ITINERARY:

Day 1: Darwin
Arrive Darwin and catch a taxi to your hotel, your home for the next 9 nights. Enjoy exploring the biggest city in Northern Territory’s Top End.

Day 2: Darwin Half Day Tour
Today it’s time to learn about Darwin from a local as you join the half-day escorted bus tour. Discover the city’s cultural heritage, drive by landmarks, plus get tips about local haunts that will be worth visiting during your stay.
Highlights of this tour:
Smith Street Mall, Mitchell Street – restaurants and cafes, St Mary's Cathedral, Cavanagh Street – old China Town, Chinese Temple, Stokes Hill and Fort Hill Wharf, Trendy Darwin Wharf precinct on the harbour, World War II oil storage tunnel, Christ Church Cathedral, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory – Government House and Parliament House, Bicentennial Park, The Esplanade, Casino, Mindil Beach – location for Darwin's famous market, Visit the Museum & Art Gallery, Learn of Cyclone Tracy – a force that changed this city, Exclusive Fannie Bay, Look for wallabies in the grasslands, Darwin Botanical Gardens

Day 3: Katherine Gorge Cruise Day Tour
Discover Katherine Gorge on this full-day tour including a 2-hour cruise to spot aboriginal rock art and wildlife, lunch and a visit to beautiful Edith Falls.
Start your day with an early-morning pick-up from your hotel and head to the wonderful Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine Gorge. Along the way, stop at the Adelaide River War Cemetery – a site dedicated to those killed in the air raids in Darwin in the 1940s.
Continue to Edith Falls, where you have time for a refreshing swim in the waterhole, fringed with paper-bark and pandanas beneath the falls.
After a picnic lunch, enjoy a two-hour scenic cruise through Katherine Gorge, with a chance to see freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks of the river. Enjoy the amazing scenery around you and spot bird life unique to this area.
On your return journey, take a brief tour of the town of Katherine, the hub of the region's cattle and farming industries. Travel via Pine Creek, a historic gold-mining town, and have a quick stop at Adelaide River before returning to Darwin.

Day 4: Kakadu National Park Day Tour
Discover Kakadu on a full-day trip, including wildlife on a Yellow Water Billabong Cruise, lunch and visit to Nourlangie to see ancient Aboriginal rock art.
Start your day with an early-morning hotel pick-up and travel on one of the longest roads in Australia, the Stuart Highway.
Arrive at the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and marvel at this landscape of exceptional beauty and diversity. The park is surrounded by mangrove-fringed coastal areas, expansive flood plains, lowland hills and open woodland.
Visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre and learn about the traditions of the Aboriginal people in Kakadu. Next cruise on the famous Yellow Water Billabong, search for saltwater crocodiles, and view the colourful range of bird life – for which this region is renowned.
After lunch, stop at the Nourlangie Rock for a guided walk and view the ancient Aboriginal rock art before returning to Darwin.

Day 5: Free Day with Darwin Sunset River Cruise
Today is a free day for you to enjoy the sights of Darwin at leisure, before it’s time to be welcomed by the friendly Captain and Crew as you board the Spectacular “Spirit of Darwin.”

Upon boarding, make yourself at home on the comfortable bean bag chairs on the bow and soak up the last of the day’s sunshine, alternatively have a seat with a view on our spacious decks, ready to set sail on a 2.5 hour cruise showcasing the magnificent tropical Darwin Harbour. As the Sun sets watch the sky light up in magical colours reflecting off the water and showcasing the coast line of Darwin in a way you've never seen before! As the sun goes down enjoy a great local buffet meal prepared with fresh produce, the perfect accompaniment to the spectacular sunset view! The Friendly crew are ready and able to assist your every need and want. This unique experience features amazing fish feeding from the bow of the “Spirit of Darwin,” where the Bat-fish of the Darwin Harbour meet the boat to be fed. The Bat-fish come right to the surface within view and awe of all passengers on board to show off their magnificent selves! Some tours have been lucky enough to spot Queen Fish, Trevally, Barramundi and even Sharks! This experience is exclusive to the Spirit of Darwin’s Sunset Dinner Cruise’s Guests.

