4 Day 4WD Top End Tour

Departs:	Darwin 6.30am. Tue, Thu & Sat. Apr - Nov Only.
Group Size:	9 - 14 max
Vehicle:	4WD
Accomm:	Bush Camping
Price:	$ AUD ($ with YHA, VIP or Student card)
Pay on Tour:	Sleeping Bag $, Twin Falls Boat Cruise: $, Canoe Hire: $

Tour Itinerary

Katherine Gorge

The 4 Day 4WD Top End Tour explores Kakadu National Park, Litchfield and Katherine Gorge in Northern Australia, in a small group with a maximum of 9 or 14 passengers. Accommodation is bush camping in a swag around the campfire at minimal facility campgrounds. It’s a backpacker tour with plenty of adventure. These are amazing wilderness destinations full of waterfalls, rivers, swimming, crocodiles (not at the same time) and Aboriginal Culture.

The Safari spends 1 day at Litchfiled, ½ a day at Katherine Gorge and 2 ½ days in Kakadu. Visiting all the main spots like Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls, Barramundi Gorge, Nourlangie Rock, Wangi Falls & Tolmer Falls plus plenty of other spots of like, Marrakai Floodplain, White Lily Billabong, Corroboree Billabong, Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre & Ubbir Rock.

National parks visited on this safari include Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park & Nitmuluk (Katherine Gorge)

Hikes include hiking to top of Twin Falls (7km) Jim Jim plunge pool (2km) plus a selection of other walks throughout the safari and a private boat cruise on Corroboree Billabong.

Aboriginal culture is very strong in Northern Australia; the safari visits the Warradjan Aboriginal cultural centre and Nourlangie Rock, one of the best places in the world to view indigenous rock art. Your guide will also discuss with you the many aspects of this rich and varied culture.

Day 1, 4 Day 4WD Top End Tour

Day 1, Litchfield

Litchfield. Pick up from your accommodation at 6:30am then we head south from Darwin towards Litchfield Park.

Our first stop for the day is at the picturesque Florence Falls for a refreshing swim after completing a short walk through the surrounding monsoon rainforest. From here you will find many of the waterfalls in Litchfield are close by which means that there are no long hauls in the tour vehicle for the rest of the day.

Swim in the crystal clear rockpools of Buley Rockholes before a short drive to the famous Wangi Falls for a quick swim. The viewing area at Tolmer Falls provides you with the perfect location to watch the falls descending from a narrow gorge into a beautiful plunge pool.

We hold a Special Permit that allows us to access the Upper Tolmer Falls area with our groups, so after a scenic bushwalk you can swim in a secluded location at the top of Tolmer Falls.

As we leave Litchfield National Park we pass by floodplains scattered with hundreds of Meridian Termite Mounds and we make a brief stop to learn more about the inhabitants of these amazing structures. We drive south from here and make our way to an overnight bushcamp near Katherine after a day full of swimming, adventure and great scenery. (Lunch, Dinner)

Florence Falls
Buley Rockholes
Wangi Falls
Tolmer Falls
Upper Tolmer Falls (Permit Area)
Meridian Termite Mounds
Camp: Bush Camp
Walking: approx 4 km

Day 2, 4 Day 4WD Top End Tour

Day 2, Katherine Gorge

Katherine / Kakadu. Katherine Gorge is truly a magnificent area and there is no better way to see it than by canoe. We spend the morning canoeing (own expense $20) the first 2 of 13 sections in the gorge and during this time you will get the chance to see freshwater crocodiles, birds, Aboriginal Art sites and awesome scenery.

After lunch we make our way to Kakadu National Park's Barramundi Gorge where you can enjoy an afternoon swim in the cool clear waters. We spend time exploring above the falls and swimming in a series of beautiful rockpools located in the gorge. We camp for the evening next to a large billabong and after a candlelit dinner in the heart of Kakadu, you can have a go at playing the didgeridoo. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Katherine Gorge
Barramundi Gorge
Camp: Minimal Facility Campground
Walking: approx 3 km
Canoeing: approx 5 km

Day 3, 4 Day 4WD Top End Tour

Day 3, Twin Falls & Jim Jim Falls

Kakadu. A swim in the plunge pool at the base of Jim Jim Falls is sure to wake you up for the day as you cool down in the refreshing water. To reach the plunge pool, a 1km scenic walk through monsoon rainforest is taken and has excellent lookouts over Jim Jim Falls. Take your time to admire the awesome sight of the sheer cliff faces that surround you from the base of the gorge.

After lunch we make our way to Twin Falls where you will get to enjoy an informative boat cruise with an Aboriginal Guide up Twin Falls Gorge (own expense $10). After a short walk down to the end of the gorge, you reach a beautiful white sandy beach at the base of Twin Falls, simply spectacular!! Enjoy relaxing on the beach for a while as you take in the scenery surrounding you which can best be described as breath taking. Alternatively, for the active hikers you can take the option of a return walk (7km) to the Top of Twin Falls which offers some magnificent views down the gorge and swimming in rock pools at the top of the falls. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Jim Jim Falls
Twin Falls
Camp: Minimal Facility Campground
Walking: approx 4 km

Day 4, 4 Day 4WD Top End Tour

Day 4, Cruise the Mary River

Kakadu. We start today by viewing various displays on Kakadu at the Bowali Visitor Centre before heading north to Ubirr rock. At Ubirr Rock you will see some fantastic art sites and learn more about Aboriginal lifestyle and culture. A short climb to the top of Ubirr Rock will reward you with a 360 degree view over floodplains and the Arnhemland Escarpment - a spectacular sight.

Leaving Ubirr rock behind us, we head down the Arnhem Highway and drop into Mamukala Wetlands which offers the bird enthusiast a small paradise at various times of the year. What better way to finish the day than by sitting back and enjoying our private crocodile and wildlife cruise on Corroboree Billabong, a part of the Mary River system. You are bound to see plenty of wildlife and usually a lot of crocodiles on a 1.5 hour cruise that won't leave you disappointed. Return to Darwin in the early evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)