We spent four months traveling around the region, and there wasn’t a drop of rain, not even a hint of it with a single wisp of white cloud.

Temperatures are so hot you could happily strip naked and walk around town, or fry an egg on your cars bonnet.

The region, known as Australia’s Last Frontier, is endless miles of red dust, spinifex grass, ecucalyptus trees, floodplains and grasslands, and grazing Brahman cattle, but every now and then, a hidden gem pops up.

This region offers a unique blend of natural beauty, culture, and adventure.

From the modern capital city of Darwin to the stunning Kakadu National Park and the picturesque Katherine area, the Top End is a land of unspoiled landscapes and diverse ecosystems.

But if you’re planning to visit Australia’s Top End and not sure what it is, where it is, or what to do there, then keep reading to find out.

What is the Top End of Australia?

The Top End of Australia refers to the northernmost section of the Northern Territory, encompassing a vast peninsula at the top and middle of the continent.

Although it has never had a start or end point officially defined, it’s estimated to cover around 245,000 square kilometers (95,000 square miles), extending into Darwin, Arnhem Land, Arafura Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria, and past Kakadu National Park.

Many Australians would also refer to the entire top half of Australia as the Top End in generalized conversation. That would be extending from Cairns, through the Savannah Way in the Queensland Outback on one side, and through the Kimberley to Broome Western Australia on the other!

With its tropical climate, high humidity, and two seasons (aptly named wet and dry season), the Top End is rich in flora and fauna, as well as Australia’s native wildlife such as the notorious saltwater crocodiles.

Where does the Top End start?

Most people associate the starting point of Top End Australia as Darwin, the largest city in the Northern Territory.

The region also includes the towns of Palmerston and Katherine, and stops before it reaches the town of Alice Springs, which belongs to the Red Centre of Australia.

The Top End also includes some islands off the coast, such as the Tiwi Islands (known as Bathurst Island and Melville Island), as well as Groote Eylandt.

You’ll need a car to get around this region or to join a group tour. Check DiscoverCars or RentalCars.com for the best deals on car rental.

We can recommend this Top End Australia tour with Cosmos or Treasures of the Top End with Globus. Use the code: YTRAVEL when booking online or via phone for our exclusive yTravel discount: Save $100 per person on select 2023 and 2024 Globus and Avalon Waterway Vacations.

Places to Visit in Top End Australia

Now you know where to find the Top End of Australia, here are some of our favorite destinations in the region that you cannot miss…

Lake Argyle

Top End Australia is well known for its saltwater crocodile population. It’s estimated that 100,000 saltwater crocodiles live in its waters – be it rivers, lakes or tributaries. Traveling in this hot region is living on the edge of constant croc watch. Jumping and squirming every time you see a river miles away.

“Are there crocs in here?” is the first sentence that flies out of your mouth with each new body of water you come to. It’s got you freaked out so much, you even ask it when you’re near chlorinated swimming pools.

But when you visit the magical Lake Argyle, the water looks so inviting you don’t even think twice about them.

Lake Argyle in Western Australia is a freshwater lake, so salties stay clear of its wonderful waters. You may be sharing the waters with a few freshwater crocs, but they tend to stay away from people and are not as dangerous as the salties.

This vast man-made lake, born from the mighty Ord River, is best seen by boat tour, which allows you to witness the grandeur of its size, see the surrounding wildlife and appreciate the diverse ecosystem.

The best time to visit is sunset, where the temperatures are much cooler and you can embrace the tranquility of a cruise with the orange hues casting over you.

Book your stay in advance at Discover Resort’s Lake Argyle – it’s a place not to miss!

Katherine Gorge

Nestled in the captivating Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine Gorge is another freshwater hot spot that beckons travelers with its alluring waters and craggy rock formations.

The breathtaking sandstone landscape is truly a sight to behold. You can explore the 13 stunning gorges on foot, or better yet, rent a canoe or kayak and paddle along the majestic Katherine River, surrounded by awe-inspiring cliffs and cascading waterfalls, such as Jim Jim Falls.

This hidden gem showcases the true beauty of Top End Australia, where adventure and beauty intertwine.

You can also learn about rich indigenous aboriginal culture at Katherine Gorge, where on a guided tour you can discover ancient rock art, and marvel at sacred spaces to the native communities.

Kakadu National Park

Perhaps the most famous national park in Australia, is the enchanting Kakadu National Park, a true haven for nature lovers, and those wanting to learn about Australia’s aboriginal heritage.

This sprawling wilderness has been home to Aboriginal tribes for more than 50,000 years, and features several fascinating and aboriginal rock art sites that are thousands of years old. The best places to see aboriginal art is at Nourlangie, Nanguluwur and Ubirr.

It’s also well known for its wetlands, which are home to more than 2,000 species of plants, as well as, you guessed it, salt water crocodiles.

Embark on a Yellow Waters Billabong cruise along East Alligator River and get up close to these magnificent animals.

Kakadu also has several hiking trails and mountain biking trails, taking you along rugged terrain. On foot, you can discover thundering waterfalls, escarpments and towering cliffs, and even discover the only safe swimming hole in Kakadu NP – Gunlum Falls.

Kakadu is home to the greatest variety of ecosystems in Australia, from wetlands to grasslands to deserts to rainforests.

There is no better place in the Top End to see such diversity of nature, including a breathtaking sunset at Nadab Lookout.

One of the best ways to see the vastness and beauty of Kakadu National Park is to enjoy a scenic flight or helicopter flights over the park.

Litchfield National Park

Nestled just a short drive south of Darwin towards Adelaide River, is Litchfield National Park, which is another captivating escape with natural wonders and swimming holes.

By now you’re probably realizing that many of these destinations have places you can swim in, and you can thank us later once you’ve experienced the heat of this region!

This enchanting park is best known for its stunning waterfalls, crystal-clear swimming holes, and picturesque landscapes.

If you need cooling off, dive into the refreshing waters of Buley Rockholes, or swim under the cascading flowing waters of Florence Falls and its plunge pool, or enjoy a picnic amidst the splendor of Wangi Falls.

The park also has many scenic hikes that take you to some hidden gems. We enjoyed the Walker Creek trail.

Darwin

The beating heart of the Northern Territory is Darwin, a city that beckons travelers with its unique charm and relaxed, hippy atmosphere. It’s the gateway to Australia’s Top End and the best place to base yourself for a Top End adventure.

This tropical city offers a vibrant downtown scene, with bustling markets and live music every night. Not to mention it’s iconic beach sunsets, which fill the skies ablaze with orange every night.

Take a short walk along the sparkling harbor, shop for authentic souvenirs at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, and sample Darwin’s culinary delights at the plethora of delicious dining options.

Daly Waters

Daly Waters is a small town off the Stuart Highway, that is quite literally in the middle of nowhere. It’s charm is that it’s so remote and cut off from civilization, and where the friendly locals are thrilled when new arrivals come to town.

At the heart of this tiny town lies the iconic Daly Waters Pub, an attraction like no other. Built in 1930 and adorned with decades of memorabilia, this quirky pub is a testament to the region’s rich heritage.

Since it’s one of the only attractions in the town, you will find it has a lively atmosphere, and where you can enjoy a beef’n’barri barbecue or indulge in the local pub fare.

Daly Waters Pub has become a beloved hangout spot for travelers traveling between Alice Springs and Darwin, and is one of the best places to experience the friendliness and warmness of the Australian locals.

Mataranka Springs

Another great swimming spot is Mataranka Springs, and oasis-like destination that offers a perfect escape from the ordinary.

While you might be thinking these pools will cool you down in the warm weather, think again. These are inviting thermal pools surrounded by palm trees and sandy bottoms.

Mataranka Springs, located in Elsey National Park, is a serene haven for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Broome, Western Australia

On your Top End Australia trip, you find yourself talking with passing travellers, who soon become comrades, about the marks of a good town approaching.

It has Woolworths. If there’s Target, you’ve struck gold and a restaurant means the jackpot is yours.

Why else do you think we stayed in Broome for five weeks? It had all of the above.

You can almost see the inhabitants of each caravan run down to the beach as soon as the red dirt they arrive on ends at the turquoise ocean. They’re desperate for the oasis after weeks of Outback driving.

“It’s paradise. Boy after that journey, I just don’t want to leave here.” That’s the feeling you get when you find Broome after all the rugged landscapes you’ve seen so far.

Broome is a small coastal town that connects to the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. It’s famous for its 22km long Cable Beach, and dinosaur tracks that appear at low tide on Gantheaume Point.

It’s also just a charming place to relax.

Final Thoughts

We spent four months journeying through the Top End of Australia on a complete Northern Territory road trip.

Despite been driven mad a lot of the time by the toughness of it, and those damn flies, I loved every minute.

Lying waiting for you beneath the tough exterior are endless horizons of exquisite beauty, ancient timelessness, vitality and perfection.

Secret nooks and crannies, waterfalls, gorges, stunning sunsets, and a thriving ecosystem hiding amongst the apparent lifelessness of the scrub.

The Top End has given birth to a deep love and connection within me for Australia. It’s possibly the part I’ll speak most about from this road trip in years to come.

This is my country. And I’m in love with it.

But, I sure am happy to be leaving the red dust, exhausting heat, and annoying flies behind to return to pristine beaches and green rolling hills.

Tours of Australia

If you were looking for group tour options in Australia, rather than traveling independent. Our preferred partner Globus has a range of Australian tours. Click links below and be sure to use our exclusive code in the blue box below.

• See all Globus Australia tours here
• See all Cosmos tours here (part of the Globus brand)

Located in Nitmiluk National Park, this mighty gorge is home to the Katherine River, where you can sail, canoe, or kayak through the gorge and take in its wonderful sites.

From aboriginal rock art to sandy beaches, there is plenty of things to do in Katherine Gorge and surrounding areas.

That’s why I’ve prepared this guide on the Katherine Gorge so you can learn what there is to see and do, and help you plan your visit.

About Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges carved through 12 km of ancient sandstone by the Katherine River. These gorges have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people, who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park.

The Nitmiluk National Park is one of our top National Parks in Australia so far, because it’s scenic, peaceful, and full of amazing wonders.

Like Kakadu National Park, it’s an ancient region rich with Indigenous culture and history. You can learn all about sacred sites from the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre, and view ancient aboriginal rock art in Katherine Gorge.

A natural treasure of the Northern Territory and one of Australia’s most impressive outback regions.

How to Get to Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge is just a 4-hour drive from Darwin. By road, you can drive along the Stuart Highway which is a scenic highway that leads you pretty much straight there.

Another popular way to visit Katherine Gorge is on a stop over on the Ghan train, which goes from Adelaide up to Darwin, stopping in Alice Springs.

You can also fly to Katherine, the nearest town to Katherine Gorge, and from there it’s a 30-minute drive.

Things to Do in Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge is an incredible site that will simply wow you with its natural beauty. I highly recommend you include it in your itinerary for any visit to the Top End or Northern Territory road trip.

Here are the best ways to see Katherine Gorge…

1. Top Attraction: Katherine Gorge Cruise

One of the popular ways to experience Katherine Gorge is via a cruise. We chose the 2-hour dawn break cruise and it was magical to see it awaken in the morning light.

As we were visiting during the dry season we didn’t get to see any running waterfalls and would love to come back just after the wet season for a different perspective – this visit really wet the appetite.

It’s called the breakfast cruise, but forget the eating, it’s more about the stunning scenery.

Seeing the gorge at first light was beautiful and we highly recommend you do that cruise.

The Katherine Gorge cruise takes you deep into the network of waterways that flow through the Katharine Gorge.

You jump out at various states for short walks between the gorges, which allows you to see more of the rugged landscapes. Check out the glistening pools which reflect the rocky cliffs, paperbark and pandanus trees, and other native plants and fauna that hug the river shores.

Guides were very informative throughout the cruise with their commentary about the wildlife and Aboriginal people of this land, the Jawoyn.

2. Canoe or Kayak Katherine Gorge

We couldn’t do the kayaking trip as Savannah was too young, but I have done it previously and it also comes highly recommended by our community.

Definitely, make a day of it and paddle into the second gorge, which I found the most beautiful.

Our friends had a stand up paddle board which he took into the gorge of an evening for a paddle near the camping area and loved it.

We were a little nervous about crocs.

3. Walk to Barrawei Lookout, Nitmiluk National Park

Do the 3.2km loop walk up to the lookout which offers great views over the gorge.

You can do the shorter walk taking a steep climb up to Barrawei Lookout from the Katherine River and back down again. It gets very hot here so be prepared and hike early. It would also be good for sunset.

There are plenty of other walking trails. If we didn’t have the kids with us, I’d take on the 12 km Butterfly Gorge walk.

4. Check Out Katherine Gorge Sunset with the Fruit Bats

If you’re staying in Nitmiluk National Park, in the evening at sunset walk down to where the tour boats leave from and view the hundreds of fruit bats flying over the river.

It’s an amazing site to see.

5. Go Camping in Katherine Gorge

Nitmiluk Caravan Park is the perfect place to stay right near the entrance to Katherine Gorge, about a 30-minute drive from the town of Katherine.

You can easily walk to the gorge, it’s clean, tidy, shady and has a great swimming pool. You’ll need it!

If you want a bit more luxury, you can stay at Cicada Lodge in Katherine Gorge.

