Date visited: Dec-2018

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The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park, Western Australia)

The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park, Western Australia) are a massive group of unique ancient limestone formations located about 2-hours drive north of Perth, near the coastal town of Cervantes. The weathered limestone pillars numbered in the thousands and can be as high as 3.5m.

For those driving to The Pinnacles, there is a 4 km track (loop) in the park that can be accessed by light vehicles (i.e. regular 2WD cars and small campervans). This helps visitors to explore more parts of the park. Larger vehicle types should be left in the parking area next to the visitor centre.

Park entrance fee applies.

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Tips for exploring The Pinnacles (Google Map)

• For first-time visitors, we recommend first driving through the entire loop (around the park) without stopping. On this first loop, take note of the scenic spots.
• After the first drive, perform a second loop around the park. This time stopping at the scenic spots identified earlier.
• Given that the park is massive, this method allows visitors to avoid the common mistake of stopping (and taking pictures) too early into the loop. Thus missing out on the other scenic spots further down the loop due to time constraints.
• For the same reason, crowds generally form at the start of the loop, leaving the later part of the loop relatively devoid of visitors. Thus, try to spend more time exploring the later part of the loop to avoid the crowds.

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Our 9 days Western Australia self-drive campervan trip (Dec-2018)

• Day#1-3 (Ningaloo Coast, Exmouth)
  • Things to do in Ningaloo Coast
• Day#4-5 (Coral Bay)
  • Things to do in Coral Bay
• Day#6-7 (Shark Bay)
  • Things to do in Shark Bay
• Day#8-9 (Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes, Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake))
  • The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon

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Our other travel blogs on Western Australia:

Things to do in Ningaloo Coast (Western Australia)

Things to do in Coral Bay (Western Australia)

Things to do in Shark Bay (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake (Western Australia)

Related posts:

• Northern Territory
  • 10-Days Itinerary for Northern Territory
  • Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory)
  • Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Queensland
  • Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• New South Wales
  • 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Western Australia
  • Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
  • Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
  • Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park, Western Australia) appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

Date visited: Dec-2018

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The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake)

We flew into Perth and collected our campervan before making the long 1200 km drive north to Exmouth, Ningaloo Coast. After spending five days in Ningaloo Coast and Coral Bay, we drove south to Shark Bay for two days of exploration.

To cap off the trip, we spent the last two days visiting Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake) in Gregory and the famed Pinnacles and Lancelin Sand Dunes just north of Perth.

Below are our travel notes of the three site that are accurate as of Dec-2018.

The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park) (Google Map)

• Approximately 190km north of Perth, the Pinnacles (Nambung National Park) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Western Australia.
• Formed between 25,000 and 30,000 years ago, the limestone formation is thought to be what’s left when the area rose above sea level, exposing the previous seabed to erosion. The result is a uniquely spectacular field of weathered limestone pillars, some of which are as high as 3.5m.
• Due to the scale of the site, park authorities had constructed a 4km self-drive loop (with small parking spots at suitable intervals) amidst the limestone pillars. The track is well-marked with surface hardened, making it suitable for most regular cars/vans (e.g. 2WD sedans, small campervans).
• Entrance fee applies.
• Tips:
  • There is no limit on how many times you could drive through the loop.
  • Most visitors make the mistake of stopping too frequently to explore the initial part of the loop. Thus missing out on the more scenic spots in the latter part of the loop due to time constraints. This also results in larger crowds at the initial part of the loop, while the rest of the loop would be relatively deserted.
  • We suggest driving a first pass of the loop, without stopping, to identify “scenic spots”. Then take a second pass and only stop at these spots.

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Lancelin Sand Dunes (Google Map)

•  Approximately 130km north of Perth, Lancelin is one of the best sand-boarding destinations in Australia.
• The location is easily accessible (via regular 2WD vehicles) and visitors could self-drive to the EDGE of the dunes (DO NOT drive onto or near the dunes due to soft sand). The activity is safe and suitable for most ages.
• Boards can be rented at a reasonable price in town.
• No entry fees for the sand dunes.
• Refer to our Google Map for the details of:
  • Where to rent your boards.
  • Direction to the dunes.
  • (IMPORTANT) Where to park your car!
• Important things to know (also stated in our map):
  • Rent board at “Have A Chat General Store”. It is cheaper and there is no time limit on the rental. No deposit is required.
  • If in a group, rent a few boards to share. You wouldn’t be all using the board at the same time.
  • Park at the edge of the dunes (marked “Car Park 1” on our map) and walk to them. The sand beyond Car Park 1 might be soft and you’ll risk bogging your vehicle. Expensive mistake!

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Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake) (Google Map)

• Hutt Lagoon is a salt lake that presents a red/pink hue due to Dunaliella salina, an algae that enables commercial production of β-carotene. It is the largest of such production plants in the world. No entry fees.
• Be careful when walking around the edge of the lake. Some of the ground is soft and will give way.
• Handle your camera gear with care. If they come into contact with the algae, you’ll need to perform a thorough cleaning. Especially for your tripod legs, avoid setting your tripod in the lake.

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Our 9 days Western Australia self-drive campervan trip (Dec-2018)

• Day#1-3 (Ningaloo Coast, Exmouth)
  • Things to do in Ningaloo Coast
• Day#4-5 (Coral Bay)
  • Things to do in Coral Bay
• Day#6-7 (Shark Bay)
  • Things to do in Shark Bay
• Day#8-9 (Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes, Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake))
  • See above

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Our other travel blogs on Western Australia:

Things to do in Ningaloo Coast (Western Australia)

Things to do in Coral Bay (Western Australia)

Things to do in Shark Bay (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park, Western Australia)

Related posts:

• Northern Territory
  • 10-Days Itinerary for Northern Territory
  • Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory)
  • Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Queensland
  • Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• New South Wales
  • 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Western Australia
  • Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
  • Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
  • Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake (Western Australia) appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

Date visited: Dec-2018

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Top Things to do in Shark Bay (Western Australia)

We flew into Perth and collected our campervan before making the long 1200 km drive north to Exmouth, Ningaloo Coast. After spending five days in Ningaloo Coast (see link) and Coral Bay (see link), we drove south to Shark Bay.

Most Australians would associate Shark Bay with Monkey Mia, one of the best places in the world for dolphin interaction. The beach at Monkey Mia is the only place in Australia where dolphins will visit daily. These daily morning dolphin interaction sessions are free and are the undisputed highlight for most travellers to the bay.

Another highlight for many travellers is Shell Beach. The beach is one of the few places on earth where visitors can marvel at vast stretches (up to 120km long!) of the shoreline made of shells that can get up to 10m deep.

Below are the must-see places in Shark Bay:

1. Monkey Mia (dolphin interaction)*
2. Ocean Park Aquarium*
3. Eagle Bluff lookout*
4. Shell Beach*
5. Hamelin Pool (stromatolites)*

*For more details, see our travel notes below.

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The notes below are accurate as of Dec-2018.

1: Monkey Mia (Google Map)

• Monkey Mia entry fee applies (e.g. Single Day Permit: adult@$15, child@$5, family_2A/2C@$35).
• All other park passes are invalid at Monkey Mia.
• The daily dolphin interaction sessions (on the beach in front of the visitor centre) are free. Just gather near the beach when you reach.
• There are typically 3 interaction sessions per day (between 7.45am and 12noon).
• The first session starts at 7.45am. However, there are no fixed times for the 2nd/3rd sessions; it depends on when the dolphins come to the beach. On certain days, the 3rd session could end as early as 9am. Thus, it’s best to arrive early for the first 7.45am session to avoid any disappointment.
• The beach around Monkey Mia is scenic and the RAC campsite is a beauty (though expensive).

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2: Ocean Park Aquarium (Google Map)

• Entry fee applies (adult@$25, child@$18) and includes a guided tour of the aquarium.
• The guided tours (45-60 minutes) are hosted by marine biologists who will go through all the various marine life in the aquarium.
• The tours run in a loop from 9 am to 3 pm daily. Visitors could join and leave the tour at any segment.
• The highlight of the tour is the shark feeding session.

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3: Eagle Bluff lookout (Google Map)

• Excellent viewing point located at the top of a cliff.
• It is often possible to spot marine animals in the shallow waters off the cliff.

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4: Shell Beach (Google Map)

• One of the few places on earth where visitors could marvel at entire shorelines made of cockle shells that can get up to 10m deep.
• The shells are so compressed and hardened that they are used as blocks for some nearby buildings (in Denham).

