My 6 Day Northern Territory Itinerary: A Top End Road Trip

A trip to Australia’s Northern Territory is like stepping onto another planet. It’s a place where you can see wild crocodiles, swim under waterfalls, and experience the world’s oldest living culture.

Having spent 1 month backpacking Australia’s east coast 10 years ago, I never made it as far north as Darwin and the Top End, so I was really excited to discover a different side to the country.

During my 6 days in the Northern Territory I shared canapes with cows, saw ancient rock art, and discovered a street art scene I had no idea existed!

My Northern Territory itinerary will take you through everything I did on my trip – whether you want to enjoy local cuisine, relax on a boat, or learn more about indigenous culture, there’s something for everyone in the NT!

This trip was in collaboration with Northern Territory Tourism. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A woman in a hat and tan jacket stands on rocky terrain beneath a massive, striated rock formation with warm tones, set in a dry, grassy landscape with distant hills under a pale blue sky.

Day 1: Darwin

Breakfast at Aboriginal Bush Traders

I began my first day in the Northern Territory with breakfast at Aboriginal Bush Traders, and I’d really encourage you to do the same.

It’s a non-profit, indigenous owned café and art gallery, and a lot of the dishes include native ingredients sourced from across the region.

There were loads of new things to try, a lot of which I hadn’t heard of before, like wattleseed, lemon myrtle and rosella cream.

Their specialty is a breakfast plate, which costs $40 and includes a selection of dishes to try, alongside a coffee and a juice. It was a really hearty meal and set me up well for the day ahead.

A bright café table with a colorful breakfast spread, featuring a fruit-topped granola bowl, a chocolate bliss ball dusted with coconut, a pastry, a dipping sauce, a glass of fresh orange juice, and a latte in the background.

Street art tour

After breakfast, we met David Collins for a tour of Darwin’s street art. David is the artist-turned-founder of Darwin Street Art Festival, which runs for 3 weeks across May and June.

Artists from around the world come to Darwin for the festival and each year more than 20 new murals are added to the city’s streets.

Before visiting Darwin I had no idea it had such a thriving street art scene, so this tour really surprised me. You can’t walk very far here without seeing a mural!

Which means it’s really easy to see them on a self guided tour, just download the Darwin Street Art Festival app to find a route, and learn more about the individual artists and murals.

A striking mural on the side of a modern building showing a woman with red hair in a flowing white dress surrounded by large, blooming flowers and soft-colored birds, set against a deep teal background.

Lunch at Snapper Rocks

Lunch was at Snapper Rocks, which is located at the Darwin Waterfront. The location is really peaceful with lots of greenery and views over the water.

They specialise in seafood, and use lots of local, seasonal produce in their dishes.

I had a Banh Mi which I really enjoyed, everything was really fresh and the portion size was perfect for lunchtime.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even have Salt & Pepper Crocodile here. I didn’t try it, but my friend said it was delicious!

Outdoor picnic tables with mint green tops sit under bright yellow and white striped umbrellas in a sunny, grassy park setting.

A fresh outdoor dining spread on a light blue table features gourmet sandwiches, salads, tropical cocktails, and vibrant seafood dishes with lush greenery and colorful umbrellas in the background.

Sail Darwin Cruise

At 5pm we boarded a luxurious 50ft catamaran for a 3 hour sunset cruise on Darwin harbour.

The cruise included unlimited sparkling wine, and a bbq dinner that consisted of lots and lots of small bites. The food felt never ending so you definitely won’t go hungry!

Obviously the point of this cruise is to enjoy an amazing sunset and at the start we were a little worried as it was super cloudy, but we were treated to an incredible orange sky by the end, it was the perfect way to end our first day in the Northern Territory.

A group of people relax on a boat at sunset, silhouetted against a vivid orange and yellow sky over calm ocean waters.

