Bask in impeccable scenery on this seven-day self-drive tour, as the Top End’s rugged beauty melts into landscapes worthy of a gallery wall.

Darwin to Jabiru

Our journey begins on the road, as we drive away from Darwin’s relaxed city centre and head inland towards Kakadu National Park. Feel the ancient ground crunch beneath your tyres on the Arnhem Highway’s 250-kilometre stretch, and let the cooler temperatures of the Northern Territory’s dry season be a perfect excuse to roll the window down, feel the wind in your hair and enjoy the tree-lined drive. Less than 45 minutes from Darwin, you’ll find Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours. Come here to have an authentic, nature-based experience, and learn about the knowledge and culture passed down through generations. Engage in basket weaving, try your hand at throwing spears, and learn about how native food was used both as nourishment and medicine.

Kakadu National Park

Come here to experience Australia like never before: untouched and unforgiving, but with a sense of wonder and hope. It’s a place that commands respect, and has every right to do so. For tens of thousands of years, the Bininj people in the north and the Mungguy people in the south of the park have been the traditional custodians of the land. Kakadu’s widespread landscape encompasses a range of natural delights – from still billabongs and buzzing rainforest, to plunging pools and dense bush ready for you to explore. Alongside this, over one-third of Australia’s bird species can be found in Kakadu, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise.

Katherine

When you’re finally ready to tear yourself away from Kakadu’s grip, it’s time to start the journey to Katherine. Dubbed as the crossroads of the north, Katherine connects the humid tropics to the stinging outback heat, signposting the change in the Top End’s wild climate. Travel about 215 kilometres south-east from Jabiru to find the tiny old mining town of Pine Creek, nestled neatly between an abundance of national parks. Stop here for a spot of gold rush history with a visit to the town’s many museums and landmarks.

To read about the rest of the Nature’s Way journey, check out the Winter 2022 edition of Caravanning Australia!

_{Image: Maguk (C) Tourism NT; Adriana Alvarado.}