Northern Exposure
Five day/five night Nature, Culture, History and Adventure Tour
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Five day, five night tour Includes Rock art, Guluyambi Cultural Cruise and sunset at Ubirr, Yellow Water Cruise on the South Alligator River, swimming at Maguk plunge pool and falls, Two Gorge Cruise at Katherine Gorge, swimming at waterfalls in Litchfield National Park Northern Exposure takes you to Kakadu, Katherine and Litchfield, the highlights of Australia's Top End. Total distance covered - 1200 kilometres.Route map for the Northern Exposure tour. Numbers show where we spend each night. (photo copyright Tourism NT)
- Will this tour suit me? This tour is for people who want a taste of the Territory sampling our unique Nature, Culture, History and Adventure. All accommodation is in comfortable air-conditioned rooms with ensuites. We enjoy bush breakfasts at beautiful locations surrounded by birdlife at its busiest. Lunch is enjoyed out in the field and dinners are ala carte menus at resorts or restaurants. Walks and swims, moderate level of fitness required. Suit families. Groups are small, with a maximum of only six enthusiastic adventurers.
- Cost - $2565 per person twin share
- 2017 dates - March 6-10, April 3-7, May 8-12,
"With only four days available to visit Darwin, the Kakadu National Park, Katherine Gorge and Mataranka Springs, Mike Jarvis provided a wonderful glimpse of Australia's "Top End". His knowledge and wild-life expertise made this tour one of the most exciting and interesting we have experienced in Oz. Bush breakfasts, rock paintings, bird watching and short hikes all combined into a trip of a lifetime. Experience The Wild can definitely arrange an itinerary to suit your interests."
Hermoine and Andrew
Victoria, Australia
December 2013
Itinerary
Pre-tour accommodation at Palms City Resort
DAY 1 - DARWIN TO KAKADU - Rock art and Wetlands
7.30am Depart Darwin in our 4 wheel drive vehicle and head out to Kakadu National Park. On the way we stop in at Window on the Wetlands for a birds eye view of the Adelaide River floodplains. Visit Mamukala for birdwatching over the wetlands then out to the East Alligator River to join a two hour Guluyumbi boat cruise. From here its on to Ubirr Rock to marvel at ancient Aboriginal rock art and then sunset over the East Alligator floodplains. Overnight accommodation and dinner at the world famous Crocodile Hotel (built in the shape of an enormous crocodile) at Jabiru.
Dinner and accommodation at Gagadju Crocodile Holiday Inn, Jabiru
DAY 2 - KAKADU TO KATHERINE - Yellow Water Cruise and Waterfall Swim
For early risers you have the option of a morning flight over Kakadu (extra cost). After breakfast we tour the southern section of Kakadu including Bowali visitor centre, Nourlangie Rock, we join the amazing Yellow Waters cruise to see an amazing array of birdlife, crocodiles and learn about the way local indigenous people are still using the rivers and floodplains as they have for thousands of years. We visit Maguk waterfall and plunge pool (time permitting) where we enjoy a one kilometre walk though paperbark forest and following a beautiful creek, to a pool for a delightful swim. From there we leave Kakadu and overnight at the quirky but comfortable Lazy Lizard in Pine Creek.
Dinner and accommodation at Pine Creek
Day 3 PINE CREEK TO KATHERINE GORGE
Learn about the Pine Creek gold rush that left a mark on Darwin's history. Lunch and swim at remote Umbrawarra Gorge. Continue down to Katherine Gorge, at 3pm board a tour boat for a two hour Two Gorge Cultural Cruise into Nitmiluk down the same magnificent gorge.
Dinner and accommodation at Katherine
DAY 4 - KATHERINE to LAKE BENNETT - Explore Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls
Depart Katherine and explore Edith Falls which is part of Nitmiluk National Park. Lunch beside a dam which is now inhabited by Johnstone's Crocodiles and attracts a good variety of wetland birds. Continue on to the lovely Lake Bennett Resort, rest or engage in activities such as swimming or canoeing, walks or bird watching at the resort.
Dinner and accommodation at Lake Bennett Resort
DAY 5 - LAKE BENNETT TO DARWIN - Explore Litchfield National Park
From Lake Bennett we head into Litchfield National Park via the small town of Batchelor and we stop to view the unique Magnetic Termite Mounds, standing up to two metres high and built on a north-south axis.
Then we call in to Florence Falls, a spectacular double waterfall and monsoon forest, look out for Short-eared Rock Wallabies and Olive Pythons in the vicinity.
We leave the sealed road and take the 4wd track down to the Blyth Homestead. This is the ruin of an old homestead, built in 1929 and occupied by the Sergeant family until the 1960’s.
Continuing further along the 4wd track*, we have a picnic lunch at Tjaynera camp grounds, then a 3.4 km return walk through monsoon forest and along the edge of Sandy Creek to the beautiful and uncrowded Tjaynera Falls for a refreshing (and safe from crocodiles) swim**.
Depart Tjaynera, and call in to see the magnificent Wangi (pronounced Wong-eye) Falls, before leaving Litchfield National Park via the unsealed back road. We stop for a moment to take in the beauty of the Finniss River, no swimming though, crocs inhabit this river.
6.30pm Arrive at Darwin accommodation
*not accessible during the wet season
**other croc-safe swimming options with a shorter walk are Wangi and Florence Falls
Inclusions - One night at Crocodile Inn, Jabiru (queen bed and single x 3), one night at Knott’s Crossing, Katherine (queen bed and single x 3), one night at Lake Bennett Resort (Lakeview Suite x 2), Guluyambi Cruise, Yellow Waters Cruise, all meals, Kakadu Park entry fees. Cold water, tea and coffee and refreshments available at all times. GST.
Please Note - The above itinerary is based on the outcomes of many previous tours to the areas described. Each season is different and as various wildlife observing opportunities arise and depending on the preferences of the group, adjustments will be made. June, July and August are the most comfortable months weather-wise and September/October slightly better in terms of bird numbers, but can be more hot and humid.
Inclusions - Accommodation is all in comfortable air-conditioned rooms. Cold water, tea and coffee and refreshments available at all times. Meals are bush breakfast - choice of cereals, fresh fruit, yogurt, milk; lunch - salads with tinned fish or meat and breads; dinner - ala carte at restaurants.
Exclusions - Post tour accommodation, purchases of a personal nature such as souvenirs, internet use, etc. *Palms City Resort will give you any extra nights before or after the tour at our 'Experience the Wild' rate which is $195 per night.
Group tour - $2565 per person twin share, single supplement $455
Private Charter - $7,845 for two
All prices are in Australian dollars. Please click here for conversion to your currency.
Booking Procedure - You can book directly using our secure online booking site by clicking here. Payment options are Visa, Mastercard, Paypal or Bank Transfer. A 20% deposit secures the booking, the balance is due 30 days prior to start of tour. Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries regarding the tour.
Further Information - Visit our FAQ page to learn more about how our tours run. Visit our 'Darwin Accommodation' links page to find some helpful suggestions for pre and post tour arrangements. Our Terms and Conditions document outlines our cancellation and refund policy. Email enquiries@experiencethewild.com.au or ring Jenny or Mike on 0400 404 058