Why we Love this Top End Culture & Adventure Tour

Journey into the Northern Territory’s rugged Top End on this short but sweet four-day Top End Culture & Adventure tour.

Learn about Aboriginal legends and customs during the Top Didj cultural experience, go bird and croc spotting in the lush Mary River and see ancient rock art in Ubirr.

Climb high to look down on the Nardab Floodplain and then find refuge from the tropical heat in the swimming holes of World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.

Discover the history of the First Peoples of Australia at Anbangbang and cruise through the towering rock walls of Katherine Gorge. The reds of the soil and orange of the sunsets will leave you with a lasting impression of the Territory’s beauty and biodiversity.

Your tour will include the following highlights;

• Visit to three national parks: Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield
• Learn about the cultural importance of these spectacular landscapes
• Enjoy an Aboriginal experience the Jawoyn and Dagoman people
• Travel in a 4WD vehicle with only 21 passengers and local knowledge guide
• Witness Rock Art spanning from the present time to 20,000 years old.
• See the highest concentration of giant saltwater crocodiles in the southern hemisphere on the Mary River.
• Hike through the rich greenery of Litchfield National Park, cooling off with swims in Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Buley Rockholes.

Inclusions Check

• 4 Days Fully Guided Tour
• Litchfield National Park
• Ubirr Rock
• Kakadu National Park Fee
• Mary River cruise
• Bowali Visitor Centre
• Pine Creek Gold-Mining Centre
• Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
• Edith Falls
• Top Didj Indigenous Experience
• 3 Breakfast – 4 Lunch – 3 Dinner

Itinerary and Sleeping

Accommodation is at permanent tented camps with shared facilities.
Twin share permanent tents equipped with real beds, mattress and all linen including towel.

Day 1:

We leave the Northern Territory’s tropical capital Darwin in the early morning and travel to Litchfield National Park, home to dozens of freshwater waterfalls, tropical rainforest and crystal-clear swimming holes.

Don’t forget your swim suit as there will be plenty of time to enjoy a refreshing dip or two as you visit Florence Falls and Buley Rockholes. Enjoy a lovely picnic before travelling on to Wangi Falls for a final swim and leisurely stroll through the monsoon forest. 

After a full first day, retire to your campsite for the evening with a hearty dinner, where all tents are twin-share and come with a proper bed.

Notes: 

• • Total driving time today is about 5½ hours
  • Sleeping: Permanent Tented Camp with shared facilities

Day 2:

Start the day with a wildlife cruise in the Mary River Wetlands, a highlight for any wildlife lover. The Mary River is a network of waterways home to hundreds of native bird species and what everyone has come to see, giant salt water crocodiles.

From Wildlife to an ancient but living culture.

In giving Kakadu National Park World Heritage-listing, UNESCO described it as a ‘living cultural landscape with exceptional natural and cultural values’. The Traditional Owners have lived here for more than 50,000 years, to which the ancient rock paintings of Ubirr can attest. Your guide will explain the significance of these artworks during an interpretative cultural walk that finishes on a rocky escarpment overlooking the Nardab Floodplain. 

Notes: 

• • Total driving time today is about 5 hours
  • Total walking time approximately 3½ hours
  • Sleeping: Permanent Tented Camp with shared facilities

Day 3:

This morning you have the option to take a scenic flight over Kakadu (at your own expense). The flight takes in views over the Arnhem Land escarpment, vast flood plains and billabongs that make viewing this wilderness form the air so special.

Later spend time exploring Kakadu’s other major Aboriginal rock art site – Nourlangie (Burrunggui). Your guide provides a glimpse into how the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived over thousands of years to present day.

After lunch head south and stop to visit the historic gold-mining centre of Pine Creek. Stop for a quick dip at Maguk or Gunlom Falls, before continuing on to Katherine, where you’ll settle in for the night at a private campsite near Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge). 

Notes: 

• • Total driving time today is about 5½ hours
  • Total walking time approximately 1 hours
  • Sleeping: Permanent Tented Camp with shared facilities
  • Optional Activity: Kakadu Scenic Flight (from $150)

Day 4:

Back in the day (ok, it was 23 million years ago), the Katherine River flowed all the way from Arnhem Land to the Timor Sea. These days, the waters have subsided significantly: the Katherine River now flows along hemmed in on both sides by cliffs 70 metres high.

This is the highlight attraction of Nitmiluk National Park though, and you’ll have the opportunity to cruise through it by canoe or boat.

After cruising down the Katherine River by boat or canoe and admiring a river system 23 million years in the making, spend an afternoon becoming immersed in the age-old customs of the area’s original inhabitants – the Jawoyn and Dagoman people. 

Local artist Manual will demonstrate the wisdoms of his culture with fire lighting and boomerang-throwing demonstrations, then take you through the traditional painting process.

After lunch we head to the beautiful Edith falls for one last refreshing swim in the huge plunge pool before we hit the road back to Darwin, where your adventure comes to an end on arrival.

Perhaps enjoy one final group dinner in town and toast to your adventure with your new friends.

Notes: 

• • Total driving time today is about 4½ hours
  • Total walking today is approximately 3½ hours
  • Optional Activity: Katherine Gorge Scenic Cruise (from $94)
  • Optional Activity: Katherine Gorge Canoe (from $45)

Departs/Returns:

This tour runs seasonally only
2 April 2019 – 26 October 2019

• Departs Darwin:
  • April and May: Tuesdays only
  • June to September: Tuesday and Saturday
  • October: Tuesday only
  • Accomodation pick-ups from 6:30am
• Returns Darwin:
  • Day 4 approx. 6:00pm

What to Bring

• Wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellent
• Sustainable Water bottle/container (at least 1.5 litres)
• Walking shoes/boots,
• Sleeping bag (Hire/Purchase – please enquire)
• Toiletries, swim wear, towel
• Comfortable and casual clothing
• Head Torch and Camera

Cancellation/Refund Policy

• If you cancel at least 30 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 25% cancellation fee or deposit will be lost.
• If you cancel between 15-29 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50% cancellation fee.
• If you cancel within 14 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100% cancellation fee.
• Unless otherwise stated all refunds will incur a 10% administration fee

We recommend you purchase Travel Insurance which would cover for such things as road closures, flight,  bus or other travel cancellations that would contribute to you missing the departure of your tour.

Travel Insurance Requirements

Travel insurance is compulsory for all Adventure Tours Australia trips. It is required that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation.

When travelling on a trip, you won’t be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company’s 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader.

If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact number rather than the bank’s name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.

Eco-Certification Awards

The following Eco-Accreditation from Eco Tourism Australia had been achieved.

• Climate Action Business

Businesses have undertaken a set of adaption and emissions reduction actions but are not necessarily measuring their carbon footprint.

• Respect Our Culture (ROC)

The Respecting Our Culture (ROC) program encourages the tourism industry to operate in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the living cultures of Indigenous communities.

ROC certified tourism operators are committed to protecting cultural authenticity and integrity, developing sound business practices, environmental protection and acknowledging Indigenous peoples spiritual connection to the land and water.

Certified B Corporations

The Intrepid Group (Adventure Tours) has achieved B-Corp accreditation. 

Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and nonprofits alone. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high quality jobs with dignity and purpose. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as a means to a greater end: positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment.

Learn more about B Corporations here.

The Intrepid Foundation

This tour falls under the Intrepid Travel brand who have set up the Intrepid Foundation, supporting local organisations tackling important community issues all over the world – from conservation and wildlife protection, to education, healthcare and human rights.

To find out more please visit the foundation website: www.theintrepidfoundation.org