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5: Hamelin Pool (stromatolites) (Google Map)

• Stromatolites are living fossils and the oldest living life forms on Earth. They are formed from single-cell organisms that were the first form of life around 3500 million years ago.
• Hamelin Pool boasts the most diverse and abundant range of stromatolites in the world.
• A 200m broad walk on the shoreline allows visitors to observe the stromatolites.

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Our 9 days Western Australia self-drive campervan trip (Dec-2018)

• Day#1-3 (Ningaloo Coast, Exmouth)
  • Things to do in Ningaloo Coast
• Day#4-5 (Coral Bay)
  • Things to do in Coral Bay
• Day#6-7 (Shark Bay)
  • See above
• Day#8-9 (Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes, Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake))
  • The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon
  • The Pinnacles (time lapse video)

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Our other travel blogs on Western Australia:

Things to do in Ningaloo Coast (Western Australia)

Things to do in Coral Bay (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park, Western Australia)

Related posts:

• Northern Territory
  • 10-Days Itinerary for Northern Territory
  • Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory)
  • Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Queensland
  • Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• New South Wales
  • 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Western Australia
  • Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
  • Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
  • Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post Things to do in Shark Bay (Western Australia) appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

Date visited: Dec-2018

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Ningaloo Coast (Western Australia)

The UNESCO listed (Jan2011) Ningaloo Reef is one of the longest-fringing coral reefs in the world. And the only large reef positioned very close to shore. Much of the reefs are mere footsteps from the beach, making them one of the most accessible coral reefs in Australia.

We flew into Perth and collected our campervan before making the long 1200 km drive (over two days) to Exmouth, the gateway to Ningaloo Coast. After spending three days in Exmouth, we drove south to the nearby picturesque Coral Bay.

Coral Bay is more crowded than Exmouth because the beach and snorkelling areas are right on the edge of the town.

Things to do in Coral Bay

• Day 4
  • Arrive at Coral Bay (check-in Coral Bay Bayview Caravan Park)
  • Reef Shark Sanctuary (MUST SEE!)
• Day 5
  • Manta Ray snorkelling tour (full-day)

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Reef Shark Sanctuary review/notes

• A MUST-SEE while in Coral Bay!
• From October to March, up to 200 reef sharks will shelter in the shallow waters off the northern end of Bill’s Bay. The reef sharks typically congregate a few metres off the beach, making them easily observable from shore.
• Approximately 2km walk from the bay (town centre). Allow 20-30min walk per way along the beach.
• See our pin-drop in Google map for the exact location

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Manta Ray Snorkelling Tours review/notes

• The coast around Ningaloo Reef (including Coral Bay) is famed for its Humpback Whale, Whale Shark and Manta Ray tours.
• The typical season for Whale Sharks is mid-March to June/July, while the Humpback Whale season is July to October. Manta Rays tours in the area typically run all year round as there is a Manta Ray sanctuary near Coral Bay.
• The few companies (in Coral Bay) that offer Manta Ray tours differ in pricing mainly due to their respective tour durations.
• All the companies offer the same probability of spotting Manta Rays. This is because they go to the same area (at the same time) to spot the Manta Rays. The companies pooled to share the cost of engaging a spotter plane to ensure their clients would not leave disappointed.
• During our trip, we booked an “8am to 3pm” Manta Ray tour. The tour consists of 2 snorkelling sessions plus a Manta Ray session. All equipment and lunch are included.
• Unfortunately, a major weather system swept through the area barely a week before our trip. Thus, the usual crystal clear water has its visibility drastically reduced. It also meant that we had a hard time spotting the Manta Rays and other marine life.

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Coral Bay BayView Caravan Park review/notes

• During our trip, we stayed in a powered campervan site at Coral Bay BayView, the largest accommodation operator in Coral Bay.
• The campervan sites are of good size. However, the sites are only equipped with bore water taps. (Note: These on-site bore water can be VERY HOT!)
• The ablution blocks (e.g. showers) are free and use bore water.
• Freshwater taps are available throughout the campsite free of charge.
• It is a beautiful campsite with a large playground and jumping pillow. And is conveniently located next to the bay and shopping arcade.
• From what we gather, their snorkelling tours are the cheapest in town and there’s a discount for their guest.
• During our trip (Dec 2018), there was a discount (for campervan powered site) for 2 nights (20%) and 3 nights (30%).

Our 9 days Western Australia self-drive campervan trip (Dec-2018)

• Day#1-3 (Ningaloo Coast, Exmouth),
  • Things to do in Ningaloo Coast
• Day#4-5 (Coral Bay)
  • See above
• Day#6-7 (Shark Bay)
  • Things to do in Shark Bay
• Day#8-9 (Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes, Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake))
  • The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon
  • The Pinnacles (time lapse video)

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Our other travel blogs on Western Australia:

Things to do in Ningaloo Coast (Western Australia)

Things to do in Shark Bay (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park, Western Australia)

Related posts:

• Northern Territory
  • 10-Days Itinerary for Northern Territory
  • Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory)
  • Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Queensland
  • Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• New South Wales
  • 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Western Australia
  • Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
  • Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
  • Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post Things to do in Coral Bay (Western Australia) appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

Date visited: Dec-2018

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Things to do in Ningaloo Coast (Western Australia)

Ningaloo is one of the longest fringing coral reefs in the world and the only large reef positioned very close to shore. Much of the reefs are mere footsteps from the beach, making them one of the most accessible coral reefs in Australia.

The lagoons are on average only 2-4m deep and incredibly rich in marine life. Further offshore, whales, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, turtles and whale sharks are often sighted.

We flew into Perth and collected our campervan before making the long 1200km drive to Exmouth, the gateway to Ningaloo Coast.

Trip itinerary

Below are various details about the Ningaloo leg (3-days) of our trip:

First Day

• Arrive mid-day at Exmouth. Check-in caravan park.
• VLF Tower (Google Map)
  • Built by the US Navy for communications (especially for submarine communications)
  • For a while, it was the tallest man-made structure in the Southern Hemisphere
• Mildura Wreck (Google Map)
  • Wrecked a short distance off the coast in 1907. Visible from a viewing area along the shore.
• Jurabi Turtle Centre (Google Map)
• Vlamingh Head Lighthouse (sunset) (Google Map)
  • Excellent sunrise/sunset views. Do not miss this!
  • It is one of the few places along Australia’s coast where you can catch both sunrise/sunset.

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Second Day

• Milyering Visitor Centre (Google Map)
  • Get tide info for Oyster Stacks (snorkelling is possible only at high tide)
• Lakeside Snorkelling Area (Google Map)
• Turquoise Bay (snorkelling) (Google Map)
  • Two snorkelling areas in Turquoise Bay: Drift Snorkel Area and Bay Snorkel Area
  • The Drift Snorkel Area is east of the bay. Walk south (from the sandy point) along the beach for ~30m and enter the water from there. The drift current will push you north back towards the sandy point. Make sure you exit the water at the marked Snorkel Exit point, before reaching the sandy point.
  • The Bay Snorkel Area is west of the sandy point. The water here is calm, though the amount of coral and marine life is less than that at Oyster Stacks.

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Third Day

• Oyster Stack (snorkelling) (Google Map)
  • Snorkelling is only possible during high tide (get info from Milyering Visitor Centre).
  • Sharp and rocky entry into the water. Watch your steps.
  • One of the better snorkelling sites in the area.
• Turquoise Bay (snorkelling)

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Things to note when visiting Ningaloo Coast/Exmouth

• Do not drive outside town after sunset. Many animals get attracted by vehicle headlights and inadvertently wander into oncoming traffic. This advice applies to the majority of intercity/state highways in Australia.
• Visit the Ningaloo Visitor Centre in Exmouth for up-to-date information. (Google Map)
• Free drinking water can be obtained via two water taps at the car park beside the “Big Prawn” next to Ningaloo Visitor Centre. (Google Map)
• Petrol can be expensive/limited in the area (especially in the national park). The best/cheapest place to get petrol is in town (Exmouth).

