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Day Trips and Tours from Darwin, Northern Territory

Day Trips and Tours from Darwin, Northern Territory

Darwin — the capital city of Australia's Northern Territory — is a hub of vibrant activity, rich history and spotless sandy shores. Named after Charles Darwin, the city serves as a gateway to the surrounding natural attractions of the Australian Outback.

From crashing waterfalls and biodiverse wetlands to ancient aboriginal art, day trips from Darwin offer an insight into this magical yet largely undiscovered corner of Australia.

And, if rock formations, and swimming holes don't appeal to you, perhaps the possibility of glimpsing a saltwater crocodile will.

Litchfield National Park

Nestled in the heart of the Northern Territory, just a stone's throw from Darwin lies Litchfield National Park. This region is famed for its thundering waterfalls, plunging rock pools and fascinating wildlife, and is the perfect place to discover the diversity of Australia.

Litchfield National Park day tours take you on a whirlwind adventure where you can swim in the frosty waters of the falls, learn about the history of aboriginal tribes inhabiting the park and spot a freshwater crocodile.

These reptiles can be found throughout Litchfield National Park year-round, but unlike their cousin — the saltwater crocodile — are shy and don't pose a threat to humans.

Another highlight of Litchfield National Park is its towering termite mounds, which reach staggering heights of 7 meters. Hundreds of these mounds dot the landscape and have been present in the park for over 100 years.

Each one is lovingly crafted by a colony of termites and the queen lives for the entire existence of the mound.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is one of the most significant sites of Australian heritage in the Northern Territory. This area showcases the history of aboriginal tribes for over 20,000 years, several of which still reside in the region.

The park's main galleries — Nourlangie and Ubirr — are home to sizable displays of rock art, which were sculpted by human hands as far back as Australia's last ice age. These artworks depict the first interactions between aboriginal tribes and Europeans, as well as animals, and skeletal frames.

Outside of these historic masterpieces, day trips to Kakadu National Park also discover the dramatic ravines and endless greenery of this corner of the world. Whether you're hiking or taking a cruise in Kakadu National Park, you'll come across breathtaking scenery and an abundance of wildlife.

Katherine Gorge

Now known by another name — Nitmiluk National Park — Katherine Gorge is a series of 13 deep ravines that carve out the landscape of the Northern Territory. These gorges are formed of ancient sandstone and rise up around the river at heights of 70 meters.

Home to harmless freshwater crocodiles year-round, this area is brimming with life, which you'll see for yourself on a Katherine Gorge excursion.

This national park is especially significant to the Jawoyn people who believe the gorge was formed by Nabilil the crocodile.

Despite its popularity among day trippers, Katherine Gorge remains relatively untouched, enabling visitors to admire the outstanding scenery that has been lovingly chiseled to perfection by nature over millions of years.

Whether you choose to catch a bird's eye view of this winding canyon on a helicopter tour in Darwin to see Katherine Gorge or opt for a more popular cruise through its waters, you'll be awed by the impressive rock formations.

Tiwi Islands

Just 80 kilometers off the coast of Darwin sits a cluster of 11 islands in the azure Timor Sea. These islets have been inhabited by aboriginal people for over 40,000 years and remained undiscovered until the 18th century when Dutch explorers washed up upon their shoes.

While European settlements were established during this time, today the lands have been reclaimed by the original tribes, and two islands are still inhabited.

A day tour to the Tiwi Islands will give you a cultural education of Australia's native history. You can experience the traditional custom of a Tiwi welcome smoking ceremony upon arrival on these hospitable islands.

Create your own keepsake in a screen-printing workshop and discover the Tiwi people's creative talents through their textiles, paintings, and ceramics. This welcoming group is recognized by their aboriginal face paintings, which historically signify spirituality, social status and ancestry.

Edith Falls

As the roar of endless gallons of water tumbling down ancient rocks amplifies, you'll know you're getting close to Edith Falls. Located within the Nitmiluk National Park, this waterfall features a colossal drop from over 170 meters and is connected to Katherine Gorge via a 66-kilometer walking trail.

Many Edith Falls excursions combine this natural attraction with the gorge, traveling through the waters from one to the other via a laid-back cruise in Darwin.

One of the best ways to experience Edith Falls is to leap into its frigid swimming pool and feel the invigorating rush the cold water provides. You can also attempt bird-watching or hiking at Edith Falls, which is home to crimson finches, sulfur-crested cockatoos and helmeted friarbirds.

Mary River Wetlands

The Mary River Wetlands meander through more than 220 kilometers of Australia's scenic outback and are known as a paradise for bird watchers. These wetlands provide the conditions for over 250 species of both international and endemic birds to thrive, including jabiru, and jacana.

While these feathered beings are impressive to witness, many people choose a day trip to Mary River Wetlands for one reason only — to catch a glimpse of a saltwater crocodile. This area is home to the largest population of this reptile in the world.

These prehistoric creatures have changed very little over the course of 200 million years and you can admire their long snouts, and graceful movements from the deck of a boat along one of its assortment of pools, such as Corroboree Billabong.