Darwin Travel Forum

Hello, I'm planning a 3-4 days trip to Darwin. Would you suggest to arrange day trips to kakadu and to litchfield (sleeping in Darwin) or it is better to spend a night in the parks?
Thanks
Ferr

It depends on when you're going and how you're travelling. Litchfield has camping within the park, but other accommodation is outside, mainly at Batchelor. Kakadu (which is much bigger in area) has a full range of accommodation types within the park, from 5 star hotel to bush camping.

With 3-4 days in the Darwin area then the answer is definitely only a day trip to litchfield national park. it is scenic and well worth a visit, but it does not warrant an overnight stay on your schedule. If possible however a 2 day (overnight stay) at Kakadu is a great idea. Day trips operate from darwin to Kakadu and return late in the evening after a full day of sightseeing, a boat trip on the river, a look at some of the rock formations etc and views at sunset over the area. Kakadu is more unique and well worth an overnight stay if possible as it is a scenic as well as a cultural experience and there is a lot to see and absorb. best wishes.

I would say that you definitely need to spend a night in Kakadu. There is so much to see there. I would highly recommend the sunrise Yellow Water cruise and any of the rock art sites. If you like hiking and swimming there is alot to do in Litchfield and you could easily spend a night in Batchelor, but it's only about an hour from Darwin to Litchfield so you can see alot in a day trip. Enjoy, the NT is a beautiful area.

Hello I should extend my trip to Kakadu and choose between "Arnhem Land (Mikinj Valley)" or "Jim Jim and Twin Falls". Which of the 2 destinations would you suggest?
Regards
Ferr

As I said earlier, it depends what time of year you're going. Mikinj becomes inaccessible earlier than Jim Jim and Twin in the wet season. Then the only option is by plane, and you could do both areas in the one flight. In fact Mikinj is inaccessible for much of the year and I think you'll find that you don't actually go in there, only near the main road to the north.

I am going there in August and I have to choose between 3 organized Tours so I would need an advice between:
- "Kakadu+Arnhem Land (Mikinj Valley)" (3 days)
or
- "Kakadu+Jim Jim and Twin Falls" (3 days)
or
- "Kakadu only" (2 days).
Thanks for your suggestions.
Ferr

The Arnhem Land tours go in over the East Alligator River at Cahill's Crossing on the way to Kunbarllanjnja (Oenpelli) where they visit the Injalak art centre. Sometimes they also take in a walk up Injalak (Hill) for rock art and views back over Kunbarllanjnja. Either going in, or going out, they stop off at Wurlk (Red Lily) for rock art and views over the billabong and flood plains. There's a lot of rock outcrops near there with lots of rock art.

The Jim Jim and Twin Falls tours drive in to the escarpment country taking you to those falls which are quite high and impressive, apart from that time of year they have little or no water coming down them. The surrounding country is impressive, but as I said, very little in the way of falling water.

The rest of the Kakadu components of those tours could be anywhere but both would probably take in Ubirr and Nourlangie art sites, Warradjan Cultural Centre, Yellow Waters and the Bowali Visitor Centre.

I have a strong interest in Aboriginal culture so my preference would be for the tour which includes Arnhem Land. Around August Kunbarllanjnja has an open day/festival and if your tour coincides with that it would be worth the visit.

Litchfield can be done as a day trip, Kakadu definately needs a night stay if possible...to be honest, depending what you're after Kakadu was a bit of a waste of my time and i felt a little overhyped)...Litchfield had all the lovely swimming spots etc in a more condensed space...Kakadu is huge and involves a lot of driving...I felt it maybe more appealed to someone who had a specialist interest in a particular type of wildlife or something..
Claire