Top End Explorer: Arnhem Land, Kakadu, Litchfield
(Ex Darwin) Northern Territory - Tue 23rd July 2019

Max Participants:
16
Location:
(Ex Darwin) Northern Territory
Date:
Tue 23rd July 2019
Start Time:
4:00pm
End Time:
8:00am approx
Duration:
7 Days
Meals:
6 Breakfasts 6 Lunches 5 Dinners
Non-Member Cost:
$2995.00 per person
Member Cost:
$2895.00 per person
Deposit Required:
$500.00
Single Supplement:
From $445.00 per person

The Top End - Where the tropics meet the outback!  We're exploring all the five distinct regions and invite you to join us on this ultimate expedition.

We start with cosmopolitan Darwin, where we get straight into the holiday spirit, as we relax in tropical harmony at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. The next day, we venture into Kakadu, one of Australia's best kept secrets, brimming with native wildlife, breathtaking waterholes, and plunging waterfalls. 

Following on, we travel to mysterious and beautiful Arnhem Land, a vast area of Aboriginal owned land that we are privileged to be able to access.  A couple of days further in, we make our way further south and travel to the sandstone country of Nitmiluk National Park and explore the stunning gorge system. 

Our last couple of days, we spend time hiking, swimming, exploring and relaxing in magical Litchfield National Park, nature’s very own water theme park.

 


Gallery

Kakadu Sunset
Florence Falls, Litchfield

Location

Please note map locations and route are approximate only

Highlights

● Enjoying the magical sunset at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets.

● Exploring the beauty & ruggedness of the Top End's national parks - Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield.

● Gaining a deeper understanding of the history, traditions & culture of the land’s Traditional Owners with a range of interactive experiences.

● Flexibility of a private tour with small group numbers and a passionate local guide - Some hidden gems will unfold!

● Glamping - Something very special about listening to stories around the campfire and sleeping under the stars.

● Exclusive access to Arnhem Land

● Visit the Mawurndaddja art site for a unique insight into ancient Aboriginal culture.

● Guluyambi Cultural Cruise on the East Alligator River with a local Bininj guide.

● Scenic Cruise through stunning Katherine Gorge.

● Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Buley Rockholes.

● Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls & Edith Falls - Hike, Swim, Explore, Relax

● Maguk (Barramundi) Gorge

Itinerary

Arrive any time today and check into your accommodation. Our Adventurous Women ™ Host will meet with the group at 4pm and conduct intro’s, prior to walking together to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. On our arrival we’ll be shown to the enclosed VIP area where we have premium sunset seating arranged - great way to kick off a tropical holiday in the top end!

Included Activities

Premium seating in VIP area at Mindil Beach Sunset Markets

Meals: None included

Accommodation: Twin Share - 4 Star Hotel

Today we travel into Wulna Country, where we receive a Cul Cul ('Welcome to Country') by the traditional owners of the land, the Limilngan-Wulna people. It’s here we’re introduced to indigenous culture and customs through a range of interactive experiences. We enjoy spear-throwing demo’s, didgeridoo demo’s, bush tucker talks and basket weaving.

Next, we head to the border of Kakadu and Arnhem Land where we’re taken on a Guluyambi Cultural Cruise on the East Alligator River with a local Bininj guide. Hearing from the traditional custodians of the land is one of the most unique elements of this tour.

After the cruise we drive into Arnhem Land to visit the extraordinary rock art site of Mawurndaddja for an unforgettable afternoon of exploration. This complex has a spectacular series of galleries with rock art dating back tens of thousands of years. Our guide will explain the importance of the art, the significance of this ancient site, the methods used to create and the anthropological system used to date the art, before we head back to Kakadu and settle in at this evening’s campsite.

Included Activities

Pudakul "Welcome to Country' experience

Guluyambi Cultural Cruise

Mawurndaddja rock art and occupation complex

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Glamping - Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities)

Early this morning after breakfast, we hit the dirt on our full day of 4WD adventuring! Today is all about towering cliffs and dramatic beauty, as we venture to the sites of Jim Jim and Twin Falls, both located deep in the heart of Kakadu, well off the beaten track.

Firstly we travel to Twin Falls and experience this spectacular gorge aboard a boat shuttle operated by the national park and enjoy a walk along the boardwalk afterwards. We then have time to relax on the sandy banks before heading off to explore Jim Jim Falls. On arrival at Jim Jim, we’ll enjoy lunch while soaking in the views of this natural wonder, before taking a challenging walk to the base of the falls. Here we can choose to swim in the tranquil plunge pool, or simply relax and enjoy the stunning scenery, before taking the short drive back to our bush camp for a well earned dinner cooked on the campfire.

