Northern Territory
5
Day Itinerary •
Australia
Five days in the Northern Territory give you the full extraordinary sweep of Australia's most ancient and spiritually significant landscapes, from Darwin's remarkable tropical harbour and the extraordinary Kakadu National Park wetlands and rock art to the extraordinary Litchfield waterfalls, the sacred Uluru at sunrise and sunset and the remarkable Kata Tjuta domes of the Western Desert. This route covers the complete Northern Territory experience. Darwin's Mindil Beach markets and the World War Two oil storage tunnels, Kakadu's extraordinary Yellow Water wetland cruise and the finest Aboriginal rock art in Australia, the extraordinary Litchfield National Park waterfalls and termite cathedrals, and Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the Red Centre.
Best Time To Visit
Apr to Sep (dry season). Kakadu wetlands best Jun to Aug. Uluru year-round.
Getting There
Fly to Darwin from major cities. Internal flight Darwin to Uluru.
Getting Around
Car hire in Darwin essential. Hire car or tour at Yulara.
Budget Per Day
Approx A$250 to A$550 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate. Uluru base walk and Kings Canyon rim walk are moderate.
DAY 1
DARWIN CITY
MORNING
DARWIN WATERFRONT AND THE ESPLANADE
Darwin's extraordinary waterfront precinct on the Timor Sea gives the finest tropical harbour experience in Australia, the remarkable wave lagoon, the fine Stokes Hill Wharf and the extraordinary view across Darwin Harbour to the opposite headland giving the finest free morning in the Territory. The remarkable Darwin Museum and Art Gallery of the NT on the Esplanade contains the extraordinary Cyclone Tracy exhibit showing the 1974 cyclone that destroyed the city. Museum free. Travel: 15 min drive
MIDDAY
DARWIN WWII OIL TUNNEL TOUR
The Darwin WWII Oil Storage Tunnels are the most extraordinary World War Two attraction in Australia, the remarkable underground oil storage tunnels built in 1942 to supply the Allied war effort in the Pacific and the extraordinary exhibits showing Darwin's role as the most bombed city in Australia during the war giving the finest single WWII heritage experience in the country. Darwin was bombed 64 times in 1942 to 1943. Tour approx A$22. Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
MINDIL BEACH SUNSET MARKET
The Mindil Beach Sunset Market is the most extraordinary outdoor market in Australia, its remarkable Thursday and Sunday evening setting on the beach with extraordinary food stalls from 60 countries, fine craft and live music and the most remarkable Indian Ocean sunset in Darwin giving the finest single evening experience in the Territory. The extraordinary diversity of food and the remarkable beach setting are outstanding. Market entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens is the most extraordinary free tropical garden in Australia, its remarkable collection of tropical palms and the extraordinary cycad forest giving the finest free morning walk in Darwin. Entirely free. The finest hidden free experience in Darwin.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Darwin Outstanding tropical Darwin cafe. Local tropical fruit and barramundi. | Lunch: Stokes Hill Wharf cafe Outstanding Darwin waterfront. Local fish and barramundi. | Dinner: Mindil Beach Sunset Market Outstanding global street food at the extraordinary beach market.