6. Check out Aboriginal Rock Art Sites

If you want to see incredible rock art that dates back over 40,000 years old, head over to the top of First Gorge where you can see some excellently preserved examples.

If you have time, I highly recommend doing a guided tour of the rock art sites so you can hear the Dreamtime stories from the Jawoyn people.

These tours allow you to hear age-old legends about the significance of the Gorge to the local owners.

7. Relax in Katherine Hot Springs

Located on the shores of the River Katherine, just downstream from the Gorge in the town of Katherine, is a natural thermal pool nestled amongst a forested area.

The series of clear pools are the perfect place to sit and relax in after a long day of exploring.

There are several scenic walking trails nearby and places to unpack a picnic.

8. Check Out Edith Falls (Leliyn)

Another attraction in Nitmiluk National Park that you should make sure to check out whilst visiting Katherine Gorge is Edith Falls.

This huge 8-12 metre tiered waterfall is a picturesque setting where you can swim in its refreshing pool, or grab a refreshing drink from the kiosk nearby.

You can also use the nearby campsite’s facilities such as gas barbecues, toilets and showers.

9. Hike the Jatbula Trail (or some of it)

The Jatbula Trail is a multi-day hike from Katherine Gorge to Edith Falls. The trail is around 62km long and is expected to take up to six days to complete because it’s a grade 4 track, meaning it’s a moderately challenging trail.

The hike was once the trail used by the Jawoyn people and passes through several sacred sites. It also follows the western side of the Arnhem Land escarpment, and has views of open forest, woodland, riverines and more.

If you don’t want to hike the whole trail, you can walk it in sections.

10. Take a Scenic Helicopter Flight

One of the best ways to see Katherine Gorge is from above. You can take a scenic 30-minute helicopter flight over the gorge, leaving from Katherine.

The 30-minute flight takes you over all thirteen gorges in Katherine Gorge. You will fly through the Mouth of the Gorge, see Jedda’s Rock, Smitt Rock, the Baruwei Lookout and more.

Check out helicopter flight tours here.

11. Visit Butterfly Gorge

I mentioned earlier that Katherine Gorge has thirteen gorges, though many people only visit the first three as it’s so big.

If you have time, I highly recommend you head over to Butterfly Gorge which is home to a huge number of crow butterflies.

You can hike up to the top of the gorge to get incredible views of the pool below. Be sure to check with the visitor centre before visiting, as this gorge is sometimes closed in the autumn due to bad weather.

FAQs About Visiting Katherine Gorge

Here’s what people usually ask us about visiting Katherine Gorge…

Are there crocodiles in Katherine Gorge?

There are saltwater crocodiles further downstream in the Katherine River.

Guides and locals will say that Katherine Gorge is a “no-go” zone for saltwater crocodiles as it is not a suitable habitat to start with. It is closely monitored at all times.

There are traps located downstream from the gorge entrance, the direction where any crocodiles would be coming from.

We saw many of these traps on our cruise and they work hard to get them out at the end of the wet season when the rivers are high and the male cros are moving around. So they can come into the gorge then and a few crocs have been relocated.

The authorities are very thorough at ensuring the gorge is clear before they open it to swimmers.

There are freshwater crocodiles in Katherine Gorge which don’t bother me and we’ve swam in regions where they are before like Boodjamalla Falls, and Lake Argyle.

So it’s up to you and your comfort levels. Crocs scare me more than anything so I wasn’t taking a chance. There haven’t been any croc related issues in Katherine Gorge.

What is the best time to visit Katherine Gorge?

The best time to visit is between May and September when the weather is warm and sunny but not stiffling hot.

This is also the dry season which can mean high temperatures and the water levels are a little lower.

The least humid months are June to August, and temperatures are warm in the day time but cold at night, so be prepared with warm clothes if you plan to camp.

Darwin to Uluru Tour: Top End & Central Australia Explorer

If you’re not traveling independently, you will love this Darwin to Uluru tour with Cosmos Tours (part of the Globus family of brands, who we highly recommend)

Landscapes like no other and an abundance of cultural heritage, this is just some of what you can expect to uncover on this 11-day tour through Central Australia.

Starting in Darwin, you’ll travel south through the Northern Territory, ending in Uluru (Ayers Rock), with overnights in Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluru.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Katherine Gorge

So there you have it, this is everything you need to know about visiting Katherine Gorge. As you can see, it’s a nature lovers paradise!

There is so much to see and do here, make sure you plan a full day at least (preferable two days) to really experience the magic and beauty of the gorge and its surroundings.

I hope this guide helped you plan your trip and gave you some insight into what to expect when visiting.

More Northern Territory Travel Tips

Are you planning to visit other parts of the Northern Territory? Then you may find these other resources helpful…

• 34 Fun things to do in the NT, Australia
• The West MacDonnell Ranges & Alice Springs
• 9 Ways to Experience the Magic of Uluru, Australia
• Lovely Darwin Accommodation in Cullen Bay
• Highlights of a Northern Territory Road Trip from Darwin
• Best Things to Do in Darwin (+places to eat & drink)
• My Dream Visit to Darwin and Arnhem Land: T-QUAL Tick Race
• 25 Outstanding National Parks in Australia
• 14 Best Road Trips in Australia
• 20 Places to Put on your Australian Bucket List
• 45 Things to know before visiting Australia
• Best Cold and Hot Winter Destinations in Australia

If you are thinking of getting out and exploring some of the best Aussie nature, then a Northern Territory road trip from Darwin is a great idea.

Whether you want to see the remote, desert landscapes of the outback or the craggy gorges of the national parks, there is no better way to do that than to pack up your car and hit the road.

In this guide, I’ve created a two week Northern Territory road trip itinerary that takes in three of the best national parks in the region, as well as how you can extend your road trip into the Australia outback.

How Long to Do a Northern Territory Road Trip from Darwin?

We recommend taking at least two weeks to fully explore the top end of the Northern Territory. You can start from either Litchfield National Park or Kakadu from Darwin.

If you’re flying into Darwin, hire a car and loop around whichever place you please.

If you’re coming from the south, you might want to start at Katherine and do a loop from there.

Map Of A Northern Territory Road Trip from Darwin

If you’re exploring the Top End of the Northern Territory then a looped road trip from Darwin taking in Katherine Gorge, Kakadu National Park, and Litchfield National Park is a must.

To help you plan your Northern Territory road trip, here is a map of all the stops on this itinerary.

Northern Territory Road Trip Highlights

Want to stop by the best Northern Territory highlights? Below are the stops we recommend you take on a self-guided road trip in the NT and the activities you should do at each place.

Stop 1: Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park is only an hours drive from Darwin, which makes it a perfect weekend getaway. It’s one of the best places in the Top End to go swimming with waterfalls plunging off the edge of the escarpment into crystal-clear, safe swimming holes. By safe, we mean salt-water crocodile free!

Florence Falls

Florence Falls is a double-plunge waterfall leading to a popular swimming hole. There’s a steep staircase down to the pools passing through a lovely viewing point.

Otherwise, you can take the walk down to the falls from the car park via Shady Creek track.

We didn’t get to do it, but it’s meant to be very pretty. We walked from Florence Falls to Buley Rockholes

Buley Rockholes

This was my favourite part of Litchfield National Park.

It’s the perfect place to visit with kids and we recommend getting there early to escape the tour buses and have the rock pool serenity to yourself.

The Buley Rockholes is a series of rock pools that has water cascading through them. Walk up to the top and take your pick of rock holes to sit in for awhile.

Just spend the day moving from one to the other. It’s hot enough to warrant it – even in the winter.

Wangi Falls

Wangi Falls is probably Litchfield’s most popular attraction with a large swimming hole and picnic area.Whilst pretty and definitely worth a stop, I didn’t like Wangi as much as Florence and Buley.

Walker Creek

If you want a swimming hole experience that is away from the crowds then take the 3km walk along Walker Creek to shared swimming hole number six. It was small, but just lovely to have all to ourselves and so refreshing after such a hot walk with two kids.

Along the walk, you’ll see various private camp sites next to the creek with their own private swimming hole. One to seriously consider pitching a tent at if you like bush camping. Number one was my pick.

Magnetic Termite Mounds

Want to see a termite mount that’s as high as a building? These termites are pretty impressive. Not only do you see extraordinarily big ones but a field of them that look like gravestones.

These termite mounds are built by thousands of termites with a north-south orientation to control the temperature inside the mounds.

Where to stay in Litchfield National Park

We stayed outside the park At Batchelor Tourist Park. It was a lovely campsite with a natural bush setting. We had to stay here as we needed internet service, but there are plenty of camping sites in the National Park.

After all that time spent in such beautiful natural landscapes of the Northern Territory’s Top End you might need a little city civilisation. Park your car and butt in Darwin for a while.

It has a small-town, laid-back vibe. A bit of tropical mixed with Top End country. We love it.

Stop 2: Katherine Gorge

Nitmiluk National Park is owned by the local Jawoyn people and Katherine Gorge is the main attraction of the park. It’s a series of 13 deep sandstone gorges carved out by the Katherine River on its journey from Arnhem Land to the Timor Sea.

Only three of the gorges can be accessed via tours and activities from the main visitor centre. Visiting the other gorges involve a long five-day hike.

Here are our Katherine Gorge highlights:

Walk to the Barrawei Lookout

This was a 3.2km loop walk up to the lookout with great views over the gorge. You can do the shorter walk taking a steep climb up to the lookout from the river and back down again. Don’t forget to check out all the bats hanging from the trees as you walk along the river bank.

There are plenty of other walking trails in Nitmiluk. If we didn’t have the kids with us, I’d take on the 12km Butterfly Gorge walk.

Do the Sunrise Gorge Cruise

This two-hour Dawn Break tour will take you through to the second gorge. You get to walk 800 metres when moving from the first to the second gorge and see some rock art and get a closer appreciation of just how beautiful this gorge is.

It wasn’t until we arrived at the second gorge that I understood what the fuss was all about. It’s called the breakfast cruise, but it’s really just a bowl of fruit and a drink.

Forget the eating, it’s more about the stunning scenery in the soft, morning light.

There are other cruises you can do: a longer one, which takes you into the third gorge and a sunset dinner cruise, which is meant to be awesome. Make sure you book ahead as they get very busy.

If you’re staying in Nitmiluk National Park, in the evening at sunset walk down to where the tour boats leave from and view the hundreds of fruit bats flying over the river. Amazing site to see.

Kayak into Katherine Gorge

We could not do the kayaking trip as Savannah was too young, but Craig did it previously and it came highly recommended by our community.

Our friend, Nick explored the gorge on his stand up paddle board. Definitely, make a day of it and paddle into the second gorge, which I found the most beautiful.

Katherine Hot Springs

Outside the National Park in the town of Katherine, you will find a series of natural thermal pools. It’s the perfect place to sit and relax in the thermal mineral rich waters and soothe your aching limbs after a day of exploring.

Another hot springs you can visit, which is bigger than Katherine Hot Springs but more crowded, is Berry Springs Nature Park, which is just outside Darwin.

You could visit this on a day trip from Darwin so if you’re staying in Darwin for a while, you can save this for another day.

Stay at the Nitmiluk Caravan Park

Right near the visitor centre is the Nitmiluk Caravan Park and it’s the perfect place to stay right near the entrance to Katherine Gorge, about a 30-minute drive from the town of Katherine.

You can easily walk to the gorge, it’s clean, tidy, shady and has a great swimming pool. You’ll need it!

If you want something a little more luxury, consider staying at the Cicada Lodge.

Stop 3: Kakadu National Park

Ah Kakadu National Park, an Australian bucket list must. I’m already planning my return trip in a different season.

It’s hard to put into words its power, but it has an ancient mysticism urging you to explore its changing landscapes.

From wetlands, to sandstone escarpments, waterfalls, swimming holes, billabongs and rivers, it teems with wildlife and abundance.

Spend awhile soaking it up.

I’m not sure I’ve been to such a powerful place before. It sure made me super grateful to be born in such an exquisite country.

Kakadu National Park is Australia’s biggest National Park, and is half the size of Switzerland. You know it’s a big place when you enter through the gates and you still have a 1.5hr drive to your campground, so you will need a bit of time here.

Here are our Kakadu Highlights:

Gunlom Falls

This has to be the most beautiful swimming pool I’ve ever been in. Just look at this view.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

It’s a bit of a drive into Gunlom off the main road within Kakadu, but so worth it. Go slow on the dirt road coming in, there’s a few corrugations. Once you arrive,  it’s a short hike up to the top swimming hole. The bottom plunge pool was closed due to the threat of saltwater crocs.

There are a series of pools at the top, which trickle down over the cliff as a waterfall. That trickle will grow once the wet season arrives.

Note: there are very few places you can swim in Kakadu due to saltwater crocodiles. You MUST pay attention to all signs and talk to the rangers if you are unsure. A saltwater croc will eat you with ravenous intent.

Yellow Water Billabong Cruise

The Yellow Water billabong cruise is an absolute must and we highly recommend you do the sunrise cruise.

Seeing the mist dance on the water as the sun rose was mystical and magical.

You don’t want to miss the billabong waking up. I’ve never seen such an abundance of wildlife: Hunting sea eagles, flocks of storks and darters flying by, dancing brolgas, buffalos grazing on the floodplains and of course the stealthily moving crocodiles looking for breakfast.

We were lucky to see the frightening power and speed of one launch and snap at a passing fish. He got him. Like he was ever going to miss.