Our 9 days Western Australia self-drive campervan trip (Dec-2018)

• Day#1-3 (Ningaloo Coast, Exmouth),
  • See above
• Day#4-5 (Coral Bay)
  • Things to do in Coral Bay
• Day#6-7 (Shark Bay)
  • Things to do in Shark Bay
• Day#8-9 (Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes, Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake))
  • The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon
  • The Pinnacles (time lapse video)

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Our other travel blogs on Western Australia:

Things to do in Coral Bay (Western Australia)

Things to do in Shark Bay (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park, Western Australia)

Related posts:

• Northern Territory
  • 10-Days Itinerary for Northern Territory
  • Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory)
  • Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
  • Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Queensland
  • Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• New South Wales
  • 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Western Australia
  • Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
  • Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
  • Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post Things to do in Ningaloo Coast (Western Australia) appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

Darwin (Northern Territory) is Australia’s smallest and northern-most capital city. A laid-back yet colourful coastal metropolis, Darwin is also the gateway to several exceptional national parks in the Northern Territory. As Darwin is a compact city, most visitors would typically incorporate trips to these nearby national parks in their itinerary. If you’re planning to visit the Northern Territory, let us share with you our tried-and-tested 10-Days Itinerary for Darwin!

How do we know the itinerary works? Because this is the actual 10-days itinerary for our Northern Territory adventure in Jun-2018! Go ahead and share it with your travel buddies!

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See also:

Things to do in Darwin, Australia

Kakadu National Park Travel Blog

Litchfield National Park Travel Blog

Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog

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The Top End (Northern Territory, Australia)

The Northern Territory is a vast federal territory (as opposed to a state) located on the northern tip of Australia. Within the massive Northern Territory lies two distinct regions commonly referred to as “The Top End” and “The Red Centre”.

The Top End is used to describe the northern-most region of the Northern Territory. Encompassing Darwin, Kakadu, Arnhem Land, Katherine and Tennant Creek (see map).

While the Red Centre is the southern desert region of Northern Territory and includes the famed Uluru (Ayers Rocks).

For this blog, we’ll focus solely on the areas bounded by the Top End.

Best time to visit the Top End

The Top End has a tropical savanna climate. Characterised by two distinct seasons, a wet/hot season from November to April, and a dry/cool season from May to October.

During the wet season, monsoon rain and storms are prevalent and can cause flooding in many areas. Especially in the outback regions of the Top End. Road closures are common. Making any trip to the Top End outback (during this season) a tricky endeavour.

For the typical tourist, by far the best time to visit the Top End is during the cooler dry season. Consequently, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this is also peak tourist season. Making accommodation and other tourism related services pricier.

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10-Days itinerary for Darwin (The Top End)

Based upon our 10-days Jun-2018 trip to the Northern Territory (via a 2WD campervan). Below is our 10-Days itinerary for the Top End.

Day#1: Darwin

• Darwin Harbour Cruise
• Defence of Darwin Experience (Darwin Military Museum)
• Mindil Beach/Mindil Beach Sunset Market (only Thur/Sun)
• Stay: Darwin

For more details on the listed Darwin attractions, see our blog on Things to do in Darwin.

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Day#2-4: Kakadu National Park

Day#2:

• Drive to Kakadu National Park (3-hours)
• Bowali Visitor Centre
• Stay: Jabiru

Accommodation at Jabiru: For recommendation on accommodation in Jabiru, refer to our Kakadu travel blog or click here for Kakadu Lodge. 

Note: Self-drive is essential for any visit to the Top End. This itinerary is based upon using a 2WD vehicle. There are a few places of interest (esp. waterfalls) in Kakadu National Park that requires 4WD for access. For the detailed reasons why we opted for a 2WD (instead of 4WD) campervan (instead of car), refer to our Kakadu travel blog (see section on ”2WD vs 4WD“ and “Renting Cars vs. Campervan”).

Day#3:

• Bardedjilidji Walk
• Cahills Crossing at East Alligator (Erre) River
• Ubirr (Ubirr Rock Art site) (rock art & sunset view)
• Stay: Jabiru

Day#4:

• Anbangbang Rock Shelter (Burrungkuy/Burrunggui) (rock art)
• Yellow Water Wetlands, Ngurrungurrudjba (via Yellow Water Cruise) (river cruise)
• Stay: Jabiru

For more details on the listed Kakadu attractions, see our other post Kakadu National Park Travel Blog.

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Day#5-7: Nitmiluk National Park

Day#5:

• Drive to Katherine Town (3-hours)
• Katherine Visitor Information Centre (Katherine Town)
• Stay: Katherine

Accommodation at Katherine: For recommendation on accommodation in Katherine, refer to our Nitmiluk travel blog.

Day#6:

• Edith Falls (Leliyn) (swim)
• Katherine Hot Springs (swim)
• Stay: Katherine

Day#7:

• Nitmiluk Visitor Centre
• Katherine Gorge (hike)
• Drive to Litchfield National Park (2.5-hours)
• Stay: Batchelor/Litchfield

For more details on the listed Nitmiluk attractions, see our other post Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog.

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Day#8-9: Litchfield National Park

Day#8:

• Magnetic Termite Mounds
• Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole (swim)
• Stay: Batchelor/Litchfield

Accommodation at Batchelor/Litchfield: For recommendations on accommodation in Batchelor/Litchfield, refer to our Litchfield travel blog or click here for Litchfield Tourist Park.

Day#9:

• Tolmer Falls
• Wangi Falls (swim; conditions permitting)
• Stay: Batchelor/Litchfield

For more details on the listed Litchfield attractions, see our other post Litchfield National Park Travel Blog.

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Day#10: Darwin

• Drive back to Darwin (1-hour)
• Stokes Hill Wharf

[End of trip]

Related posts:

• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory)
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
• Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
• Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post Itinerary for Darwin (Australia) appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

A magnificent harbour city that is also the gateway to several world-class national parks, Darwin is truly an ideal destination for adventure lovers. From lively markets and insightful museums, to majestic wildlife and exotic outback adventures. The laid-back yet colourful city certainly has plenty to offer. Join us as we share with you the Top Things to do in Darwin, Australia! (Based on our Darwin trip in Jun-2018)

See also:

• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory)

Tip: Need helping planning your itinerary? See our blog “10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory“

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Things to do in Darwin, Australia

Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory of Australia. And is the nation’s smallest and northern-most capital city. It has a population of around 146,000.

Best time to visit Darwin

Located on the southern edge of the Timor Sea, Darwin has a tropical savanna climate. The wet (and hot) season starts from November to April. While May to October bring the dry and cooler weather.

Thus, the best time to visit Darwin is June to September. It shouldn’t be a surprise that this is also Darwin’s peak tourist season. Expect to pay more for tourism related goods and services during this period.

Rebuilding the City

As a community, Darwin has had its fair share of anguish and trying moments.

Forces of nature and war had ravaged the city on multiple occasions. Specifically, Darwin had undergone destruction by cyclones in 1897, 1937 and 1974 (Cyclone Tracy). And was left devastated by Japanese air raids during WWII.

However, in all instances, its inhabitants showed remarkable resolve to pick up the pieces and rebuild the city. The efforts reflected in the colourful and vibrant city that we see today.

Planning your trip to Darwin

Relative to other major Australian cities, Darwin is compact. Thus, most visitors to Darwin would usually include trips to nearby national parks for some outback adventure.

Similarly, during our Jun-2018 trip, we planned for 2-days in Darwin while leaving another 8-days to explore three national parks outside the city. For our travel blogs on these national parks, refer to:

• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Things to do in Kakadu)
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Things to do in Litchfield)
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Things to do in Nitmiluk)

As for the attractions within Darwin city, below are the places and activities you should not miss. (Listed in random order)

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Things to do in Darwin #1: Defence of Darwin Experience (Darwin Military Museum)

The Defence of Darwin Experience is a permanent exhibit within the Darwin Military Museum. Through various interesting and interactive mediums, it chronicles the role of Darwin during World War II. Specifically, about the numerous Japanese air raids on the city during the war. In our view the most interesting activity on this list and must not be missed.

Darwin Military Museum

The museum was founded by the Royal Australian Artillery Association (Northern Territory) in 1965. It was built around the 9.2-inch coastal gun emplacements of the East Point fortifications of Darwin. And was part of the most heavily fortified area in Australia during WWII.

Since its establishment, Darwin Military Museum had collected a good range of photographs, articles and war equipment that details Australia’s military involvement in international conflicts.

Defence of Darwin Experience

The Defence of Darwin Experience exhibit was opened on 18-Feb-2012 to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin. And tells the story of the city’s (and its inhabitants’) involvement during WWII. With specific emphasis on the devastating Japanese air raids on 19-Feb-1942.

Bombing of Darwin: 19-Feb-1942

In the days following the attack on Pearl Harbour, Japanese forces planned an air raid on the Allied resources at Darwin. The raid eventually took place at 0957hrs on 19-Feb-1942, approximately ten weeks after Pearl Harbour. In what would be remembered as the Bombing of Darwin.

