EASY SIDE TRIPS
Mary River
A two-hour drive will deliver you to MARY RIVER NATIONAL PARK.
Take an air-boat WHAT TO DO: tour, skimming above the water to spot the abundant birdlife in lush wetlands, then see Mary River’s most famous residents, the mighty saltwater crocodile, at close (yet very safe) quarters on a jumping crocodile tour on the
ADELAIDE RIVER (adelaiderivercruises.com. au). For something a little more relaxed, head to
SHADY CAMP during the ‘run-off’ between March and May to try and catch the Top End’s most famous fish, barramundi.
WHERE TO STAY: WILDMAN (wildman WILDERNESS LODGE wildernesslodge.com.au) has 10 cabins and 15 luxe safari tents anchored by a central lodge with a restaurant serving up a bush-totable menu.
WHERE TO EAT: GECKO RESTAURANT at MARY RIVER WILDERNESS RETREAT (maryriverretreat.com.au) utilizes local and Australian ingredients to create French bistro-style dishes.
Litchfield National Park
Located just a 90-minute drive south of Darwin, Litchfield is an easy and popular one-day side trip from the city. is
WHAT TO DO: LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK home to several stunning waterfalls that cascade into crystal clear pools. Most tours stop at either or and FLORENCE WANGI FALLS others also allow time to soak in the shady three-tiered fall at . To BULEY ROCKHOLE experience the drama of CITY, a
THE LOST cluster of ancient weathered sandstone pillars, take a 15-minute scenic helicopter flight with (ntair.com.au). And seasoned walkers NT AIR can tackle the 24-mile TRACK, TABLETOP which passes waterfalls and creeks, or you can take on one of the shorter sections.
WHERE TO STAY: Most visitors do Litchfield in a day and then head back to Darwin. There are not many dining
WHERE TO EAT: options in Litchfield so many of the 4WD and organized tours include meals.
Katherine
On the three-hour drive to Katherine, home to PARK, stop NITMILUK NATIONAL at (Edith Falls) for a refreshing LELIYN dip at the pandanus-fringed pool, 12 miles off the highway. Comprising 13 separate WHAT TO DO: gorges, has some NITMILUK GORGE of the most stunning scenery in the Northern Territory; this ancient wonder winds along seven miles of sheer rock that reaches more than 230 feet in height. You can explore the gorge via its walking tracks (ranging from one to six hours), hire a kayak and take a leisurely paddle, see the changing colors at sunset on a dinner cruise, or fly over it in a helicopter, all with NITMILUK TOURS (nitmiluktours.com.au).
WHERE TO STAY: For luxury in the heart of the outback, opt to stay at the Indigenous-owned CICADA LODGE (cicadalodge.com.au).
WHERE TO EAT: Just outside of Katherine,
MARKSIE’S STOCKMAN’S CAMP TUCKER (marksiescamptucker.com.au) is a unique bush tucker (food) experience, cooked with native ingredients, and served under the stars from April with campfire stories (Aussies call them ‘yarns’).