Australia’s Northern Territory covers a vast area. Having previously visited Uluru (and no holiday to the Northern Territory would be complete without seeing it at least once), we concentrated on just the Top End this time round. With 4 nights in Darwin followed by 4 nights on a guided tour with AAT Kings, of Litchfield, Nitmiluk and Kakadu, we saw all the highlights of Northern Territory’s Top End.
When to Visit Australia’s Northern Territory
We traveled to the Northern Territory in July, which is the dry season in Australia’s top end. This is the best time to travel because during the wet season (November to April), you can expect high humidity, torrential downpours and the occasional cyclone! Also, the wet season brings swollen rivers and waterways, making it easy for the crocs to move about. Therefore, it is very unsafe to swim in the National Parks during this time.
During the dry season, park rangers inspect waterholes and swimming spots to check they are croc free and safe for swimming. Safe swimming holes are published on Access Reports for each National Park. National Park permits will also need to be purchased before entry.
Where to Stay When Visiting the Northern Territory’s National Parks
Australia’s Northern Territory and its National Parks cover a vast area and as you would expect, there is not a huge amount of choice when it comes to accommodation. Camping is always an option for travellers, but as we were on a guided tour, we stayed in hotels.
Contour Hotel, Katherine
This hotel is also a camping and caravaning site, which makes it a great place to stay if you are self-driving because it has all the facilities of a hotel. The complex is large with a swimming pool, tennis court and restaurant.
The rooms were basic but comfortable and the restaurant food was tasty but a little on the expensive side. I guess you have to remember that you are basically in the middle of nowhere and the logistics of that must be expensive.
We used this hotel as our base for exploring Litchfield and Katherine National Park. Here is a link for other accommodation options in the area.
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
This hotel is iconic, what could be more Northern Territory than staying in a crocodile shaped hotel?! Loved our stay here, from the rooms, the restaurant and bar, to the small art gallery and museum on site. The rooms form the belly of the beast and surround the swimming pool, with the reception, restaurant, bar and art gallery located in the front or the ‘head’ of the complex.
The Crocodile hotel has been operating since 1988, and probably needs a little bit of a makeover, but we couldn’t fault the service and comfort. There is an in-house restaurant that you definitely need to book ahead, or you can grab a simple meal from the bar menu, which is what we did. Again, a little pricey but that is pretty standard.
At the time of our visit, there must have been sorry business (an Aboriginal period of mourning) recently, as the exterior of the building was marked by a single reddish brown painted line that snaked around the entire structure. It’s important to note that some National Parks may be closed during times of sorry business, so make sure to check those National Parks websites.
Here are the three Northern Territory National Parks every traveller to the Top End should have on their itinerary.
1. Litchfield National Park: A Waterfall Lover’s Paradise
In the heart of Australia’s Northern Territory, just a short drive south of Darwin, lies Litchfield National Park. Travellers can expect to find cascading waterfalls and dramatic landscapes. We loved discovering magnetic termite mounds that reminded me of the standing stones from my favourite book and tv series of all time – Outlander! It was in Litchfield that we swam in a Northern Territory waterhole, under a thundering waterfall – a dream come true.
Termite Mounds
Our very first stop in Litchfield National Park was a visit to the Termite Mounds, which look like an outdoor sculpture museum. Hundreds of termite mounds stretch as far as the eye can see. Walk along the boardwalk through the savannah, admiring these natural wonders made by the saliva and droppings of tiny insects.
I learnt there are two types of termite mounds – Cathedral and Magnetic. The fascinating magnetic termite mounds get their name because they are perfectly aligned north to south. This way, one side of the mound is always in shade, keeping the termite colony cool in the harsh Top End heat. How cool is that?
The Cathedral mounds are a lot taller than their magnetic cousins and can stretch over 5 metres tall. They are built on the dry ground, whereas the magnetic mounds are built on wetter ground – hence the need for a boardwalk to view them. Don’t miss seeing these mini skyscrapers when you are in Litchfield National Park.
Florence Falls and Wangi Falls
Plan your visit for dry season and chances are you’ll get to swim in cool, refreshing waterholes fed by stunning waterfalls.
Florence Falls
After a short hike through beautiful rainforest, you will arrive at Florence Falls.