The Japanese aircrafts attacked in two waves. The first involving 188 carrier-based planes operating out from four aircraft carriers in the Timor Sea. The same fleet that raided Pearl Harbour. Followed by a second wave of 54 land-based bombers. The number of bombs unleashed on Darwin during the raid would exceed that of Pearl Harbour. Resulting in 235 fatalities and 300-400 wounded.

The attack at Darwin on 19-Feb-1942 would go down as the single largest air raid ever on Australian soil. And would be the first of many smaller raids to hit Darwin during the course of the war.

Tip: Fees and opening hours

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Things to do in Darwin #2: Mindil Beach/Mindil Beach Sunset Market

Approximately 3km from Darwin’s city centre, Mindil is a relatively small beach (~1km long) next to the city’s casino (SKYCITY Darwin). The beach itself is nothing impressive; Australia has far more breathtaking beaches. However, Mindil Beach is home to the biggest and most lively market in Darwin.

Darwin’s best market: Mindil Beach Sunset Market

Following the theme of Asian night markets, the market first started in 1987 at a mall in central Darwin. Over time, it moved to its current location next to Mindil Beach. Hence the name, Mindil Beach Sunset Market.

The market opens every Thursday and Sunday, 4pm to 9pm, during the dry season (last Thursday in April to last Thursday in October). With Thursday being the main event, while the Sunday market operate at a smaller scale.

Mindil Beach Sunset Market has a good mix of food/drinks (mainly Asian-centric cuisines), arts & crafts and entertainment. With more than 200 stalls, the market is extremely popular with locals and tourist. Easily making it the most crowded place in Darwin during its operation.

Sunset during the dry season is around 6.30pm. And many visitors love taking in the glorious sunset on Mindil Beach while enjoying the food/drinks from the market.

For those driving, ample free parking is available at the field in front of the market.

Our visit: Mindil Beach Sunset Market

During our Jun-2018 trip, we happened to be in Darwin city on a Thursday. Thus, making it the perfect opportunity to check out Mindil Beach Sunset Market.

We arrived at the market around 5-6pm and the place was already quickly filling up. Making it a hassle to find seats for our meal.

Our first impression was that the market wasn’t exactly large. This is probably due to our Asian background where we’re used to night markets on a larger scale. Having said, we agree that this market is relatively sizeable (and certainly lively) by Australian standards.

We had visited the market with the main intention of checking out its much talked-about Asian cuisines. However, after looping the food alleys, we felt that the variety was slightly lacking. And many of the food are fried.

Price-wise, most meals start at around AUD10-12. This is reasonable by Australian standards. And we’re probably having unrealistic expectation when we were looking for rates found in famous night markets of Asian cities like Bangkok or Taipei.

All said, we recommend visiting Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Probably not for the food, but definitely for the lively atmosphere and a charming sunset on the beach.

Mindil Beach

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Things to do in Darwin #3: Darwin Harbour Cruise

Darwin has a lovely harbour that is best viewed via a cruise along its coast. During the dry season, SeaLink operates a 45-minutes cruise that starts from Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal and sail pass the Darwin city centre, before looping back just after Stokes Hill Wharf.

Passengers are afforded a good coastal perspective of Darwin’s business and administrative district. While the informative commentary by the skippers give passengers a good understanding on past major events such as the WWII Japanese air raids and Cyclone Tracy.

From the perspective of budget travellers like ourselves, the cruise (as with most things in Northern Territory) isn’t exactly cheap. Having said, the cruise does prove to be interesting and informative. And is definitely worth experiencing.

Cruise details

The cruise operates seasonally from 1-April to 30-Sept (refer to SeaLink website for confirmation). It sails from Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal at 11.55am from Monday to Friday (no sailing on weekends or holidays). Tickets can be bought online or at the ferry terminal (from 11am on the day of sailing). Free parking is available adjacent to the ferry terminal.

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Things to do in Darwin #4: Stokes Hill Wharf

Stokes Hill Wharf is a stone throw off Darwin’s city centre. It used to be the main wharf for Darwin. And the first wharf was built here between 1885-1886. The current wharf is its third iteration and was built in 1956. Nowadays, the wharf has relinquished much of its former logistical duties to take on a more leisurely function.

Activities at Stokes Hill Wharf

Restaurants and alfresco food courts occupy the far end of the wharf, specializing in fresh local seafood. These F&B establishments are by far the most common reason for visitors to the wharf. A fact that is evident by the amount of dining tables/chairs lining the edges of the wharf.

In the adjacent building, the famed Royal Flying Doctor Service operates a visitor centre (RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility). Educating visitors on its founding stories and growth since.

There are also a number of tour companies that operate their harbour cruises from the wharf. And for those keen anglers, there are dedicated spots here to indulge in their hobby.

Our visit: Stokes Hill Wharf

Due to our trip schedule, we only managed to explore Stokes Hill Wharf on a weekday noon. The restaurants and food courts were relatively empty then, probably an indication that the wharf is more popular during the evenings.

We did manage to try a bit of seafood at the food court. Though not enough for us to make a fair review.

However, we do enjoy strolling along the edges of the wharf and taking in the scenery and breeze. This experience alone is worth the visit.

Stokes Hill Wharf

Related posts:

• 10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog
• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog
• Litchfield National Park to Darwin Self-Drive Time-Lapse
• Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
• Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
• Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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Litchfield National Park is the nearest national park to Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia). Although not as prominent as its neighboring cousin, Kakadu National Park, locals actually prefer Litchfield over it. Litchfield National Park’s key draw is its gorgeous waterfalls, pristine rock pools and unique termite mounds. Based upon our Jun-2018 trip, we’ve written this Litchfield National Park Travel Blog to share its must-see attractions and useful travel tips. So, go ahead and share this with your travel kakis!

See also:

• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)

Tip: Need helping planning your itinerary? See our blog “10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory“

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Litchfield National Park Travel Blog

Litchfield National Park is a relatively short drive (115km) south of Darwin. Thus, many locals visit it as a day trip. However, if time allows, we do recommend allocating 2-3 days to explore the park in more details.

Other than admiring the natural landscape and unusual termite mounds, the most popular activity at Litchfield is swimming at its various rock pools and waterholes. With the pools at Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole highly rated. On the cultural perspective, Litchfield has been home to the Aboriginal people for thousands of years.

A popular park, Litchfield typically draws up to a quarter of a million visitors annually. Thus, it can get rather crowded during peak seasons. And as with most other parks in this part of Australia, the best time to visit is during the dry season (May-September).

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Batchelor Town

Most, if not all, visitors will access Litchfield National Park via Stuart Highway (route #1). Batchelor Town is located 12km along Batchelor Road (route #30), from the turnoff on Stuart Highway.

Batchelor is the nearest town to Litchfield National Park. A small township of around 500 residents, facilities and accommodation at Batchelor are limited.

From Batchelor, it is another 35km drive along route #30 to Magnetic Termite Mounds. The first tourist attraction on the drive into Litchfield.

Caution on fuel supply: Fuel is not available in Litchfield National Park. The nearest gas station is in Batchelor. Do fill up your tanks before driving beyond Batchelor (into Litchfield).

Money saving tip: Supplies and fuel are priced higher in Batchelor. Ensure that you stock up on the necessities before arriving at Batchelor/Litchfield.

Visting in a campervan

Having a campervan is one of the best ways to explore Litchfield National Park. This is especially so due to limited accommodations in/near the park. If you’re new to campervan/motorhome and would like to know more about the experience, refer to our other blog (click here).

Click here for high resolution photos

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Where to stay

As mentioned, accommodation options are limited within Batchelor. During our Jun-2018 trip, we were visiting in a campervan and spent our first night in Batchelor Holiday Park. Which is next to the only gas station in town.

Batchelor Holiday Park

The facilities at Batchelor Holiday Park** are rather basic and dated. However, the owner is extremely helpful and there is an interesting bird feeding session every evening by the office block.

If you’re not in a rush, we do suggest driving further along route #30 (towards Litchfield) to check out other holiday parks. After leaving Batchelor, you will drive pass another 2-3 holiday parks before entering Litchfield. These holiday parks typically provide simple room-styled and camping (powered/unpowered sites) accommodations.

Litchfield Tourist Park

For our second night in Litchfield, we stayed in a powered campervan site in Litchfield Tourist Park**. Which is 13km away from Batchelor (and 22km before Magnetic Termite Mounds).