Day 2: Darwin

George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens

I started Day 2 with a walk around Darwin’s Botanical Gardens. They’re free to enter, which I found amazing, as most botanical gardens I’ve visited around the world have an entry fee, and it can be pretty steep!

It’s a really peaceful place to start your day, and a great introduction to the different plants and trees found across the Northern Territory.

A peaceful garden view with manicured grass, tall palm trees, and blooming white flowers, leading to a shaded bench nestled among the foliage.

A woman in a white top and flowing pink skirt walks alone on a wooden path surrounded by dense, sunlit tropical rainforest.

Breakfast at Eva’s Cafe

Eva’s Cafe is located inside the botanical gardens and it’s a really popular breakfast place, even on a Thursday morning it was packed.

They do a variety of sweet and savoury breakfast dishes, as well as an all-day lunch menu, great coffee, and even breakfast cocktails!

I had the fruit toast which came with really interesting toppings, including a wattleseed mascarpone cream.

A cozy white café with a tin roof sits shaded by trees, featuring white picnic tables and a gravel patio under the afternoon sun.

A rustic wooden table holds a plate of fruit-topped toast, a glass of iced tea, and a cup of coffee, surrounded by lush green leaves and filtered sunlight.

Crocosaurus Cove

After breakfast, I headed to Crocosaurus Cove – Darwin’s most popular tourist attraction.

It’s an aquarium where you can get up close and personal with saltwater crocodiles (safely, of course).

It’s also home to the Cage of Death, where you step inside a perspex cage and get lowered into the crocodile enclosure. That wasn’t for me, but we did get to watch other people do it.

Many of the crocs here have been relocated from areas across the Northern Territory where they have become a problem to humans, and it is a really great opportunity to see them up close, but of course, nothing compares to viewing them in the wild, in their natural habitat.

A crocodile swims in a clear enclosure next to a feeding cage with red meat suspended inside, under bright overhead light.

Lunch at Darwin Sailing Club

Darwin Sailing Club is a beautiful place for lunch. It overlooks Fannie Bay beach so the views are pretty unbeatable.

The menu is really varied so there’s something for everyone here. I had fish tacos and a crisp white wine.

An outdoor patio dining area lined with tan plastic chairs and tables sits under large umbrellas and palm trees, overlooking a bright, sunny view.

A seaside table for two with a tropical view features plates of fresh seafood and glasses of white wine, framed by palm trees and a blue sky over calm ocean water.

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT)

After lunch I spent a few hours at the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. which is free to enter!

It has so much information about the Northern Territory so I’d really encourage you to visit.

There’s exhibitions on indigenous art, the plants, animals and insects that live across the Territory, and a maritime gallery where you can see boats and shipwrecks that were used by explorers and immigrants arriving in Australia by sea.

There’s also a brilliant exhibition dedicated to Cyclone Tracy, a tropical cyclone that hit Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974, which killed 66 people and left over 25,000 people homeless, and 66 people dead.

You’ll get a chance to see the original weather monitor, items recovered from the wreckage, and even listen to actual recordings of the cyclone.

My favourite part was getting to see the body of Sweetheart, a 17ft Saltwater Crocodile that used to attack fisherman’s boats in the 1970’s. He became pretty famous across the Northern Territory and getting to see him up close was amazing!

A museum exhibit featuring large dinosaur skeletons, including a towering long-necked creature, surrounded by fossil displays and life-sized ancient marine models under dim lighting.

The Gully

On the way back from the museum I stopped off at The Gully because I’d seen their chicken katsu sando online and decided I needed to try it.

I’d already eaten a lot that day but I couldn’t leave Darwin without trying it, and it was well worth the trip because it was delicious.

They make their own bagels and focaccia each day, and the ingredients tasted really fresh.

A sunlit wooden table holds two takeaway-style meals and two colorful drinks, with a woven bag and a corrugated metal wall in the background, evoking a relaxed, outdoor café vibe.

Interior of a bright café with a clean modern design, featuring a long service counter on the left and red chairs around tables near louvered windows that let in natural light.