Yellow Water Billabong, Kakadu’s most famous wetland, is located at the end of Jim Jim Creek, a tributary of the South Alligator River.

The river system, which is the largest in Kakadu, contains extensive wetlands that include river channels, floodplains and backwater swamps.

Sunset at Nardab Lookout, Ubirr

Take some time to enjoy the rock art in the Ubirr gallery as you walk up to the lookout. It’s some of the best rock art you’ll see in Australia.

Check the schedule for free ranger guided tours. We joined Kenneth, a local Aboriginal guide who shared stories and aboriginal customs and beliefs behind each piece of art.

Then sit atop the lookout for an hour or two as the sun gently sets over the vast emerald green floodplains, the outcropping of rocks glow in the sunlight and look like the remains of crumbling ancient temples.

Up here you can totally understand why this is such a spiritual land to the Aboriginal people. There’s a timelessness and wisdom to this land.

Another great sunset viewpoint if you have time is the Nawurlandja lookout.

We were so happy to spend it with our friends from The Block Shop. The kids played hide and seek, giggling and laughing, while we had a chance to savour the sunset with adult friends!

Nourlangie Rock Art and Sunset

I loved walking along the Anbangbang Gallery through cave dwellings and a walkway along the walls of the escarpment cliffs.

The kids had a ball racing from one picture to the next giggling at Dreaming characters like Nabulwinjbilwinj, a dangerous spirit who likes to bang females on the head with a yam and then eat them. (It’s far too easy to see this one is a boy!)

You can walk to Gunwarddehwarde Lookout for views of the red-sandstone cliffs, striped with oranges, whites and blacks rising above the woodlands. So pretty.

From here drive a few kilometres back up the road to Nourlangie Lookout, another beautiful place to see the sunset. It was setting behind us on the mountain (I think you could walk up to the peak to see it set but it was too hard with the kids)

We loved watching the colours of the Arnhem Land escarpment change from gold to pink as the sun went down. Magic.

Where to Stay in Kakadu

We camped at the Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park at Jabiru, the main town within Kakadu and proved to be a great base. There are plenty of grassed, shady sites, a swimming pool and a bistro with great food.

There are plenty of national park campgrounds in Kakadu and the Gagudju Cooinda Lodge and camping at Cooinda comes highly recommended.

This is where you get the Yellow Water Cruises from and would be worth staying here as you explore the south-western part to the park.

How To Extend this Road Trip

If you have more time on your side, or you want to include your Northern Territory road trip into a bigger Australia trip, then I suggest you head further south towards Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and Alice Springs.

From Kakudu National Park, head south along the Stuart Highway towards Alice Springs.

It’s a long drive (18 hours or 1,794.8 km), so I recommend stopping overnight in Daly Waters and Tennants Creek to break up the journey.

From Tennants Creek you can visit the Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) rock formations at sunset. After that, continue south towards…

Stop 4: The West MacDonnell Ranges

The West MacDonnell Ranges are a beautiful range of rock formations just outside the town of Alice Springs.

West MacDonnell National Park, or Tjoritja as it’s known to its traditional owners, is home to huge red formations, gorges, canyons and creeks, as well as lovely hikes to viewpoints.

However, the park is really hot, so you need to make sure to wake up at sunrise and visit all the sights before the midday heat hits.

Here are three stops in the national park you should make sure to see.

Simpson’s Gap

Simpson’s Gap is a waterhole just a 25-minute drive from Alice Springs. Many people decide to cycle the sealed 17km bike track (one way) starting from Flynn’s Grave to Simpson’s Gap, so if you have more time you can give this a try.

The waterhole is not for swimming though. The area is an important spiritual site to the Arrarnta Aboriginal people.

It’s also a habitat for Black-Footed Rock Wallabies who visit here at dawn and dusk when the heat isn’t too hot.

Ellery Creek Big Hole

A favourite swimming hole for the locals, Ellery Creek sits right near the car park, making it a great spot for those who aren’t keen on walking in. It’s also a great spot for a picnic.

If you do fancy a swim, then Ellery Creek is a favourite swimming hole for the locals.

The creek is right near the car park so you can easily jump out your car and dive in.

Ormiston Gorge

Another popular swimming spot is Ormiston Gorge, which has the biggest and prettiest almost permanent swimming hole in the West Mac.

You can take a short walk into the gorge, go for a swim, or hike up to the steel viewing platform overlooking the Ormiston Waterhole (20 min return).

Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon is another amazing national park in the Australian outback and is where you will find the famous Kings Canyon Rim Walk.

This is another spiritual site that has amazing scenery and vibrant red rock formations. Be sure to hike as early as possible to avoid the heat.

You can read all about our Kings Canyon Rim Walk hike here.

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Finally, it Uluru, otherwise known as Ayers Rock. This is possibly the most famous landmark in Australia and a bucket list moment for any traveller here.

This sacred rock can be seen in so many ways, and there are so many things to do nearby.

You can read our complete guide on visiting Uluru Ayres Rock to see how to experience this magnificent site.

Best Time to Do a Northern Territory Road Trip

The best time to do a Northern Territory road trip is in the Spring when the weather is fine and not too hot.

Some of these national parks are extremely hot in the summer, and can also be closed due to heavy rainstorms.

The dry season in Australia runs from May to October, and the wet season is November to April.

Most tourists visit during the dry season, so you can expect warm weather and lots of crowds.

Darwin to Uluru Tour: Top End & Central Australia Explorer

If you’re not traveling independently, you will love this Darwin to Uluru tour with Cosmos Tours (part of the Globus family of brands, who we highly recommend)

Landscapes like no other and an abundance of cultural heritage, this is just some of what you can expect to uncover on this 11-day tour through Central Australia.

Starting in Darwin, you’ll travel south through the Northern Territory, ending in Uluru (Ayers Rock), with overnights in Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluru.

Before You Go

So there you have it, this is a two week Northern Territory road trip from Darwin, plus a way to extend your trip if you have more time.

Before you go, make sure you have your national park permit sorted for Kakadu National Park. You can usually get these at the visitor center, but if you want to plan ahead, you can get those passes here.

I hope this guide helped you plan your road trip and gave you some ideas for what to see.

There are so many things to do in the Northern Territory of Australia, it’s hard to know where to begin.

It’s an adventure to The Outback and the Red Centre, a chance to explore some of the nation’s most ancient and sacred sites, a place where you can see amazing natural vistas, swim in swimming holes, be amazed by rock formations, and come face to face with Aussie wildlife.

The Northern Territory is so uniquely Australian and it’s possibly the part I’ll speak most about from our road trip in years to come.

If you’re planning to make a trip there but you’re not sure what to do in the Northern Territory, I’ve listed some of my favourite places, activities and experiences so you can see the best of this region.

Is the Northern Territory of Australia Worth It?

Sure, Australia is well known for its stunning beaches that are second to none as far as I’m concerned, but it’s The Outback that’s unlike anywhere else in the world.

There’s something about the vastness, the ancient aboriginal culture, the natural wonders, the starry skies, and the wildlife that you’re unlikely to experience anywhere else down under.

And Darwin, a tropical city boasting incredible sunsets and cloudless skies grows on you the longer you linger.

Like me, you’ve probably seen hundreds of photos and TV commercials about the Northern Territory, but like they say it’s a place you have to see and feel, for yourself.

The Northern Territory gave birth to a deeper love and connection within me for Australia. Below are my favourite experiences. You’re mad if you miss it.

Getting Around The Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is the perfect place for a road trip. You probably are going to need a car to get around the Northern Territory and to see all these things to do in the NT.

This is because most of the best attractions are outdoors. The region is famed for its national parks and nature spots, which are as remote as they are vast. It’s just not possible to see some of them without a car.

The other option for those who don’t drive will be to join tours from Darwin or Alice Springs.

Fun Things to Do in the Northern Territory of Australia

I remember an old television commercial about visiting the Northern Territory, and the tagline simply said, “If you never ever go, you’ll never ever know.”

Well, we spent approximately two months exploring the NT as part of our 18-month road trip around Australia and it certainly captured our heart.

If you’re thinking of a trip to the Northern Territory but not sure what to do, then keep reading to see our favourite attractions and activities…

1. Watch The Sunset at Uluru (Ayres Rock)

We discovered many ways to experience the magic of Ayres Rock, Uluru but let’s start with sunset.

As the sun sinks below the Outback horizon the colours of the rock change by the minute, and it truly is magical. 

The most popular viewing spot is the official Sunset Lookout 10 kilometres through the entrance gates to the park.

2. Swim in Gunlom Falls, Kakadu National Park

I’m putting Kakadu National Park in our top 3 favourite National Parks in Australia, and Gunlom was our favourite waterhole.

Let’s call it nature’s best infinity pool. With spectacular views over the valley and surrounded by shady gums, it’s perfect for a refreshing swim and a spot of lunch. And the bonus – no crocs up here guys!

3. Visit The Kangaroo Sanctuary, Alice Springs

We visited The Kangaroo Sanctuary at the end of our 18-month road trip around Australia and had seen enough roos to last a lifetime, and wondered if this place would be worth it?

You betcha, it was awesome.

We all got to hold a joey – which the kids adored – and Brolga the owner and star of the hit BBC TV series Kangaroo Dundee was as passionate and knowledgeable as anyone I’ve met!

4. Catch The Sunset at Mindel Beach, Darwin

Darwin ranks in our top places to see the sunset in Australia and Mindil Beach is probably the most popular location, especially during the Thursday night markets.

This is when hundreds hit the beach to watch the sun sink below the horizon – a site in itself.

Another great place to catch a sunset is Darwin Harbour or Darwin’s Waterfront, which are slightly less crowded than the beach.

5. Drive the Red Centre Way

Don’t just stick to the main Stuart Highway between Uluru and Alice Springs, our road trip along the Red Centre Way taking in the West MacDonnell Ranges was an adventure to remember with an infinite number of surprises waiting for you to explore.

6. Walk The Kings Canyon Rim Walk

The highlight of the Red Centre Way is the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, a 6-kilometre loop walk including spectacular Cotterill’s Lookout and the Garden of Eden.

The walk has stunning views over the ‘Lost City’, a mini-Purnululu of striped stone domes. A close third behind Uluru and Kata Tjuta for things to do in the Red Centre!

7. Have Dinner and Drinks at the Ski Club, Darwin

My favourite place to finish the day in Darwin is at the Ski Club with dinner and drinks. Super casual and perfect for families, and, you get a front row seat for the famous Darwin sunset.

This place is a great example of Darwins outdoorsy lifestyle that the locals soak up.

8. See The Sunrise at Uluru

Watching the desert come alive is an unmissable moment. 

Either head to the main sunrise lookout at Talinguru Nyakunytjaku and see the sun shining on the rock (with bus loads of others) or, to escape the crowd and for a great sunrise silhouette head back to the sunset lookout spot and you’ll get the rock blocking the sun as she rises.

9. Hike to Glen Helen Gorge, West MacDonnell Ranges

This beautiful, permanent waterhole lies at the headwaters of the Finke River and the traditional owners believe Glen Helen Gorge is the home of an ancient and powerful Rainbow Serpent.

Stop here a while, the Glen Helen Homestead is the perfect place to base yourself and explore the West MacDonnell Ranges.

10. Take A Yellow Water Billabong Cruise, Kakadu

A journey through Kakadu’s wetlands on the Yellow Water Cruise is a memorable experience, especially at sunrise when the billabongs abundant wildlife wakes up.

Flocks of egrets soar, sea eagles perch above looking for their morning feed, and you get up close with the ancient example of perfect evolution – the saltwater crocodile!

11. Sunset at Kata Tjuta

Also known as The Olgas, Kata Tjuta is the Aboriginal name and means “many heads’. 

Kata Tjuta is only 50 kilometres up the road from Uluru, and whilst my sunset family photo doesn’t do the scale of this place justice, once again the changing of the colours in the rocks as the sun goes down is truly remarkable.

12. Swim in Buley Rockholes, Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park is only a 90-minute drive from Darwin and is one of the best places in the Top End to go swimming. 

Buley Rockholes are a short walk along the Tabletop Track, which takes you to a series of rock pools that has water cascading through them.

They are my favourite part of Litchfield and the perfect place to swim with our kids. Get there early to beat the tour buses!

13. Walk the Base of Uluru

A must do at Uluru, this 10-kilometre loop walk around the whole base of the rock took us 3.45 hours, and that’s with a three-year-old.

Start at first light to beat the heat froma the Kuniya walking point and walk anti-clockwise.

Take lots of water, snacks, short breaks, comfortable walking shoes, and a hat. Be warned, in summer, the flies can be horrendous!

14. Go Tubing in Redbank Gorge, West MacDonnell Ranges

You have to go tubing at Redbank Gorge when you visit the West MacDonnell Ranges. The gorge sits in the shadow of Mt Sonder and is known for its chilly but refreshing water.

There’s a small swimming hole that leads to a narrow crack in the wall. Paddle on through it with your tubes and then clamber over the rocks that lead up to each new level.

15. See Florence Falls, Litchfield National Park

Florence Falls is a stunning double-plunge waterfall leading to a popular swimming hole.

There’s a steep staircase down to the pools passing through a lovely viewing point, and you can walk between Florence Falls and Buley Rockholes.