Day 6: Litchfield Park Tour
Litchfield National Park is an Aboriginal Dreamtime region that retains its mysterious spirituality in the silence of still forest valleys and rock face escarpments. With rugged sandstone, monsoon forests, spectacular waterfalls into cool abyss plunge pools, fascinating termite mounds, time for swimming in warm tropical waters, walking and exploring; this area…so remote…so totally Australian; will leave you with a lasting impression.

Highlights of this tour:
Skirt Francis Bay on Darwin Harbour
Head south out of Darwin on the Stuart Highway
Take a short break at the town of Batchelor
Stop at the Meridean Termite Mounds – an opportunity to learn about Cathedral and Magnetic Termite Mounds
Florence Falls – take in stunning views of the falls or perhaps walk down to the plunge pool for a swim in this beautiful oasis
Visit Buley Rockhole – cascades and rockpools offer an opportunity for a refreshing swim
Walk to Tolmer Falls – a breathtaking valley with views toward the coast over cattle stations
Monsoon forests and woodland areas
Enjoy lunch at the Litchfield Cafe – a Litchfield institution
Visit Wangi Falls and plunge pool – a delightful pool bordered by river pandanas palms
There's time for a swim in these superb surrounds
Perhaps take a walk through lush tropical forest or relax and just take it in
Look for bats

Day 7: Adelaide River Jumping Crocodiles Tour
Today’s tour is an excellent opportunity to observe the primeval creatures as you cruise along the Adelaide River. Face saltwater crocodiles close up as they leap out of the water to snatch their food!
Highlights of this tour:
Cruise the Adelaide River in crocodile infested waters
Watch as your guide entices saltwater crocodiles to jump and snatch their food
Witness crocodiles in a somewhat close situation!
Visit Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre – see birds of prey scavenge for leftovers
An educational display with sweeping views over the wetlands
Fogg Dam Nature Reserve – a Top End wetlands eco system with an abundance of birds and reptiles

Day 8: Tiwi Island Tour
Take a ferry to the Tiwi Islands off the coast of Darwin to experience Aboriginal culture first-hand. Spend time in the community meeting the locals and learn about their traditions.

Take the 2 hour cruise aboard the Tiwi Mantawi over to Bathurst Island. Here you are met by your local Guide to be taken on a journey through the progressive, modern day Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga.

Visit the Museum with its interesting displays of traditional art and depictions of the Tiwi ‘dreamtime’ stories and Early Mission Precinct with its unique Tiwi style Catholic Church. Hear about the colourful history of the early mission days and learn how the Tiwi people have blended their culture with Christianity.

Spend time with some Tiwi Ladies while they work on their weaving and painting. Your guides and the ladies also demonstrate their totem dances and perform a smoking ceremony to bless the visitors and explain the meanings behind them. You will then get the chance to sample local billy tea and damper with your included lunch. Be taken through the successful Arts & Crafts Centre and see where the artist’s work. You also have the opportunity to purchase Tiwi arts and crafts and screen-printed fabric at Island prices. Learn some of the complex rituals associated with the Pukamani (burial ceremony) before being taken back to the ferry landing to re-board your vessel, departing Bathurst Island for Darwin at 3.15 pm.

Day 9: Darwin Heritage Walk
As you walk the paths of pioneers, local guides will cheerfully share their passion for the town they call home as they tell of its history through the World War II bombings and Cyclone Tracy, to current day. Discover many of the remaining buildings such as the old Court House and Police Station, Browns Mart and the Old Palmerston Town Hall ruins, all of which have been painstakingly reconstructed. View Government House, Parliament House and the Northern Territory Supreme Court on our journey through the streets of this modern tropical city.

There are many hidden treasures to see on foot and plenty of opportunities to capture photographs of the public artworks, architecture, historic buildings, tropical plants and wildlife.

Departs: Raintree Park under the John McDouall Stuart statue, corner of Smith Street Mall and Knuckey Street. Look for the person in the bright orange shirt.

Day 10: Depart Darwin.
Your tour concludes today as you check out of your hotel and catch a taxi to the airport for flights home.

Please note: The day by day descriptions published are intended as an indicative guide only. Travel by nature is unpredictable. Weather patterns, road conditions, public holidays, travel restrictions and a multitude of other factors may necessitate itinerary changes that ultimately are for the client’s benefit. It is essential that clients are flexible and open minded in this regard.