Mindil Beach Markets

Around 5pm I headed to Mindil Beach Markets to give myself time to explore the different stalls before sunset.

The market runs on Thursdays and Sunday evenings (4-9pm) during the summer months (April to October), and is apparently the place to be in the city, because there were so many people there!

There was a band playing and it had a real sense of community which was lovely.

A vibrant outdoor market scene at sunset with colorful tents, potted plants, and groups of people gathered on a grassy area beneath tall palm trees overlooking the water.

There’s over 200 stalls here, selling food, souvenirs and crafts. I’d recommend stopping at Calamari King where you can choose your seasoning and your sauce – it was the best calamari I’ve tried.

Around 6pm we headed to the beach, which is located next to the markets, to watch the sunset. and once again we were treated to an incredible orange sky.

Two women stand in front of a cheerful yellow-themed lemonade cart decorated with sunflowers and a striped awning, set up under the shade of large trees at an outdoor market.

Silhouettes of people riding camels along a beach at sunset, with a golden sun low over the ocean and small groups of people seated on the sand watching the peaceful scene.

Day 3: Kakadu National Park

Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise

I was up early on day 3 to get to the Spectacular Jumping Croc Cruise for their 9am tour. The cruise departs from Beatrice Hill Farm, about a 60-minute drive from Darwin.

It takes place on the Adelaide River, which is home to a huge number of Saltwater Crocodiles.

You’ll head out on a 1-hour cruise, where your guide dangles meat on a stick from the boat and encourages the crocodiles to jump out of the water to grab it.

It was both terrifying and fascinating, and definitely one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had.

It’s also indigenous owned, which means you’re supporting aboriginal communities, and learning directly from the traditional owners of the land.

A large crocodile leaps vertically from muddy river water, jaws open toward a piece of bait suspended above the surface.

Kakadu National Park

From the croc cruise it’s another 1 hour drive to Kakadu National Park, which covers an area of nearly 20,000 square kilometres, around half the size of Switzerland!

It’s been home to the Bininj/Mungguy people for 65,000 years, and is on the World Heritage List for both cultural and natural values.

En route, make sure you stop at the ‘Welcome to Kakadu’ sign for a quick picture!

Welcome sign at the entrance of Kakadu National Park reads “Welcome to the Aboriginal Lands of Kakadu” and sits by a roadside surrounded by eucalyptus trees.

Once you’re in the park, I’d really recommend heading to Bowali Visitor Centre, where you can speak to the knowledgeable team there and find out more about things to do in the park, hikes they’d recommend, and check what’s currently open and closed.

Parts of the park close during the wet season, and will only open again in the dry season once the roads have re-opened and the park rangers have had a chance to check the area for crocs.

Cahills Crossing

In the late afternoon, we headed over to Cahills Crossing, a really famous place for viewing crocodiles. Loads of fish get pushed upstream to the crossing during the dry season, which attracts lots them to the area.

There’s a viewing platform above the crossing where you can view the crocodiles safely. Do not go down to the waters edge, as there have been fatalities here in the past.

Unfortunately we didn’t see any crocodiles on our visit, but as we were told a lot during our trip to the Northern Territory, “just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there”, so I’m sure there were a lot just below the surface.

A shallow crossing over a river shows gentle rapids on one side and calm water on the other, with a 4WD vehicle visible at the far bank among trees.

Ubirr

From Cahills Crossing it’s a 2 minute drive to Ubirr, where we headed for sunset. We actually arrived about 4pm to give us time to see the rock art here.

Ubirr is a sacred rock art site, where you can see drawings created by the Bininj/Mungguy indigenous people, telling stories about daily life and spirituality.

Some of the rock art here is 20,000 years old which I struggle to get my head around. It really is a magical experience to be looking at something that old and to think about the people who drew it.

Aboriginal rock art painted in red ochre on a weathered sandstone wall, depicting human figures and symbols under a golden light.

