5 Day Top End and Arnhem Land Adventure

    Waterfalls, monsoon forests and breathtaking waterholes on this spectacularly diverse 5-day Top End adventure.

    Ready for a Top End adventure? If you’ve never been to Australia’s Top End, prepare yourself. This mystical land in the northernmost section of the remote Northern Territory packs is where the tropics meet the outback. Sandstone escarpments are decorated with ancient First Nations rock art, and the national parks are bursting with plunging waterfalls, monsoon forests, and breathtaking waterholes.

    On this five-day adventure, you will spend time in Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National Park, and Litchfield National Park plus exclusive access to Arnhem Land. You will meet Traditional Owners of Wulna Country, take a croc-filled cruise along the East Alligator River, marvel at the spectacular Jim Jim Falls and swim in breathtaking locations on this unforgettable adventure through Australia’s far north.

    Enjoy the flexibility of a small group tour, comfortable vehicle, the local knowledge of a passionate guide, and the magic of camping under the great southern sky.

    And there’s so much to see over 5 days on our popular Top End Adventure tour. At Kakadu National Park,  check out the spectacular Jim Jim Falls, visit Nitmiluk National Park, go on a guided walk along the jagged edges of Katherine Gorge. And at Litchfield National Park, enjoy hikes through lush greenery surrounding Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, and Buley Rockholes (and don’t forget to stop for a refreshing swim).

    In Arnhem Land learn about the cultural importance of these spectacular landscapes with your local Bininj Guluyambi guide. Plus explore the breathtaking Mawurndaddja rock art and occupation complex—a site over 40,000 years old!

    Join us for your Top End adventure!

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    Kakadu, Arnhem Land, Katherine & Litchfield Adventure

    Adult( 13 - 80 ) From $1,795
    We can't confirm real time availability on this tour. Please enquire about this trip and we will get immediately back to you!

      Our travellers often combine this trip with some of these trips:

      Itinerary

      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 to Wulna Country, where your Limilngan-Wulna hosts – the land’s Traditional Owners – will greet you with a Cul Cul or ‘Welcome to Country’. Learn about their culture during bush tucker talks and didgeridoo and basket weaving demonstrations. We continue 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 sight the 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
      Permanent, powered tents (with shared facilities) (1 night)
      Included Activities
      Corrobboree Billabong Cruise
      Arnhem Land rock art and ceremonial sites
      Meals Included
      Lunch
      Dinner
      Special Information
      Total driving time: about 6 hours (approximately 350 km)
      Total walking time: about 1.5 hours (including stops for informative talks)

      Day 2: Kakadu National Park

      After fuelling 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 Bowli Cultural Centre.
      Accommodation
      Permanent, powered tents (with shared facilities) (1 night)
      Included Activities
      Jim Jim Falls Walk
      Optional Activities
      Kakadu scenic flight – from AUD 150
      Meals Included
      Breakfast
      Lunch
      Dinner
      Special Information
      Total driving time: about 4 hours (approximately 120 km)
      Total walking time: about 2.5

      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 gorge into a beautiful natural plunge pool, while the steep climb to the Gunlom Falls plunge pool is rewarded with sweeping views of Kakadu and the welcome shade of gum trees. Neither option will disappoint. 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 3 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.
      Accommodation
      Permanent, powered tents (with shared facilities) (1 night)
      Included Activities
      Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
      Meals Included
      Breakfast
      Lunch
      Dinner
      Special Information
      Total driving time: about 5.5 hours (approximately 340 km)
      Total walking time: about 1.5 hours

      Day 4: Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge

      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 on foot or choose to take a cruise (optional) to get a closer look. 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.
      Accommodation
      Permanent, powered tents (with shared facilities) (1 night)
      Included Activities
      Edith Falls
      Optional Activities
      Katherine Gorge Scenic Cruise – from AUD 105
      Meals Included
      Breakfast
      Lunch
      Dinner
      Special Information
      Total driving time: about 4.5 hours (approximately 350 km)
      Total walking time: about 3.5 hours

      Day 5: Litchfield National Park

      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 Rockholes, then tuck into a picnic lunch. Enjoy a stroll through the steamy rainforests and refreshing dip in one of the park’s gorgeous swimming holes. In the afternoon, make the 2-hour drive back to Darwin.
      Included Activities
      Buley Rockholes
      Florence Falls
      Litchfield National Park
      Wangi Falls
      Meals Included
      Breakfast
      Lunch
      Special Information
      Litchfield National Park occasionally closes attractions if they are considered unsafe to access. If Florence Falls, Wangi Falls or Bluey Rockholes are closed, activities will be substituted. Please see our ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section in the ‘Essential trip information’ for more.

