5 Day Top End Explorer

May - Nov 2008 $765.00 plus $90.00 pay on board

* VIP, YHA & Student Discounts Available *

or Call Toll Free 1300 880 835

Tour code: 5TE
KAKADU, KATHERINE & LITCHFIELD
DEPARTS DARWIN TUESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY:
(MAY - NOV 2008)

DAY 1:
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 rock pools 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. Our company also holds a permit to access Upper Sandy Creek Falls which can be substituted by the guide to replace some of the above crowded destinations. 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 bush camp near Katherine after a day full of swimming, adventure and great scenery.
(Lunch, Dinner)

Camp: Bush camp
Walking: 4 - 7 km

DAY 2:
Katherine. We make an early start today so that we can try to avoid the crowds that will build up in the first few gorges here. Jump into your canoes after breakfast and spend most of the day exploring this region. Today can be taken at your leisure or be an extremely active adventure - the choice is yours. For those who are keen, we will aim to canoe to the end of the 3rd gorge. For those who are less keen, you can spend some time relaxing once we reach the 2nd gorge and be picked up on the return journey. After canoeing, we make our way into Kakadu and stop for a swim at Moline Rockhole, one of our permit areas. This beautiful waterfall is located in the very southern end of Kakadu and is perfect for cooling down before we make our way to the evening campsite.Today is a great day full of awesome scenery, Aboriginal Art sites, waterfalls, birds and adventure. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Camp: Minimal Facility Campground
Canoeing: 10-12km
Walking: 1km

DAY 3:
Kakadu. Our first highlight today is enjoying the picturesque surroundings of Barramundi Gorge where you can spend some time exploring, rock climbing, relaxing or swimming in the waterfalls, the choice is yours. A cultural experience awaits you when we visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, where you can wander amongst hands on displays and learn about the local clan groups and their lifestyles. 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. 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. On our way back to camp we stop to climb to the top of Budjmii Lookout to view the landscape surrounding Jim Jim and Twin Falls. Our safari camp permit in this region allows peaceful camping only 30 minutes drive from Jim Jim Falls and enables us to select the best location in the campground. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Camp: Garnamarr Campground (Safari Camp)
Walking: 5 km

DAY 4:
Kakadu. Today we spend the whole day around Jim Jim Falls and also go exploring on top of the Arnhemland Escarpment, this will be a day that you won't forget! A great hike known as the Barrk Marlam Walk will take you to the Top of Jim Jim Falls and reward you with a magnificent view down the gorge. Spend a while swimming, bushwalking and rock climbing then enjoy your lunch at the top of Jim Jim Falls away from the crowds! In the afternoon a swim in the plunge pool at the base of Jim Jim Falls is sure to cool you down as you relax 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. Tonight you will be able to enjoy a candlelit dinner in the heart of Kakadu.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Camp: Minimal Facility Campground
Walking: 10 km

DAY 5:
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)

Walking: 3 km