A woman in a hat stands at the base of a massive rock overhang, looking up as golden sunlight filters through surrounding forest.

There’s a special energy at Ubirr and I’d encourage you to spend as long as possible there to really soak it all in.

After we’d explored the rock art sites, we climbed up to a rocky lookout to watch the sunset. The view looks over the Nadab floodplain and it’s so peaceful.

Framed by large rocks, a woman walks across rugged terrain at sunset, dressed in hiking attire with the sky glowing in warm orange hues.

Stay at Mercure Crocodile Hotel

That night we stayed at the Mercure Crocodile Hotel, which gets its name because it’s shaped like a crocodile if you look at it from above.

The rooms are pretty basic but they have everything you need, and there’s a swimming pool and a restaurant on site.

Day 4: Kakadu National Park

Check into Cooinda Lodge

Day 4 was a more chilled day, and I’d recommend factoring one into your itinerary too so you don’t get too tired! We checked out of Mercure and drove around 40 minutes to Cooinda Lodge in the South of Kakadu.

I’d describe Cooinda Lodge as a very fancy campsite. There is an actual campsite where you can pitch tents and motorhomes, and then they have safari tents and rooms.

Spacious glamping-style accommodation with a large bed, wooden furniture, and earthy tones, surrounded by windows overlooking greenery.

We stayed in one of the Yellow Water villas which was huge, with a separate seating area, kitchen, ensuite, and a private bathtub on the deck.

They have a restaurant, where I had one of my favourite meals of the trip, as well as a gas station and a shop.

There’s also two swimming pools so it was the perfect place to spend the afternoon relaxing.

Freestanding outdoor bathtub filled with bubbles, set on a private deck with a wooden tray holding wine glasses, a book, and a snack plate.

Close-up of a bath tray with a plate of fresh fruit, macarons, and two glasses of white wine next to an open book above a bubble-filled tub.

Burrungkuy

After a chilled afternoon, we made our way to Burrungkuy, where you can see some of the most iconic rock art in Australia.

A 1.5km walk takes you past lots of different drawings, including x-ray art of animals, stories of the first contact with white people, and creation beings.

The walk leads to the Kunwarddewardde lookout, which has amazing views over Kakadu.

A rock shelter ceiling covered in intricate Aboriginal rock art, including figures and shapes painted in red, white, and yellow pigment.

Sunset at Nawurlandja

Next we took a short drive to Nawurlandja, where we were going to be watching the sunset.

You’ll need to walk up a rock slope to reach the top. It’s not a long walk but it is fairly steep. Once you reach the top you have views across Anbangbang Billabong (a Billabong is a body of water) and across the landscape.

It was much quieter here than at Ubirr as it’s a less popular spot, and it was such a peaceful place to end the day.

A woman in a black tank top and floral skirt walks barefoot on a rocky surface with the dramatic sandstone escarpment of Kakadu in the background at sunset.

Day 5: Kakadu National Park & Finniss River Lodge

Yellow Water Sunrise Cruise

We were up really early on day 5 for a sunrise cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong.

Cooinda Lodge runs buses to and from the cruise departure point, so it was a really easy, and short, journey there.

Despite me usually hating early mornings, this was my favourite experience of the whole trip.

A yellow riverboat cruises along calm water at dusk, with the sky painted in soft orange and purple hues, surrounded by silhouetted trees and distant birds.

Yellow Water Cruises is indigenous owned, and our guide told us so many stories about aboriginal culture and how it relates to what we were seeing on our tour, which I found fascinating.

Within 5 minutes of the tour starting we’d already seen a crocodile, and we ended up seeing 6 in total on the cruise!

A crocodile glides across a still billabong at sunset, with lily pads in the foreground and birds flying above dense vegetation in the distance.

But the real star of the show here are the birds, there’s at least 60 species found here and listening to their sounds whilst we watched the sunrise was magical.

You can choose from a 1.5 hour or 2 hour tour, we did the 2 hour and I could have stayed out there even longer, it was so peaceful.

