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Short on time? This epic Top End 3-day tour hits some epic highlights
Who needs to visit Kakadu, when you can be swimming at amazing waterholes, learning about local First Nations Peoples with an incredible aboriginal cultural experience, and taking a ‘morning cruise’ with saltwater crocs and birdlife, in their natural habitat? This trip ticks all of these boxes; but best of all, enjoy a very unique itinerary, and beat the crowds in the process.
- Start
- Darwin, Australia
- Finish
- Darwin, Australia
- Destinations
- Kakadu & Top End,Northern Territory
- Style
- Powered camps
- Theme
- New trips
- Code
- NTH3
- Physical rating
- Ages
- Min 8
- Group size
- Min 8, Max 16
Why you’ll love this trip
- Spot some wildlife on a sunrise Corrobboree Billabong cruise in an area with amazing birdlife and the highest number of crocodiles per square kilometre in the World.
- See rocky red cliffs, monsoon forests, plunging waterfalls and some of the Top End’s best landscapes.
- Hike through the rich greenery of Litchfield National Park, cooling off with swims in Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Buley Rockhole – some of the best swimming holes on the planet.
- Enjoy the flexibility of a private vehicle, the local knowledge of a passionate guide and the magic of camping under the great Southern sky.
- Meet the true locals of the Top End, the First Nation Peoples & Traditional Owners of the land.
Is this trip right for you?
- You’ll spend some nights of the trip sleeping in our 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 are mild.
- This trip has a strict luggage limit of 10kg. Excess luggage cannot be carried however, it can be stored at Darwin accommodation.
Gallery
Itinerary
Today is all about swimming and waterfalls, as we head to Litchfield National Park. Litchfield covers an area of 1,500 sq km and is home to several stunning waterfalls. Today your guide will choose between (pending on the local and season conditions and openings) Walker Creek, Upper or Lower Cascades, Green Ant Creek, or Sandy Creek Falls; all of which have beautiful crystal-clear swimming holes to cool off in. After lunch, we will visit both Wangi and Tolmer Falls; two of the more famous falls in the park before making our way to our private campsite located just on the border of the National Park.
Accommodation
Powered camps (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
All walks, as listed
Meals
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The total walking time is about 1.5 hours (including stops for informative talks). The total driving time is about 2 hours (approximately 150 km).
With the advantage of staying right on the doorstep to Litchfield National Park, we make an early start to beat the crowds and spend the morning exploring the world famous Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls, both of which are truly magical swimming locations. The park is also home to some of the most amazing termite mounds – learn about the difference between the Cathedral and Magnetic mounds. Your guide will give some insight to these amazing insects and a chance for a great photo opportunity. After Lunch we say goodbye to Litchfield as we head to Wulna Country. The land’s Traditional Owners, the Limilngan-Wulna hosts, will greet you with a Cul Cul or ‘Welcome to Country’. Learn about their culture during bush tucker talks, didgeridoo and basket weaving demonstrations. In the late afternoon we make our way to the Mary River Region where you have the option to go and enjoy a refreshing drink at a local pub, located only a short distance from our camp.
Accommodation
Powered camps (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
Cultural Experience
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The total walking time is about 2 hours (including stops for informative talks). The total driving time is about 3 hours (approximately 250 km).
The Mary River Wetlands which have the highest concentration of Saltwater Crocodiles in the world, is also home to Corroboree Billabong. We start the day early with a wildlife cruise, as we watch the soft morning sun wash across the billabong. The cooler temperatures in the morning during the dry season means that the Crocodiles are a little harder to spot, but it is an opportune time to see the vast array of Top End bird species in this amazing wetland ecosystem. The Wetland View Top Centre offers further insights into life on the wetlands. The centre showcases the local aboriginal culture, as well as amazing 270-degree views of the Adelaide River and Floodplain from the viewing deck. At the Centre, the local Traditional Owners will share the local creation story of the ‘Turtle Dreaming’. After lunch, we start the journey back to Darwin, before one final stop to visit Fogg Dam Conservation area, to learn some history, and enjoy the views of the wildlife and wetlands from the viewing platforms.
Included Activities
Corrobboree Billabong Cruise
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Special Information
The total walking time is about 1.5 hours (including stops for informative talks). The total driving time is about 3 hours (approximately 200 km).
Dates & availability
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Important notes
- Tour commences in Darwin on Day 1 from 6.30 am and finishes in Darwin Day 3 at approx 5pm. Onward travel from Darwin should be booked for the following day.
- 10kg luggage limit in soft bag. Please leave left excess luggage in storage in Darwin.
- This trip requires a sleeping bag. BYO or arrange to hire one at time of booking
Essential trip information
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