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 on a sunset cruise! 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.
● Enjoy the magical sunset on the water in the Darwin Harbour
● Explore the beauty & ruggedness of the Top End's national parks - Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield.
● Gain a deeper understanding of the history, traditions & culture of the land’s Traditional Owners with a range of interactive experiences.
● Wetlands of Fogg Dam, home to a large number of migrating birds
● Flexibility of a private tour with small group numbers and a passionate local guide - Some hidden gems will unfold!
● Exclusive access to Arnhem Land
● Nadab lookout at Ubirr for sunset
● Visit to the Warradjan Cultural Centre, an Aboriginal run museum with an amazing insight into their culture.
● Guluyambi Cultural Cruise on the East Alligator River with a local Bininj guide.
● Scenic Cruise through stunning Katherine Gorge.
● Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Termite mounds and Buley Rockholes
● Tjanera Falls (Sandy Creek)
● Gunlom & Maguk (Barramundi) Gorge
● Jim Jim & Edith Falls
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 heading off to Stokes Wharf for a sunset boat cruise & 'fish n chip' dinner (incl glass of bubbly, beer or soft) in the Darwin Harbour. - great way to kick off a tropical holiday in the top end!
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Twin Share - 4 Star Hotel
Departure this morning will be around 7:00am. We head straight for Fogg dam. This magical area boasts both the world’s largest biomass and arguably the highest lightening strike rate on the planet. Birdlife, snakes and crocodiles are all in abundance and all witnessed from the safety of our vehicle.
We continue towards Kakadu, stopping off for morning tea on the way, before arriving at East Alligator River for lunch. Here we will board our Guluyambi cultural cruise (traditionally Guluyambi was a paperbark raft) and when you see the size of some of the prehistoric dinosaurs in the river, you will be glad it’s made of metal!! Our Aboriginal guides will be describing the old ways and giving a true insight into their current ways of living. Our cruise will finish at 3pm, where we will drive across the famous Cahill’s Crossing into Arnhem Land.
Our Aboriginal guide will take us into one of the most incredible art sites, sacred to his community, sharing his stories and knowledge with us; a very special experience. We’ll finish the day with only a short drive back to camp at East Alligator River to enjoy some air-conditioned comfort for the next two nights.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Air conditioned rooms (3-4 ladies per room)
We’ll kick off today at a reasonable hour to head to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) for a beautiful hike through old paperbark trees, following the creek along for a rewarding swim at the end in one of the most stunning spots in Kakadu.
After enjoying our morning exploring,we’ll take a short drive to Warradjan Cultural Centre. This is an Aboriginal run museum with an amazing insight into their culture. On our way back to camp, we’ll check out the township of Jabiru and Ranger uranium mine. Short rest in the afternoon back at camp, then just 5 minutes up the road to the world famous Nadab lookout at Ubirr for sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Air conditioned rooms (3 - 4 ladies per room)
We depart early for Jim Jim falls. Today’s hike can be one of the most difficult, not steep, just all about balance. Scrambling over some boulders is well worth the beautiful gorge we relax in for the morning. After enjoying a rewarding swim and some morning tea, we head on back out the 4WD track to have some lunch before hitting the road towards Gunlom Falls.
We will set up our bush camp in the afternoon with the option of a leisurely swim in the bottom plunge pool while dinner is cooking.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (in your own 4 person tent in king deluxe swag) shared bathroom facilities
Today we will be some of the first to hike up the top for a beautiful morning swim in the infinity pool at the falls. After packing up camp, we’ll hit the road towards Katherine via Edith Falls. We’ll enjoy an afternoon swim and a BBQ lunch before heading to camp with a supplies stop in Katherine township.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Glamping - Twin Share in Permanent Tents (with shared facilities)
Today we have magnificent start to the day with a dawn cruise of the world famous Katherine Gorge. As the sun rises, the gorge lights up in rich natural beauty with perfect still water reflections and the sounds of birds awakening. After the cruise, we’ll enjoy some morning tea in the park before starting our drive towards Litchfield National Park, arriving for lunch after a couple of short stops on the way. That afternoon we’ll head into the park to check out some of the largest termite mounds in the Top End and a swim at Buley Rockholes and Florence Falls, just as the crowds are starting to leave for the day and head back to Darwin.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (in your own 4 person tent in king deluxe swag) shared bathroom facilities
A relaxing final morning exploring Tjanera Falls (Sandy Creek), one of the best falls in the park, only accessible via a 4WD track, deterring most of the crowds. After enjoying our hike and swim, we’ll head back to camp to have lunch, freshen up, pack up and head back towards Darwin. We top it off with a delicious stop on the way back at Crazy Acres mango farm.
As our arrival in Darwin coincides with the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets (held only on Thursday and Sunday nights), you may wish to extend your stay in Darwin for one more night ... great way to finish out your time in the Top End.
Alternatively for those wanting to fly home straight away, there are flights leaving out of Darwin this evening and we'll have you back in town with plenty of time to get to the airport if you choose this option.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Local Knowledgeable Tour Guide/Driver
Adventurous Women Tour Manager/Host
Welcome Dinner / Sunset Cruise
Comfortable All Terrain Vehicle
6 Nights Accommodation - 1 Night 5 star hotel, 2 nights air-con rooms, 2 nights non-permanent tent, 1 night permanent tent
All Meals as stated in the itinerary plus daily morning tea
All activities stated as included on the itinerary (including 3 cruises)
National Park Entry & Camping Fees
6 Dinners
6 Lunches
5 Breakfasts
Flights To/From Darwin
Post tour accommodation in Darwin
Travel Insurance
Items of a personal nature
1 Night - Five Star Hotel Accommodation - Darwin (Twin Share or Single on Request)
2 Nights - Air Conditioned Rooms - East Alligator River (Triple or Quad Share)
1 Night - Glamping Style in Permanent Tents (real beds with all linen provided / Twin Share)
2 Nights - Camping in 4 person tent & king deluxe swag (Single - 1 per person)
**Campgrounds & Bush Camps utilised for camping all have flushing toilets, hot showers and communal kitchen facilities.
- A Gear List will be supplied well in advance - prior to our departure
Single Accommodation is not available for our 2 nights in East Alligator River.
Single Accommodation is available for our accommodation in Darwin on request - A single supplement is payable, please advise at time of booking
Single Accommodation for one evening when we are glamping in permanent tents may be available, but will depend on the time you book (sooner you book, sooner we're able to request this accommodation for you as these are limited) - A single supplement will be payable should we confirm this arrangement for you.
Most of our travellers come along solo and are happy to share with other ladies from the group. We have rotating rooming roster whereby at each different place of stay, you get to share with someone different from the group - Great for group bonding, while alleviating any potential annoyances that may come about if sharing with the same person the whole time.
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 for a reasonable amount of time, navigating rocky steps and uneven surfaces at times, particularly in the gorge areas. We also have a couple of hikes as part of this tour - these hikes can be achieved by anyone with a general level of fitness, but again mobility is the key, as with all of our tours.
Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women with the following conditions:
No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.
