7 Day Top End Adventurer

A fantastic overview of the magical 'Top End' - From Darwin to Katherine through Kakadu back to Darwin7 Day 'Top End Adventurer'- Waterfalls, Rivers, Wildlife, and Kakadu

Accommodation: 2 nights bush camping, 3 nights budget motel, 1 night standing camp Kakadu
Departures: June/July/August ONLY - Wednesdays & Saturdays (from Darwin)
Tour size: min 2, max 6

2011 Cost: $2,420.00 (Twin/Double)
                  $2,620.00 (Single supplement)
                  $2240.00  (9-13yr share)
Tour code: LKGK7

1 day touring through Litchfield National Park on the way to Katherine. Travel with our touring Partners TRAVEL NORTH and visit the famous waterfalls of Litchfield. Enjoy a swim in the fresh, cool waters.
Highlights on the day include Magnetic Termite Mounds, the magnificent falls of Tolmer, Wangi, Florence and the truly beautiful Buley Rockhole. Enjoy lunch and a swim at the falls, before continuing to Katherine via Adelaide River. Arrive in Katherine approximately 5:30pm. Tour finishes in Katherine approx. 5:30pm.

3 days of kayaking for serenity, fun and lots of wildlife. (Overnight Bush camping on exclusive sandy beaches).

A Cruise in the majestic 'Nitmiluk National Park'. Enjoy a boat cruise in the Gorge with Nitmiluk Tours.

2 Days in KAKADU. Again travelling with our touring partners TRAVEL NORTH, tour to waterfalls, wetlands and aboriginal rock art sites. (Click here for your itinerary).

Meals and Accommodation: 3 nights Motel and 3 nights camping, that is 2 nights camped under the stars at secluded riverside camps, (swag - or bedroll style), and 1 night in Travel North's semi permanent standing camp in Kakadu

Evening Meals: While in Katherine accommodation evening meals are not provided, so that you may have your choice of where and when, you want to eat.

Nitmiluk National Park is well serviced by Parks staff and rangers. Your day in Nitmiluk Gorge is with Nitmiluk Tours and includes transport and a guided boat cruise. You will have time to explore the walking trails and visit the interpretive display at the Visitor Information Centre. 

Itinerary

Day 1 – L, Accommodated – You will be picked up by our touring partner (Travel North) from your Darwin accommodation. This is the start of a wonderful experience in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Today you will travel through Litchfield National Park. Famous for its accessible waterfalls with lovely clear and safe swimming holes, Litchfield will be an enticing taste of what the Territory has to offer. After Litchfield, the journey continues down the historic ‘Stuart Highway, through the towns of Adelaide River and Pine creek, where your guide will convey much of the interesting history of the settlement in the area. Upon arrival in Katherine, you will be taken to your accommodation.

Day 2 – L, D, Camping - You will be met at your Katherine accommodation between 7-7:30 am (0700- 0730). You will then be transferred in a 4WD vehicle to Gecko premises, where you will pack your personal effects required for the tour into waterproof bags. You will be fitted with Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) a requirement, to be worn whilst on the river.
You will then be transferred to the Katherine River in a 4WD vehicle, sometimes over un-made roads and tracks. A safety brief and paddling instructions for kayaking and canoeing will be given before entering the water.At a relaxing rate, there will be stops along the river for a morning break, lunch, swim and time to view the diverse river environment, bird and wildlife. Approximately 4 pm (1600) you will step ashore for an overnight remote camping experience (no set campsites). There will be time to relax; fish or read all whilst your guide prepares the evening meal. After a campfire meal, enjoyed with your favourite bottle of wine or spirit, sleep in a bed-roll (swag) under a blanket of stars.

Day 3 – B,L,D, Camping - Wake to a dawn chorus in the brisk morning air. There is time for an early morning swim. After a hearty cooked breakfast, we pack-up camp and continue paddling down-stream. As we get further from immediate civilisation, the feel of remoteness sets in. The river continues to change from shady paperbark forests to lush pandanus channels, through open sections, surrounded by the river woods and over some small sparkling rapids which are fun and easy to negotiate. At the end of this satisfying day, you will find yourself in a bit of a routine and will have camp set-up quickly. Leaving yourself enough time to explore, relax, chat , check-out some animal tracks or just ‘find yourself’.

Day 4 – B, L Accommodated – After continuing down through the ever-changing river scenery, you will feel truly ‘connected’ with your surrounds, hearing every little chirp, rustle and splash and then spotting the initiator of these ‘sounds of the bush’. At approximately 2:30pm (14:30), you will be picked up from the river and transferred in a 4WD back to Gecko premises to collect your belongings. You will then be transferred to your Katherine accommodation. Tour end 5:30 pm approximately.

Day 5 – Accommodated – A shuttle bus from ‘Nitmiluk Tours’ will collect you and take you out to the ‘sensational ‘Nitmiluk National Park’ for a Gorge Cruise. Feel the magic of the Gorge at a relaxed leisurely pace. Your knowledgeable guides will bring to life the stories of Bula the Creator, and Nabilil, a dragon like creature of mythology who camped at the entrance to the Gorge and heard the song of the cicada – Nit...Nit...Nit, and called the place Nitmiluk. A return shuttle to your accommodation is included of course.