DAY 2
KAKADU
MORNING
YELLOW WATER WETLAND DAWN CRUISE
The Yellow Water wetland dawn cruise at Cooinda is the most extraordinary wildlife boat experience in Australia, the remarkable saltwater crocodiles basking on the banks, the extraordinary jabiru storks, brolgas, sea eagles and the fine lotus bird walking on lily pads giving the finest wildlife cruise in the Territory. The extraordinary diversity of over 280 bird species in Kakadu and the remarkable crocodile encounters at close range are outstanding. Cruise approx A$65. Travel: 1.5 hour drive
MIDDAY
NOURLANGIE ROCK ART GALLERY
Nourlangie in Kakadu contains the most extraordinary accessible Aboriginal rock art in Australia, the remarkable Anbangbang Gallery with its extraordinary X-ray style paintings of the creator beings Namarrgon and Barrginj and the fine Anbangbang Billabong below giving the finest single rock art site in the country. The extraordinary Gunwarddehwardde Lookout above the gallery gives the finest panorama over the Kakadu escarpment. Walk free with park entry. Travel: 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
UBIRR ROCK ART AND NADAB LOOKOUT
Ubirr in Kakadu's East Alligator region is the most extraordinary multi-period rock art gallery in Australia, the remarkable collection spanning styles from simple handprints to extraordinary X-ray paintings of fish and kangaroos to contact-era images of sailing vessels giving the finest archaeological record in rock art. The remarkable Nadab Lookout above Ubirr gives the most extraordinary panorama over the East Alligator floodplain and Arnhem Land beyond. Free with park entry.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Gunlom Falls in southern Kakadu is the most extraordinary hidden waterfall in the park, a remarkable swimming hole at the top of the escarpment with the finest panorama over southern Kakadu accessible only on a 2-hour return walk. Free with park entry. 4WD recommended. The finest hidden experience in Kakadu.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before dawn cruise Very early departure for Yellow Water. | Lunch: Cafe at Kakadu visitor hub Outstanding Territory food. Local barramundi and bush tucker. | Dinner: Cooinda Lodge or return to Darwin Outstanding Territory dinner. Local barramundi and crocodile.
DAY 3
LITCHFIELD
MORNING
LITCHFIELD CATHEDRAL TERMITE MOUNDS
The magnetic termite mounds at Litchfield National Park are the most extraordinary natural construction in Australia, the remarkable 2-metre-tall flattened mounds built by termites with their flat faces oriented precisely north-south to regulate temperature giving the finest natural curiosity in the Territory. The extraordinary cathedral termite mounds nearby rising to 8 metres are the finest single termite construction in Australia. Entirely free with park entry. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
WANGI FALLS SWIM
Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park is the most extraordinary swimming waterfall in the Territory, the remarkable twin waterfalls dropping into an extraordinary deep pool surrounded by tropical monsoon forest giving the finest swimming hole in the NT. The remarkable short walk around the pool and the fine views of both falls from the swimming area are outstanding. The extraordinary monsoon forest walk through ancient cycads is outstanding. Free with park entry. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
FLORENCE FALLS AND THE TABLETOP RETURN
Florence Falls in Litchfield is the most extraordinary double waterfall in the Territory, the remarkable twin falls dropping 25 metres into a deep plunge pool in extraordinary monsoon forest and the fine boardwalk descent to the pool giving the finest waterfall swimming in Litchfield. The remarkable Tabletop Range view from the escarpment above Florence Falls gives the finest panorama in the park. Free with park entry.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Buley Rockhole in Litchfield is the most extraordinary hidden swimming series in the park, a remarkable series of natural rock pools connected by cascades in an extraordinary creek setting with almost no other visitors compared to the main falls. Entirely free. The finest undiscovered swimming experience in Litchfield National Park.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Darwin Before the Litchfield drive. | Lunch: Cafe at Litchfield or Batchelor Outstanding Territory pub or roadhouse food. | Dinner: Restaurant in Darwin Outstanding Territory dining. Local barramundi, buffalo and Territory prawns.