16. Watch The Sunset at Ubirr, Kakadu

The best place to see the sun go down in Kakadu National Park is from up top of the rock at Ubirr with views over the Nadarb floodplains and Arnhem Land. One of the most beautiful sunsets we have seen!

17. Take A Sunrise Cruise in Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk National Park)

Katherine Gorge, or Nitmiluk National Park as its known to its traditional owners, is made up of 13 gorges carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River.

The river has great ceremonial significance to the local aboriginal people.

A popular way to experience the gorge is via a cruise, which also takes you to Edith Falls in the park.

We chose the 2-hour dawn break cruise, and it was magical to see it awaken in the morning light.

18. Swim in Mataranka Hot Springs

This place is awesome. The Mataranka Thermal Pool is a constant 34 degrees celsius, its waters are rejuvenating, and surrounded by a palm forest.

Bring a noodle or other flotation device and let the current take you along. Hop out, and do it again.

Another popular hot spring is Katherine Hot Springs in Katherine South but I think Mataranka is a little less crowded.

19. Cycle the Base of Uluru

If you’re not up to walking 10 kilometres, hire bikes from Outback Cycling ($30 for three hours) or bring your own and cycle it.

We had a tag-along for Kalyra, Savannah sat in a baby seat, and the 15-kilometre track took us two hours, again stopping for more photos and drink breaks.

20. Explore Kata Tjuta by Foot

There are many walking trails that lead you between the domes of Kata Tjuta, such as the Walpa Gorge Walk, but also do the Valley of the Winds Walk for breathtaking views over the desert plains.

Start this walk at first light, especially in the warmer months. Be sure to head over to the Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to learn about the park’s history and traditional owners.

21. Swim in Ormiston Gorge

Probably the biggest and prettiest swimming hole in the West Macs, and the most popular.

Take a short walk into the gorge for a refreshing swim, or walk up to the steel viewing platform overlooking Ormiston Waterhole (20 min return) or continue walking along the Ghost Gum Walk (1.5 hour loop).

22. Swim in Wangi Falls, Litchfield National Park

Litchfield’s most popular attraction with the largest swimming hole, a nice waterfall, and a picnic area and onsite cafe – our kids enjoyed an ice cream here on a hot day – busy in peak season.

If you’ve got young kids like us entering this waterhole is far easier than at Florence Falls and it’s clear and shallow in close.

23. Visit The Darwin Military Museum at East Point

As Australian’s we learned a lot at school about Gallipoli, but not as much about what happened on our home soil.

On 19 February 1942, Darwin was devastated by Japanese bombing, and despite 58 further raids, Darwin rose to the challenge, becoming a major forward base for the Pacific Campaign.

The Darwin Military Museum tells the story.

24. Take A Camel Sunset Ride at Uluru

Looking for someone else to carry your load whilst you sit back and marvel at the landscape, then one of the unique ways to take in Uluru is on the back of a trusty camel and you’ll have amazing views all the way over to Kata Tjuta. 

Our kids loved this experience. You can view camel ride tours of Uluru here.

25. Enjoy Sunset Drinks at SkyCity Casino, Darwin

It may not be Vegas, but Darwin has the SkyCity Casino and the best part is you can take in the famous Darwin sunset with drinks by the pool.

And I highly recommend dinner at the il Piatto Italian restaurant – one of the best meals we had on our 18-month trip!

26. Catch the Sunrise at Mount Sonder

Five minutes down the road from Glen Helen Gorge is Mount Sonder Lookout, the highest point on the famous Larapinta Trail and the place to come for sunrise (and sunset). 

With its changing colours, it’s a favourite for painters, including the famous Australian artist Albert Namatjira.

27. Check Out Standley Chasm

Close to Alice Springs, Standley Chasm cuts through tough quartzite to form a picturesque natural alleyway created by surging flood waters over thousands of years.

Noon is the best time to visit when the sun’s light shifts across the cleft, the walls of the chasm glows golden, orange and red.

28. See Aboriginal Rock Art in Kakadu

Kakadu is home to some of the best aboriginal rock out in the Northern Territory. Guided talks run through the Ubirr Rock Art Gallery.

An Aboriginal ranger will tell you many of the stories behind the paintings on the wall of the 1km circular walk. Also, head to the Nourlangie region for more incredible rock art.

29. Take the Kids to The School of the Air, Alice Springs

If you’re traveling around Australia like we did and teaching your child via Distance Education or Homeschooling, then a visit to the original School of the Air is interesting.

The visitors centre has films and guides sharing the stories of this uniquely Australian school and how it covers 1.3 million square kilometres.

30. See the Termite Mounds, Litchfield National Park

These giant magnetic termite mounds are built by thousands of termites with a north-south orientation to control the temperature inside the mounds and to minimize exposure to the sun.

You will pass these termite mounds first if you enter the park from Darwin.

31. Shop At Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, Darwin

Held Thursdays to Sundays from March to November, Mindil Beach Markets are the place to go for cheap and tasty eats from around the world.

The stalls offer a vibrant mix of cultures, live music, clothing and souvenirs, and of course, everyone heads down onto the beach for THAT sunset!

32. Check out Simpsons Gap, West MacDonnell Ranges

A short drive from Alice, Simpsons Gap is one of the most prominent gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

It features the towering cliffs of Simpsons Range, a permanent waterhole, and at dawn or dusk is renowned as a place to see Black-Footed Rock-Wallabies along the gap’s short walking track.

33. Visit Arnham Land

Arnhem Land is a highly spiritual and sacred Aboriginal area just east of Kakadu.

The aboriginal people live in close connection with the land as they have always traditionally done.

To visit you need a permit or to go on a tour, and it is what would be considered one of the most off-the-beaten-path experiences in the Northern Territory, if not Australia.

 34. Sunset Drinks at Uluru

A fitting farewell to our time at Uluru was sipping on a few glasses of champagne with the folks from AAT Kings. It’s always nice to mingle with others from around the world and share stories about Uluru.

And funnily enough. It looks and feels even better after a few glasses of the old bubbly!

35. Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles)

Karlu Karlu, otherwise known as the Devils Marbles, is near to Tennant Creek and is known for its unique landscape, covered in hundreds of giant granite boulders.

The boulders lie in a small valley and are significant to the Warramungu people.

I recommend visiting at sunset when the sunlight lights them up in a firey red color.

36. Visit the Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

The Northern territory is known for having a more laid-back, artsy vibe – especially in Darwin.

Head to the Art Gallery of the Northern Territory to see cultural and scientific collections of pieces from the Northern Territory, including fossils from Alice Springs and a huge collection of aboriginal art.

37. Ellery Creek Big Hole

Another amazing waterhole in the West MacDonnell Ranges is the Ellery Creek Big Hole, which is a great place to swim and cool off.

Note that the weather is extremely hot between October and April so even in those months, you’ll want to head there early in the day for a swim.

38. Check Out Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu NP

Jim Jim Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Kakadu National Park, or all of the Northern Territory for that matter.

It’s a huge 150 meter cliff with water plunging into a deep pool below.

I highly recommend you check the visitor centre before you go as the falls will probably have dried up by the end of the dry season.

Darwin to Uluru Tour: Top End & Central Australia Explorer

If you’re not traveling independently, you will love this Darwin to Uluru tour with Cosmos Tours (part of the Globus family of brands, who we highly recommend)

Landscapes like no other and an abundance of cultural heritage, this is just some of what you can expect to uncover on this 11-day tour through Central Australia.

Starting in Darwin, you’ll travel south through the Northern Territory, ending in Uluru (Ayers Rock), with overnights in Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluru.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in the Northern Territory

So there you have it, those are the best things to do in the Northern Territory of Australia, and as you can see, there is so much to see and do.

Whether you’re looking for outback adventures or you want to soak up some culture in Darwin, there is something for everyone on this list.

I hope this guide helped you plan your itinerary and gave you some ideas for what to do in the NT.

More Australia Tips

Are you planning on visiting other parts of Australia? Then you may find the following resources helpful…

• 25 Outstanding National Parks in Australia
• A Visit to Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia
• Things to do on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
• 12 awesome things to do on Fraser Island
• Why Rottnest Island should be on your bucket list
• 14 Best Road Trips in Australia
• 50 Stunning and Adventures Things to do in Queensland
• 50 Amazing Things to do in Western Australia
• 28 Things to do in Broome, WA – our favorite place in Australia
• 20 Places to Put on your Australian Bucket List
• 45 Things to know before visiting Australia
• How to visit Australia in 3 weeks
• Visiting Australia on a two week vacation

Located in the West MacDonnell National Park, or Tjoritja as it’s known to its traditional owners, is a vast region of incredible rock formations, canyons and creeks, viewpoints and hikes, and many scenic drives.

While many people visit Alice Springs to visit Uluru and see Ayres Rock, there are so many things to do in the West MacDonnell Ranges, it should not be skipped.

In this guide, I share with you what to do in this incredible national park and how you can visit it.

Where Are The West MacDonnell Ranges?

Did you know that the West MacDonnells was on the doorstep of Alice? I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t.

I thought Alice Springs was in the middle of the desert, which I pictured as being flat and vast.

Alice actually sits in the gap between the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, a 622km series of ancient mountains sculptured by climatic conditions.

This means Alice Springs is set in a very picturesque area offering tourists a wide variety of things to see and do.

Things to Do in the West MacDonnell Ranges

Below I have shared with you some of the top things to do in the West MacDonnell Ranges, the road is all sealed from Alice and there are plenty of facilities.

1. Walk the Larapinta Trail (or some of it)

For the real adventurous, you can explore it on foot via the famous Larapinta Trail, which stretches 223 km along the backbone of the MacDonnell Ranges.

After reading Cheryl Strayed’s novel “Wild”, I’m kinda keen to do it (in the winter time!)

Or if you’re not a hiker, you can drive it along the Larapinta Drive

The West MacDonnell Ranges show off its obvious beauty best during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset when the colour of the rocks change from pink to red to orange.

But dive a little deeper into its gorge walls and gaps and you’ll discover fabulous waterholes, ochre pits, and dry creek bed walks.

2. Visit Glen Helen Gorge

The permanent waterhole at Glen Helen Gorge is one of the national park’s top attractions and a favourite home to many species of desert wildlife.

It’s the perfect place to use as a base to explore the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Glen Helen Gorge lies at the headwaters of the Finke River, where you can walk along the riverbed between the gorge walls to see fabulous cycads.

The traditional owners also believe Glen Helen Gorge is the home of an ancient and powerful Rainbow Serpent, so consider it off-limits for swimming.

3. Camp at Glen Helen Homestead

We camped at Glen Helen Lodge for three nights in a powered site. We enjoyed chilling out in the homestead during the day after we’d finished our morning walks and swims in the West Macs.

There are several campsites throughout the park which have hot showers and toilets, but only basic facilities. You do have to pay overnight camping fees.

4. Have Breakfast at Glen Helen

We loved eating breakfast out on the decking at Glen Helen Homestead. The views out over the West Mac ranges were stunning and it is very serene watching the eagles soar quietly above looking for their own breaky.

Okay, so we loved having sunset drinks out here too!

5. Catch the Sunrise at Mount Sonder

Five minutes down the road from Glen Helen Gorge is the Mount Sonder Lookout. This is the place to come for sunrise (and sunset).

You get stunning views over to Mt Sonder, the highest point on the Larapinta Trail and the West Macs ranges.

With its changing colours, it’s a favourite for painters, including the famous Australian artist Albert Namatjira.

The beauty doesn’t stop there though. Just look a little to the right for more beauty looking across the ancient bed of what is known as the world’s oldest river – the Finke – is an added bonus.

6. Go Tubing in Redbank Gorge

Redbank Gorge was one of the most delightful surprises and our favourite spot in the West Macs.

The gorge sits in the shadow of Mt Sonder and is known for its chilly water, but I found it so refreshing on our hot day.

We grabbed a couple of tubes from Glen Helen Homestead and carried them along the 2 km return walk from the car park along the tree-lined, dry sandy creek bed into the gorge.

There’s a small swimming hole that leads to a narrow crack in the wall. Paddle on through it with your tubes and then clamber over the rocks that lead up to each new level.

There are six altogether and we only went up three. Just take care as snakes like to bask in the sunshine along the walls here. But, don’t fear they’re not interested in you!

It was such a fun adventure.

Kalyra and I set off first and giggled and splashed along with our legs with childish delight. I love these mini-adventures with Kalyra. She’s so curious and adventurous and keeps me young and brave.

She then kicked me out to have the same adventure with her Daddy while I swam in there with Savannah on my back. She insisted in joining the adventure, but only if I swam her in there!

You can see a video of Gary & Amanda’s Redbank extreme adventures with a crocodile here:

7. Swim in Ormiston Gorge

Ormiston possibly has the biggest and prettiest nearly permanent swimming hole in the West Macs. It’s also the most popular.

Don’t worry there won’t be crowds disturbing your peace, that’s the beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

You can take a short walk into the gorge for a refreshing swim. Or you can walk up to the steel viewing platform where you overlook the Ormiston Waterhole (20 min return). Off to the north you can see straight down into the majestic Ormiston Gorge with its rugged, quartzitic cliff faces and deep, sandy floor.

If you are feeling up to it, you can continue walking along the Ghost Gum Walk (a 1.5 hour loop) that winds down close to the gorge and eventually leads back to Ormiston Waterhole via the rocky floor of the Gorge.

There is also a kiosk open here and apparently serves a phenomenal ice coffee.

