabiru, Nourlangie Rock, Jim Jim and Twin Falls, Cooinda and Gunlom.
Highlights:
Gunlom, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Head south along the Stuart Highway to Pine Creek, a small town with a pioneering and gold mining history. Visit the National Trust Museum and wander around Pine Creek Railway Precinct, an important transport hub during the 1870’s mining boom and WWII. A further 90km down the road, Katherine is a great place to base yourself to explore Nitmiluk National Park. Take a dip in the Katherine Hot Springs – a series of clear pools fed by a natural thermal spring located on the banks of the Katherine River.
Highlights:
Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory
Just a 30km drive from the township of Katherine is the world-renowned Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park. Katherine Gorge is a network of 13 gorges carved by the Katherine River from billion-year-old sandstone country. Start the day at the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre for advice on the many ways you can experience the spectacular gorge. If you are feeling adventurous, hire a canoe and experience the gorge from a completely different perspective. Or, if you would rather kick back, relax and be guided comfortably through Katherine Gorge, check out one of the many boat cruises on offer.
Highlights:
Leliyn (Edith) Falls, Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory
Drive south of Katherine and make a stop at Elsey National Park near Mataranka. Relax in its famous thermal springs and explore the local heritage sites. The journey north through Katherine includes Leliyn (Edith Falls), where you can have a cooling swim in the huge, pandanus-fringed plunge pool fed by waterfalls. The area is also great for bushwalking – challenge yourself to walk the 2.6km steep rocky loop that is Leliyn Trail. Your reward is a refreshing swim in the upper pool of the falls halfway through the walk. From here, travel 220km north to Batchelor, gateway to the magnificent Litchfield National Park.
Highlights:
Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory
Conclude your journey with a trip to Litchfield National Park, just 90km from Darwin city. Swim in the plunge pool at the base of Florence Falls, explore the surrounding monsoon rainforest and then relax in the rock pools at nearby Buley Rockhole. Picnic next to Wangi Falls, then drive to Tolmer Falls for sweeping valley views. On your way back to Darwin, stop at Berry Springs Nature Park for a bushwalk or cool off in one of the freshwater pools.
Highlights: