Intrepid Kakadu, Katherine & Litchfield Adventure

Welcome to the Northern Territory! Your adventure begins in Darwin (Gulumerrdgen in the language of the local Larrakia people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Darwin is now located). You'll meet your group early this morning to set off from Darwin and head south to Litchfield National Park, a huge sandstone plateau with dozens of waterfalls. Explore Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and the Buley Rockholes. After a picnic lunch, stroll through steamy rainforests and cool off with a dip in one of Litchfield's picturesque swimming holes. We then hit the road to Wulna Country, where your Limilngan-Wulna hosts – the land’s Traditional Owners – will greet you with a Cul Cul or ‘Welcome to Country’. Learn about their culture during bush tucker talks and didgeridoo and basket weaving demonstrations. Enjoy a camp dinner before climbing into bed at a private campsite in the Mary River region.

Wangi Falls is often closed after heavy rainfall due to the danger of crocodiles, with entry to the pool closed off until rangers are confident it is safe for swimming. Today's first meeting and pick up will take place at the Cavenagh Hotel at 7am this morning. It’s very important that you are on time today as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time, and then head out to Litchfield National Park right away. We recommend you arrive a day earlier. Total driving time today is approximately 5.5 hours (approximately 400 km), and the total walking time is approximately 45 minutes. Please note that all tents are twin-share and come with a proper bed.

Activities:

• Pudakul Cultural Experience
• Litchfield National Park - Highlights, including Florence Falls, Wangi Falls & Buley Rockholes

Staying in:

• Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)

After breakfast this morning, head onto the water on a wildlife cruise in the Mary River Wetlands, a network of waterways home to crocodiles and native bird species. Then head into Kakadu National Park proper and discover ancient Aboriginal rock art in Ubirr. Your leader will lead an interpretive cultural walk through the numerous rock galleries, before you climb to the top of a lookout for views over the Nardab floodplain. Tonight, relax by the pool at the Kakadu campground and enjoy a group dinner.

The Ubirr walk is a Grade 2-3 (easy to moderate) 1km loop, taking around 1 hour to see the rock art sites and enjoy the views. The 250m climb to the lookout is steep. Total driving time today is approximately 6.5 hours (approximately 550 km), and the total walking time is approximately 2 hours.

Activities:

• Mary River - Mary River Wetlands Cruise
• Kakadu National Park - Ubirr Rock Art Cultural Walk

Staying in:

• Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)

This morning head to Bowali Visitors Centre. Later spend time exploring Kakadu’s other major Aboriginal rock art site – Nourlangie (Burrunggui). After lunch head south and stop to visit the historic gold-mining centre of Pine Creek and its Gold Mining Centre. Stop for a quick dip at Maguk or Gunlom Falls, before continuing on to Katherine, where you'll settle in for the night at a private campsite near Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge).

Please note that the Gunlom walking track to the lookout and pools above the falls is closed at the request of the Traditional Owners until further notice. In addition to this, the road to the falls has sustained major damages after this wet season's floods. For these reasons we do not visit the Gunlom area on this trip until further notice. An alternative location will be arranged instead and your leader will inform you of the day’s plans. Total driving time today is approximately 5.5 hours (approximately 400 km), and the total walking time is approximately 1 hour

Activities:

• Pine Creek - Gold Mining Centre
• Kakadu National Park - Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
• Kakadu National Park - Bowali Visitor Centre
• Kakadu National Park - Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art site

Staying in:

• Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)

Depending on the season, head out on a morning cruise along the inky waters of Katherine Gorge, or canoe between red rock walls that are up to 70 metres high (both of these activities are optional and at your own expense). This 23 million-year-old landscape was formed by the Katherine River, which flows from Arnhem Land out to the Timor Sea. After lunch head to the beautiful Edith falls for one last refreshing swim in the huge plunge pool before we hit the road back to Darwin, where your adventure comes to an end on arrival.

Total driving time today is approximately 5 hours (approximately 400 km), and the total walking time is approximately 1 hour. Arrival into Darwin will be at approximately 6pm. Please take this into consideration when booking onward transportation. We recommend you spend an additional night in Darwin.

Activities:

• Nitmiluk National Park - Leliyn (Edith Falls) Upper Circuit Walk & Swim