We greatly enjoyed the stay and found Litchfield Tourist Park to be in good general condition, with clean and tidy ablution blocks. Similar with many other holiday parks in Australia, there is a small swimming pool on the property.

One interesting aspect of its camping sites are that a few of them are sheltered. With differing heights to accommodate various sizes of campervans/motorhomes. And for its unsheltered sites (grass patch), many have very generous plot sizes.

On the down side, do note that mobile reception is almost non-existent on most parts of the property. The only area with patchy (at best) reception is the entrance of the property.

**Disclosure: The links to Litchfield Tourist Park and Batchelor Holiday Park are affiliated links. It will cost nothing to you, but we do receive a small fee if you book through these links. This small fee will go a long way to help us maintain this blog.

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Things to do in Litchfield National Park

Most of the popular tourist attractions in Litchfield National Park are easily accessible via 2WD vehicles. Thus, one does not really need a 4WD to visit the park.

The following is the list of attractions that we explored in Litchfield National Park during our Jun-2018 trip. All accessible via 2WD. For those looking to explore Litchfield via 2WD vehicles like us, these are the must-see attractions that you should not miss.

There are other attractions in Litchfield National Park that are only accessible via 4WD vehicles. However, you’re probably not missing much if you give those a pass.

Note: Entry into Litchfield National Park and its attractions are free.

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#1: Magnetic Termite Mounds

The Magnetic Termite Mounds is the first major attraction one would come to while driving into Litchfield National Park. A large field of magnetic termite mounds can be found next to the parking area. There are also cathedral termite mounds on the opposite end of the parking area, just beside the toilets.

A relatively small area, expect to spend 20-30 minutes here.

Magnetic Termite Mounds

The fascinating magnetic termites and their distinctively north-south oriented mounds are extremely unique, and not found in any other places on earth.

Most other termite species stay underground to escape from the sun. However, this is not an option for magnetic termites. The land in these parts are often soaked during the wet season. Thus, the magnetic termites had to build their nest above ground. Often resulting in mounds that have heights of a few metres.

To further protect their mounds from the scorching heat in these harsh outback conditions. Magnetic termites displayed amazing ingenuity by making their mounds wedge-shaped, and aligned in a north-south orientation.

This clever north-south alignment ensures that only one side of the mound will be in the sun, with the other side in the shade. Thus, making certain that there will always be a cooler shaded part in the mound to stay, regardless the time of day. Truly amazing brilliance from such a small insect.

It is due to this distinctive north-south alignment that the magnetic termites came to be named as such.

Magnetic termite mounds

Cathedral Termite Mounds

Cathedral termites got their names from the tall (often above 5m), cathedral-like mounds that they make. In particular, the towering cathedral termite mound adjacent to the parking area is estimated to be more than 50 years old.

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Cathedral Termite Mounds

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#2: Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole

Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole are two of the most popular attractions in Litchfield National Park. Both are located in close proximity though each has its own parking area.

Florence Falls

Florence Falls is a segmented waterfall with a pristine rock pool at its base.

From the parking area (of Florence Falls), it is an easy 120m walk to an elevated lookout of the waterfall. The cascading upper sections of Florence Falls can be seen in the distant from this lookout.

From the lookout, visitors would need to walk a further 310m (which includes descending 135 steps) to the rock pool at the base of Florence Falls.

The rock pool isn’t especially large. And there are no facilities or lifeguards here. However, it is an excellent place for a dip. The water is cool and crystal clear. And there are a number of fishes residing in the rock pool. Visitors could even swim right up to the base of the waterfall. Which is an extremely fun and interesting experience, especially for kids.

Surely a must-do in Litchfield National Park!

Safety notes: The rock pool can be deep, especially nearer to the base of the waterfall. Do not dive/jump into the rock pool, as there can be submerged rocks/logs. Rocks can be slippery due to algae.

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Buley Rockhole

Buley Rockhole is a series of gentle cascades and shallow rock pools stretching approximately 70 metres along a small stream. Visitors could relax and water play at any of the numerous rock pools here.

The entire experience is extremely interesting. We particularly enjoyed lazing around here and dipping in the cool water. The various rock pools felt almost like a series of outdoor Jacuzzis, only that everything is natural.

This is definitely another must-do in Litchfield National Park.

Buley Rockhole has its own (albeit small) parking area. And is a short 5 minutes’ drive from that of Florence Falls. If the parking here is full, visitors could leave their cars at Florence Falls carpark and walk over (1.6km) via Florence Creek Walk.

Safety note: Rocks can be slippery due to algae.

More pictures of Buley Rockhole

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Buley Rockhole Video

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#3: Tolmer Falls

Tolmer Falls is a plunge waterfall and is probably the most impressive falls in this list. However, do note that swimming is prohibited here.

Tolmer Viewing Deck

From the parking area, it is a 250m walk to the spacious Tolmer Viewing Deck. The deck offers an expansive view of the top of the escarpment and the lowlands further afield. But the waterfall cannot be viewed from here.

Tolmer Falls Lookout

To view the falls, visitors have to walk a further 150m to Tolmer Falls Lookout. Which is a lookout at the edge of the escarpment offering an elevated view of Tolmer Falls.

Sadly, Tolmer Falls is quite a distance away (from the lookout). And the entire area around the falls, including its plunge pool, is out of bounds to visitors. Thus, there’s no way for visitors to get a closer look at this spectacular waterfall.

Tolmer Creek Walk

For those looking for a short hike, Tolmer Creek Walk is a 1.5km (45 minutes return) loop which starts at the parking area.

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#4: Wangi Falls

Wangi Falls is the undisputed top draw in Litchfield National Park. It is a segmented waterfall over the edge of a rock escarpment. With a large plunge pool at its base.

The parking area is just a stone throw away from the pool. Amenities here include a cafe, BBQ pits and toilets with showers.

Swimming at Wangi Falls

Swimming (in the plunge pool) is the most popular activity at Wangi falls. And it is possible to swim 70m to the base of the twin waterfalls.

However, the pool can be closed at times. Due to potential crocodile presence after heavy rainfalls. And especially during the wet season (October to March) when strong currents make it hazardous for swimming.

Safety note: The plunge pool can be deep. At up to 14m depth in certain parts.

Hiking

Hiking is also popular here. From the plunge pool, visitors could walk 400m to a Treetop Deck (viewing platform). This walk to the Treetop Deck is part of the 1.7km (1.5hours) Wangi Falls Loop Walk. Which leads to the top of the rock escarpment and Wangi falls.

Unfortunately, during our Jun-2018 visit, Wangi Falls was closed to swimming due to crocodiles. And the walks (Treetop Deck and Wangi Falls Loop) were temporary closed due to fire damage.

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Related posts:

• 10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory
• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia) 
• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia) 
• Darwin to Kakadu National Park Self-Drive Time-Lapse (Northern Territory, Australia) 
• Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
• Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
• Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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Nitmiluk National Park is a popular outback destination in the Australian state of Northern Territory. Approximately 240km southeast of Darwin, Nitmiluk is famed for its sandstone escarpment with scenic gorges and waterfalls. Having explored the park during our campervan trip in Jun-2018, we’ve penned our experiences in this Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog. Sharing the must-see places in Nitmiluk and some travel tips we’ve picked up along the way.

So, go ahead and share this Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog with your travel kakis!

See also:

• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)

Tip: Need helping planning your itinerary? See our blog “10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory“

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Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog

Nitmiluk National Park is formerly known as Katherine Gorge National Park. It borders the prominent Kakadu National Park at its northern end. While Katherine River cuts through it in the south. The striving outback town of Katherine is a short distance southwest of the park.

The centerpieces of Nitmiluk are the deep gorges carved into the sandstone escarpment by Katherine River. In addition, the surrounding region had been important ceremonial sites to the native Jawoyn Aboriginal people for thousands of years.

Popular tourist activities in Nitmiluk include hiking, swimming, canoeing, cruising and camping. With most of the actions centering on the gorges along Katherine River and Edith Falls (Leliyn).

As with most national parks in this part of Australia, the best time to visit Nitmiluk is usually during the dry season from May-September.

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Katherine Visitor Information Centre (Katherine Town)

During our visit to Nitmiluk in Jun-2018, we were travelling in a campervan and had not make any reservations for campsites. However, we knew that most of the commercial campgrounds in the area are located in or around Katherine Town. Thus, on our first day, we drove into town and looked for the tourist information centre to try sort out the accommodation.

