Day 1 : Darwin to Arnhem Land
Welcome to Darwin, the Northern Territory’s tropical capital. There’s no time to waste, so get cracking at 6.30 am and hit the road. We travel East along the Arnhem Highway to the Corroboree Billabong on the Mary River, for a cruise to learn about the Top End’s wetlands, and a very good chance of sighting a variety of birdlife and the saltwater crocodiles. After lunch we continue to the border of Kakadu and Arnhem Land, Cahill’s Crossing, where the 4WD is utilised to traverse the croc-infested East Alligator River. Welcome to Arnhem Land. Learn about the cultural importance of the West Arnhem Land region as your Bininj guide takes you to restricted areas that First Nation ancestors have been visiting for thousands of years. Spend the afternoon learning about the region and its people’s history from your guide, before heading back to Kakadu for an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Powered camps (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Total walking time: about 1.5 hours (including stops for informative talks). Total driving time: about 6 hours (approximately 350 km)
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 : Kakadu National Park
After fueling up with an early breakfast, head to Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu’s most iconic natural attraction. Take a challenging walk through monsoon forest and over boulders, then recharge with a cooling dip in the clear waters beneath the falls. After lunch head to Anbangbang, another incredible site that features ancient art on what was originally Warramal Land. Sadly, there are no surviving Warramal People, so the care of the site is maintained by the neighbouring Mirarr and Djok communities. This afternoon, you have the option of taking a scenic flight over Kakadu or visiting the Bowali Cultural Centre..
Powered camps (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Total walking time: about 2.5. Total driving time: about 4 hours (approximately 120 km)
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 : Kakadu National Park
After breakfast, head to either Gunlom Falls or Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) for a swim in another pristine waterhole. Maguk flows down the steep walls of rugged gorges into a beautiful natural plunge pool, while the steep climb to the Gunlom Falls plunge pool is rewarded with sweeping views of Kakadu along with the larger pool which is found under the welcome shade of gum trees. Neither option will disappoint you. After a relaxing morning, it’s time to hit the road. Stop in the old gold-mining town of Pine Creek for lunch before continuing for another three hours to your private campsite on the doorstep of Nitmiluk National Park. Once comfortable, have dinner with the group before settling in under the stars for the night.
Powered camps (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Total driving time: about 5.5 hours (approximately 340 km). Total walking time: about 1.5 hours
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 : Nitmiluk National Park
Spend the day exploring the deep Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge and greater Nitmiluk National Park, a wonderland of colours, ancient rock art, waterfalls and wildlife. While here, you can explore the region on foot, or choose to take a cruise (optional) to get a different perspective of the Gorge. Keep in mind that these optional activities are seasonal and at your own expense. In the afternoon, travel to Edith Falls, a hidden oasis of clear, cool waters surrounded by bronze boulders. After a quick swim in the huge rock pools, continue to tonight’s camp located at the edge of Litchfield National Park, where dinner awaits.
Powered camps (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Total driving time: about 4.5 hours (approximately 350 km). Total walking time: about 3.5 hours
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 : Litchfield National Park to Darwin
After breakfast, head to Litchfield National Park. A bit of a local secret, Litchfield is awash with tropical rainforest, gorgeous waterfalls and crystal-clear waterholes. Visit Florence Falls, Wangi Falls or Bluey Rockhole, then tuck into a picnic lunch. Enjoy a stroll through the steamy rainforests and a refreshing dip in one of the park’s gorgeous swimming holes. In the afternoon, make the two-hour drive back to Darwin..
Total walking time: about 1 hour. Total driving time: about 3.5 hours (approximately 250 km)
Meals :Lunch
