Days
8 Days
Tour Type
Walking
From
$4,246 Twin Share
- Start
-
Darwin
- Finish
-
Darwin
- Physical Rating
- 4.0 Moderate - challenging due to heat and humidity.
- Tour Distance
- Approx. 50km
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
- Tour Code
- PJXK
Overview
Take a drive along Nature’s Way in the Northern Territory – a round trip that takes in the best of the Top End. On this eight-day trip, you’ll travel through the spectacular landscape of Kakadu National Park, followed by a few days in Katherine and a day at Litchfield National Park, with plenty of rewarding hikes along the way. Visit some of the world’s most impressive rock art sites, see thundering waterfalls and go swimming in natural waterholes. This small group adventure combines scenic walks, plenty of opportunities for wildlife sightings, a knowledgeable leader and some of Australia’s most epic scenery.
Highlights of this walk
- Explore the many wonders of Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield National Parks on foot as you hike beautiful walking trails with panoramic lookouts.
- Visit remote and restricted rock art sites including Ubirr and Nourlangie with a local guide in Kakadu National Park – one of the world’s highest concentrated areas of rock art.
- Cool off in some of the Northern Territory’s most beautiful waterholes, rivers and natural pools as you go swimming in the national parks.
- Enjoy several included picnic lunches in the best hidden spots, known only to a handful of people including your experienced trip leader.
- Embark on a journey through Cahill’s Crossing on the East Alligator River into Arnhem Land. With an experienced First Nations guide, you’ll learn about the Aboriginal culture and heritage of this area.
Itinerary
After breakfast, set off on the drive to Mamukala Wetlands in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, where water pythons, birds, crocodiles, turtles and other wildlife can be spotted. From here, drive to Ubirr – widely regarded as one of the world’s most outstanding rock art sites. Here, you’ll go on a walk to discover the rock art galleries and learn about the incredible history of this area. After you’ve checked out the fascinating paintings, which include depictions of some of the first interactions with non-Aboriginal people, head to Jabiru and check into your accommodation for the next few nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Basic Resort with Shared Facilities
Kakadu National Park has one of the world’s highest concentrated areas of rock art. Today, you’ll drive to the Nanguluwurr art site, where you’ll walk through woodlands leading to a quiet art site with incredible paintings. Next, continue to Burrungkuy (Nourlangie Rock) and walk to the famous painting of Namarrgon – the lightning man, who is said to control the wet season lightning storms. You’ll also explore the rest of the site, which has multiple rooms (caves) featuring different styles of art.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Basic Resort with Shared Facilities
After breakfast, embark on a journey through Cahill’s Crossing on the East Alligator River into Arnhem Land with Traditional Custodians. Here, you’ll spend the day with an experienced First Nations guide leading the way and you’ll discover Mikkinj Valley and beyond from 4WD buses. See rock art sites, sandstone gorges, forests, flood plains and an abundance of birdlife, while learning about the Aboriginal culture and heritage of this area. Enjoy some time by the water, then have a bite to eat at Inkiyu Billabong.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Basic Resort with Shared Facilities
Today, make the long drive south. You’ll stop at Yurmikmik, where you’ll go on the Yurmikmik Lookout Walk, which takes you through woodland to a viewpoint overlooking Jawoyn Country. Make another stop at Gunlom Falls – this 85 m waterfall is fringed by paperbarks and pandanus. At its summit, tranquil plunge pools offer sweeping views of the national park. Next, head to Katherine – your home for the next three nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Drive to the northern section of Nitmiluk National Park to reach Leliyn (Edith Falls). These cascades are the last stop on the Jatbula Trail, which begins 62 km away in Katherine Gorge. Today, walk part of the trail along a sandy path to Sweetwater Pool, where rich red rocks frame the waterhole. Along the way, there will be plenty of smaller natural pools to take a quick dip in. Then, on the walk back, you’ll stop at the Upper Pools of Leliyn for one final dip to cool off before the drive back to Katherine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Drive to the southern section of Nitmiluk National Park today to Katherine Gorge. Depending on the temperature, your local guide will offer a selection of walks of varying difficulty and length, ranging from 6 to 12 km. Take your time to discover Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, which was formed as the Katherine River carved its way through ancient sandstone cliffs more than 20 million years ago. You’ll notice the natural horizontal bands defining the cliffs that were created by layer upon layer of sediment. After a full day of exploring all that Katherine Gorge has to offer, make your way back to Katherine for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Have breakfast, then drive to Litchfield National Park, where waterfalls cascade from escarpments into plunge pools surrounded by thick forests. During the wet season, four major waterfalls thunder from the cliffs into rock pools and in the dry season, the waterfalls flow more gently, making the waterholes perfect for swimming. Stop by the Magnetic Termite Mounds, then head out on a walk chosen by your local guide. See stunning waterfalls and billabongs along the way, then drive to Darwin, where your trip comes to an end. No accommodation is provided tonight, but if you’d like to spend more time here, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to book additional accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions
Meals
-
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners
Transport
-
Private vehicle, Walking
Accommodation
-
Hotel (3 night), Resort (1 night), Basic Resort with shared facilities (3 nights)
Included activities
-
Explore the many wonders of Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield National Parks on foot as you hike beautiful walking trails with panoramic lookouts.
-
Visit remote and restricted rock art sites including Ubirr and Nourlangie with a local guide in Kakadu National Park – one of the world’s highest concentrated areas of rock art.
-
Cool off in some of the Northern Territory’s most beautiful waterholes, rivers and natural pools as you go swimming in the national parks.
-
Enjoy several included picnic lunches in the best hidden spots, known only to a handful of people including your experienced trip leader.
-
Embark on a journey through Cahill’s Crossing on the East Alligator River into Arnhem Land. With an experienced First Nations guide, you’ll learn about the Aboriginal culture and heritage of this area.
Dates & Availability
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Important Notes
- The itinerary may vary depending on river crossings, heat and other conditions, your guides will provide an appropriate alternative.
- Start & End Times: The trip begins in Darwin with a group meeting at 6pm, and finishes upon arrival back into Darwin on the last day in the late afternoon.
What Our Guests Say
Kakadu, Nitmiluk & Litchfield Walk
“I’ve been travelling with Inspiration Outdoors for 20 years now. They must be doing something right! The trip to Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield National Parks was another fabulous opportunity to explore a part of Australia I hadn’t seen before.
Great guiding, food, accommodation and friendly fellow travellers. We saw an amazing amount of rock art, as well as many beautiful views, rivers, gorges, billabongs and rock pools. The day trip into Arnhem Land gave us a wonderful opportunity to interact with our Indigenous guide. I really enjoyed the boat trips on the river and Katherine Gorge too. Be warned though – the weather can be very hot.”
— Patricia S. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review from a 2024 Kakadu departure
Not sure if this is the right tour for you?
At Inspiration Outdoors, we understand that choosing the right tour can be a difficult decision. That’s why we’re here to help make the process as smooth as possible. If you still have questions, give us a call or drop us a line. Whether it’s a question about the tour itinerary or your fitness level, our customer care team is ready to answer it. We have product specialists for every tour who are eager to share their knowledge and help you plan your next adventure.
What our customers say
Our Booking Process
Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive everything you need to prepare for your trip – from packing lists to pick-up details. As we’re part of the Intrepid Travel Group, your booking will follow Intrepid’s Standard Terms and Conditions, including payments, cancellations, and communications. You’ll hear from their team directly with all the key info and reminders.
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