The Top End: Kakadu, Katherine & Litchfield – 6 Days

Darwin is an easy city to explore on arrival, with shaded walking paths, a relaxed foreshore, and a string of museums and historic buildings all within comfortable reach on foot. The NT Chinese Museum, Brown’s Mart, the old Palmerston Town Hall, and Bicentennial Park are all worth your time if you want to stretch your legs and get a feel for the city before the trip begins. Your guide meets the group at the hotel lobby at 6pm for a welcome meeting, followed by an included dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: Dinner at a local restaurant
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Darwin

Leave Darwin this morning and head east into Kakadu, stopping first at Mamukala Wetlands for a short walk with your guide along the billabong edge, where magpie geese and other waterbirds gather in impressive numbers. For lunch picnic at Nawaurlandja with extraordinary views across Anbangbang Billabong to Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) and the great sandstone wall of the Arnhem Land escarpment beyond. The afternoon brings a series of short walks such as a gentle loop around Anbangbang Billabong through open woodland along the water’s edge, and the steep ascent to Gunnwarrdehwarrdde lookout, which passes Aboriginal rock art shelters on the way up. The evening is spent at your hotel in Jabiru with an included dinner.

Walking: 4.85 km / 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, walkers lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Kakadu

The morning belongs to Yellow Water. As the sun rises over the billabong, your guide leads you through the intricate relationship between the Bininj/Mungguy people and these waterways, pointing out basking crocodiles and the remarkable birdlife along the way. After the cruise, take a short walk to the Cooinda Cultural Centre. The afternoon takes you to Bardedjilidji, where you meander through sandstone pillars and monsoon rainforest, keeping an eye out for the northern quoll, white-bellied sea-eagle, and sulphur-crested cockatoos. From there, the Manngarre walk follows the East Alligator River through rainforest to a raised platform above the water, and a stop at the Cahills Crossing viewing area to watch estuarine crocodiles. The day ends at Ubirr at sunset. Walk up to the rocky lookout for views across the Nadab floodplain and listen for the blue-winged kookaburras that locals call “the call of Kakadu”.

Walking: 6.5 km / 3 hrs and 10 mins
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Included Activity: Yellow Water Billabong cruise
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Kakadu

Start the day with an included breakfast at the hotel, then visit the gallery in Jabiru before heading south towards Nitmiluk. A picnic lunch on the road keeps things moving, then the highlight of the afternoon is the Edith Falls loop walk. The trail follows the Edith River and leads you to Sweetwater Pool with its mirror-like surface and the freshwater turtles that drift below, with the surrounding vegetation and wildlife growing richer the further you walk. Swim stops at both Sweetwater Pool and the top pools give you plenty of time to take it all in. From Edith Falls, the drive continues into Katherine, where an included dinner at the hotel with your guide and fellow travellers rounds out the day.

Walking: 8.5 km
Meals: Breakfast, walkers lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Katherine

Today we start early to make the most of the cooler morning temperatures. The combined Baruwei Loop and Windolf Walk climbs from the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre through moderate, rocky terrain to Pat’s Lookout and Jedda’s Rock, with escarpment views of the Katherine River far below. The trail is exposed to the sun, so come prepared with sun protection. In the afternoon, drive out to Mataranka in Elsey National Park, where the thermal pools stay crystal clear and very warm year-round. A dip in the afternoon light is a welcome antidote to a morning on the ridge walk, before returning to Katherine for the evening.

Walking: 8-12 km
Meals: Breakfast, walkers lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Katherine

The final day takes you west to Litchfield. Depending on time, we will visit Wangi Falls or Florence Falls. The Wangi Falls loop walk winds through rainforest to views over the falls from the top of the escarpment. Florence Falls has a wide plunge pool reached via 135 steps or a shaded one-kilometre walk. Then onto Buley Rockhole which is is a series of cascading pools ideal for quick dip. From Litchfield, we drive back to Darwin, leaving you time for onward travel or a final night in the city.

Walking: Up to 5.8 km / 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast and lunch