8. Visit the Ochre Pits

A short walk from the car park will take you to the Ochre pits, an area of brightly coloured small cliffs that local Arrarnta Aboriginal people have used for thousands of years for their ceremonial paint and is even a place for trade.

The layers of white, yellow and red ochre of the cliffs are so rich and earthy. Don’t touch the ochre, it’s a sacred site and so protected.

9. Hike through Serpentine Gorge

Serpentine Gorge offers a lovely day hike through River Red Gums, reeds, and alongside idyllic semi-permanent water holes.

There is no swimming here it has a protected and fragile ecosystem.

There’s a walk up an exposed, rocky slope with very little shade to a lookout, but the views from the summit.

We didn’t attempt it, but heard the 360 degrees views along the narrow, winding Serpentine Gorge were beautiful and gives a unique perspective of the MacDonnell Ranges.

10. Swim in Ellery Creek Big Hole waterhole

A favourite swimming hole for the locals, Ellery Creek sits right near the car park, making it a great spot for those who aren’t keen on walking in. It’s also a great spot for a picnic.

11. Check Out Standley Chasm

This is the place you want to visit around noon when Mother Sun decides to ignite the splendour of the gorges fiery walls rising 80 meters above.

When the sun’s light shifts across the cleft, the walls of the chasm glows golden, orange and red. It’s a very old women’s business healing place.

When the sun’s light shifts across the cleft, the walls of the chasm glows golden, orange and red. It’s a very old women’s business healing place.

There’s a pretty 15- 20 min walk along the creek besides rare ancient cycads, and where spring-fed pools give the valley floor a lush, tropical oasis feel. When you visit the Red Centre Way, your idea of what a desert is will be tipped upside down.

There is another short walk that heads up westwards from the back of the Kiosk. The walk climbs up a valley and finishes on a saddle with spectacular views of valleys, creeklines and mountains off to the west.

There’s a kiosk at the start of the walk, where you can get a nice lunch with serenity views and a yummy cup of coffee. Standley Chasm is Aboriginal owned and operated. Entry fee is $10 for adults, $6.50 for kids,

$25 Family of 2 Adults/2 Kids. You can also camp for $15

12. Check out Simpsons Gap

This prominent waterhole is just a 25-minute drive from Alice and is popular to cycle to along the sealed 17km bike track (one way) starting from Flynn’s grave.

The area is an important spiritual site to the Arrarnta Aboriginal people, where several dreaming trails and stories cross.

At dawn or dusk Simpsons gap is renowned as a place to see Black-Footed Rock Wallabies along the gap’s short walking track.

The best chance to see a rock-wallaby is early mornings or late afternoon as they don’t like the midday heat.

13. See the Birds of Prey at Desert Park

This is an easy trip from Alice Springs. I took the girls there for a morning adventure. We had a great time learning about dingos, watching the bird show and meeting an eagle in person.

The Desert Park in Alice Springs takes you through the different desert landscapes to see the flora and fauna of each one. We had a great time learning about dingos, watching the bird show and meeting an eagle in person.

Other Places To Visit Near West MacDonnell Ranges

Of course, there’s so many things to do in the West MacDonnell Ranges, but we can’t let you pass by these other amazing places nearby that you should add to your itinerary.

14. Drive to Gosse Bluff (Tnorola) and Tylers Pass

We passed both of these on the way to Glen Helen Gorge and the West Macs from Kings Canyon along the Red Centre Way.

Around 142.5 million years ago an object from space, believed to be a comet about 600 metres across, crashed to earth, blasting a crater some 20km across.

Today’s land surface is about 2km lower than the original impact surface and the bluff is about 5km in diameter, reduced over time by erosion.

According to Aboriginal belief, Tnorala was formed in the creation time, when a group of women danced across the sky as the Milky Way.

During this dance, a mother put her baby aside, resting in it’s wooden baby-carrier. The carrier toppled over the edge of the dancing area and crashed to earth where it was transformed into the circular rock walls of Tnorala.

We drove into have a look at Gosse Bluff. It’s a sacred Aboriginal site so you are asked to not walk in certain places. We just walked up to a lookout point from the car park. It’s eerily silent, but so pretty.

Tylers Pass is the place to catch a great panoramic view of Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) and the surrounding areas.

It helped give us a great visual reference point when we later visited the Cosmos Centre and learned about meteorites. Best not to think about them crashing into earth!

15. 4WD in Palm Valley

One place we’d heard so much about and were disappointed to miss as Palm Valley.

You need a hardcore 4WD to access it (or commercial tour). Palm Valley is located in the Finke National Park and is home to the world’s oldest river, the Finke River and the Red Cabbage Palm, that is only found in Palm Valley.

Tips for Visiting West MacDonnell Ranges

Before you go, I have a few tips to share with you to make the most of your trip.

• Pack plenty of water. The outback is hot and sunny, and can lead to dehydration easily.
• Put on sunscreen to protect your skin.
• Know when to go. The warmer months are between December and February where temperatures can reach 34°C – 36°C.
• Make sure you charge your cameras! There’s a lot of amazing views to photograph.
• You don’t need a 4WD, there are two roads – Larapinta Drive and Namatjira Drive – which are both paved.

Final Thoughts on Visiting West MacDonnell Ranges

“Places we’d never heard of are some of our faves!”

We often set out on our travels focused on checking off everything on our bucket list. The bucket list is a must; you want to see those places and have those experiences you haven’t stopped thinking about.

But, you need to leave space in your journey for the surprises.

The West MacDonnell Ranges were one of our biggest surprises. We’d never have visited there if it not for recommendations from other travellers and our readers.

We knew our road trip along the Red Centre Way from Uluru to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory was going to be epic. I mean we finally go to visit Uluru – a bucket list dream.

Thanks to our relationship with Amanda and Gary from Travel Outback Australia and the folks at Tourism Northern Territory, we also discovered the Red Centre Way in Central Australia has an infinite number of surprises waiting for you to explore.

One of those incredible surprises – The West MacDonnell Ranges.

Tours in Alice Springs

More Northern Territory Travel Tips

• 34 Fun things to do in the NT, Australia
• Things to do in Kakadu National Park, NT
• 9 Ways to Experience the Magic of Uluru, Australia
• Katherine Gorge in photos – A Natural Treasure of the Northern Territory
• Lovely Darwin Accommodation in Cullen Bay
• Highlights of a Northern Territory Road Trip from Darwin
• Best Things to Do in Darwin (+places to eat & drink)
• My Dream Visit to Darwin and Arnhem Land: T-QUAL Tick Race
• 25 Outstanding National Parks in Australia
• 14 Best Road Trips in Australia
• 20 Places to Put on your Australian Bucket List
• 45 Things to know before visiting Australia
• Best Cold and Hot Winter Destinations in Australia

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The Australian Outback is a vast and desolate place, with canyons, gorges, creeks and incredible rock formations. It’s an adventurers playground, but not one people usually think about taking their kids to.

I’m sure if we were living a normal life; we’d not have the opportunity, or be open to testing our kid’s limits of capability.

The helicopter parenting instead takes over, and we impose the limits onto our children based on our fears and conditions.

“You’re too young for that. You’re not strong enough to do it. You might fall and hurt yourself.”

But, out here on the road, in the Red Centre of Australia, you’re plonked into adventures that force you to redefine what’s possible. If you’re thinking of doing the Kings Canyon Rim Walk with your kids, here’s how you do it…

About The Kings Canyon Rim Walk

• Distance: 5.5 kilometre walk
• Time: 3-4 hours.
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
• Grade: 4
• Terrain: Natural surface with some stone paths
• Start/Finish: Kings Canyon carpark
• Wheelchair friendly? No
• Permit required? Yes, you can purchase a 3-day permit from the Alice Springs Visitor Centre

The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is one of the most incredible hikes in the Australian Outback, and takes you through the iconic gorge of Kings Canyon, deep into the “Garden of Eden”, up to Priscilla’s Crack (a famous split between the rocks that overlook the canyon), and to viewpoints that give you panoramic views of the canyon.

It’s not an easy walk – there’s a steep climb up a stone staircase of around 500 steep steps to watch out for, which fortunately is at the start of the hike, and then you have the choice of descending into the gorge or staying at the top of the canyon.

The hike is not only scenic, but important to the local people. The canyon’s traditional owners, the Purnululu people, consider this site sacred. Especially the watering hole which the trail crosses over.

Please be respectful when visiting and do not allow your kids to splash around in the waterhole or damage any rocks.

Look with your eyes, not your hands.

Getting there

From Uluru, Kings Canyon is a three-hour drive north along the Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road.

From Alice Springs, it’s a 3.5 hour drive (331.8 km) west along Stuart Highway, Larapinta Drive and State Route 6.

Kings Canyon is along the Red Centre Way loop road which starts and ends in Alice Springs and links the Red Centre’s main landmarks, including Uluru, West MacDonnell Ranges, and Kata Tjuta National Park.

Our Experience Hiking The Kings Canyon Rim Walk

“Let’s just try it and see how we go. We can always turn back.”

That’s what we said on the morning we set out early to do the Kings Canyon rim walk, in the Watarrka National Park.

Other people told us the girls couldn’t do it, but we knew we could try first and then discover the real answer instead of just assuming.

Craig and I were prepared to carry the girls at some stage. It was a 5.5 kilometre loop walk, without counting the extra side trails we took to Cotterill’s Lookout and the Garden of Eden.

We’d done a lot of small walks and hikes with the girls so we were fairly confident we could do it. Only a few days earlier we had walked 10 kilometres around the base of Uluru. Granted I had to carry Savannah a lot of the way.

I had a feeling King’s Canyon would be different. As we suggested in this post on how to hike with kids, you need to keep them entertained. Rocks and steep climbs do it every time.

From the minute we started, they took control of their legs. It was just on sun up, so it was cool, and there were no flies.

They made it to the top of the only steep part of the walk, took a rest and admired the views over the sheer 100-metre high sandstone walls and the sun rising above the deep gorge.

It was lovely to walk amongst the dome shapes and see the colours change as the sun continued its journey up.

Then the remainder of the time they sang, played games and scrambled over the rocks.

There are plenty of places to stop for a break and to take in the views of the gorge below. Just be careful of going too close to the edge – stay well back!

It was a beautiful walk, and I was so happy to enjoy it carrying only a small backpack.

Rumour has it the Garden of Eden is not to be missed. It’s a little diversion off the main track along the Kings Creek walk past 400-year-old cycads to a large spring-fed waterhole in between the high cliff walls of the north rim.

With its high cliff walls, it was a picturesque, green refuge from the hot sun and the perfect place for a snack break of banana chips and vegemite sandwiches.

No swimming is encouraged due to it being an Aboriginal sacred spot for men’s business.

Three-year-old Savannah started to waver after this and the whines of being tired started to appear.

We’d encourage her to walk just that little bit further until she found her limit. She appreciated the views out over the ‘Lost City’ – a mini-Purnululu of striped sandstone domes – on our shoulders instead.

Soon enough, we’d come across some more rocks to scramble over, and she’d demand to get off our shoulders.

After visiting the Garden of Eden, the trail loops back around and you will soon reach a one way gate and follow the trail for the South Wall Return walk.

Doing the rim walk of Kings Canyon was another of those memorable moments with our girls. They tend to come the most when were out walking in nature.

I remember them, not just because of the breathtaking scenery and the adventurous walk but for the strength of spirit I see in my girls.

They inspire me to dig a little deeper and find my strength. And to skip a little more with the joy that comes with something as simple as scrambling over a rock.

Kings Canyon Resort

After the walk, we highly suggest grabbing a couple of cold drinks and sitting at the outside sunset bar at the King’s Canyon Resort to watch the sun set over the mountain ranges.

It was stunning, especially with the full moon rising. Perfect end to a perfect day!

Tips for Doing The Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Before you go, here are a few words of advice for those planning to do the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, with kids or without…

• Know when to go. The hotter months are December to February, and the park even closes at 9am during these months because it’s too hot for hikers. April to October is a better time to visit.
• Go as early as possible. Start walking at sunrise and aim to be back before breakfast time.
• Check the temperature forecast first, just to be on the safe side.
• The hike is well marked, but not always obvious. Download the app MapsMe (it’s free) and download the offline GPS so you can easily find your route.
• Charge your camera!
• Drink plenty of water
• Wear sunscreen, even though it’s early in the day

If you don’t want to explore Kings Canyon on your own, you have several tour options. Check below.

Darwin to Uluru Tour: Top End & Central Australia Explorer

If you’re not traveling independently, you will love this Darwin to Uluru tour with Cosmos Tours (part of the Globus family of brands, who we highly recommend)

Landscapes like no other and an abundance of cultural heritage, this is just some of what you can expect to uncover on this 11-day tour through Central Australia.

Starting in Darwin, you’ll travel south through the Northern Territory, ending in Uluru (Ayers Rock), with overnights in Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluru.

Final Thoughts on The Kings Canyon Rim Walk

The walk tired me; I can only imagine how their little bodies felt.

How strong and capable they’ll be when they grow up. I love that these days are helping them understand the healing effects of nature and the goodness it gives to mind, body and spirit.

I’m incredibly proud of them and so grateful we get to share this journey together.

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It’s also one of the best places in Australia to visit if you want to appreciate Aboriginal culture.

But while most people use Darwin as a hub to get out and explore its nearby national parks, and you should 100% go and see them, there is also a plethora of fun things to do in Darwin in its own right.

