Travel to the 25+ Things To Do Around Darwin on a 5 Day Self Discovery Drive
25+ Things to do around Darwin
The city of Darwin is a lovely place to relax. The wave pool, boardwalks and cafes around Kitchener Bay and the war memorabilia will keep you occupied for days or weeks, however if you are a nature lover, the real sights to see and remember are the ones outside of Darwin. Day 1 Darwin to Kakadu Kakadu, is the largest National Park in Australia, spanning 20,000 square kilometres and a UNESCO World Heritage Listed National Park and as you could imagine, the 3 hour journey from Darwin to Kakadu has a diverse scenery change and as much as you may want to get there in one hit, the stop over for lunch at the South Alligator River will be well worth it to view your first wild full length crocodiles! Your journey from Darwin to Kakadu National Park will lead you to the village of Jabiru where you can stop in at Bowali Visitor Centre to get a feel for what the park has to offer and its historical significance. The Bowali Visitor Centre also guides you to the features of the park which may be open or closed. In the wet season, many roads become flooded, therefore it might be useful to call ahead to see if the trip is worth it. If the roads are flooded, you always have the option of taking a scenic flight over the magical escarpments which border Kakadu and Arnhemland which is well worth it. Drive Time: 2 hours 45 minutes 253km Day 2 Kakadu National Park t's time to practice your spear throwing in Arnhemland on a Guluyambi Cultural Cruise. Arnhemland also has ancient Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr and if you continue climbing to the top of the rocky lookout you can experience the beautiful views over the Nardab floodplain for yourself. While you're in Kakadu National Park, revel in the knowledge that there is over 5,000 rock art sites however you can't miss the historical Nourlangie Rock to spot some of the most famous Australian Indigenous art works. Drive Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes 115km Day 3 Kakadu National Park to Katherine Day 3 starts at the crack of dawn as you don't have a lot of time to squeeze everything in. Kakadu National Park is all about experiencing the water and if you have a little more time up your sleeve, this is where you would want to extend your stay. Start at Yellow Water for an optional water cruise however the real highlight of the day is seeing the waterfalls.
Swimming at Twin Falls and Jim Jam Falls are not recommended due to crocodiles however Maguk and Edith Falls are popular swimming spots where you can remove yourself from the excessive heat. The magical top and bottom pools of Edith Falls is one of the world's most idyllic natural pools, the crystal clear water glistening over the rich red escarpments is something not to be missed. The easy walk to the bottom pools can be done through the caravan park entry however the top pools walk needs a little more endurance. You need to walk up the escarpment in direct sunlight, so make sure you bring plenty of water to drink, a hat and some sunscreen.  After you are cooled off and refreshed, your next stop is the town of Katherine for some fuel and food supplies, then as the day draws to a close, drive up to Katherine Gorge to camp and reflect on the beautiful places you have been to in the campgrounds pool. Drive time: 7 hours and 37 minutes if you stay at the National Park Campgrounds at Twin Falls at the end of day 2 and Nitmiluk National Park Campground at the end of Day 3. Day 4 Katherine Gorge to Litchfield National Park Katherine Gorge is well known as a superb canoeing spot, so that's exactly what we have lined up, and again, if you have some time up your sleeves, staying at Katherine Gorge for multiple nights will certainly get you in a relaxed and calm state before heading back to Darwin. If canoeing in Crocodile infested waters is not your cup of tea. The 3 gorge cruise with a swim in the majestic gorge (which is not as popular with the crocodiles) is well worth the cost. The open barge type boat allows you to see the escarpments up close, feel the air on your cheeks and smell the beautiful ochre meeting the water. Unwillingly peeling yourself away from the Gorge it's time to get back on the famous Stuart Highway heading to Batchelor to witness the gateway to the stunning Litchfield National Park. Drive Time: 3 hours 28 min 307km. Day 5 Litchfield National Park to Darwin Litchfield National Park sees majestic Kakadu National Park and raises it twofold. Out of the dry heat of Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park is a balmy paradise. There are so many waterfalls in the area, you could easily spend a few days relaxing by the pools however if you only have a day the three water spots I recommend are:
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