Lots of people were cooling off in the water here, but we were saving our swim for Wangi Falls. The walk to and from the Falls was lovely and gentle, an easy one to do.
The beauty of a guided tour is that you learn so much more about the places you are visiting, and the things you see along the way. We casually walked past a Golden Orb spider on our way to the Falls and normally I would have taken a photo (obviously, it’s a given!) but at a distance with a good zoom. I would never have known that this particular spider has a silk that is up to 100 times stronger than some synthetic materials used for things like medical sutures, skin grafts, fishing line and motorcycle clothing! Amazing!
Wangi Falls
Wangi Falls is a very popular swimming spot when it is open. Please, please check the Litchfield National Park Access report to find out if it is open and safe to swim in. Not too long ago, during wet season a 5-metre croc was caught swimming here! Again, another benefit of traveling on a guided tour – they do all the checking for you!
It was lovely to cool off, swim under the waterfall and watch the curious local wildlife wandering about.
Adelaide River
Our last stop in Litchfield National Park was to the Adelaide River War Cemetery. This was a peaceful yet sombre memorial of all those service men and women that died in the Northern Territory during the Second World War.
Most of the 436 burials here are of Australians but there are some Britons buried here too. The war cemetery adjoins the Adelaide River cemetery, where civilian victims of the second world war are buried.
In front of the cemetery is a large shady Red Bead Tree, named for its hard, glossy, scarlet-red seeds, that indigenous artists traditionally gathered and dried to make jewelry. In the below pictures you can see us gathering some beads from the ground and an example of the finished product. I would never have known to look amongst the grass, if our guide hadn’t have shown us.
From Adelaide River we headed to our digs for the night, the above-mentioned Contour Hotel in Katherine.
2. Nitmiluk National Park: The Home of the Jaw-Dropping Katherine Gorge
After cooling off beneath the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park, head south to Nitmiluk National Park. Here the landscape shifts from rainforest to the dramatic sandstone gorges of the Katherine River.
Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park
Nitmiluk is best known for its spectacular series of 13 gorges carved through ancient rock over thousands of years. The indigenous culture is woven into the landscape through the stories of the Jawoyn people – the traditional owners of the park.
We listened to a wonderful presentation by 2 Jawoyn ladies all about their culture, customs and traditional way of life. Evidence of their ancient culture can be found through ancient rock art seen on rock faces in the gorges.
Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise
After the presentation we boarded a boat to cruise through the gorges. This was a wonderful way to appreciate the landscape, and I recommend that you book on one of these cruises. Although we didn’t do the cruise at sunset, it would be a wonderful experience watching the cliffs glow red against the sinking sun. You can also opt to canoe in the gorge or even hike along the Jatbula trail.
Plenty of freshwater crocs can be seen sunbaking on the rocks as you glide between the towering sandstone cliffs. You may recognise one of the escarpments that was featured in the movie Crocodile Dundee!
Katherine Outback Experience
To end our epic day in Katherine, we attended the Katherine Outback Experience. See the dogs that feature in the ABC show Muster Dogs doing their thing. They are so clever and so well trained. This show was a lot more fun than I thought it would be, with horse riding, whip cracking and guitar playing! There is also an opportunity to get your photo taken with some of the gorgeous dogs.
Katherine Hot Springs
On our final morning in Nitmiluk National Park we stopped in nice and early to the Katherine Hot Springs. Loved this place…. so does everyone else! My advice is to get there early to avoid the crowds.
Located just a few minutes from town, the Katherine Hot Springs is a series of clear, palm-fringed thermal pools. The water flows at a constant warm temperature of 31-32 degrees Celsius in the dry season. It is fed by underground springs that are naturally heated as the water passes through layers of limestone in the Tindall Aquifer.
It is a family friendly destination with the pools easily accessible – some easier than others! I could have stayed here for a lot longer, it was wonderful.
No time to hang about though, we had Kakadu yet to explore!
If interested in touring Nitmiluk National Park and the Hot Springs, but you don’t want to drive, there are day tours from Darwin that are available.
3. Kakadu National Park: The Heart of Indigenous Culture and Wild Landscapes
Rounding out the trio is Kakadu National Park, the largest National Park in Australia and a true icon of Australia’s Northern Territory. If I had to pick a favourite of the three National Parks, this one would be it. Kakadu is vast and diverse with so much wildlife! It is also home to extraordinary Aboriginal rock art, some dating back more than 20 000 years.
