6D4N Darwin Outback Explorer

Validity:  01Apr ‘09 – 31Oct ‘09 (GV2)
Updated: 03Apr09

Day01 Singapore / Darwin       
Your vacation to the Northern Territory in Australia begins with a pleasant flight from Singapore to Darwin.

Day02 Darwin Free Day                                                                                                                
Today, you will be free for leisure to explore the city of Darwin.

Day03 Darwin / Rocky Tabletop Range / Litchfield National Park / Tolmer Falls (B)
Travel south from Darwin and ascend the rocky Tabletop Range where dry woodlands and forests dominate the huge sandstone plateau. Stop to view the giant magnetic termite mounds, some standing well over two metres tall. These amazing natural architectural feats come complete with arches, tunnels, chimneys, insulation and nursery chambers. The mounds are aligned north to south to minimise the exposure to the sun. Litchfield National Park’s major attractions are the permanent spring-fed waterfalls of Florence, Tolmer and Wangi falls. The park’s central sandstone plateau supports patches of monsoonal rainforest that thrive in the deep, narrow gorges created over thousands of years by the force of the waterfalls cutting into the escarpment walls. Common wildlife species include wallaroos, wallabies, possums, flying foxes and dingoes. The caves near Tolmer Falls are home to a colony of rare Orange Horseshoe Bats. Litchfield is a haven for hundreds of native bird species. Birds of prey are common during the dry season and the Rainbow Bee-eater inhabits sheltered areas close to waterfalls. See the picturesque double waterfall that forms beautiful Florence Falls, surrounded by lush rainforest. Continue to Tolmer Falls. Noted as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the park, Tolmer Falls cascades over two high escarpments and plunges into a deep waterhole below. Stop for lunch (own expense) before continuing a short distance to the rock pool at Wangi Falls. There’s time here to enjoy a refreshing swim in the waters at the waterfall’s base, (conditions permitting). Or perhaps take a nature walk to the top of Wangi Falls and enjoy a bird’s-eye view. Return to Darwin.

Day04 Kakadu National Park / Warradjan Aboriginal Culture Centre / Nourlangie    Range / Window on the Wetland (B)
Depart Darwin and enter Kakadu National Park. Covering some 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park. Kakadu’s vast wetlands and ancient escarpment are home to one of Australia’s largest and most diverse bird populations, and carry outstanding natural and cultural significance. Visit Warradjan Aboriginal Culture Centre where the traditional Aboriginal land owners (Bininj) of Kakadu National Park tell stories of their culture through the displays and exhibitions. Join a guided cruise on Yellow Water billabong. Keep an eye out for the wildlife, including crocodiles. See rock art sites at Nourlangie Rock. The name ‘Nourlangie’ is an anglicised version of Nawurlandja. The most famous rock art picture at Nourlangie is called Namondjok and for some Aboriginal groups he is a Creation Ancestor who now lives in the sky and can be seen only at night, when he appears as a dark spot in the Milky Way galaxy. En route to Darwin, stop at Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre to learn about the wildlife, seasonal changes, various animal groups and local Aboriginal and European history. Enjoy a complimentary drink with views over the floodplains. Return to Darwin.

Day05 Adelaide River War Cementery / Pine Creek / Nitmiluk NationalPark   (B)
Depart Darwin and stop at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, the resting place for many Second World War soldiers and civilians killed in the 1942 air raids on Darwin. Continue via Pine Creek to the township of Katherine, a popular tourist centre and one of the Northern Territory’s most important agricultural and grazing regions. Enter Nitmiluk National Park, home to 13 stunning gorges, the famous Katherine Gorge among them. The name ‘Nitmiluk’ is the traditional Jawoyn owners’ word for ‘Cicada Dreaming’, which is one of the area’s important Dreamtime stories. Wander through the Visitor Centre before joining your guided cruise between the sheer sandstone cliffs of Katherine Gorge. The waters of Katherine Gorge are an enticing deep blue, but it is the sheer scale of the gorge that is the most mesmerising feature. As you glide along the tranquil waters of this ancient watercourse, enjoy commentary from your guide detailing the area’s plants and wildlife. Keep an eye out for crocodiles and an array of birds. This afternoon, travel to beautiful Leliyn (Edith Falls) located on the western boundary of Nitmiluk National Park. The paperbark and pandanus-fringed natural pool at the base of Leliyn is safe for swimming throughout most of the year and you’ll have a chance to take a dip in the refreshing cool waters. On the return trip to Darwin, you have the opportunity to purchase dinner - a Top End speciality of barramundi and chips (own expense).

Day06 Darwin / Singapore   (B)
After a fun trip in Darwin, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Singapore. We hope that you have had an enjoyable trip in Darwin, and thank you once again for choosing New Shan Travel as your travel planner.

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