      Total driving time: about 3.5 hours (approximately 250 km)
      Total walking time: about 1 hour

      Highlights
      What To Bring
      Booking Info
      FAQs
      Reviews
      • A trip to Mawurndaddja, the best-kept secret of Australia’s Top End
      • Swim at either Gunlom Falls or Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) in Kakadu National Park
      • Camp at night underneath the stars
      • Visit Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, and Buley Rockholes in Litchfield National Park
      • Torch
      • Wide brimmed hat
      • Sunscreen
      • Insect repellent
      • Water bottle (1.5 litres)
      • Walking shoes/boots
      • Sleeping bag
      • Toiletries
      • Swim wear
      • Towel
      • Camera
      • Comfortable casual clothing for five days
      • Tour commences in Darwin on Day 1 at 6.50 am and finishes in Darwin (Day 5) at approximately 6 pm. Onward travel from Darwin must be booked for the following day.
      • This trip requires a sleeping bag
      • Itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year to reflect the current situation in each destination. Contributing factors such as, weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors may lead to the order and timing of included activities to vary, this will ensure the best possible experience for all travellers
      • Tour is not suitable for children under 12 years of age.
      • Due to limited space on the vehicle please restrict luggage to one day pack and one soft overnight bag/backpack, with a maximum of 10kg. Excess luggage should be stored at your Darwin accommodation.
      • Travel Insurance and flexible flight tickets are highly recommended.
      • Travellers are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19
      • Sale rates are applicable for new bookings only confirmed between 1 NOV 2023 – 31 DEC 2023 for travel anytime. Not valid in conjunction with any other discount or promotion
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      Reviews

      Rick was a fantastic guide and driver. We loved every bit of our trip, particularly the insight we gained from indigenous guides and the amazing rock art and wonderful bird life.. Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield experiences were wonderful and Rick adjusted experiences as required. The group was a great mix of people and the tents were quite comfortable. It was fun organising the meals together. Thank you Rick we had a great time, especially seeing the jabirus and red tailed cockatoos.
      Jayne Lister-Acton
      Age Group: 30 - 68
      The itinerary of the tour was very informative, but was a bit concerned regarding facilities provided, but WOW! Our tour guide Candice was outstanding. There were 15 in our “mob” and Candice was so enthusiastic about the area you could tell she loved it, and that made it enjoyable for all of us. The facilities that I was concerned about turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Great value. Thank you!
      Jackie
      Age Group: 74 -
      Rick our tour guide was fantastic, we left the Northern Territory with cultural insights and knowledge that we will remember for our lifetimes. Well done Rick!
      Wendy Barrett
      Age Group: 50 - 60
      We had a wonderful 5 day trip very well organized saw some beautiful scenery . Very enjoyable
      Karen Charles
      Age Group: 50 - 70
      Great trip Rick was a really good tour guide & driver Camp kitchens could do with a good clean & oh&s Audit
      Deb drew
      This was the trip of a lifetime, perfect itinerary, outstanding location and places to vistit and an extraordinary tour guide (Candance, she was so knowledgeable and took the time to learn about each of us so she was providing personalised tips that were relevant to each of us. Absolutely recommend this tour if you want a relaxed yet incredible adventure on the Top end.
      Claudia Rodriguez
      Age Group: 40 - 50
      We had the very best holiday. There actually isn't anything that we would change. The itinery was well thought out, the truck was comfortable and the tented accomodation above what we anticipated with in terms of amenities and comfort.The various water falls we visited were truly beautiful. However, the real magic of this tour was the hard working tour guide, Rick.. He had the logistics sorted and each day ran smoothly and to plan. But his real gift is the combination of his natural story telling ability coupled with a deep knowledge and obvious affection for the place, its people and culture, especially the indigenous culture. His other gift was the deft way he handled the whole group with humour, patience and respect. Other people to note are the two other guides for various aspects, Dani who guided our boat on the Corroboree Billabong. - she is "of that place" and she was generous in sharing that with us. Likewise, indigenous Njanjma ranger guide Sebastians time with us on his country showing us the art of his ancestors was a great privilege and one we will forever remember.
      Linda Bracken
      Age Group: 52 - 64
      We had a fantastic tour of the Top End and Arnhem Land with of awesome tour guide Elliott. He shared his knowledge of the area and cultural diversity and was very helpful, happy and always up for a good laugh. The meals provided were of a very good standard and options were always given. The sights that were highlighted throughout the 5 days were exceptional - although at times physically challenging - but worth the extra effort to reach the end goal of beautiful gorges and/or swimming billabongs.. The small group of 11 others were also part of the overall experience with everyone enjoying each others company and assisting each other over the boulders and other obstacles that were faced while exploring the great outdoors! Would highly recommend this tour to others with a sense of adventure!!
      Joe and Sam Szabo
      Age Group: 55 - 60
      This trip is fantastic value for money. We covered a huge area, visited many key sites including having the benefit of a local indigenous guide at a special site, stayed in comfortable accomodation and had the most wonderful tour guide in Rick. Rick is one of a kind - knowledgeable, cheerful. extremely well-informed, always prepared to go the extra mile for us. We learned an enormous amount and had a brilliant time.
      Sally Snow
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