One Week Northern Territory Road Trip Through The Top End - Australia Bucket List Road Trip
Australia’s Top End in the Northern Territory has some incredible sites to see. Waterhole after waterhole, massive gorges, rich culture, and lots of beautiful sunshine. We had been to the Northern Territory three times before, but this time was really different in the best way possible.
We had never seen a croc in our previous trips to the Northern Territory, so that was one of our main goals in the Top End. Australia really is an amazing country, and Kakadu National Park, Katherine Gorge and hot springs and Litchfield National Park did not disappoint. Here is our one week Northern Territory road trip through Australia’s Top End.
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DAY 1: DARWIN SUNSET SAIL
On the first day, we flew into Darwin and immediately went to get our hire car. We rented from Thrifty with pick up and drop off in Darwin. For a seven day hire for a 4 wheel drive vehicle, it started at $750 plus fuel.
Once we had our car for the week, we took in a sunset on a sunset sail around Darwin Harbor with Sail Darwin. It was pure bliss. We chose the Sail Darwin Champagne Sunset Cruise for $129 per person, and we were treated to a gorgeous sunset that evening. It was the perfect way to start the trip.
For our night in Darwin, we stayed at the Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront. Rooms there start at $129 per night, and it is right on the water as the name indicates.
DAY 2: ADELAIDE RIVER AND KAKADU NATIONAL PARK
Our second day started with breakfast overlooking the water at De La Plage. It was not a bad spot to enjoy a brew and some breaky with a view of the water.
Once we started out on our road trip, we spotted our first croc on our cruise on the Adelaide River. The Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise takes one hour and costs $50 per person for adults and $35 for each child.
Seeing the big crocodiles right up close was a major highlight. One was over 5 meters long (16 feet) and came right up close to our boat. The tour gets its name from when they dangle food in the air for the crocs to jump up to get it. You could literally hear the sound of their jaw clamping shut. It really shows how deadly these creatures can be. Always make sure to practice croc safety in the Northern Territory for sure.
Our hotel that night was the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel which is actually built in the shape of a crocodile. Rooms there start at $219 per night. We checked in and dropped off our luggage before going back out for sunset.
Before the sunset at Ubirr, we were able to see and learn about the rock art there. The petroglyphs taught the people, especially the kids, lessons like not to steal and lie. I was completely amazed by the aboriginal rock art that could date back to 10,000 years old.
DAY 3: SWIMMING HOLES AND WATERFALLS IN KAKADU NATIONAL PARK
Reception in the Top End was not great, but it was kind of nice to be more off the grid on this trip. We were able to be fully in the experiences instead of tied to our phones and social media.
The first of the waterfalls in Kakadu National Park that we visited was Maguk Falls. It was paradise. I couldn’t believe how clear the water was in these natural rock pools. This was our favourite spot of the trip. It was our first swimming hole, and I was so excited to visit the swimming holes in Kakadu National Park. Maguk Falls was so amazing and even better than I thought it would be.
Gunlom Falls was next, and it is another one of the insane watering holes in Kakadu. The water there is crystal clear as well, and the water in these swimming holes felt so good.
We didn’t think our day in Kakadu National Park could get better, but then there was the sunset. We watched the sunset from the Nawurlandja Lookout, and the view was exactly how I pictured it. We were blown away by how beautiful it was, and it is definitely worth visiting.
As the sun faded and painted Nourlangie Rock in rich red tones, the moon began to slowly rise about the horizon. By the end, the moon really put on a show for us. We couldn’t believe the views and the photos we got that night.
DAY 4: YELLOW WATER CRUISE, TOP DIDJ, AND KATHERINE GORGE
We started our day early with a sunrise Yellow Water billabong tour. The Yellow Water Cruise is available sunrise, in the daytime, and at sunset. It costs $90 per adult and $65 per child.
I realized again how blessed we are to call Australia home on this tour. We saw so much wildlife that it basically was an Aussie safari tour which took me by surprise. We saw crocs with wild brumbies grazing in the distance, and there was a heavy morning mist that made for epic conditions.
After our cruise, we drove to our next stop: Katherine Gorge. We found the best little cafes and restaurants the entire trip, and the one we ate at on this day was Maiden’s Lane. Australis knows how to do good food no matter where you visit.