Where to Stay in Kakadu
I mentioned before our accommodation at the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, it is an iconic hotel, and we loved our stay here. Here are some other accommodation options, if you want to see what else is available.
Yellow Water Billabong Cruise
If you are going to Kakadu to see the wildlife, don’t miss this! The Yellow Water Billabong Cruise was wonderful! Fantastic local guides bring humour and knowledge to the experience with so much wildlife on show….I didn’t stop taking photos!
You’ll stare in wonder at the big saltwater crocodiles basking on the shores, and the multitude of bird species that call this billabong home.
We saw hundreds of whistling geese, a stunning azure kingfisher, the Jabiru or Black-necked storks – the official bird emblem of the Northern territory and Jesus birds – so called because they can walk on water 😁…. amazing!
It was when the guide cut the boat engine and we just floated silently along, listening to the sounds of the billabong that we truly got a sense of how beautiful this place is.
Scenic Flight over Kakadu National Park
An optional add on to our tour was an afternoon scenic flight over Kakadu National Park – Wow! If you have the opportunity to do this, take it! From the air, you get the true sense of Kakadu National Park’s vast scale.
Marvel at the floodplains stretching to the horizon, the ancient escarpments and the snaking South Alligator River – that actually has no alligators 😁
When you land back at the small Jabiru airport, or before you board, make sure you take a moment to look around the waiting area. The framed front pages of the legendary Northern Territory newspaper, The NT News, will be sure to give you a giggle.
Ancient Rock Art at Ubirr and Nourlangie
These two sites house some of the most significant Aboriginal rock art in Australia, with galleries spanning more than 20 000 years of stories and expression.
Ubirr
The welcome sign that greets you as enter the site boasts of a lookout with stunning views of the floodplains, bird species and sunsets, as well as being home to one of the world’s finest collections of rock art in the world. They don’t exaggerate! The sign also advises not to take alcohol to the lookout to sip on while watching that glorious sunset…. lookouts and alcohol don’t mix, it’s dangerous and so is banned.
Walk along well marked tracks to see everything from ‘x-ray’ paintings of fish and kangaroos that reveal knowledge of the animal’s bones and internal organs, the now extinct Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger, to a depiction of the Rainbow Serpent, and other Dreaming figures.
Nourlangie
Take a little break from the sun, have some lunch and rehydrate, before heading out in the afternoon to another amazing Aboriginal rock Art site – Nourlangie. The most impressive gallery at his site for me was the Anbangbang gallery, with paintings of the Lightning Man (Namarrkon) and his wife (Barginj), and all their children.
Take a short walk for more stunning views of the Arnam Land escarpment. See sacred Aboriginal sites of Lightning Dreaming, (the home of Lightning Man) and Namanjolg’s Feather, (the site where a feather from Namanjolg’s headdress was placed by his sister after they had broken the incest laws as a warning to others – she later became the Rainbow Serpent).
This day trip from Darwin combines exploring one of these sites with Fogg Dam, described below, for an unforgettable Northern Territory experience
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve
Our last stop on our way back into Darwin was to Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve. Located outside Kakadu National Park, but worth a mention, this vast wetland is a birdwatcher’s paradise. It was originally built as a rice-growing project but is now a haven for birdlife. Visitors can drive along the causeway or stroll elevated boardwalks to spot wallabies and the occasional buffalo or crocodile as well as thousands of birds!
Gunlom Falls
Only recently reopened after 6 years of legal disputes, the gorgeous Gunlom Falls is once again welcoming visitors. Access to the waterfall and its stunning 550-foot-high infinity pool is open during the dry season (again please check the access report). Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case while we were there, but it is one to definitely add to your Kakadu itinerary. The New York Times voted it one of THE places to visit in 2026, coming in at number 14!
Australia’s Northern Territory is a Must-Do
I can’t believe that as an Australian it has taken me so long to visit and explore Australia’s Northern Territory. Just like Uluru, it really is a place unlike any other. It is a place that will stay in your memory and in your heart long after you leave.
Deb Morrow is a wife and mum of two in her 50’s, who works in education. She has a passion for travel and through sharing her travel experiences, tips and recommendations, wants to encourage other women her age to start making time for themselves, grab their besties, and go see the world!
