8 days of waterhole hopping in the Northern Territory

Australia’s Red Centre might be one of the country’s driest landscapes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get wet – the rugged West MacDonnell Ranges hide sensational wild swimming pools in the gorges that weave through the ancient rocky landscape.

Venture a little further from Alice Springs to chase new waterholes – each one different from the last.

Board a morning flight and head north from Alice Springs to Katherine, where it’s time to add invigorating natural springs to your waterhole trail.

Spend a day exploring Nitmiluk Gorge, just 20 minutes from the town of Katherine. Here, the Katherine River carves its way through red sandstone cliffs to form a chain of 13 scenic gorges.

When it comes to swimming in the wild, it doesn’t get much better than the pools of Litchfield National Park, around a three-hour drive north of Katherine on the way to the city of Darwin.

Soak up a second day in Litchfield National Park. With so many natural wonders to explore, you may never want to leave.

One of the largest national parks in Australia, the World Heritage-listed Kakadu is made of nature to make your jaw drop.

As if Kakadu’s waterholes aren’t enticing enough, this national park also boasts Aboriginal rock art galleries  – some up to 20,000 years old. Spend the day marvelling at the ancient pieces of culture, then finish your trip by continuing on to Darwin.