A lone tree stump rises from a field of tall green grass and wetlands dotted with lily pads under a soft pastel sky at dusk.

A cluster of birds perches on the bare branches of a sun-bleached tree emerging from a reflective wetland, with water lilies and open sky surrounding them.

Finniss River Lodge

Then we were back in the car for a 4 hour drive north to Finniss River Lodge where we were spending the night.

Finniss River Lodge is a luxury hotel located on a 50,000 acre working cattle station. In other words, it’s absolutely huge.

The drive from the main road to the lodge feels never ending, we didn’t see anything but fields for around 15 minutes, until a building appeared out of nowhere.

It’s a really unique place because it gives you a taste of proper outback life with the activities they offer, but there’s also an infinity pool and some of the best food I had on my trip.

It’s the ideal place if you want to get a taste of local life, whilst still having your home comforts. Plus, it’s only a 90 minute drive from Darwin so it’s really accessible from the city.

A luxurious outdoor swimming pool with bright orange lounge chairs overlooks expansive grassy wetlands under a bright blue sky.

Two people in wide-brimmed hats sit by a fire pit with drinks in hand, watching a vivid sunset sky over a field lined with stacked firewood.

A view from a vehicle driving down a long, straight red dirt road under a wide, colorful sunset sky on an open outback landscape.

Airboat tour

In the afternoon we were off on an airboat tour. I’d never been on one before and had no idea what to expect.

They’re powered by a propeller and have a flat bottom which allows it to skim the surface of the water, which means you can explore areas that are hard for other boats to reach, like the marshy floodplains at Finniss.

An airboat with a large propeller docked beside a wetland waterway, surrounded by tall grasses and open plains under a clear sky.

This was my third time on a boat since arriving in the Northern Territory and this one was definitely the most exhilarating.

Pete, or “Fingers” as he’s affectionately known (you can find out why here) was our guide and he knows everything there is to know about Finniss and the animals that live there.

We saw crocs, wallabies, buffalo and wild pigs, it was like a mini safari!

A scenic view from the front of an airboat gliding through a lush wetland filled with lily pads and trees, under a bright morning sky.

A view from a boat entering a lush wetland channel lined with tall, leafy trees and dense green grasses under a partly cloudy sky.

A still, dark billabong reflects the slender trunks of pale eucalyptus trees on the forested bank, partially framed by the corner of a boat

Cows and Canapes

Before dinner we headed out for one of the signature experiences at Finniss River Lodge, “Cows and Canapes” where you get up close and personal with their Brahman cattle, whilst sipping on prosecco and eating delicious canapes.

This experience is absolutely mad, standing in a field with a load of cows surrounding you, but the cows are socialised with humans from birth so they’re really chill and friendly, like Wardy who I’m having a cuddle with here, who’s so friendly, and secretly everyone’s favourite.

A woman in a patterned dress smiles beside a large white Brahman cow in a grassy field with a utility vehicle and palm-dotted landscape behind her at sunset.

Day 6: Litchfield National Park

Sunrise breakfast

We started our final day pretty early with a sunrise breakfast at Finniss, cooked by chef Lachy.

Pete drove us out to a field full of termite mounds (more on those later), and we ate alfresco, listening to the birds and watching the sun come up.

A table set with white linens and camp chairs stands in an open field dotted with termite mounds at sunrise, as a staff member prepares for an outdoor dining experience near a lone tree.

A woman in a hat and blue jacket stands beside an off-road vehicle at golden hour, looking toward a tall tree and the grassy field scattered with termite mounds.

A rustic breakfast plate with grilled halloumi, roasted sweet potato, a golden slice of hash brown, and a dollop of cream sits on a textured green ceramic dish over a white tablecloth.

Wangi Falls

We were spending our last day in the Northern Territory exploring Litchfield National Park, which is about a 1 hour drive from Finniss and just 90 minutes from Darwin.

