2 day Litchfield & Kakadu

A taste of the Top End, visiting Litchfield National Park, Mary River wetlands and Kakadu National Park, overnighting at the award-winning Wildman Wilderness Lodge.

2 day Litchfield & Kakadu highlights

• Your personable Aboriginal guides will treat you to the real story of their own areas with fun and laughter.
• You’ll discover spectacular landscapes, fascinating pioneer heritage and rich Aboriginal traditions.
• You’ll be picked up from your hotel and travel in a safe, comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles.
• You’ll drive the famous Marrakai track, seeing a variety of wildlife you won’t see from the bitumen.
• You’ll see saltwater crocodiles, myriad waterbirds and iconic water buffalo in the wild.
• You’ll splash about and swim in clear, natural pools, out of the reach of crocodiles.
• You’ll enjoy freshly cooked wild-caught barramundi, crocodile and kangaroo for lunch as exclusive visitors to beautiful Woolaning Spring.
• You’ll see spiritually important wetlands, waterfalls and stone country, ancient rainforest and unspoilt woodland, and learn their places in Aboriginal culture.
• You’ll return from Kakadu by light plane.
• You’ll take away a deeper understanding of Aboriginal life, its relationship to country and its place in modern society.
• You’ll be enriched by this unforgettable experience.

2 day Litchfield & Kakadu itinerary

Pick up and return

We’ll pick you up for your Litchfield tour in a comfortable LandCruiser 200 GXL from your Darwin city accommodation between 7:15 and 7:30 am (a bit later for suburban and outlying accommodation, and 9:00 am from Batchelor). We’ll return you to Darwin about 5:30 pm (or Batchelor about 4:00 pm)

Finniss River Crossing

Back roads from Darwin take us to the Finniss River and beyond, into Tess’s family’s country. We’ll stretch our legs at this shady riverside stop and discover the resources available from this river country.
* From time to time during our tropical summer, from about December to May, road authorities close the back road into Litchfield National Park due to flooding at this crossing. When this occurs we will enter and leave Litchfield by the main road through the pretty town of Batchelor.

Wangi Falls

We’ll visit iconic Wangi Falls, its plunge pool a popular dry season swimming spot and a special place for indigenous women. Cool off with a swim or explore the nearby lush rainforest, home to a variety of birds and restless fruit bats. For the keen there may be an opportunity for a more strenuous walk around and over the falls.
* When water levels reach a pre-determined point during our tropical summer, from about December to May, park authorities close the Wangi Falls plunge pool to swimming due to strong currents and the potential for saltwater crocodiles to enter the plunge pool. Viewing the falls, however, and doing the walk around and over them, is safe and especially spectacular at this time of year.

Bush foods and medicines

We’ll find seasonal bush foods and medicines used by local Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Our guides show how string is handmade from local plants and describe the relationship of Litchfield’s landscape features to local indigenous culture.

Termite mounds

We’ll see and learn about the many termites, primary herbivores of the Northern Territory, and the huge housing complexes they build. Guests will be amazed at how indigenous people use these industrious creatures and their homes.

Woolaning Spring

As exclusive visitors to beautiful Woolaning Spring* we’ll enjoy a freshly cooked lunch of wildcaught barramundi, crocodile and kangaroo in nature’s rainforest dining room. We’ll take a therapeutic dip in the warm spring waters or explore the remains of Tess’s family’s sawmill camp.
* Woolaning Spring is on Tess’s family’s private land. During our tropical summer, from about December to May, the track into Woolaning Spring is sometimes too boggy to use. When this occurs we will enjoy our lunch at Wangi Falls.

Blyth Homestead on the Reynolds River Track

The four-wheel drive-only Reynolds River Track and two creek crossings lead us to heritage-listed Blyth Homestead. Tess’s uncle Max and Aunty Esther grew up here in this tiny, rough-hewn homestead their family built about 1928. Get a taste of pioneer life in the days of working cattle, tin and vegetables, carving out a living in this rugged environment.
* During our tropical summer, from about December to May, park authorities close the Reynolds River track due to flooding. When this occurs we will instead visit Tolmer Falls and experience the spectacular one kilometre walk through Litchfield’s stone country. The stone country comes alive at this time of year with a profusion of life and a gushing of water into Tolmer’s deep chasms. And you can swim without crowds or crocodiles in crystal clear Tolmer Creek.

Florence Falls

We’ll see stunning Florence Falls from the plateau-top lookout, a short walk from the car park. Keen swimmers can tackle the 135 stairs that lead down to the clear, refreshing waters of Florence’s stone-walled gorge and plunge pool. Easier walks allow swimming too, in the warmer waters above Florence Falls.

Marrakai track

The former ‘main road’ to the floodplains that became part of Kakadu National Park is now an adventurous four-wheel drive track with a deep ford across the Adelaide River. You’ll see wildlife along the track and pass through iconic Territory cattle stations.

Wildman Wilderness Lodge

Wildman Wilderness Lodge is a small-scale, high quality safari lodge. Its teeming wildlife and lush wetlands are a world far removed from your own, yet with all the modern comforts of luxury safari tent-style accommodation, delicious meals and wine to enjoy at the end of the day.

Sunrise wetlands cruise

Enjoy a one hour cruise on Home Billabong as the sun warms up and nature comes to life. You are likely to glide past prehistoric looking crocodiles, an amazing array of birdlife and an abundance of wildflowers. It is an ever-changing, living ecosystem which is both beautiful and  fascinating.

Ubirr

Meet your guide and traditional Aboriginal owner of northern Kakadu National Park to visit the world-renowned Ubirr rock art site. Its spectacular array of galleries showcase art from 20,000 years ago up to the 20^th century. Take in elevated, expansive views across the Nadab floodplain.

East Alligator River

Enjoy a gourmet picnic in the shade of large paperbarks and rainforest trees as the East Alligator River flows lazily by. Drop in a line and try for the Top End’s famous barramundi.

Guluyambi

Join the fascinating Guluyambi Cultural Cruise along the East Alligator River with a local Aboriginal guide, who’ll point out a wide variety of wildlife and introduce you to the Aboriginal cultural context of the west Arnhemland area.

Bowali

At the Bowali Visitor Centre  you will learn more about the vast lands of Kakadu and how they are jointly managed by Traditional Owners and the Australian Government. Visit the Marrawuddi Gallery with its range of local art work, books and photographs of the region.

Jabiru

From Jabiru airport you’ll board a light plane for the return journey to Darwin.