7 days of adventure in Australia’s Top End

Darwin is a warm and welcoming city, and its laid-back attitude and balmy tropical temperatures make it a great spot to start your epic Australian road trip. Soak up the city’s tropical vibes on foot or by bike, and explore the booming Aboriginal art scene. At the Mason Gallery, you’ll find works by many of the Top End’s major artists, and at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), you can learn about the art, natural history, and culture that make this region so special. From Darwin's compact streets, it’s just a three-hour drive to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, a monumental landscape that’ll make you feel tiny. Australia’s biggest national park is full of tropical wetlands, rocky escarpments, incredible wildlife, and dreamy waterfalls. Break your journey at Adelaide River, and you could come eye-to-eye with a saltwater croc on a river cruise. Come nightfall, keep the adventure alive with a night under canvas at a wilderness safari camp. Or treat yourself to a stay at the croc-shaped Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel.

This is your chance to soak up the majesty of Kakadu National Park and get to know the oldest living culture on earth. Get up close to extraordinary rock art in the open-air galleries at Ubirr and Burrungkuy (Nourlangie). The ochre figures are even more compelling when you visit with a Bininj/Mungguy guide. Listen to the stories that still connect the ancient paintings with the spiritual heritage of the land’s Traditional Owners today. For the best views of this colossal national park, head to Nawurlandja Lookout - it’s particularly beautiful at dawn or dusk. Gaze across Anbangbang Billabong to Burrungkuy, and you just might get a sense of its size. Take a hike up to the natural infinity-edge rock pools of Gunlom Falls, a spectacular spot where you can swim in crystal-clear water beneath the towering falls. Or walk through lush rainforest to swim at Maguk, a plunge pool surrounded by dramatic, rocky sides. If you’d rather stay dry, get a ring-side seat for Kakadu’s spectacular wildlife on an Indigenous-owned Yellow Water Cruise, and soak up the serenity of Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) on a sunset trip.

The drive from Kakadu to Katherine delivers plenty of classic Outback scenery to be gobsmacked by, as the landscape gets bigger and wilder still. Along the way, Pine Creek is the perfect pit stop. This quirky pioneer town was founded after a gold rush in 1871 and is full of colourful characters. Katherine is a great base for exploring the region, with easy access to incredible hiking trails, hot springs, and Aboriginal cultural tours, including in Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine (Nitmiluk) Gorge. Our advice? Head straight to Katherine Hot Springs. A dip in this series of gloriously turquoise thermal pools is the perfect remedy for road dust, and the shady trails along the Katherine River are ideal for stretching your legs. Put a pin in Bitter Springs, just over an hour away - another dreamy thermal swimming spot surrounded by palm trees, and perfect for some post-adventure R&R. Be croc-wise and check online for safety guidelines before jumping in the water.

Just a quick 30km jaunt from Katherine brings you to Nitmiluk, homeland of the Jawoyn people, and another landscape of inviting swimming holes, enchanting waterfalls, and ancient traditions. The centrepiece of this breathtaking national park is Katherine (Nitmiluk) Gorge, which is actually 13 spectacular, interconnected gorges strung along the Katherine River. Paddle peacefully between the dramatic, towering cliffs, or join the Jawoyn people for a magical sunset cruise, as they share the stories that bring this ancient landscape to life. If you prefer to explore on foot, pick up the 8.4km Windolf Walk for unforgettable gorge views, and keep going until you reach the serene Southern Rockhole. Here, you can take a refreshing dip under the tumbling waterfall. For an extra special treat, soar above it all on a scenic helicopter flight. And afterwards, settle in for a relaxing evening and some Jawoyn hospitality at Cicada Lodge, a beautiful boutique retreat overlooking native bushland.

As you make your way north back towards Darwin, it’s worth taking a little detour at Edith for an invigorating plunge into the clear waters of Leliyn (Edith) Falls. This peaceful oasis is a wonderful place to spend an hour or two before heading on to Litchfield. At Litchfield National Park, you can enjoy another freshwater fix in its emerald-coloured, spring-fed swimming holes under more crystal-clear waterfalls (are you sensing a theme yet?) But not before you’ve stopped to gawp at the hundreds of towering magnetic termite mounds standing majestically near the park entrance. Some of these spectacular structures are two metres high and over 100 years old. Spend your afternoon unwinding in the cascading rock pools of Buley Rockhole, feeling the spray of thundering Florence Falls, or floating peacefully under a canopy of ancient trees at the sacred Wangi Falls. Litchfield is more than a watery paradise, though. This landscape is a storybook for the Indigenous groups that have lived here for thousands of years, and you’ll gain a deeper understanding of its significance on a tour with a First Nations community. When night falls, stay under canvas for sensational starry skies and maybe even a glimpse of the Milky Way.

On the final stretch of your Top End adventure, pop into The Territory Wildlife Park for a friendly encounter with native wallabies, laughing kookaburras, and cute echidnas. Or head to the welcoming warmth of Berry Springs Nature Reserve and spread a picnic blanket near the water’s edge before sinking into a glorious, crystal-clear thermal pool for one last relaxing dip. As the day winds down, you can be sure that Darwin will be gearing up. The city comes alive under the tropical twilight, so you can keep your Northern Territory adventure going just that little bit longer. Set sail on a sunset dinner cruise across the shimmering harbour, and cosy up under the stars for an outdoor movie at the popular Deckchair Cinema. Or join the friendly locals for a stroll through Mindil Beach Sunset Market and some mouthwatering street food, as the sky turns a blazing red. If you want to keep the night going, hit one of the sociable spots on Mitchell Street, where the bars and restaurants spill out into the balmy night air.