DAY 4
ULURU
MORNING
ULURU SUNRISE
Uluru at sunrise is the most extraordinary natural spectacle in Australia, the remarkable 348-metre monolith transforming from black to purple to vivid orange and red as the first light strikes its ancient surface. The extraordinary Talinguru Nyakunytjaku sunrise viewing area gives the finest viewpoint in the Red Centre, the remarkable silhouette of Kata Tjuta visible to the west and the extraordinary desert plain stretching to the horizon. Viewing free with park entry. Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
ULURU BASE WALK AND CULTURAL SITES
The Uluru base walk gives the finest encounter with the world's most sacred rock, the remarkable 10.6km circuit passing the extraordinary Mutitjulu Waterhole, the fine Kantju Gorge, the extraordinary Taputji and Tjukiki sites and the remarkable ancient rock paintings giving the most complete cultural encounter with Uluru available. The Anangu Cultural Centre before the walk gives the finest context for the Tjukurpa law. Walk free with park entry. Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
ULURU SUNSET VIEWING
The Uluru sunset viewing area gives the most extraordinary natural colour display in Australia, the remarkable rock changing from vivid orange to deep red to purple to black as the sun sets behind Kata Tjuta. The extraordinary Field of Light installation when operating gives the finest after-dark experience at Uluru. The remarkable desert silence as the light fades and the extraordinary star canopy of the Red Centre emerging are outstanding.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Uluru Astro Tour is the most extraordinary stargazing experience in the Red Centre, the remote outback location giving the finest dark sky in Australia with a remarkable astronomer guide interpreting the extraordinary southern sky. Tour approx A$65. The finest hidden night experience at Uluru.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast at Yulara Before the sunrise drive to Uluru. | Lunch: Kulata Academy Cafe Outstanding Anangu-inspired cafe. Bush tucker ingredients and Territory produce. | Dinner: Sounds of Silence Dinner, Yulara Outstanding outback dinner under the stars beside Uluru. Approx A$250.
DAY 5
KATA TJUTA
MORNING
KATA TJUTA VALLEY OF THE WINDS WALK
The Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta is the most extraordinary walk in the Red Centre after Uluru, the remarkable 7.4km circuit through the extraordinary narrow gorges and wide valleys between the 36 domed rocks giving the finest enclosed landscape experience in Australia. The remarkable Karu and Karingana lookouts give the finest panoramic views over the domes and the desert plain. The extraordinary sense of scale inside the domes is outstanding. Walk free with park entry. Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
WALPA GORGE WALK
Walpa Gorge between two of the tallest Kata Tjuta domes is the most extraordinary short walk in the Red Centre, the remarkable 2.6km return walk through an extraordinary narrow gorge of towering conglomerate walls giving the finest enclosed geological experience at Kata Tjuta. The extraordinary silence, the fine plant life surviving in the gorge shade and the remarkable geology of the ancient domes are outstanding. Walk free with park entry. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
RED CENTRE FAREWELL AND YULARA VILLAGE
The Yulara resort village gives the finest departure from the Red Centre, the remarkable Ayers Rock Resort Gallery with its extraordinary Indigenous art collection and the fine Outback Pioneer Hotel with its authentic Territory atmosphere giving the finest farewell to the extraordinary Red Centre. The remarkable desert landscape visible from the Yulara lookout and the extraordinary silence of the outback are outstanding.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Kata Tjuta sunset viewing area gives the most extraordinary golden hour experience in the Red Centre, the remarkable domes turning vivid gold and orange in the setting sun in a different spectacle to Uluru but equally extraordinary. Entirely free with park entry. Often missed by visitors who only watch Uluru sunset.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast at Yulara Before the Valley of the Winds walk. | Lunch: Cafe at Kata Tjuta or Yulara Outstanding Red Centre cafe. Territory produce. | Dinner: Outback Pioneer Hotel BBQ, Yulara Outstanding Territory farewell BBQ. Local kangaroo, camel and Territory lamb.
Where To Stay
Darwin, Nights 1 to 3 Vibe Hotel or DoubleTree Darwin. City centre. Approx A$150 to A$350. Kakadu overnight (optional) Aurora Kakadu or Cooinda Lodge. Approx A$150 to A$280. Yulara (Uluru), Nights 4 to 5 Longitude 131 or Sails in the Desert. Approx A$250 to A$1000.
Top Tips
1. Please do not climb Uluru. The Anangu Traditional Owners have asked visitors not to climb as it is sacred.
2. Yellow Water cruise must be booked at Cooinda Lodge in advance. Dawn departures give the best wildlife.
3. Kings Canyon rim walk must start before 9am October to April. The ascent is steep but worth it.
4. Litchfield swimming holes are safe from crocodiles but always check local signage before entering water.
5. The Kakadu park pass is valid for multiple days. Keep it for all park entry checkpoints.
6. Mindil Beach Sunset Market in Darwin runs Thursday and Sunday May to October only. Check dates in advance.
Total Budget
Approx A$250 to A$550 per person per day