We also got to enjoy a cultural experience while we were visiting Katherine Gorge at Top Didj on their 2.5-hour tour. The tour costs $80 per adult and $50 per child. On the tour, Manuel shared with us how his people used to live off the land and told us about his culture. He was pretty handy with a didgeridoo too.
Top Didj also had some wallabies, and they were very curious. One joey named “Cheeky” was so cute and so affectionate. We got to hold him, and he just laid in our arms and ate. I also got to try to start a fire, but I failed miserably - it’s harder than I thought!
If you can’t visit the Northern Territory right now, you can experience Top Didj online. They have a virtual experience you can check out on their website. If you do go to the Northern Territory, Top Didj is a must-visit.
After visiting Top Didj, we caught the sunset overlooking the Nitmiluk Gorge where we would start our next morning. Then it was time to get some sleep at our hotel in Katherine Gorge, Katherine Holiday Park. Safari tents at Katherine Holiday Park start at $95 and cabins start at $195.
DAY 5: NITMILUK GORGE AND KATHERINE GORGE
Day 5 started where day 6 ended - at Nitmiluk Gorge - but this time we were down in the gorge. The scenery there was insane. We took a cruise first and then went canoeing in the gorge too. We went with Nitmiluk Tours on their Malappar Traveller tour from 9 am - 2 pm. A single canoe was $84 per person and a double canoe as $74 per person. Kyle felt like I wasn’t much help, but I did love the views and how peaceful it was.
After our morning in Nitmiluk, we spent the afternoon in Katherine Hot Springs. The water clarity in the hot springs was insane. They aren’t exactly ‘hot’, but they are perfect for winding down and relaxing after a big day on the road (or on the water for us).
DAY 6: LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK
Once we finished exploring Katherine Gorge, we drove to Litchfield National Park, a popular location for tourists and day-trippers from Darwin.
When visiting Litchfield, we had one thing in mind - waterfalls and swimming holes! Wangi Falls is one of the most popular as it is super easy to access and a short walk from the carpark.
Another waterfall we saw in Litchfield was Florence Falls. You would think we might be getting sick of swimming holes and waterfalls, but every swimming hole and waterfall in the Northern Territory is beautiful and unique in its own way. The water is always crystal clear and super clean!
One of the best ways to see Litchfield is to do a doors-off helicopter flight. The NT Air “Scenic Sandy” helicopter flight costs $245 per person, but wow, the views were amazing and the ride was so much fun. We highly recommend NT Air Litchfield - they are legends and gave us such a great experience.
At the end of the day, we drove back to Darwin. This time we stayed at Mantra Pandanas with rooms starting at $139 a night. We enjoyed a nice dinner at Hanuman in Darwin where they specialize in Southeast Asian foods before heading to bed.
DAY 7: TOP END SAFARI CAMP
Our last day and night in the Top End were spent at the Matt Wright Top End Safari Camp for an overnight experience. This camp is owned by a croc wrangler, so you can expect to see crocs while you stay here.
Our glamping tent had an outdoor shower on the platform and a massive termite mound just outside the tent. The whole experience here had a very outback feel to it.
We got to try a few activities here including a relaxing cruise down the billabong where Kyle did some lure fishing, a chopper ride (Kyle was stoked to be back up in the air again), and a jet boat ride where we saw massive crocs.
Rowdy, our jet boat driver, actually got in the water with a huge croc named Bone Cruncher. They had seen Bone Cruncher for years, but only in the last 18 months or so did they start getting up close and personal with him. Crocs learn the sound of your voice over time and get familiar with you that way. Now they can get in the water with Bone Cruncher who is missing all of his teeth and a massive chunk of his tail.
We were also able to get up close to some crocs during our time at Top End Safari Camp. However, the blokes there are trained professionals, so they let us know exactly how close we could go and where to stand. Do not get close to them in the wild though!
DAY 8: FLYING HOME
We both were sad when our trip ended to the Top End. Australia has so many amazing places to explore, but make sure the Top End is on your Australia bucket list for sure. From the crocs to the swimming holes to the helicopter rides to the beautiful scenery and landscapes, we had such an amazing time on our Northern Territory road trip!
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