Included Activities

Jim Jim Falls Walk

Twin Falls Walk

Twin Falls Gorge River shuttle

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Bush Camping (own dome tent, with shared facilities)

Day four provides us with more spectacular beauty as we head to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) and Gunlom Falls where we can bush walk, swim in sparkling plunge pools, or just sit back and enjoy the views.

After we’ve explored and enjoyed our time at these two sites, we stop in at the Lazy Lizard Hotel and shop at Pine Creek, have some lunch and head further south towards our destination for this evening, Nitmiluk National Park.

Included Activities

Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)

Gunlom (subject to road accessibility)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Glamping - Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities)

This morning, we’ll start the day with a scenic walk to Baruwei Lookout and along the escarpment that takes in fantastic views of the region on a loop walk that will take approximately 2 hours at a relaxed pace. There will be a shorter walk option for those wanting to start the day at a slower pace.

After our walk (time permitting) our guide will take us for a visit to Katherine Thermal Pools, something of a local secret. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a scenic river cruise through Katherine Gorge before heading off to Edith Falls where we can cool down with a refreshing swim in the huge rock pools. Continuing on to the edge of Litchfield National Park, we settle down for the night in a snug camp and enjoy dinner with our group.

Included Activities

Guided Walk to Baruwei Lookout

Edith Falls

Katherine Gorge Scenic Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Glamping - Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities)

Once we’ve had breakfast, we head into Litchfield National Park and spend a full day here exploring the water holes, creeks and waterfalls …..it’s the perfect place to slow down and soak up the tranquillity of the tropics.

We visit the refreshing waters of Florence Falls and the enchanting Wangi Falls, enjoy a picnic lunch, a little walking, a little swimming and later, depending on road & seasonal accessibility, our guide may also take us to some special off-the-beaten-path locations. Tonight we'll return to our Litchfield camp.

Included Activities

Litchfield National Park

Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, Tolmer Falls

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Glamping - Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities)

Today it’s back into Litchfield we go, spending the morning at the refreshing waters of the Buley Rockholes and marvelling at the magnetic Litchfield termite mounds. A perfect and extremely relaxing way to finish our Top End Adventure. We’ll enjoy some lunch together before the relatively short drive back to Darwin, arriving in the mid-afternoon. You may wish to fly out late this afternoon, or spend another day in Darwin.

Included Activities

Buley Rock Pools

Cathedral Termite Mounds

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Includes

Local Knowledgeable Tour Guide/Driver

Adventurous Women® Host

Comfortable All Terrain Vehicle

6 Nights Accommodation - 1 Four Star Hotel, 4 Permanent Tent, 1 Dome Tent

All Meals as stated in the itinerary

All activities stated as included on the itinerary

National Park Entry & Camping Fees

6 Breakfasts

6 Lunches

5 Dinners

Excludes

Flights To/From Darwin

Post tour accommodation in Darwin

Travel Insurance

Items of a personal nature

Accommodation

Twin Share - 1 Night Four Star Hotel Accommodation

Twin Share - 4 Nights Glamping Style in Permanent Tents (real beds with all linen provided)

Single Accommodation Bush Camping - 1 Night Dome Tent (Sleeping Mat/Sleeping Bag provided)

**Campgrounds & Bush Camp all have flushing toilets, hot showers and communal kitchen facilities.

 

If you wish to have your own Permanent Tent for the four nights, there is an additional single supplement fee payable of $345.00 (these are subject to availability at time of booking)

If you would like your own room in Darwin, the additional single supplement is $100.00 

What To Bring/Wear

- A Gear List will be supplied 3 months prior to our departure

No Princess Policy

Princess crossed out

This tour by it's very nature is not designed for the 5 Star Traveller. It is for the girl who has an 'adventurous spirit' and is looking for a unique and rewarding 'experience'! You should be able to adopt a "Go With The Flow" attitude, after-all we are travelling in the Outback, we're camping, our driving distances can be lengthy on some of the days and things may not always go to plan (ie: road closures, route changes) ...this will help you chill out and therefore get the best out of your holiday.

 

You will also need to be mobile without assistance - some of the sights require you to be on your feet, navigating steps and uneven surfaces at times. We also have a couple of walks as part of this tour - these walks can be achieved by anyone with a general level of fitness, but again mobility is the key, as with all of our tours.

Cancellation & Refunds

Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women with the following conditions:

  • 60 days plus prior to trip departure - Loss of deposit
  • 59 - 30 days prior to trip departure - 50% Of The Tour Cost
  • 29 - 15 days prior to trip departure - 75% Of The Tour Cost
  • Within 14 days of the trip departure - 100% Of The Tour Cost

No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.


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