Family Australia safari from Darwin: camping, crocs and cascades

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Darwin
• 2 nights Kakadu National Park tour
• 1 night Darwin Airport

Day 1: Arrive Darwin

On arrival into Darwin Airport, you will be collected and taken by private transfer to your hotel in Darwin City. Your apartment hotel offers plenty of space for the whole family and located only a 10-minute walk from Darwin waterfront.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Darwin.

Day 2: Darwin

You have a whole day today to explore the city. Head down to the waterfront and cool off in the wave pool before heading to one of Darwin's many family-friendly restaurants for dinner.

Day 3: Darwin

We have included an afternoon tour today out to the Adelaide River, home to 1600 crocodiles and the location of the famous Jumping Crocodiles! Cruising along you will get to witness these pre-historic creatures up close as you learn more about their history and habitat. Learn more about the wetland ecosystem at the visitor centre and see it for yourself at the Fogg Dam Nature Reserve before heading back to Darwin for the evening.

Day 4: Darwin to Kakadu National Park

Start your adventure by departing from Darwin and head out to the Wetlands Region for a Crocodile & Wildlife Cruise on the Mary River Wetlands, a great opportunity to spot a huge range of Top End birdlife, not to mention some fresh and salty apex predators… crocodiles!

You'll journey on to Kakadu National Park visiting the Bowali Visitor Centre which offers a beautiful introduction to the Park’s landscape and wildlife. After some relaxation at camp, we journey north to *Cahills Crossing on the border of Kakadu and Arnhem Land. We will visit one of the best-preserved collections of Aboriginal Rock Art in the world at Ubirr rock upon sunset. This incredibly significant site showcases many styles of Rock Art and allows us to climb up high for a sunset that will blow you away looking out over the Nadab Floodplain. After a big day, we head back to our cozy camp and prepare dinner together, enjoying an evening with our fellow travellers.

Day 5: Kakadu National Park

We rise and make our way South to Kakadu National Park.

Today we’ll spend the day soaking up the spectacular natural beauty of the area, hiking through lush monsoon rainforests, swimming in pristine plunge pools and waterfalls surrounded by steep escarpments and rocky cliffs.

We generally visit Twin Falls or Jim Jim Falls when seasonally accessible, alternatively, we will stop in at Barramundi Gorge (Maguk) or other waterfalls such as Yurmikmik (Motor Car Falls). There are many factors affecting accessibility although your guide will ensure you get the best experience possible.

Time permitting, we stop at Nourlangie Rock, another indigenous rock art site where archaeologists have uncovered works dating back over 20,000 years old. We explore the evolving social, cultural and environmental changes to the area over time before making our way back to camp for a hearty dinner and a well-earned rest.

Day 6: Return to Darwin

Travelling south through Pine Creek, a small pioneering town in the Katherine region outside of Kakadu National Park, famous for its discovery of gold in the 1970’s. We stop for a quick refreshment break at the Adelaide River before our journey leads us to Litchfield National Park.

We spend the afternoon immersed in Litchfield’s natural oasis of waterfalls, spring-fed streams and rugged sandstone escarpments. We’ll spend time in any combination of Buley Rockholes, Wangi Falls or Florence Falls for a refreshing soak in picturesque rock holes and waterfalls.

Discover the uniquely impressive Magnetic and Cathedral Termite Mounds before making our way back to Darwin, arriving back to your accommodation at approximately 7:00pm. Your hotel is located near the airport tonight, after a busy few days, an early night will be well needed!

Days 7: Depart Darwin 

Depart any time today, making your own way to the airport.