Nature’s Way: 7-day road trip to Kakadu and Litchfield

Day 1: Darwin to Kakadu National Park

Hire a car in Darwin and follow the Arnhem Highway south-east towards Kakadu. About 54 kilometres (33.5 miles) down the highway, after Humpty Doo and before Fogg Dam Nature Park, stop for an unforgettable two-hour cultural tour with Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours, which runs every day from May to October at 10:30am. Your host will greet you with a ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony, designed to warmly usher in visitors to Aboriginal land. Then, you’ll expand on your Top End experience by learning about the local Aboriginal approach to land, food, hunting, cooking, craft and art. This interactive session concludes with morning tea and a chance to talk freely and openly with your hosts.

Drive for about 10 minutes to nearby Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve. This site was once home to rice crops, and the abandoned paddies have evolved into open-air wetlands alive with reptiles, jabirus (large native birds) and blue-winged kookaburras. Stroll the 1.5-hour Monsoon Forest trail beneath thick forest canopy. Alternatively, follow the pretty Woodlands to Waterlily Walk, which takes just 45 minutes. 

Day 2: Walks and culture in Kakadu National Park

Set off early today and head to Ubirr in Kakadu’s East Alligator Region. Kakadu is famous for its Aboriginal art sites, sweeping escarpments and dazzling views over Arnhem Land, and Ubirr offers all three. Start your day with the easy 2.5-kilometre (1.5-mile) Bardedjilidji walk through scenes of layered sandstone, woodlands filled with paperbark trees and an abundance of wildlife, including birds and wallabies. 

Next, check out the world-renowned X-ray art, as well as the rainbow serpent (an Aboriginal creation story) sketches back in Ubirr. The latter are tucked along the boardwalk area behind Ubirrs’ Crosshatching Gallery, so named because artists have used crosshatching – intersecting sets of parallel lines – to shade in sections of their art.

Day 3: Explore Kakadu’s water-filled regions

Rise early and head south on the Kakadu Highway – today you’ll discover Kakadu’s water-filled southern regions. Your first stop is the Motor Car Falls. Reached via a 7.5-kilometre (4.6-mile) return trail within the Yurmikmik series of walks, the Motor Car Falls Walk will lead you through pink-flowered shrubs and lush monsoon woodlands before revealing the cascading falls. For most of the year, lacewing butterflies feed on minerals secreted from nearby rocks, and the pool’s waters are full of fish, turtles and freshwater shrimp. You're permitted to swim here all year round.

Day 4: Kakadu to Katherine via the Kakadu Highway

Located two kilometres (1.2 miles) from Cooinda Lodge is the Warradjan Cultural Centre. Stop by to explore the fascinating Our Land is Our Life exhibition which uncovers the culture of Aboriginal traditional landowners, including hunting techniques, marriage rights, and elder stories. 

From Yellow Water, drive 2.5 hours south along the Kakadu Highway towards Katherine, a bustling township situated on the banks of the Katherine River.

Head straight to the Katherine Hot Springs for a luxurious natural bath in the bubbling emerald green water. Sitting at a comfortable 25-30 degrees throughout the year, this natural hot spring pool is the perfect place to unwind. Refuel at the springs with a piping hot coffee and a quintessentially Aussie meat pie from the local gem, Pop Rocket Café.

Day 5: Elsey National Park 

Today, we recommend heading about an hour south from Katherine to visit Elsey National Park, well-known as the setting for the acclaimed Australian novel We of the Never Never, along with its glorious hot springs, intriguing heritage sites and the serene Roper River – a popular spot for fishing fans and adventurers alike.

Elsey National Park is bursting with enchanting natural hot springs set among beautiful palms and tropical woodlands. For a warm dip, head to the 34-degree Mataranka thermal pool or the nearby soothing oasis, Bitter Springs. For a more exhilarating dip, walk along the Waterhouse River to reach Stevie’s Hole, a cool – but just as picturesque –  natural pool.