8-day Darwin, Kakadu National Park & Katherine Gorge Guided Tour

Today it’s time to learn about Darwin from a local as you join the half-day escorted bus tour. Discover the city’s cultural heritage, drive by landmarks, plus get tips about local haunts that will be worth visiting during your stay. Highlights of this tour: Smith Street Mall, Mitchell Street – restaurants and cafes, St Mary's Cathedral Cavanagh Street – old China Town, Chinese Temple, Stokes Hill and Fort Hill Wharf Trendy Darwin Wharf precinct on the harbour, World War II oil storage tunnel Christ Church Cathedral, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory – Government House and Parliament House Bicentennial Park, The Esplanade, Casino, Mindil Beach – location for Darwin's famous market Visit the Museum & Art Gallery, Learn of Cyclone Tracy – a force that changed this city Exclusive Fannie Bay, Look for wallabies in the grasslands, Darwin Botanical Gardens

Discover Katherine Gorge on this full-day tour including a 2-hour cruise to spot aboriginal rock art and wildlife, lunch and a visit to beautiful Edith Falls. Start your day with an early-morning pick-up from your hotel and head to the wonderful Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine Gorge. Along the way, stop at the Adelaide River War Cemetery – a site dedicated to those killed in the air raids in Darwin in the 1940s. Continue to Edith Falls, where you have time for a refreshing swim in the waterhole, fringed with paper-bark and pandanas beneath the falls. After a picnic lunch, enjoy a two-hour scenic cruise through Katherine Gorge, with a chance to see freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks of the river. Enjoy the amazing scenery around you and spot bird life unique to this area.

Discover Kakadu on a full-day trip, including wildlife on a Yellow Water Billabong Cruise, lunch and visit to Nourlangie to see ancient Aboriginal rock art. Start your day with an early-morning hotel pick-up and travel on one of the longest roads in Australia, the Stuart Highway. Arrive at the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and marvel at this landscape of exceptional beauty and diversity. The park is surrounded by mangrove-fringed coastal areas, expansive flood plains, lowland hills and open woodland. Visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre and learn about the traditions of the Aboriginal people in Kakadu. Next cruise on the famous Yellow Water Billabong, search for saltwater crocodiles, and view the colourful range of bird life—for which this region is renowned. After lunch, stop at the Nourlangie Rock for a guided walk and view the ancient Aboriginal rock art before returning to Darwin.

Today is a free day for you to enjoy the sights of Darwin at leisure, before it’s time to be welcomed by the friendly Captain and Crew as you board the Spectacular “Spirit of Darwin.” Upon boarding, make yourself at home on the comfortable bean bag chairs on the bow and soak up the last of the day’s sunshine, alternatively have a seat with a view on our spacious decks, ready to set sail on a 2.5 hour cruise showcasing the magnificent tropical Darwin Harbour. As the Sun sets watch the sky light up in magical colours reflecting off the water and showcasing the coast line of Darwin in a way you've never seen before! As the sun goes down enjoy a great local buffet meal prepared with fresh produce, the perfect accompaniment to the spectacular sunset view! The Friendly crew are ready and able to assist your every need and want. This unique experience features amazing fish feeding from the bow of the “Spirit of Darwin,” where the Bat-fish of the Darwin Harbour meet the boat to be fed.

Today’s tour is an excellent opportunity to observe these primeval creatures as you cruise along the Adelaide River. Face saltwater crocodiles close up as they leap out of the water to snatch their food! Highlights of this tour: Cruise the Adelaide River in crocodile infested waters Watch as your guide entices saltwater crocodiles to jump and snatch their food Witness crocodiles in a somewhat close situation! Visit Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre – see birds of prey scavenge for leftovers An educational display with sweeping views over the wetlands Fogg Dam Nature Reserve – a Top End wetlands eco system with an abundance of birds and reptiles

As you walk the paths of pioneers, local guides will cheerfully share their passion for the town they call home as they tell of its history through the World War II bombings and Cyclone Tracy, to current day. Discover many of the remaining buildings such as the old Court House and Police Station, Browns Mart and the Old Palmerston Town Hall ruins, all of which have been painstakingly reconstructed. View Government House, Parliament House and the Northern Territory Supreme Court on our journey through the streets of this modern tropical city. There are many hidden treasures to see on foot and plenty of opportunities to capture photographs of the public artworks, architecture, historic buildings, tropical plants and wildlife. Departs: Raintree Park under the John McDouall Stuart statue, corner of Smith Street Mall and Knuckey Street. Look for the person in the bright orange shirt.

Your tour concludes today as you check out of your hotel and catch a taxi to the airport for flights home.