For those whom are familiar with Australia, you would know that many towns/cities across the country have tourist information centres to help tourist plan their trips and accommodations. This is no different in Katherine.

Katherine Visitor Information Centre is conveniently located at the town center. And along the main highway (M1) into town.

The staffs at Katherine Visitor Information Centre are extremely helpful. They provided us with a complete list of commercial campgrounds in the area and their availability status. Thus, ensuring that we have no problem getting a campsite for the night.

For all visitors to Nitmiluk, we strongly recommend paying a visit to the information centre. To understand more about the activities and accommodations available in the park.

Finally, there is a huge supermarket across the street from the information centre. Allowing us to stock-up on much needed supplies.

Money-Saving Tip

Katherine Town is the fourth largest settlement in Northern Territory. For travellers, it means a good place to restock your supplies/groceries/fuel at reasonable prices. Expect to pay more for these items when you venture into neighboring national parks like Kakadu or Litchfield.

Campervan

Having a campervan is one of the best way to explore Nitmiluk National Park. If you’re new to campervan/motorhome and would like to know more about the experience, refer to our other blog (click here).

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Nitmiluk Visitor Centre

Nitmiluk Visitor Centre is located 28km northeast of Katherine Town and next to Katherine River. It is within short walking distance from Katherine Gorge.

It offers numerous activities like cultural tours, river cruises, scenic flights and canoe rentals. The centre is also the starting point to a number of hiking trails along Katherine River and Katherine Gorge. Camping facilities (including campervan powered sites) are available for a fee.

The centre opens daily 8am to 5pm.

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Must-see attractions in Nitmiluk National Park

There are plenty of activities in Nitmiluk National Park to choose from. The recommended length of visit could range from 1-2days to a full week depending on one’s travel interest.

For our trip, we spent 2days in the park. Which was enough for us to explore the 3-most popular attractions (listed below) in Nitmiluk at a leisurely pace. If you’re tight on time and still want to take in the best of Nitmiluk National Park (plus Katherine Town), then do not miss the following attractions.

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#1: Edith Falls (Leliyn)

Leliyn is the Jawoyn name for the area around Edith Falls. And has long been an important cultural site for the Jawoyn people. Nowadays, Edith Falls is easily the star attraction for most visitors to Nitmiluk National Park.

Edith Falls is made up of a series of waterfalls along Edith River. And visitors are mostly drawn to it by two pools (Upper and Lower Pool) along the river. Both of which are good spots for swimming. Note that the pools might be closed to swimming at times during the wet season (November-April).

Lower Pool, Edith Falls

Lower Pool is larger of the two and is located a stone throw from the parking area. However, most visitors would skip this and instead head to the Upper Pool, which is much more interesting.

Leliyn Trail

From the parking area (and Lower Pool), Leliyn Trail is a circular 2.6km trail that has the Upper Pool at its other end. There are two starting points for Leliyn Trail from the parking area; one heading north and the other south.

Regardless of which direction one choose, the end point will still be at Upper Pool on the other end of the circle. Both direction involves approximately the same distance (1.3km to Upper Pool). And both involves steep climbs (onto the escarpment) at the initial part.

Both the northern and southern trail will pass by a lookout while enroute to Upper Pool. At the northern trail, it’s the Leliyn Lookout. While the southern trail will pass by Bemang Lookout. Both offers a distant view of Upper Pool and its waterfalls. However, based on our experience, Bemang Lookout offers a better perspective.

It took us around 50-minutes to hike from the carpark to Upper Pool via the southern trail, with a 10-minutes stop at Bemang Lookout.

Upper Pool, Edith Falls

Once we reach Upper Pool, it was immediately clear to us why the pool was preferred by visitors over Lower Pool. The edges of Upper Pool are much more accessible and mostly clear of any vegetation. In addition, it was easy to swim up to the base of the waterfall. Unlike at Lower Pool where the waterfall is much further away.

We had a cracking time there and it is surely one of the best rock pools we’ve visited!

Notes on safety:

– The water can be rather deep at parts. Thus, do exercise caution as with all other swimming activities.

– Algae are found on many of the submerged rock surfaces, making them extremely slippery. Be careful while you’re stepping on the rocks. Especially so for children.

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Facilities at Leliyn

Camping facilities are available beside the parking area. Fees apply and sites are unpowered. Toilet with showers are available. There are also gas BBQ and tables.

Driving instructions 

Edith Falls is a 62km drive north of Katherine Town along Stuart Highway (#1). And its turnoff from Stuart Highway is prominently marked.

Leliyn/Edith Falls (Lower Pool)(360 photo)

Leliyn/Edith Falls (Upper Pool)(360 photo)

Upper Pool as viewed from Bemang Lookout (360 photo)

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#2: Katherine Gorge

No visit to Nitmiluk National Park is ever complete without exploring Katherine Gorge and Katherine River. Katherine Gorge actually refers to a set of thirteen gorges set along Katherine River.

From Nitmiluk Visitor Centre, there are a number of walks along Katherine River. These walks will bring hikers to various lookout points for eight of the gorges. And can range from 1 hour (return) to 2-3 days.

The shortest of them is Baruwei Walk. Which can be completed in as quickly as 1 hour. Baruwei Walk starts from Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. And involves hiking 900m to the top of the sandstone escarpment for a stop at Baruwei Lookout. Where hikers could have a good view of the first gorge.

From Baruwei Lookout, hikers can backtrack the 900m to Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. Or continue on Baruwei Walk to make a further 3.9km loop back to the centre (making a total 4.8km 2hours return).

During our visit, we only made the relatively easy 900m hike to Baruwei Lookout before turning back. As we saw from the map that a hike to the next lookout (with rockhole) would mean a 10km return journey. Which lazy city-dwellers like us are reluctant to make.

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Baruwei Lookout, Katherine Gorge (360 photo)

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#3: Katherine Hot Springs

Located next to Katherine River, Katherine Hot Springs is at the southwestern edge of Katherine Town.

If you’re expecting Katherine Hot Springs to be the kind of exotic thermal pools you’ll find in Iceland or Japan, then get ready to be disappointed. In fact, the term “hot spring” is a slight overstatement; the water is only “warm” at best. To top things off, the hot springs’ surrounding is also rather unappealing.

However, that is not to say that Katherine Hot Springs is without merits.

Great place to relax

The Australia outback isn’t usually the place where one would expect to find a thermal pool. Thus, it comes as a pleasant surprise when one could jump into a hot spring, right in town, after an exhausting day of exploration. Though only mildly warm, the water is nevertheless hot enough to provide relaxation to the body.

Katherine Hot Springs is made up of a series of small pools linked by a little stream. Visitors could choose to relax at any of the pools. And the stream is shallow enough for visitors to walk and traverse between the pools.

And did we also mention it’s free? Yes, free!

Definitely a great place to relax and wind down after a tiring day. Kids will especially enjoy it.

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Driving instructions

Drive along Victoria Highway (#1) from town centre heading southwest. Pull right into Riverbank Drive at the edge of town. Katherine Hot Springs is just along this road and free parking is available.

Top tip for Katherine Hot Springs

Riverview Tourist Village is the nearest holiday park (caravan park with cabins and motel rooms) to Katherine Hot Springs. The holiday park has a rear gate that allows their guest easy access to the hot spring. This gate is open 7am-7pm daily. And Katherine Hot Springs is a mere 2 minutes’ walk from the gate.

Due to its proximity to Katherine Hot Springs, the holiday park can get booked out earlier than others in the area. Do plan ahead or simply arrive earlier in the day.

Katherine Hot Springs (360 photo)

Related posts:

• 10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory
• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia) 
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia) 
• Litchfield National Park to Darwin Self-Drive Time-Lapse
• Darwin to Kakadu National Park Self-Drive Time-Lapse
• Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
• Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
• Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

Kakadu National Park is one of the most prominent national parks in the Australian state of Northern Territory. At around 20,000km², Kakadu is nearly half the landmass of Switzerland. Within this natural paradise lies a diverse range of landscapes including savanna woodlands, wetlands and sandstone ridges. An astonishing number of plants and wildlife (e.g. saltwater crocodiles, flatback turtles) resides here. Against this backdrop of geographical and wildlife wonders, the Aboriginal people had called Kakadu home for more than 65,000 years. In this Kakadu National Park Travel Blog, let us share with you how to best plan for your Kakadu trip. And what are the must-see attractions of the park!

Go ahead and share this blog with your travel buddies!