Day 6 – L, D Safari Camp – You will be picked up by our touring partner (Travel North) from your accommodation at 7:30am for an exciting 2 days in Kakadu, World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park. Enjoy the splendour of Edith Falls, a deep pool fringed by pandanus palm and high cliffs, before entering Kakadu National Park via Pine Creek and Mary River. We then go to Cooinda, home of the Yellow Water cruises. Enjoy the variety of birds, wildlife and crocodiles on a sunset cruise. Overnight at the Travel North Safari Camp.

Day 7- B, L Depart at 7:00am for Nourlangie Rock, just magic at this time of the morning. Today will create long lasting memories of Kakadu for you, including Ubirr, Bowali, Border Store, East Alligator and so much more....... Arrive Darwin approximately 5:30pm

Fact Sheet

The Area - Katherine Region
Katherine: 324 kilometres south of Darwin, Northern Territory. The majority of our 4WD tours take place in the Katherine Region, including Elsey National Park, Kakadu National Park & Gregory National Park. The areas that we travel through are quite remote and represent a real opportunity for an environmental experience. We try our hardest to stay away from the major tourist crowds (in order to see some of the attractions you do have to grin and bear it, however!)The local flora and fauna is prolific (sometimes shy) and the scenery is varied and beautiful. The diversity of the landscape is high, with low wetland areas spreading out across the many floodplains enabling the birdlife to nest, feed and survive the long ‘Dry Season’.
The Katherine Region is a terrific place to visit and base your Northern Territory experience from. We are close to The Kimberley, Gregory National Park, Elsey National Park, Manyallaluk, Kakadu Heritage Area and of course, right on our doorstep, is the magnificent Katherine/Flora/Daly River System.

The Vehicle
We use a Toyota Landcruiser Troop Carrier (with 8 side facing bench seats) to transfer to and from our river canoeing tours. Our Touring Partner ‘Travel North’, use comfortably outfitted 20 seat ‘Coaster Buses’, which are ideal for the sealed road touring aspects of the Kakadu tour.

Where We Stop
On the river we have no designated campsites, all are well equipped and remote. Whilst driving we stop at Cooinda in Kakadu. We cannot escape the tourist crowds here, however we do try to get away and find our own space as much as possible.

How Far, How Long and When?
Typically, a 3 day driving trip can cover up to 1000km of sealed roads. The River tour will encompass upto 50km of gentle paddling (or 15-18km per day).
This 7 package operates June, July & August only. The temperature ranges from 24 C to 39 C, but the nights from June to August can be cool, dropping to 8 degrees Celsius.

Tour Accommodation
Katherine accommodation is Motel standard. This may be described as comfortable 2-3 star.

The River Campsites
Well equipped. They include: • Dining tables and chairs (with back rests) • Cooking grill & kettle • When in Kakadu we will camp at the Travel North Safari Camp – showers and toiletsWhen canoeing you are supplied with: • A screen tent which enables you to look at the stars • A canvas bedroll, ‘we call it a swag’ • A comfortable foam mattress • A sleeping bag which can be fully opened • A liner (or sheet) and pillow, a torch & mosquito repellent

The Meals
Always a surprise for the nature enthusiasts! All hearty home style fresh food.
Breakfasts are cereal and fruit, tea & coffee
Dinners are cooked on the grill
Lunches are ‘sandwich’ or ‘wrap’ style with cold meat and salad
Tea, Coffee and Hot chocolate are available at camps

What You Need to Bring
We recommend that you pack lightly and limit the space required. A packing list will be provided for you. You are able to bring along a bottle or two of your favourite dinner wine. We have little space for cold drinks such as beer or soft drinks (don’t go overboard!).

Please Bring
Sturdy walking shoes (flat soled)
‘Watersport’ shoes (with toe protection and sturdy soles are ideal)
Sun smart clothes
Swim wear
Hat (broad rimmed)
Insect repellent and sunscreen
Camera & Binoculars

The group size
Litchfield day – maximum 20 passengers
River Tour – maximum 8 guests (unless family booking of more is required)
Kakadu – maximum 20 passengers
Nitmiluk day – may be a larger group of up to 40 (the boats are spacious).

Included

Start and Finish in Darwin
3 Day Multiple Award winning adventure and ecotourism ‘River Tour’ experience
1 Day Litchfield National Park Tour
Gorge Cruise of the famous Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge
2 Day Kakadu Tour
Yellow Water Sunset Boat Cruise

View: LitchfieldNationalPark, Magnetic Termite Mounds, Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Adelaide River, Pine Creek, Edith Falls, NitmilukGorge,  The vast Kakadu World Heritage Park

Experience: Stunning Escarpments, Ancient Aboriginal Rock-art Sites,  Exclusive Bush camping, Spiritual significance of the Jawoyn country in Nitmiluk,  Wildlife encounters.

Not included:  3 X Breakfasts, 1 X Lunch and 3 X Dinners (please see ‘B, L, D annotation on itinerary)