High Flyers Best of Top End

Location: Darwin and the Northern Territory's Top End
High Flyers Best of Top End

The best of Darwin tours in a single day.

You’ve come a long way to Darwin. Your valuable time is limited. You want to see it all and you want the real story. Bring the country to life on an Aboriginal guided Top End tour by luxury four-wheel drive vehicle, helicopter and boat. You’ll see the spectacular landscape of Litchfield National Park through Aboriginal eyes; see waterfalls, stone country and floodplains from the air; and see large saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat. Pamper yourself with a taste of adventure in safety and comfort.

Highlights

  • Your personable Aboriginal guide will treat you to the real story of the area with fun and laughter.
  • You’ll be picked up from your hotel and travel in a safe, comfortable, air-conditioned Landcruiser 200 GXL four-wheel drive vehicle, helicopter and boat.
  • You’ll see this pristine landscape from the air and be whisked away to the most exciting experiences the Top End has to offer.
  • You’ll get up close up to live, active crocodiles in their natural habitat on the tropical Adelaide River.
  • You’ll splash about and swim in clear, natural pools out of the reach of crocodiles.
  • You’ll enjoy fresh-cooked, wildcaught barramundi, crocodile and kangaroo for lunch as exclusive visitors to beautiful Woolaning Spring.
  • You’ll see spiritually important waterfalls and stone country, ancient rainforest and unspoilt woodland, and learn their places in Aboriginal culture.
  • 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bird’s eye view

You’ll take to the air and see Litchfield’s spectacular waterfalls and stone country as the birds do. Then head north-east to the Adelaide River floodplain to join your crocodile and birdlife tour.

Adelaide River crocs and birdlife

From the safety of a small, stable boat on the broad, tropical Adelaide River, you’ll get up close and personal with large saltwater crocodiles as they come in for a feed, and raptors as they swoop for theirs. The photo opportunities are amazing!

Floodplains and coast

Climb back aboard your helicopter as you return to Darwin in time for sunset over Darwin Harbour, markets and nightlife. On the way you’ll get fantastic views of the Top End coastline and the impossibly convoluted lower reaches of the Adelaide River as it wends its way through vast wetlands.
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Tour and Pricing Options

$2496 per person (min 2, max 8) per person (min 2 ; max 6)

Schedule Details

DepartsTours operate daily with a maximum of 6 adults.
Start Time7.30 am
Duration10 hours (approx.)
Pick Up / Departure
  • Tour picks up from all Darwin hotels
Drop Off / Return
  • Returns to original departure point about 5.30 pm

Tour and Pricing Options

Adult PriceAU $2496 per person (min 2, max 8)
Child PriceAU $2496 per person (min 2, max 8)

Additional Information

Inclusions

  • Transport by safe, comfortable, air-conditioned Landcruiser 200 GXL
  • Hotel pickup and drop off
  • Local Aboriginal guide
  • Delicious lunch of freshly cooked wild-caught barramundi, crocodile and kangaroo
  • Cool water, complimentary water bottles, bags and fact sheets.

Exclusions

  • Personal items

Cancellation Policy

  • If you are not fully satisfied with the quality of your tour, we will fully refund the tour price to you.
  • We endeavour to meet, but cannot guarantee, exact pick-up and drop-off times, nor that Tess Atie will be available to lead every tour.
  • We reserve the right to amend tour times and itineraries, without refund, due to road or area closures, emergency incidents, extreme weather events or other unforeseen circumstances to ensure the safety of our guests.
  • If the Bureau of Meteorology issues a tropical cyclone warning (meaning destructive winds are occurring or expected within 24 hours), we will cancel tours scheduled for the warning period.
  • We reserve the right to sell tours from time to time at special prices lower than the advertised rate.
  • We will charge you a minimum $30 administration fee if you require us to amend or cancel a confirmed tour. If you cancel a confirmed tour less than one month before departure, we will only refund 70% of the tour price. If you cancel a confirmed tour less than one week before departure, we will not refund any part of the tour price.
  • We reserve the right to cancel a tour that has only one person booked. In this happens, or if an exceptional and unforeseen circumstance forces us to cancel a tour before departure, we will fully refund the tour price to you.
  • We take all due care but accept no responsibility for injury, illness, loss or damage to any person or property sustained while on a tour.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking. Please ring 24 hours before departure to reconfirm. Please bring a hat, comfortable footwear for short walks in hot weather, and a swimming costume and towel. Not recommended for children under 3 years old.

Location Map

 T-Qual Australian Tourism Quality Assured accreditation
 Accredited Tourism Business Australia
 Eco certified ecotourism
 Respecting our Aboriginal culture
 Tourism Top End membership

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