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Published: February 27th 2017
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The Nature’s Way road trip is one of the most exciting and scenic road trips through Australia’s outback. Specifically this drive takes you through what is called the “Top End” of the Northern Territory. You will surely get in touch with nature including Darwin, the Adelaide River wetlands, Mary River wetlands, and some magnificent landscapes of both Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park. Our itinerary here is 5 days, but you can always stay longer as there is endless amounts of untouched land to explore here. If you are not familiar with Australia, be aware that the Top End and northern parts of the country are hotter and more humid the further north you go. It is warm and humid here all year round, but more comfortable in the winter when it is also the dry season. Bring plenty of water and emergency supplies and heed all warning signs about crocodiles, which can inhabit both fresh and saltwater.
Nature’s Way Road Trip Day One For day one on the Nature’s Way Road Trip, start in Darwin and head east for 250 km to Kakadu National park. Highlights along the way include Goff Dam
Conservation Reserve on the lower Adelaide River and the Jumping Crocodile Cruise. Watching some of the largest saltwater crocodiles jump out of the water is quite a memorable site. You can stay in Jabiru, a town in Kakadu National Park. Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park, so you can spend several extra days taking excursions and seeing the 6 different regions, climates, and landscapes of this unique protected land.
Nature’s Way Road Trip Days Two and Three For our itinerary, we spend two days in Kakadu National Park, but you can definitely add onto that time frame if you choose. Some of the breathtaking scenery in the park includes the Arnhem Escarpment, waterfalls, wetlands, billabong, and rock art galleries. Both guided tours and self-guided adventures are available. The things to do here include:
BushwalkingBarramundi fishingSpotting saltwater crocodiles<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;
margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">Tour Aboriginal Dreamtime rock art sitesExplore the South Alligator ValleyHike to Gunlom FallsTake a dip in the rock poolsCamp overnightGuided Aboriginal cruiseTake a scenic flight to witness the enormity of Kakadu
A scenic flight is high on the priority list because the park is so enormous, it is the size of some smaller European countries; plus you can only see some of the most magnificent waterfalls from the air. You should also definitely take some time to learn about the rich Aboriginal culture and history here. Just be sure to
heed all warning signs about crocodiles and keeping emergency supplies on hand.
Nature’s Way Road Trip Day Four Day four’s itinerary includes a trip past Pine Creek and a drive to Litchfield National Park, we hired a
rental car from Budget . Pine Creek is an old gold mining town with some old buildings and history to discover at the National Trust Museum at Pine Creek, which was the railway station built in 1888. Follow the Explorer’s Way road through Batchelor, a town at the entrance to Litchfield National Park where you can spend the night.
Nature’s Way Road Trip Day Five Day 5 on our itinerary is the last day, but you can stay in Nitmiluk National Park and Litchfield National Park each for a few days to experience the fantastic display of scenery thanks to Mother Nature. Some of the scenic highlights include the dramatic and magical waterfalls like Edith Falls, Katherine / Nitmiluk Gorge, Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, and Tolmer Falls. Look for the signs for swimming holes because some of the plunge pools are maintained crocodile free, so you can take a refreshing dip and add some amazing memories to this trip
of a lifetime. Among the other things to do include a Reynolds River wildlife cruise, exploring the various gorges, learning about Aboriginal culture and history, and hiking, especially the Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park. After exploring these last two national parks, it is time to head back to Darwin, ending the loop of your Nature’s Way road trip in the city you started in.
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