Top End

The tropical north of Australia's Northern Territory: Darwin, Kakadu National Park's rock art and wetlands, Litchfield's waterfalls and Katherine Gorge.

The Top End is the common name for the tropical northern part of the Northern Territory. With the capital, Darwin, as its gateway, it is known for wetlands, waterfalls, crocodiles and Aboriginal rock art. The heart of the region is Kakadu National Park, Australia's largest national park and a World Heritage Site for both natural and cultural values. Ubirr and Nourlangie hold Aboriginal rock art tens of thousands of years old, Yellow Water wetland cruises offer close views of saltwater crocodiles and waterbirds, and in the dry season a 4WD track leads to Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls. Litchfield National Park, about 1.5 hours from Darwin, has waterfalls with swimmable plunge pools and giant termite mounds. About 300 km to the south, Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) can be explored by canoe or boat. Darwin itself offers the Mindil Beach Sunset Market and Crocosaurus Cove. A 5–7 day self-drive is recommended: 1–2 days in Darwin, 1 in Litchfield, 2–3 in Kakadu and 1 in Katherine. In the Wet Season some roads close, and Jim Jim Falls requires a 4WD. Always heed crocodile warnings and swim only in pools clearly marked as safe; some areas require an Aboriginal land permit to enter.

Destinations

• Darwin
• Kakadu National Park
• Katherine & Nitmiluk
• Litchfield National Park

Itineraries

• Top End: Kakadu, Katherine & Litchfield – Loop through three major national parks from Darwin to see rock art, wetlands, gorges, and plunge pools.
• Explorer's Way: Uluru to Darwin – Drive from south to north across the Northern Territory, traveling from the Red Centre all the way to tropical Kakadu a…
• Darwin to Broome Highway Crossing – Traverse the southern edge of the Kimberley from the Northern Territory along sealed highways, fly over the beehive dom…