See also:

• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia) 
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)  

Tip: Need helping planning your itinerary? See our blog “10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory“

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Kakadu National Park Travel Blog

Kakadu National Park is located an easy 3 hours’ drive (171km) southeast of Darwin. Which is the capital city of Northern Territory. The park is open year round. Though certain parts can be inaccessible due to flooding during the summer (wet) season

Other than its’ geographical and zoological aspects, Kakadu is steeped in cultural values. The Aboriginals, whom are widely recognized as the world’s oldest living culture, had resided in this region for millennia. And in the process, they managed to turn Kakadu into a massive art gallery. As evidenced by the more than 5,000 rock art sites scattered around the park.

It is with this unique combination of natural and cultural values, that Kakadu National Park was awarded dual listings in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

In the following sections, we’ll be discussing about the various aspects of planning a Kakadu trip. Plus the not-to-be-missed attractions on your visit.

*This Kakadu National Park Travel Blog is based on our Jun-2018 visit to Kakadu.

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2WD vs 4WD

For all self-drive trips to Kakadu National Park, it is important to consider if the trip will be done via 2WD or 4WD vehicles. This is because certain sections of Kakadu are only accessible via 4WD. This is specifically the case for all the waterfalls within Kakadu National Park, which are served only by gravel roads.

Before our trip to Kakadu, we took the effort to email the park rangers regarding which waterfall we could access (in winter) if visiting via a 2WD vehicle. In reply, we were advised that all waterfalls within Kakadu National Park are only accessible via 4WD tracks.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of attractions within Kakadu National Park that are suitable for those visiting in 2WD vehicles. Including the various rock art sites, cruises, guided tours, lookout points etc. Thus, if you’re only able to visit via a 2WD vehicle (like us), do not let this be a deal breaker. Kakadu is definitely still worth visiting!

Insurance coverage for rental vehicles

Do note that if you’re renting a vehicle for your visit, most car/campervan rental companies’ insurance will not cover your vehicle on unpaved (gravel) roads. This holds true even if you’ve rented a 4WD vehicle.

Based on our experience, only a select few car/campervan rental companies would have insurance for off-road driving. And even in these handfuls of companies, some might have clauses in their insurance specifying that certain roads (e.g. in Kakadu) are excluded from their coverage.

Thus, it is paramount that you check with your car/campervan rental company to ensure that the specific unpaved road that you’re planning to travel on is indeed covered in the insurance policy.

Click here for high resolution photos

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Renting Cars vs. Campervan

We assume most folks are aware of the common pros/cons for renting cars vs. campervans (e.g. driving speed, comfort, safety, convenience, cost). In this section, we’ll talk about 2 aspects that are particularly relevant to renting in the Northern Territory. (If you’re new to campervans, refer to our blog about campervans here)

#1: Limited Mileage

If you’ve done your research, you’ll noticed that most car rental companies operating in Northern Territory will only include a daily mileage of 200km. This is unlike car rentals in other parts of Australia where unlimited mileage is more common.

With the long distances associated with most attractions and national parks within Northern Territory, it is common for renters to exceed this limit. So be aware while planning your trip.

In contrast, all the campervan rental companies in the state still offer unlimited mileage for their vehicles. As such, if you’re extremely concerned with the potential mileage of your trip, it might be better off renting a campervan.

#2: Accommodation cost

For an area as vast as Kakadu National Park, accommodation options are actually quite limited. Usual resort/hotel styled accommodations numbered slightly more than a handful in the park. Thus, be prepared to pay top dollar for your stay and book well in advance. Especially so for the peak winter (dry) season.

This brings us to the point of renting a campervan for your Kakadu trip. As far as accommodations (and meals) are concerned, visiting Kakadu via a campervan and staying in campgrounds is one of the cheapest and most interesting way to explore the park.

There are about two-dozen campgrounds scattered across Kakadu National Park. Each with varying level of facilities. Ranging from commercial campgrounds with full-fledged amenities, to bush camping sites with no facilities and only accessible via 4WD tracks.

It is usually not required to make bookings for the campgrounds (even for commercial ones). However, do ensure that you arrive early on the day to take a site. This especially so during the peak seasons.

In general, commercial campground fees are slightly higher in Northern Territory as compared to other states. This holds true for the commercial campgrounds in Kakadu National Park. During peak season, get ready to pay above $50 per night for a family of 3 on a powered site.

Having said, staying in a campervan (and commercial campground) is still much cheaper compared to regular resort/hotel accommodations in Kakadu.

Review: Kakadu Lodge (commercial campground)

For our trip, we opted to stay at Kakadu Lodge. This commercial campground is one of the better ones in Kakadu National Park. In addition, it is conveniently located in Jabiru, thus allowing convenient access to the nearby petrol station and supermarket.

The campground has a big pool and good facilities. There are plenty of shades on the grass lots. Ablution blocks are well spaced, simple and clean. However, this does mean paying around $50-$55 per night for a powered site for 2 adults and 1 child. (Note: Bookings at Kakadu Lodge are only required for rooms/cabins. No bookings required for camping.)

Link to Kakadu Lodge (Disclosure: The links to Kakadu Lodge are affiliated links. It will cost nothing to you, but we do receive a small fee if you book through these links. This small fee will go a long way to help us maintain this blog.)

Setting up our tent at Kakadu Lodge

Summary: Cars vs Campervans

Since most campervans are 2WD, it again triggers the concerns of 2WD vehicles as in the previous section. Thus, consider all the elements mentioned in the above two sections and decide which is the best mode of transport for your Kakadu trip.

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Why we choose a rental 2WD Campervan

While planning for our Jun-2018 trip, we had initially tried to look for a 4WD rental that has insurance coverage for the off-road tracks in Kakadu National Park. However, it quickly became clear to us that such rentals are hard to come by, or that the costs are prohibitive.

As such, we decided to forgo the waterfalls (which requires 4WD access) and instead focus on the 2WD accessible attractions within Kakadu National Park.

Having a relatively cheap 2WD campervan (and staying in commercial campgrounds) allowed us to save on accommodations. And equally important is that we could cook our meals in the campervan and thus save on our meals. Last but not least, with our campervan on unlimited mileage rental, we do not have to fret over our travelling distance.

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Park Pass and Visitor Centres

Park Passes are required. They could be purchased online or from the visitor centres and selected accommodations in the area.

Park passes are valid for 7 days, and can be extended free for up to 14 days. The rates vary across seasons, with the summer (wet) season (Nov-May) generally cheaper.

Example: Kakadu Park Pass for Dry Season 2018 (May-Oct)

Adult (>16yrs) $40. Child (5-15yrs) $20. Family (2 adult, 2 child) $100.

There are two visitor centres in Kakadu National Park; Bowali Visitor Centre and Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

– Bowali Visitor Centre: Located 5 minutes’ drive from Jabiru town.

– Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre: Located in Cooinda, near to Yellow Water Cruise.

Regardless of how one purchase their park passes, we strongly recommend a visit to the visitor centre at the start of the trip. Reason is that the park rangers have the most updated knowledge of the road/weather conditions and general situation (e.g. controlled burning) in the park. And thus, could offer recommendations on the most appropriate activity/attraction.

This is especially so if one is visiting Kakadu in a 2WD vehicle or during the wet season. Many of the popular attractions (e.g. all waterfalls) in Kakadu National Park can only be accessed via 4WD vehicles (and only during certain season/weather). Thus, a check with the park rangers at the visitor centre could potentially save you from unwanted incidents on the tracks/roads.

Tips:

-This website shows the daily status of the various attractions in Kakadu National Park.

-Bring along your water bottles to the visitor centres. Water dispensers are available to refill your water supply. It saved us the trouble of boiling/buying water.

Ranger guided activities

Other than access to the park, the park pass includes all ranger guided activities (e.g. guided tours). For the updated list of ranger guided activities, refer to this link.

You are not required to make bookings for the ranger guided activities. Simply show up at the designated start point of the respective activity 10 minutes prior to the stated time.

To get the most out of your visit and learn more about the fascinating cultural/geographical aspects of Kakadu National Park, we recommend taking up a few of these guided activities. It was a pity that we couldn’t join the activities during our Jun-2018 trip due to time constraints. This is something that we’ll surely not miss on our next trip to Kakadu.

Click here for high resolution photos

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Attractions in Kakadu National Park (for 2WD access)

The following is the list of attractions that we explored while in Kakadu National Park (Jun-2018). Park rangers had suggested this list at the start of our visit. The list is especially suited for those travelling in 2WD vehicles and has only 2-3 days to explore the park. Do not miss these attractions on your trip!

