5 Days in Darwin
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 341
5 Days in Darwin
Well, I'm in need of a little assistance with this one, it was a last minute add on. So much to do and see. We plan on spending one night in the middle of the stay at Kakadu, so figure 2 days Kakadu, 3 days Darwin. Does anyone have any experience with this type of itinerary? We are headed out during July.
#3
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#4
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#5
Join Date: Jun 2001
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There is little to do in Darwin. Maybe a day worth of stuff - but certainly the best stuff is out of Darwin.
I personally think Litchfield is overrated.
I would hire a car and head to Kakadu (about 3.5 hours drive from Darwin). My tip would be to do the Yellow Waters Billabong (in Cooinda) cruise at dawn. You can stay at the hotel where the boats leave from (otherwise it's a good hour drive from the Holiday Inn in Jabiru). Also the jumping croc cruises on the way into Kakadu are a bit kitch but really good. I've done both a number of times (with all my visitors) and it's really quite good. There is plenty to do in and around Kakadu National Park (particularly in July when all (or at least most) of the roads are open (closed due flooding most of the year). I would be tempted to do two nights if you can. Maybe one in Cooinda and another at the Holiday Inn at Jabiru.
July is the peak season - so expect lots of tourists. If you are coming in late July you will be running into Darwin Show, Darwin Cup and Darwin festival season and hotel rooms will be at an absolute premium (book early). The weather is absolutely perfect - so it evens out.
Katherine can be done after Kakadu (it's kind of sort of in the same direction). The gorge is nice - the town is a complete hole. No more than 1 night (you kind of have to spend a night there because it is a good solid 3 hours drive from Darwin). Accommodation isn't flash (especially in July when every man and his dog is looking for whatever half decent accommodation is going).
I personally think Litchfield is overrated.
I would hire a car and head to Kakadu (about 3.5 hours drive from Darwin). My tip would be to do the Yellow Waters Billabong (in Cooinda) cruise at dawn. You can stay at the hotel where the boats leave from (otherwise it's a good hour drive from the Holiday Inn in Jabiru). Also the jumping croc cruises on the way into Kakadu are a bit kitch but really good. I've done both a number of times (with all my visitors) and it's really quite good. There is plenty to do in and around Kakadu National Park (particularly in July when all (or at least most) of the roads are open (closed due flooding most of the year). I would be tempted to do two nights if you can. Maybe one in Cooinda and another at the Holiday Inn at Jabiru.
July is the peak season - so expect lots of tourists. If you are coming in late July you will be running into Darwin Show, Darwin Cup and Darwin festival season and hotel rooms will be at an absolute premium (book early). The weather is absolutely perfect - so it evens out.
Katherine can be done after Kakadu (it's kind of sort of in the same direction). The gorge is nice - the town is a complete hole. No more than 1 night (you kind of have to spend a night there because it is a good solid 3 hours drive from Darwin). Accommodation isn't flash (especially in July when every man and his dog is looking for whatever half decent accommodation is going).
#6
Join Date: Jun 2012
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There's penty to do in the Top End, but when I read the title of the thread the first thing that came to my mind is "5 days in Darwin is about 4.5 days too many.".
The others have given some good advice and I'd follow their lead if I was you.
The others have given some good advice and I'd follow their lead if I was you.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 341
Well, what I've come up with I'm not sure is feasible... so for any who know the area and routes, here goes, we could stay the night of Day 2 at the Holiday Inn...
Day 1: arrive Darwin 1am (City tour, anything?)
Day 2: Free
Day 3: Darwin - Kakadu
Leave Darwin around 7:00am?
7-10:00 pm Drive to Kakadu National Park to (250 km)
10-10:30 Mamukala lookout en route
11-11:30 Visit the Bowali Visitor Centre
11:30-12:30 drive to Ubirr
12:45-2:45 Drive to Ubirr (40km's) Stop at Ubirr to see Aboriginal rock art (1km drive based on dry road, climb up for viewing) (40km's)
3:00 Take the Guluyambi Cruise along the East Alligator River 1 hour 45 minutes (45km's from Bowali, departs from Departs from the Upstream Boat Ramp on the East Alligator River. )
Drive to Jabiru for overnight
Day 4: Kakadu - Katherine
6am - leave hotel
6:45-8:45 Cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong and watch for saltwater crocodiles (50 km's)
9:15-10:00 Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre..
10:30-11:30 Take a guided walk to view Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie Rock.