Don’t just use it as a base, take some time to get to know this unique and vibrant city.

If you’re not sure what to do in Darwin, then take a look below at some of Darwin’s top attractions, as well as our insider tips on where to eat, sleep, drink, shop, and explore.

Is Darwin Worth Visiting?

As a vibrant, multicultural, and unique destination, Darwin offers a gateway to many of the top natural and cultural icons of the Top End, including the Tiwi Islands, Litchfield, and Kakadu National Parks, Adelaide River, Mary River, Arnhem Land, and the Katherine Region.

For nature lovers, it’s 100% worth visiting Darwin because of its convenient location near these natural gems.

As well as this, Darwin literally is a HOT destination. While Aussies in southern parts of Australia are all rugged up on the couch under a blanket in our winter woolies, those in Darwin are basking in the warmth of the sun all year round.

This makes it the perfect winter getaway in Australia.

Things to Do in Darwin

In Darwin, you can take things as fast or as slow as you like. From bushwalks and suburban markets to being submerged with saltwater crocodiles, it really is your choice in this modern, tropical city.

A quick and important note: The beaches in Darwin are spectacular, but not for swimming. This is saltwater croc territory, and yes, they have been known to enjoy Australia’s best beaches in the Top End. I wouldn’t risk it.

If you’re not sure what attractions in Darwin to add to your itinerary, read on to see our favourite things to do…

1. Catch a famous Darwin Sunset

A trip on the calm waters enjoying the tropical breeze is a must-do for any visit. Sit back and enjoy fiery-red sunsets while sailing the harbour on a classic pearl lugger, catamaran, or seacat, Champagne in hand.

Or stay on land and head to the Ski Club, Sailing Club, Trailer Boat Club, or Mindil Beach for a cold beer to witness one of those iconic sunsets.

2. Eyeball a Giant Saltwater Croc

Adelaide River, located a 70 km drive from the city centre, is a perfect habitat for Salties (saltwater crocodiles).

Seeing one of these 4.5m giants jumping from the water right next to your boat is something else. So is swimming in the ‘Cage of Death’ at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin’s CBD.

A jumping crocodile cruise is one of the top things to do in Darwin and a great way to see these land reptiles in their natural habitat.

Or for the faint-hearted, meet Sweetheart, the 5 metres long and safely stuffed croc at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

3. Go Barra Fishing on the Mary River Wetlands or Corroboree Billabong

A metre-long slab of silver (Barramundi) haunts every fisherman’s dreams. And in Darwin, dreams come true – on tours, in your own chartered boat, and even off the shoreline or jetty.

Barra action is hot in the run-off, but it’s possible to fish all year round.

You can visit the Mary River Wetlands on this small-group tour (but does not include fishing)

4. Appreciate Indigenous Art at The Didgeridoo Hut

Sculpture, weaving, prints, paintings – all are on show or on sale.

Try the Didgeridoo Hut, showcasing and selling original, authentic Indigenous artwork; the galleries in Parap; the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT or walk the shoreline in the company of a Larrakia guide to see this country through indigenous eyes.

5. Learn About War History at the Darwin Military Museum

During the second world war, Darwin was one of the few places in Australia to be directly attacked by the Japanese. More than 300 bombs were dropped on the city in February 1942, leaving devastation and ruin across the city.

The Darwin Military Museum documents the catastrophic bombing of Darwin, as well as has informative exhibits about Australia’s military history.

History buffs may also enjoy the Defence of Darwin Experience/Royal Flying Doctor Service which is across the road from the Darwin Military Museum.

There are several other historically significant sites in the city, such as the WWII Oil Storage Tunnels on the waterfront and the Aviation Heritage Centre.

6. Spend a Day Swimming at Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park is only a 90-minute drive from the city and is the best place to go swimming without fear of salt water crocodiles.

Crystal-clear waterfalls, swimming holes, four-wheel driving tracks, magnetic termite mounds, picnic areas and easy-going bushwalks are just the start.

You can join a full day tour to Litchfield if you don’t have your own vehicle. A trip to Litchfield National Park is one of the best things to do in Darwin on a hot summer’s day.

7. Explore The Neighborhoods of Darwin

If you’re looking for free things to do in Darwin, you can’t go wrong with wandering around the city’s neighborhoods.

The Waterfront is one of our favourite neighborhoods and is located in the heart of the city.

The wave pool and swimming lagoon are surrounded by chilled-out cafés, bars, shops, and restaurants. For a stroll, a drink, and a choice of places to eat, the Waterfront makes a relaxed alternative to buzzing Mitchell Street.

Although, the pumping nocturnal scene around the clock at Mitchell Street’s pubs and bars makes Darwin a hot-ticket backpacker destination. If you’re looking for nightlife in Darwin, this is the area to go to.

We also stayed in Cullen Bay and enjoyed the serenity of this beach suburb.

8. Dine on Darwin’s Diverse Cuisines

With such close proximity to Indonesia and the rest of South-East Asia, it’s no surprise that Darwin’s cuisine has a heavy Asian influence.

You’ll find fantastic restaurants all over Darwin’s waterfront at Stokes Hill Wharf and Cullen Bay. Some of our favourite places to eat in Darwin are:

• The Fannie Bay Coolspot Café. With so many awesome activities to do during the day, it’s a good idea to grab a solid breakfast for the day ahead. The Coolspot Cafe is the local’s choice.
• Moorish. As its namesake suggests, Moorish Cafe offers delicious Moroccan, Spanish and Mediterranean-influenced tapas. Enjoy the sangria from a settee piled high with colourful cushions.
• Stokes Hill Wharf. Head along to Stokes Hill Wharf to enjoy seafood platters that will put most others to shame. This is the place to go to see one of Darwin’s iconic thunderstorms roll in on the horizon.
• Hanuman Restaurant. One of the locals’ favourites, Hanuman offers a mixture of Thai, Indian, and Nonya cuisine in a relaxed yet sophisticated environment. Grab a table on the deck and marvel at the craftsmanship of the wooden displays on show. The Trumpet Mushrooms can’t be missed.
• Yots Greek Taverna. Once a secret amongst the locals, Yots is the place to go for the freshest oysters in Darwin. Watch them being freshly shucked on the boardwalk while watching the yachts sail into dock; one of the prettiest locations in Darwin.
• Char Restaurant. Set in the historic Admiralty House, Char Restaurant is known for its steaks but excels in seafood too. Lounge outside under the trees, favoured by Darwin’s corporates on a Friday afternoon, or sit inside and watch the bartender mix up a tropical concoction.
• Sweet Tooth. Sweet Tooth is a family-owned and operated Greek patisserie in the suburb of Millner, the pastries baked on premises, like the shortbread and Baklava, are worth the visit, and give visitors a little taste of the large Greek community Darwin is home to.

9. Explore Darwin’s Unique Bar Scene

Darwin is a backpacker-friendly city and attracts many visitors who are after a vibrant nightlife scene. If you’re looking for places to drink a cocktail or two, or dance the night away, here are our favourite places:

• Darwin Railway Sports and Club, or ‘the Rails.’ After fire ravaged through this offbeat live music venue in 2009, the Railway re-opened its doors to become host to some of the best live gigs in Darwin. Originally opened as a club for railway workers, this iconic watering hole has a history as rich as the regulators who frequent its old wooden bar.
• The Tap on Mitchell. Serving up fishbowl cocktails to share with friends and a giant tree smack bang in the middle of the bar, The Tap is well-loved with the backpacker set which live along the Mitchell Street strip.
• Darwin Ski Club. A great example of the locals’ outdoorsy lifestyle, the Ski Club is a Members Club but also welcomes friends to its palm tree-fringed venue. As the sun sinks over the horizon, coloured fairy lights switch on and often a live acoustic guitar keeps the locals coming back every night of the week.

10. Check Out Darwin’s Beach Markets

Darwin is a vibrant mix of cultures, and every one of them has a stall at the open-air markets.

Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, held Thursdays to Sundays from March to November, are the place to go for something tasty to eat, and stunning sunsets. See a vibrant mix of cultures and food from around the world at these open air sunset markets.

11. Enjoy One of Darwin’s Festivals & Events

Darwin is a vibrant city that loves to party and have a good time. So year-round, you’ll find there is usually something happening, from a live music festival to a cultural event.

The Darwin Festival is one of our favourite festivals in Darwin and takes place every August. It provides a feast of local, national, and international performances to excite, inspire and entertain, including everything from free outdoor events to theatre, dance, music cabaret, films, workshops, and comedy.

The Beer Can Regatta is another festival that’s worth checking out if you plan your visit for July. It’s a day of hilarity as spectators line the beach and watch these sometimes elaborate and often hopeless boats sink and fall apart in Darwin Harbour.

The main event is the Battle of Mindil draws the crowds, but the day is filled with amusing events like thong throwing and tug-of-war.

If you’re visiting Darwin in May, check out the Tiwi Islands Art Sale and Footy Grand Final. Football is more than a game on the Tiwi Islands. It is a passion some would say stronger than any religion, and the grand final of the local league held in March each year is no better place to witness this craze.

This is also the one day of the year that the art centres hold a sale of their works, and travel to the islands can be done without the usual permit restrictions.

12. Visit One of Darwin’s Clubs

Darwin is famous for its lush tropical climate and outdoor adventure activities, but if you’re keen to relax and take in the character of Darwin, go no further than these quirky clubs.

• The Darwin Rock Sitters Club. Established in 1974, every Saturday at East Point Reserve Darwin from 6pm (BYO) The Darwin Rock Sitters Club captures the city’s tradition of spinning a few yarns and having a few beers with ‘ya mates’.
• Dinah Beach Yacht Club and Viking Funeral. This steamy local haunt for bearded and crusty locals hosts the Viking Funeral every July as a tribute to fallen sailors. It coincides with the moon rising over Frances Bay and culminates in a Viking boat funeral pyre.
• Darwin’s Ice Hockey Club. Darwin’s Ice Hockey Club are the world ice hockey champions who defend their title from Darwin’s melted ice.
• The Darwin Ski Club is the home of the Northern Territory Water Ski Association and a hub for watersports. It’s an iconic venue for its picturesque views of Fannie Bay and stunning sunsets. They have a great food menu and live music.

13. Cool Down in the Wave Lagoon

Since you can’t swim in the ocean, the best way to experience it is at the wave lagoon, a man-made wave pool that is surrounded by sea wall, meaning it’s safe for swimming.

The wave lagoon is located on Darwin Waterfront and is a free recreation area and lagoon.

It’s one of the best places to visit for a swim in the city centre and provides the perfect place to cool off in.

If you’re travelling with young children, don’t worry as there are lifeguards patrolling at all times and the pool starts off shallow before getting gradually deeper.

Our girls loved swimming at the Wave Pool in Darwin.

14. Enjoy a Scenic Sunset Cruise

If you’re looking for relaxing things to do in Darwin, you can’t go wrong with a sunset cruise.

Sit back and relax as you watch the iconic Darwin sunset as you sail across the ocean.

You can sip champagne, nibble on a platter of snacks and listen to a commentary on the history and cultural significance of Darwin from the expert guides.

What better way to spend your evening?

15. Take a Day Trip to Katherine Gorge

Located in Katherine National Park, also known as Nitmiluk National Park, is the stunning Katherine Gorge.

Rent yourself a kayak and paddle up the river to see stunning waterfalls and millennia-old rock walls.

There are around 13 gorges along the Katherine River, many of which feature aboriginal rock art.

With a wild and rugged landscape with lush greenery and native plants and flora, the Katherine River is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

16. Relax at The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens

A visit to the botanical gardens is one of the best relaxing things to do in Darwin. Learn about the native plants and fauna of Australia at this diverse landscape garden.

Located just 2km north of the city centre, the park offers a tranquil escape from the lively CBD.

The gardens have a rainforest with a waterfall, a butterfly and sensory garden, and the tallest fountain in Darwin.

17. Visit Berry Springs Nature Park

Berry Springs another beautiful park with picnic areas, bbq facilities, and crystal clear swimming pools to cool off in.

The park also has several species of birds that live amongst the trees of the monsoon forest and the woodlands walk.

The park also has a significant World War II history, as it was the area where more than 100,000 armed forces personnel were based.

18. See the Animals at Territory Wildlife Park

Nearby to the Berry Springs Nature Park is the Territory Wildlife Park, which is known for its diversity of native animals and plants from the Top End, who live in their natural habitat.

The park is spread out across a 4km circular loop road that has free shuttle trains, or walking paths.

Visitors can see a free-flight bird show every day with a range of trained birds, see wallabies along the Top End woodland walk and see turtles, fish, sawfish, and a 3.8m saltwater crocodile in its aquarium.

19. Take a Day Trip to Kakadu National Park

Personally, we don’t think a day trip to Kakadu National Park is long enough to see all the wonders of the park. But we do accept that we are not all blessed with time.

If you have a day to visit, be sure to check it out. Kakadu is famous for its aboriginal rock art and vast wetland landscape. It’s one of the best places to see saltwater crocs in their natural habitat.

Be sure to visit the Bowali Visitor Centre to learn about the park’s aboriginal history, and see some of the best preserved and ancient Ubirr rock art, which dates back more than 20,000 years.

20. Have A Picnic at Charles Darwin National Park

Charles Darwin National Park is somewhat of a hidden gem near Darwin. It has a significant aboriginal and WWII history and is also part of the protected Port Darwin wetland.

