6 Day Top End Family Tour

Day 1

Darwin to Cobourg Peninsula

Your family adventure begins with a 7:00am pick-up and transfer to the Darwin Charter Terminal. Board your private charter flight to the remote Cobourg Peninsula, enjoying an hour of sweeping views over the Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land coastline.

Your Venture North guide will meet you at the airstrip before you set off by 4WD along the peninsula’s eastern coast. Travel through paperbark wetlands and coastal bushland to Shell Beach, where nesting turtles leave their tracks in the sand. At low tide, explore rock pools and exposed coral reefs, keeping an eye out for marine life.

After lunch, try your hand at hunting for mud crabs using traditional Aboriginal methods. Learn how to find these local delicacies, then have a go yourself.

Later, visit the park’s Cultural and Information Centre before settling into Cobourg Coastal Camp. Tucked amongst the bush above Port Essington, your safari tent offers a comfortable base for the next two nights. Meet your camp hosts, enjoy dinner and watch the sun set over the bay.

Day 2

Cobourg Marine Park & Victoria Settlement

This morning, head out by boat to explore Cobourg Marine Park. Keep an eye out for turtles, dolphins and manta rays as you cruise through the sheltered waters of Port Essington.

Step ashore at Victoria Settlement, the remains of a British military outpost occupied between 1838 and 1849. Wander amongst the stone ruins with your guide and hear the stories behind this remote settlement, where the bush has slowly reclaimed cottages, a hospital and other traces of life before Darwin.

After exploring the ruins, enjoy a relaxed cruise back to camp, spotting marine wildlife along the way and stopping to drop a line in the sheltered waters of Port Essington.

This afternoon is yours to enjoy. Explore the beach and tidal rock pools, or settle into a hammock with a view across the water.

As the sun sets, gather for dinner around the campfire. Afterwards, there’s an opportunity to join a spotlight walk around camp, looking for the small mammals that emerge after dark.

Day 3

Arnhem Land, Injalak Hill & Ubirr

Depart Cobourg early and travel through the bush landscapes of Arnhem Land to Gunbalanya. Your first stop is Injalak Arts, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet local artists and see the paintings, woven baskets and carvings created here.

A local Aboriginal guide will then lead you up Injalak Hill. Spend several hours exploring rock shelters filled with ancient paintings, hearing the stories behind the artwork and learning about the continuing connection between people and Country. It’s a memorable opportunity for the whole family to see this extraordinary landscape through your guide’s eyes.

After lunch, farewell your hosts and cross the East Alligator River at Cahills Crossing into Kakadu National Park.

This afternoon, explore the rock art galleries at Ubirr before making your way to the lookout. From here, the Nadab floodplain stretches towards the distant stone country, with the changing colours of sunset providing a spectacular finish to the day.

Continue to Cooinda Lodge, your comfortable base for the next two nights.

Day 4

Yellow Water, Aboriginal Culture & Maguk

Wake early for a two-hour sunrise cruise on Yellow Water Billabong. Watch the wetlands come to life as birds move amongst the lilies and saltwater crocodiles bask along the banks. Your cruise guide will help you spot wildlife and share stories about this remarkable part of Kakadu.

After breakfast, visit Warradjan Cultural Centre. Explore displays sharing the stories, knowledge and experiences of Kakadu’s Traditional Owners, with time to browse local artwork, books and crafts in the gallery shop.

This afternoon, head to Maguk, also known as Barramundi Gorge. Follow a scenic one-kilometre walking track through monsoon forest and along Barramundi Creek to a deep plunge pool beneath the falls.

Take your time swimming and snorkelling, looking for freshwater fish below the surface or simply enjoying the view from the water. Afterwards, return to Cooinda Lodge for dinner and your second night in Kakadu.

Day 5

Moline Rockhole & Katherine Gorge

Leave Cooinda this morning and travel to Moline Rockhole, a secluded waterfall reached with Venture North’s special access permit. Tucked amongst the bush, its shaded plunge pool is a lovely spot for a swim away from Kakadu’s busier attractions.

Your guide will provide snorkels so you can take a closer look beneath the surface, watching for freshwater fish and turtles. Enjoy time in the water before continuing south towards Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park, on Jawoyn Country.

This afternoon, explore Katherine Gorge on a self-guided canoe adventure. Begin with a scenic boat transfer through the first gorge, then collect your canoe and paddle into the second gorge and beyond.

Set your own pace beneath the towering sandstone cliffs, stopping for a picnic or a refreshing dip at a designated swimming spot. It’s a chance to spend a few hours together on the water, exploring one of the Top End’s most spectacular landscapes.

Afterwards, settle into your two-bedroom cabin at Nitmiluk for dinner and the evening.

Day 6

Litchfield’s Waterfalls & Return to Darwin

Leave Katherine this morning and head north to Litchfield National Park for a final day of waterfalls and swimming. Your first stop is the Magnetic Termite Mounds. These remarkable structures are built with their narrow edges pointing north to south, helping regulate the temperature inside. Take a closer look and discover how these tiny builders create such an impressive landscape.

After lunch, cool off at Florence Falls, where twin waterfalls tumble into a plunge pool surrounded by monsoon forest. Then spend time exploring Buley Rockhole’s series of cascading pools, finding a spot to settle into the water and enjoy your final afternoon together.

Your last stop is Wangi Falls, framed by lush forest and one of Litchfield’s best-known views.

From here, relax on the drive back to Darwin, arriving at approximately 7:00pm.