Gunlom? 12-2:00
2-6:00 Drive to Katherine (149km)
Evening in Katherine? Where?
Day 5: Katherine
9am-11 Katherine River Cruise
11:30 -1:00 Hike Northern Rockhole and Jatbula Trail
3:00 Stop at Berry Springs on route back to Darwin
Visit Adelaide River war cemetary ~45 min from Darwin on stuart highway
Arrive back in Darwin 6pm
7:00 Dinner at Darwin Sailing Club
Day 6: Overnight Darwin then Leave 6am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2001
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That is doable and comprehensive but that's a very full on plan with lots of driving in a reasonably short period of time.
If you can, I would personally ditch the night 2 in Darwin and spend it in Kakadu. You can always drive down to Kakadu in the mid-afternoon (maybe with jumping crocs on the way) - it will give you a complete day in Kakadu .
If you can, I would personally ditch the night 2 in Darwin and spend it in Kakadu. You can always drive down to Kakadu in the mid-afternoon (maybe with jumping crocs on the way) - it will give you a complete day in Kakadu .
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 341
That is doable and comprehensive but that's a very full on plan with lots of driving in a reasonably short period of time.
If you can, I would personally ditch the night 2 in Darwin and spend it in Kakadu. You can always drive down to Kakadu in the mid-afternoon (maybe with jumping crocs on the way) - it will give you a complete day in Kakadu .
If you can, I would personally ditch the night 2 in Darwin and spend it in Kakadu. You can always drive down to Kakadu in the mid-afternoon (maybe with jumping crocs on the way) - it will give you a complete day in Kakadu .
#10
Join Date: Jun 2012
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That is doable and comprehensive but that's a very full on plan with lots of driving in a reasonably short period of time.
If you can, I would personally ditch the night 2 in Darwin and spend it in Kakadu. You can always drive down to Kakadu in the mid-afternoon (maybe with jumping crocs on the way) - it will give you a complete day in Kakadu .
If you can, I would personally ditch the night 2 in Darwin and spend it in Kakadu. You can always drive down to Kakadu in the mid-afternoon (maybe with jumping crocs on the way) - it will give you a complete day in Kakadu .
#11
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#12
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Sydney
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There are two other things I should mention.
(This is perhaps politically incorrect) The cultural centres are in my view a little bit disappointing. They are a bit kitch and a bit of a tourist trap. So don't necessarily be wedded to going to them.
Also on the way into kakadu (from all directions) there are a number of turnoffs to a lookout/billabong/other. Some are miles off the Highway others are just a few hundred meters. All are signposted and most have distance markers too. Some of these stop offs are hidden gems. So don't necessarily bat along the Highway at 100+ km/h.
(This is perhaps politically incorrect) The cultural centres are in my view a little bit disappointing. They are a bit kitch and a bit of a tourist trap. So don't necessarily be wedded to going to them.
Also on the way into kakadu (from all directions) there are a number of turnoffs to a lookout/billabong/other. Some are miles off the Highway others are just a few hundred meters. All are signposted and most have distance markers too. Some of these stop offs are hidden gems. So don't necessarily bat along the Highway at 100+ km/h.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 60
Top End 3 to 5 day package holiday, no camping!
I'm looking for a Top End package holiday in August that covers the National Parks+.. I'm just a little too old for a camping holiday. The web prices on camping holidays are not bad, but sorry I want a private bath and AIR Conditioning and I could not find tours that include overnites with these.
Any recommendations.
Any recommendations.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 341
I'm looking for a Top End package holiday in August that covers the National Parks+.. I'm just a little too old for a camping holiday. The web prices on camping holidays are not bad, but sorry I want a private bath and AIR Conditioning and I could not find tours that include overnites with these.
Any recommendations.
Any recommendations.
#15
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I'm looking for a Top End package holiday in August that covers the National Parks+.. I'm just a little too old for a camping holiday. The web prices on camping holidays are not bad, but sorry I want a private bath and AIR Conditioning and I could not find tours that include overnites with these.
Any recommendations.
Any recommendations.
Definitely has aircon, could not confirm the bath
https://northernterritory.com/darwin...lderness-lodge
Definitely has a private bath, wouldn't have aircon but the configuration should be quite cool at night.
https://www.bamurruplains.com/bamurru-plains-lodge/
I think if you find a high-end luxury accommodation in the NT with bath & aircon, they will definitely arrange day-tours for you by bus or plane. Might be expensive, but then again you can't be this picky unless you have $$