One of the best ways to experience the park is to ride around on a mountain bike, where you can ride through the many fire break paths in the bushland.

The park is wild and rugged, with many species of mangroves. It’s important to wear insect repellent when visiting.

Be sure to check out the lookout platform, where you can see panoramic views of Darwin’s skyline.

21. Join a Day Tour to Arnhem Land

Arnhem Land is a highly spiritual and sacred Aboriginal area just east of Kakadu. This huge wilderness area inhabited mostly by Yolngu Aboriginal people and is home to the most ancient rock art sites in the country, as well as rainforest, woodlands, gorges, wetlands, escarpments, beaches, and rivers.

To visit Arnhem Land you need a special permit and it is what would be considered one of the most off the beaten path experiences in Australia.

I was very fortunate to join a private tour where we arrived by small plane (over spectacular scenery of Kakadu and the Adelaide River. Our Indigenous guide, Gary showed us various places of spiritual significance including this sacred watering hole where he blessed each of us. (you can see more of my tour to Arnhem Land here)

While a long journey from Darwin for just a day, it’s such a unique and beautiful region. If you have the time I recommend you visit for longer than a day.

Travelers usually visit western parts of Arnhem Land on a guided tour from Darwin or the Kakadu National Park. Tours generally visit the Injalak Arts Center and ancient rock art galleries in the hills with a local Aboriginal guide.

Permits to enter Arnhem Land independently are free, but take around 10 days to acquire. If traveling on a tour, these are taken care of.

This private tour is the only day tour from Darwin with access to the Injalak Rock art site and is led by indigenous guides.

The Tiwi Islands is another popular destination from Darwin that offers rich Aboriginal culture and beautiful landscapes. Melville Island and Bathurst Island are the largest of the 11 islands and the ones that most travelers visit. Here is a day trip from Darwin to Bathurst Island

Where to Stay in Darwin

Darwin is a huge city and so you’ll find a plethora of places to stay. It can be overwhelming knowing where to stay, so here are some of our favourite places.

For a budget option, we recommend staying at the trusty Travelodge. Darwin’s hostels are notoriously low-quality, so unless you’re a budget backpacker, we recommend looking for a budget hotel for a decent night’s sleep.

For a decent mid-range option, check out Vibe Hotel. It’s located on the Darwin Waterfront precinct, on the fringe of Darwin CBD, and is perfectly positioned to explore Darwin’s newest restaurants, boutique shops, and seafront promenade.

For high end luxury, you won’t find much better than the Hilton Darwin. Boasting an excellent location just a few minutes’ walk from downtown in the vibrant Darwin Harbour area, and steps from fantastic shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Alternatively, you can find unique accommodations such as wilderness retreats. Ditch the traditional hotel experience and have an exclusive taste of bush luxury in your own safari suite, at either Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge or Bamurru Plains.

Getting Around Darwin

Darwin is quite a large city but it’s easy to get around. Public buses operate seven days a week, making it easy to get around Darwin on your own.

Coach services can take you between regional and urban centres, and there’s a range of guided coach and bus tours if you’re after someone to show you the sites.

A useful tool is the Darwin Public Transport Journey Planner, on the Transport NT website.

Or even better: traverse the Northern Territory on two wheels! The Northern Territory is great for cycling with plenty of cycle paths, and tracks, and trails in national parks and urban areas.

When to Visit Darwin

The peak visitor time to the Top End is during the dry season, from May to September, when a huge array of festivals and events are held due to the predictable 32-degree celsius climate.

October to April is considered the wet season, and the weather is usually hot with tropical storms.

Before You Go

So there you have it, those are the best things to do in Darwin, and as you can see, there are a lot of amazing attractions to add to your itinerary.

Whether you plan to stay to visit to see the nearby national parks or you’re looking for somewhere with a relaxed vibe to rest your traveller legs for a while, be sure to give Darwin a few days of your time.

Before you go, remember that Darwin is in Australia’s wildest region, and with that comes the creepy crawlies. Shake your shoes each morning to make sure no eight-legged creatures are sleeping in them.

Don’t go hiking or swimming off the beaten path and stay on the tourist path. This is for your safety, not to spoil your fun.

And above all, have the best time in Darwin!

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One national park that we absolutely love, is Litchfield National Park. The park is famous for its waterfalls and swimming holes, walking trails, and 4WD tracks.

Most people visit the park on a day trip from Darwin, but if you have more time to spend exploring the park, you’re in luck, because there is a plethora of fun things to do in Litchfield National Park to keep you entertained.

Below are the top attractions in Litchfield National Park for any type of traveller…

Is Litchfield National Park Worth Visiting?

It’s easy to see why Litchfield attracts 260,000 visitors each year; it boasts stunning tropical waterfalls and swimming holes, magnificent rainforests, giant magnetic termite mounds, an abundance of native wildlife, aboriginal historical sites, and many walking and 4WD tracks.

There’s a lot to see and do, as well as off-the-beaten-path adventures to have. It’s one of the best places in the Top End of Australia to go swimming, with waterfalls plunging off the edge of the escarpment into crystal-clear, safe swimming holes. And by safe, I mean salt-water crocodile free!

There are not many places in the Northern Territory where you can safely swim without fear of crocs, so for this reason, it’s 100% worth visiting.

If you have at least a week and you’re exploring the Top End of the Northern Territory, then I highly suggest a looped road trip from Darwin taking in Katherine Gorge, Kakadu National Park, and Litchfield National Park.

Things to Do in Litchfield National Park

Below are some of our favourite attractions in Litchfield National Park for any type of traveller. Whether you’re visiting alone, with friends, or as a family, these are some of the best things to do in Litchfield National Park…

1. Swim in the Buley Rockholes

This was my favourite part of Litchfield National Park.

It was the perfect place to visit with our kids and we recommend getting there early to escape the tour buses and have the rock pool serenity to yourself.

The Buley Rockholes are a series of rocks with holes that have water cascading through them. Walk up to the top and take your pick of rock holes to sit in for a while.

Spend a few hours moving from one to the other. It’s hot enough to warrant it – even in the winter.

2. Swim in Florence Falls Plunge Pool

Florence Falls is a double-plunge waterfall leading to a popular swimming spot. There is a steep staircase down to the pools passing through a lovely viewing point, but it’s not too strenuous.

Otherwise, you can take the walk down to the falls from the car park via the Shady Creek track. We didn’t get to do it, but it’s meant to be very pretty.

And you can walk between Florence Falls and Buley Rockholes. The Litchfield waterfalls were simply amazing to see.

3. Have A Picnic At Wangi Falls

Wangi Falls is probably Litchfield’s most popular attraction with the largest swimming hole, picnic area, and onsite cafe – our kids enjoyed an ice cream here on a hot day, and it can be especially busy around lunchtime in peak season.

If you’ve got young kids like me, entering the waterhole is easier than at Florence Falls and it’s clear and shallow in close. Just be aware that it gets deeper and darker the further you swim out.

The Wangi Falls campground is a great place to stop for a night. There’s a BBQ area, and all the facilities you need for a comfortable night such as clean toilets and showers.

4. Hike to Walker Creek

If you want a swimming hole experience that is away from the crowds then take the 3km walk along Walker Creek to shared swimming hole number six. It was small, but just lovely to have all to ourselves and so refreshing after such a hot walk with two kids.

Along the walk, you’ll see various private campsites next to the creek with their own private swimming hole. Worth considering pitching a tent if you like bush camping. Number one was my pick.

5. Check Out The Magnetic Termite Mounds

These termite mounds are incredible. Built by thousands of termites of different species, with a north-south orientation to control the temperature inside.

These magnetic insects have designed their home to minimize exposure to the sun. Amazing, right?

The mounds are more than 100 years old and stand up between two and four meters tall.

There is a boardwalk that takes you close to the mounds, the tallest and most impressive being the four-metre-high Cathedral Termite Mounds.

You will pass these termite mounds first if you enter the park from Darwin, we saved them for last on the way out.

6. Watch the Sunset from the Tolmer Falls Viewing Platform

Tolmer Falls is one of the most famous sites in Litchfield National Park. This huge waterfall has two large falls that fall into a deep plunge pool that you can swim in during the dry season.

It’s also one of the best places to visit in Litchfield National Park for sunset. Located just a short walk from the falls are two viewing platforms that overlook the waterfalls.

There’s also a 1.6km loop walk from the car park which takes you past Tolmer Creek, a tributary, and other rock pools (that you can’t swim in, unfortunately).

7. Go Four-Wheel Driving at Blyth Homestead

There are many 4WD tracks in Litchfield National Park, but one of the most popular is the track to Blyth Homestead.

Blyth Homestead is an old mining town that has been abandoned since the 1960s. It was built in 1928 when Litchfield was rich in tin. The area serves as a reminder of how challenging it is to set up a business in such dry and arid conditions.

You can learn about the former tin mining industry from the information boards at this abandoned site.

The area is usually inaccessible in the wet, tropical season of November to April due to the rain.

8. 4WD to Surprise Creek Falls

Another four-wheel drive track that you should add to your Litchfield itinerary is the Surprise Creek Falls track.

It’s a Grade 2 track, so not too difficult to drive up, but it’s definitely worth the bumpy terrain that meanders through monsoonal forests and opens up at a large swimming pool at the end.

9. Learn About The Park’s Traditional Owners at the Batchelor Museum

Litchfield National Park has been home to the aboriginal people for thousands of years. You can learn about the park’s traditional owners, the Mak Mak Marranunggu, Koongurrukun, Werat, and Warray people at the Batchelor Museum just outside the National Park.

The museum also offers a glimpse into the park’s mining history, Darwin’s importance during WWII, and agriculture in the area.

Best Time To Visit Litchfield National Park

The best time to visit Litchfield National Park is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. This is when the weather is at its most pleasant and all roads are open.

However, if you do plan to visit during the wet season in November to April, you do get the benefit of seeing the waterfalls at their fullest and more magnificent.

If you plan to visit in the wet season, bear in mind many of the 4WD tracks will be closed this time of year. During the wet season, swimming is also not always permitted.

The park is open all year round, so no matter when you visit, you’ll witness something special.

Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

The park is open all year round and is free to enter. You only need to pay for camping, which is usually around $8 USD per person, per night. Though prices vary depending on where you camp.

Final Advice on Visiting Litchfield National Park

So there you have it, these are the best attractions in Litchfield National Park, and as you can see, there’s a lot to see and explore in its 1,500 square kilometres of incredible landscapes.

Before you go, we have just a few words of advice to help you make the most of your trip. First, if you are able to, hire a 4×4 vehicle. While much of the park is accessible with a standard vehicle, you can have an adventurous off-road experience to places such as The Lost City and Tjaynera Falls which is incredibly fun and a unique experience.

Finally, make sure you plan to visit on a weekday if possible. Litchfield is small enough to enjoy in a day, or big enough to explore over a weekend, but if you can, consider visiting midweek to avoid the weekend rush.

Whatever time of year you visit, make sure to pack a towel and insect repellent!

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Made up of wetlands, rivers, water holes you can swim in, impressive rock formations, aboriginal rock paintings, prehistoric monuments, and an abundance of wildlife, you can bet there are many things to do in Kakadu National Park to keep you busy.

It is a profoundly spiritual place that offers adventure, cultural experiences, stunning landscapes, unique flora and fauna, and a bit of star-gazing.

If you’re thinking of visiting Kakadu National Park and are not sure what there is to see and do, then read on to learn about the park’s top attractions.

How Many Days Do You Need at Kakadu?

I once heard about a writer who had visited Kakadu National Park on a group tour after visiting Litchfield National Park on the same day!!

Two outstanding national parks separated by a good three-hour drive.

I was sad that people might read that review and think Kakadu is nothing but a place that is hot with lots of mosquitos and a magical sunset that you can’t fully appreciate because you’re on the great Top End race to see it all in a day.

The minimum number of days you need to spend at Kakadu National Park is three days, but if you can spend longer, I would suggest spending an entire week there.

If you don’t have the means and time to experience Kakadu properly then I suggest holding off until you can, otherwise, you’re just wasting your time and money.

Kakadu is Australia’s largest National Park and covers more than 19,000 square kilometers, in other words almost half the size of Switzerland. You can’t get to know it if you race in for a night. There is a lot of ground to cover and so much to see and do.

How To Savour the Kakadu Experience

Kakadu National Park is not far from Darwin, so you can easily fly in and hire a car. To really make the most of your experience, I suggest you skip the tour, grab a bunch of friends, and split the costs of hiring a car and doing it yourself.

Once you’re in Kakadu, besides your camping and entrance fees, your costs are minimal as it’s just nature you’re exploring.

After traveling around Australia for 18 months, Kakadu was in my top 5 highlights.

Where else in the world can you come and see towering red rugged escarpments, impressive gorges, floodplains, art galleries thousands of years old, pockets of rainforests, billabongs dotted with lotus flowers and lurking crocs, waterfalls cascading into plunge pools?

It is also home to over one-third of Australia’s bird species, and thousands of plant species such as pandanus and cycads.