Ubirr (Rock Art site)

Undoubtedly one of the most popular sites in Kakadu National Park. Easily accessible via paved roads, Ubirr is famous for its Aboriginal rock art sites, which dates back thousands of years.

More impressively, visitors can easily climb to the top of its sandstone escarpment to have a glorious view of its golden sunset. Which is casted over an expansive landscape of unblock wetlands below. This is surely one of the best sunsets we’ve seen. And this alone is worth our trip to Kakadu. Do not miss this in your Top End trip!

More pictures of Ubirr

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Cahills Crossing, East Alligator (Erre) River

A popular fishing site, Cahills Crossing is a submerged river crossing over the East Alligator (Erre) River. Crocodile sightings are frequent in the area. There is a viewing platform next to the crossing and offers great view of both the river and crossing.

The viewing platform offers visitors the interesting sight of local vehicles fording the river. One can even see the remains of two abandoned vehicles slightly downstream from the crossing. A testament to the hazardous nature of the river.

Bardedjilidji Walk

A short drive from Ubirr and Cahills Crossing. Bardedjilidji is a relatively short 2.5km looping walk thru interesting sandstone formations. Part of the walk might be inaccessible during certain season.

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Anbangbang Rock Shelter (Burrungkuy/Burrunggui)

A sandstone escarpment with overhanging rock shelters and art sites. The lower section of the escarpment is called “Anbangbang”. While the top of the escarpment is called “Burrungkuy/Burrunggui”.

This area is frequently called “Nourlangie Rock” by mistake. The word “Nourlangie” is derived from “Nawurlandja”. And “Nawurlandja” is actually another escarpment a short walk to the east. Thus, early non-aboriginal visitors to the area mistakenly call the Anbangbang Rock Shelter as Nourlangie Rock.

Anbangbang Rock Shelter has a number of interesting Aboriginal rock art sites. Including depictions of the dangerous spirit of “Nabulwinjbulwinj” and the Lightning Man “Namarrgon”.

At the far end of the tracks is the “Gun-warddehwardde” Lookout point. The climb is easy. And the lookout point offers great views of the entire sandstone escarpment.

Allow around 1-2 hours for this 1.5km loop

More pictures at Anbangbang Rock Shelter

Click here for high resolution photos

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Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) Wetlands (via Yellow Water Cruise)

The Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) Wetlands (billabong) is part of the South Alligator River. And can only be explored via the Yellow Water Cruise. Which runs daily cruises of 90 or 120 minutes, plus sunrise/sunset trips.

The cruise captains (guides) will offer informative commentary of the wildlife and landscape in the wetlands. It is the perfect opportunity to view the wildlife in the park up close, including the massive saltwater crocodiles.

Unlike most other crocodile cruises in Northern Territory, there is no feeding of crocodiles (or other wildlife) during the cruise. Thus, maintaining the natural state of the wetland and its inhabitants.

The Yellow Water Cruise is one of the two “authentic” cruises promoted by Kakadu National Park. The other being Guluyambi Cultural Cruise along the East Alligator River (near Ubirr). Which as its name suggest, is more focused on the culture of the Aboriginals and their interaction with the river and its wildlife.

Both the cruises (Yellow Water Cruise and Guluyambi Cultural Cruise) charges similar rates for similar duration cruises. As we’re on a budget, we can only take up one of the two. And we opted for the Yellow Water Cruise (sunset cruise) as we wanted to focus more on the wildlife in the park.

The cruise was excellent with our guide extremely knowledgeable and interesting. Throughout the cruise, the guide managed to locate a good number of birds and land animals. Plus, a couple of enormous saltwater crocodiles. Surely a worthwhile activity to undertake while you’re in Kakadu!

More pictures of Yellow Water Cruise

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Kakadu National Park Information Booklet

The following are the various attraction regions within Kakadu National Park. These are scanned images from the park’s information booklet. The booklet can be obtained from the park rangers at both of the visitor centres.

Kakadu National Park Map

Jabiru Region 

Key sites: Bowali Visitor Centre, Jabiru Town

Jabiru is the main town in Kakadu National Park. Though small, it has the most basic tourist related amenities and services (e.g. supermarket, petrol station, post office).

Money Saving Tip! Surprisingly, the supermarket in Jabiru is of reasonable size and stock up relatively well. However, as to be expected, the prices here are noticeably higher than in major towns. As such, do stock up on your groceries and basic needs before your trip to Kakadu.

East Alligator (Erre) Region

Key sites: Ubirr Rock Art, East Alligator (Erre) River, Bardedjilidji Walk, Cahills Crossing

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Nourlangie (Burrungkuy) Region

Key sites: Nourlangie (Burrungkuy), Anbangbang Billabong

Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) Region

Key sites: Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) Wetlands (Yellow Water Cruise), Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre (visitor centre)

Mary River Region

Key sites: Gunlom Falls (4WD recommended)

Note: The trio waterfalls of Gunlom Falls, Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls are extremely scenic and popular. However, access is strictly via 4WD and in dry season. Do not miss these if you’re visiting in a 4WD and during the correct season.

Access Road to Gunlon Waterfall

Access Road to Gunlon Waterfall

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Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls Gorge Region

Key sites: Jim Jim Falls (4WD access only), Twin Falls (4WD access only)

Note: The trio waterfalls of Gunlom Falls, Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls are extremely scenic and popular. However, access is strictly via 4WD and in dry season. Do not miss these if you’re visiting in a 4WD and during the correct season.

South Alligator Region

Key sites: Mamukala Wetlands, Gungarre Walk

Related posts:

• 10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory
• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia) 
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)  
• Litchfield National Park to Darwin Self-Drive Time-Lapse
• Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
• Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
• Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post Kakadu National Park Travel Blog appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

We started from Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park and drove along State Route #30 back towards Stuart Highway (#1). Passing by the small town of Batchelor along the way. While along Stuart Highway close to Darwin, we spotted Strauss Airstrip (a WW2 airfield) and decided to take a brief stop here. Then ending our journey at the BIG4 Holiday Park in Howard Springs, just outside Darwin.

Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park is a relative short 1-2 hours drive south of Darwin. Home to a number of scenic waterfalls which plunges into crystal clear rock pools, Litchfield National Park is a firm favourite swimming spot for those in the top end city. In addition to the entertaining rock pools, the park is home to numerous majestic termite mounds.

Litchfield National Park to Darwin Journey Details

• Start: Wangi Falls, Litchfield National Park
• End: BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park, Darwin
• Route: State Route 30 and Stuart Highway (#1)
• Distance: 144km
• Duration: 2hrs
• Date: Jun-2018
• Vehicle: Apollo Endeavour 4-berth campervan (Toyota HiAce, Petrol 2.7L)

For our other Australia VLOG:

• Darwin to Kakadu National Park Self-Drive Time-Lapse

For more of our Australia related travel blogs:

• 10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory
• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Best of Perth & Fremantle
• Exploring Western Australia (beyond Perth)
• Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post Litchfield National Park to Darwin Self-Drive Time-Lapse appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is a popular destination for tourist visiting Darwin. A relatively short drive away (~2.5 hours from Darwin), Kakadu National Park is well-known for its wetlands, rivers, waterfalls and sandstone ridges. Within the park is an abundance of plants and wildlifes like crocodiles.

Cultural-wise, Kakadu National Park has been home to the Aboriginal people for over 65,000 years. With numerous rock art sites serving as testimonies to the intimate relationship between the Aboriginals and their land.

Such is the cultural and natural values of Kakadu National Park, it has been awarded a dual UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Darwin to Kakadu National Park Journey Details

• Start: Palmerston City, Darwin
• End: Kakadu Lodge, Jabiru, Kakadu National Park
• Route: Stuart Highway (#1) followed by Arnhem Highway (#36)
• Distance: ~250km
• Duration: ~2.5hrs
• Date: Jun-2018
• Vehicle: Apollo Endeavour 4-berth campervan (Toyota HiAce, Petrol 2.7L)

For our other Australia VLOG:

• Litchfield National Park to Darwin Self-Drive Time-Lapse

For more of our Australia related travel blogs:

• 10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory
• Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
• Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
• 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
• Best of Perth & Fremantle
• Exploring Western Australia (beyond Perth)
• Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)

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The post Darwin to Kakadu National Park Self-Drive Time-Lapse appeared first on Balukoo Travel Blog.