Litchfield is much smaller than Kakadu, covering an area of about 1,500 square kilometres, so it’s easy to see it all in a day.

Our first stop was Wangi Falls, one of the most popular swimming spots in the park. It’s really easy to reach, with only a short walk from the car park to the entrance.

The waterfall flows into a huge plunge pool, and there’s a boardwalk running around the edge with a great viewing platform if you don’t want to swim.

A powerful waterfall cascades down rugged red cliffs into a deep natural pool surrounded by greenery and steep rock faces in the Australian outback.

Florence Falls

Next, we made our way to Florence Falls, which is a 30 minute drive from Wangi.

Florence Falls is harder to reach than Wangi. The quickest way is by taking the stairs down, but there’s also a 1km walk along a cobble path. If you’ve only got a day in the park I’d take the stairs!

Once you’re down there, there’s a large pool similar to Wangi where you can swim right up to the waterfall.

An aerial view of a twin waterfall system flowing through a forested escarpment, with surrounding green vegetation and rocky terrain.

Buley Rockhole

From Florence Falls we drove 5 minutes to Buley Rockhole, which was my favourite spot of the day.

It’s made up of a series of pools that cascade down from top to bottom, some are really shallow and some are much deeper where you can jump from the side into the water.

This is another place where you can park up and it’s only a short 2 minute walk to the water.

People wade and relax in shallow rocky pools of a forest stream, surrounded by tall trees and dense tropical vegetation under a bright sky.

Magnetic Termite Mounds

For me, the termite mounds are one of the coolest things in the Northern Territory. You’ll see them a lot as you’re driving around Kakadu and Litchfield, but there’s loads of them just a 10 minute drive from Buley Rockhole.

Here you can see both Magnetic Termite Mounds and Cathedral Termite Mounds. They can reach up to 8metres high and it’s so interesting to learn more about them and their importance for the ecosystem in the Northern Territory.

A massive cathedral termite mound rises from the forest floor, surrounded by a raised wooden walkway with railings for visitors.

Berry Springs

On the way back to Darwin we stopped for a swim at Berry Springs. It’s about 1 hour from the Magnetic Termite Mounds, and 40 minutes from Darwin, so it’s a great place for a rest en route.

Berry Springs is a park with picnic areas, a forest and woodlands, and several pools perfect for swimming. The water here was so blue and refreshing and it was great to cool off at the end of the day.

A tranquil, turquoise swimming hole surrounded by lush green vegetation, with concrete steps and a metal handrail leading into the water and a life ring mounted nearby.

Getting around the Northern Territory

As the Northern Territory is so big, I’d really recommend hiring a car to help you get around easily.

You’ll have a lot more flexibility to stop off wherever you want, and you can arrive early to avoid the crowds.

I’d suggest using Discover Cars to find the cheapest car for your trip. I use it every time I hire a car as it compares all of the different companies to find me the best deal.

For ease, I’d recommend picking up your hire car when you land in Darwin, and dropping it back there when you leave.

A white four-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with roof storage and off-road gear is parked in an empty lot surrounded by bushland under a soft golden light.

Best time of year to visit the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has two main seasons you’ll want to consider when planning a trip – the dry season (May to October) and the wet season (November to April).

During the dry season you can expect temperatures between 21°C to 32°C (70°F to 90°F), with hardly any rain.

In the wet season, the temperature is similar, but the humidity is really high, and of course, there’s a lot of rainfall, monsoons, cyclones and storms.

I visited in June, during the dry season, and it was perfect for exploring. Days were warm but not unbearably hot, and most importantly, most places were open.

During the wet season, a lot of the rock holes and waterfalls close due to risks of flash flooding, road closures, and increased crocodile risks.

As the water levels rise during the wet season it makes it easier for crocodiles to travel into areas they can’t usually reach.

For more information to help you plan a trip to the Northern Territory, I’d recommend visiting www.northernterritory.com and following @ntaustralia on Instagram.