Wow! To really savour the experience, I recommend you do the following:

• Camp in the park in one of the several campsites. Sleep under the stars and let the sounds of nature lul you to sleep. We camped for five nights at Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park in Jabiru, the main town.
• Drive it yourself. Don’t bother with a tour, they will drive past some of the most beautiful landscapes. To make sure you don’t miss anything, do it yourself.
• Take a scenic flight. Once you have explored the park on the ground, you can really appreciate its size and magnitude by taking a scenic flight and seeing it from above.
• Get a 4WD vehicle as there are some areas you cannot access without one.
• Make sure you visit both Cooinda and Jabiru separately and stay in each town for a couple nights. Both give you access to different parts of the park and will save driving long distances to get to the various sites to explore.

When To Visit Kakadu National Park

We visited Kakadu at the end of the dry season, when it wasn’t at its full green and wet glory, but still beautiful with much to enjoy.

The best time to see the national park is after a big wet season, when the waterfalls are full and the water holes are at their fullest.

The wet season is during the tropical summer from November to April. This is also the cheapest time to visit.

The dry season is from May to October, which has cooler temperatures but you’ll find many of the waterfalls have dried up.

Now you know a little bit about how to experience the national park, it’s time to show you the top attractions in Kakadu National Park. We’ll divide each section by North, South, East, and West.

Things to Do in Southern Kakadu National Park

As we had arrived from Katherine Gorge, Cooinda in the Southern part of the park would have been a great first base for us.

Cooinda has a lodge and camping for accommodation and offers daily activities which may include bush-tucker talks, stargazing, bush walks, bird-watching tours, slide shows, and bingo nights.

Camping prices depend on whether you book a powered site or a non-powered site. You can also book a lodge if you don’t want to camp. Most campsites are pretty well equipped with hot showers, toilets and WiFi.

From here, you are perfectly based to explore the following attractions in Kakadu National Park…

1. Yellow Water Billabong Cruise: A Journey Through Kakadu’s Wetlands

The mist floats above the water as the sun gently rises casting a soft yellow and pink glow over the billabong.

Slowly it wakens, flocks of egrets soar above, and magpie geese come into land, sea eagles perch above looking for their morning feed, while all eyes in the boat actively seek out the ancient example of perfect evolution.

Our guide points ahead to a one-metre tail swaying back and forth barely making a ripple in the water. This is what most of us have been waiting to see in the Kakadu wetlands – a croc stealthily hunting for his breakfast.

We’re sure to keep our hands and heads inside the boat knowing that they’ve survived for millions of years because they are master predators.

We see this later when our boat glides past the pink lotus flowers and water lilies, and we’re startled by a sudden snap. We turn and only just see the hungry monster slide back into the water with its barramundi breakfast.

The Yellow Water Cruise was one of our favourite experiences in Kakadu. We highly recommend visiting at sunrise when the air is still and the weather pleasant.

The billabong is abundant with wildlife and sunrise is when you see it wake up. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed seeing and learning about all the bird life.

I would love to do the Paul Arnold sunset photography tour – the perfect place to learn how to improve your nature photography.

2. Gunlom Falls, Kakadu

Gunlom was one of my favourite places in Kakadu and one of my favorite places in the world.

The road in was a little rough in places, but we managed it in our Ford Territory. We drove through grass fires to get there so were a little nervous as the area was closed only days before because of fires.

When we arrived the ranger kind of shook his head at the city folk warning him that there were fires around.

“It’s only grass fires. Nothin’ to worry about!”

There’s a steep walk up to Gunlom Falls from the car park, but the kids managed it okay. It’s well worth going up there, even if you have to carry your young children.

The sweeping views out to the valley are just spectacular, which can be appreciated straight from nature’s best infinity pool.

The waterhole is surrounded by shady gums and perfect for a refreshing swim and a spot of lunch.

I just felt like I was an angel standing at the edge of the world from up here. It was such a serene and magical place. It’s by far my favourite waterhole in Australia and possibly my favourite view.

The kids had a ball swimming here with their friends Jack and Scarlett. I can still hear their squeals of joy now!

There is a plunge pool at the base of the falls, but that was closed with a croc warning sign, so I’d just stick to taking the walk up the top for your swim!

3. Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)

We did our very best to get to this waterhole late in the afternoon after our huge day doing the wetlands cruise and Gunlom.

Our friend Laurence from Finding the Universe who drove 60,000 kilometres around Australia said Maguk was his favourite swimming hole in the country.

Unfortunately, for us we got bogged halfway in on the 150-metre soft sand section. Our car doesn’t have high clearance. You need a high clearance 4WD to access Maguk.

By the time we dug ourselves out, looking like a bad science experiment gone wrong, it was too late to try again using the hard bush road beside the sandy bit. Yeah, we had no idea this was there until a local in his beat up commodore came driving by and inquired why we did not just use that road instead!

Maguk, formerly Barramundi Gorge, is a pristine natural waterfall and plunge pool at the base of steep gorge walls.

A 14km four-wheel drive track off the Kakadu Highway to reach Maguk, followed by a one kilometre walk through monsoon forests, crossing Barramundi Creek.

4. Warradjan Cultural Centre

A great place to learn about the aboriginal culture and the tribes who live in the park, the Bininj and Mungguy people, is to visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

It has a really fascinating free museum that tells the story of all the people who have lived here for thousands of years, as well as some historic changes that have taken place more recently.

An extensive exhibit explains the complicated kinship laws, read traditional owners stories of growing up in Kakadu and see tools, message sticks, artworks and live demonstrations from local artists.

Around the centre are a few short walks you can do too.

Things to Do in Northern / Eastern Kakadu NP

When visiting the North or Eastern side of Kakadu, you should base yourself in Jabiru. From here, it’s an easy drive to many of the top things to do in Kakadu National Park on the northeast edge.

Jabiru is the main town within Kakadu National Park. You’ll find services such as a supermarket, post office, and bank.

Jabiru doesn’t have as much accommodation as Cooinda, but there are still some great campsites and lodges you can choose from.

The Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park are one of the most popular places to stay. This is a great place to camp to explore Ubirr and Nourlangie. The Kakadu lodge and campground here often has evening ranger talks and a great restaurant and pool.

If you want somewhere with a bit more luxury, consider staying at the Aurora Lodge which has a refreshing outdoor pool.

From Jabiru, it’s easy to explore the following attractions in Kakadu National Park…

5. Bowali Visitor Centre

If you stay at Jabiru campground, I recommend riding along the 4-kilometer return nature trail to Bowali Visitor Centre.

The visitor centre is beautifully designed and hosts extensive displays and information about Kakadu. It’s a great first stop to help you plan your stay in Kakadu.

Kalyra and I enjoyed an afternoon bike out here winding through the woodlands. It starts opposite the Gagudju Crocodile Hotel.

You will find many other walking trails near the visitor center too.

6. Explore The East Alligator River Area, Kakadu

The East Alligator river area takes you to the border of Kakadu and Arnhem Land.

Take some time to stand at Cahill’s Crossing and watch the cars cross the Alligator River with saltwater crocodiles swimming up and down nearby. There were several people standing near the edge of the river fishing. No thanks!

If you drive across, you have to time the tides right to get across this river.

7. Visit The Border Store

Check your Kakadu event guide as sometimes there are talks and art sessions at the border store.

We sat with two Aboriginal men one afternoon as they painted their artworks. It was a great experience for the kids to see and we loved talking to the men to hear their stories and traditions.

8. Check Out Ubirr Rock Art

If you want to see some aboriginal rock art galleries, then you’ll find the best aboriginal rock art sites in Ubirr.

Guided talks on local Aboriginal culture and rock art often run over an afternoon through the Ubirr rock art gallery. An Aboriginal ranger will tell you many of the stories behind the paintings on the wall of the 1km circular walk.

One of the most iconic paintings is the Rainbow Serpent gallery, which is one of the oldest pieces of rock art and an important piece to the park’s traditional owners. It even inspired the logo for the national park.

These tours can be quite popular and we found it difficult to hear the softly spoken guide. It was also a challenge having to manage the kids at the same time. They did love seeing the rock art though!

9. Witness the Spectacular Sunset over the Nardarb Floodplains

Time your tour at the Ubirr rock art for the afternoon so you cand then head straight up to the top of the rock for one of the most beautiful sunsets you could hope to see over the Nadarb floodplains and Arnhem Land.

This is one of the best things to do in Kakadu, so don’t miss it.

Your hair will stand on end as you sense the great spiritual essence that exists here and has been untouched for millions of years.

If you have kids they will love this chance to run around or even just rest for awhile and soak up the beauty.

Things to Do in Kakadu’s Nourlangie Area

Head to the Nourlangie region for more exciting attractions in Kakadu. Visit the Rock art, walk around the Billabong and then enjoy the sunset.

10. Take A Nourlangie Rock Art Tour

There was nobody else in this incredible rock art gallery when we visited. The art sites and Aboriginal shelter can be explored along a 1.5km loop walk. It also takes you to Gunwarrddehwardde Lookout viewing platform with spectacular views of the escarpment.

We loved the painting and story of Nabulwinjbilwinj, a dangerous spirit who likes to bang females on the head with a yam and then eat them.

Another important piece of rock art at Nourlangue is Namarrkon, a picture depicting the creation ancestor named Namarrkon, who the aborigines believe is responsible for the lightning storms that occur every tropical summer.

11. Catch the Sunset at Nawurlandja Lookout

Another impressive sunset, without the crowds, is at Nawurlandja. It’s a short 600-metre climb and gives views over Nourlangie, the escarpments of Arnhem Land, and the Anbangbang Billabong, which is popular to walk around.

The sunset is not as striking as Nadarb, as you are looking away from the setting sun, but just as serene and beautiful. The kids had a ball playing hide and seek here with Jack and Scarlett.

12. Birdwatch at Mamukala Wetlands

On the way out of Kakadu, heading towards Darwin the Mamukala Wetlands is meant to be a great short 3km walk to explore the wetlands.

It’s said to be spectacular during the dry season with an influx of migratory birds.

There is an easy walk to an observation platform in the paperbarks at Mamukala wetlands and is one of the best places to go bird watching.

You can see many of Australia’s bird species from here, including kites, comb-crested jacanas, cormorants, purple swamp hens, finches, and kingfishers.

Four Wheel Drive Adventures in Kakadu

If you’re lucky enough to get a 4WD, be sure to add the following things to do to your Kakadu bucket list!

13. See Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu

Jim Jim Falls is said to be one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Kakadu.

It has a deep plunge pool and is surrounded by 150 metre high cliffs. Check with the visitor centre as the falls will probably have dried up by the end of the dry season.

During the wet, the road becomes impassable so you’ll have to see it via a scenic flight.

14. See Twin Falls

10km further on from Jim Jim Falls is Twin Falls, accessed through a deep creek crossing (croc beware). You can walk (6km) up to the plateau above Twin Falls, and enjoy some beautiful views.

You can bush camp out in this area.

15. Check Out Koolpin Gorge (Jarrangbarnmi)

Everyone raves about Koolpin Gorge (Aboriginal name Jarrangbarnmi,) and it’s easy to see why. The gorge, which is the handiwork of the Koolpin Creek over thousands of years, is also known as the Giant’s Staircase.

Access is seasonal and requires a permit and a high clearance 4WD. It’s real wilderness camping and hiking, but if you’re up for it, you’ll almost have the waterfalls and swimming holes to yourself!

Tips for Visiting Kakadu National Park

Before you visit Kakadu National Park, be sure to consider the following:

• Take mosquito repellent. It was only one night we noticed they were particularly vicious.
• If you have kids, check out our tips for hiking with kids.
• Rest during the heat of the day and walk/explore during the morning and evening.
• Pack plenty of snacks, water, and food.

Getting to Kakadu

We arrived from Katherine and so entered the park from the Southern section at Pine Creek (150 km from Katherine)

If coming from Darwin, you can enter from the northern section of the park from the Arnhem Hwy (240 km from Darwin)

Unleaded and diesel fuel is available from Kakadu Resort (at South Alligator), Jabiru, Cooinda, and Goymarr Tourist Park.

Entrance fees into the park cost between $25-$40 for 7 days, depending on whether you visit in the wet or dry season.

Here are a few longer stay tours for Kakadu

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Kakadu

So there you have it, those are all the top things to do in Kakadu National Park, and as you can see, there’s so much to see and explore in this park.

Whether you’re looking to see wildlife, learn about aboriginal culture and rock art, or run around pretending to be in a Crocodile Dundee movie, you’ll find it all here.

Whichever of these attractions you decide to visit, be sure to give them plenty of time. This is a truly special place in Australia and deserves to be explored wholeheartedly.

Darwin to Uluru Tour: Top End & Central Australia Explorer

If you’re not traveling independently, you will love this Darwin to Uluru tour with Cosmos Tours (part of the Globus family of brands, who we highly recommend)

Landscapes like no other and an abundance of cultural heritage, this is just some of what you can expect to uncover on this 11-day tour through Central Australia.

Starting in Darwin, you’ll travel south through the Northern Territory, ending in Uluru (Ayers Rock), with overnights in Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluru.

More Northern Territory Inspiration

Are you visiting other parts of the Northern Territory? Then you may find the following guides useful:

• Fun things to do in the NT, Australia
• The West MacDonnell Ranges & Alice Springs
• Ways to Experience the Magic of Uluru, Australia
• Best Things to Do in Darwin (+places to eat & drink)
• Best Road Trips in Australia
• Places to Put on your Australian Bucket List
• Things to know before visiting Australia
• Best Cold and Hot Winter Destinations in Australia

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