5-Day Kakadu & Katherine Gorge 4WD Safari: Rock Art & Waterfalls

You camp in the bush and cook dinner together after days of walking through monsoon rainforest and swimming in waterfalls.

This 5-day 4WD camping tour departs Darwin and travels through Kakadu National Park, Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) and Litchfield National Park with an accredited outback guide, staying at private safari campsites and visiting Aboriginal rock art sites, waterfalls and wetlands. The tour includes all park entry fees, guided walks up to 3km daily, accommodation in permanent tents or swags, and meals prepared communally at camp. Moderate to advanced fitness is required for walks graded 2–6, and travelers over 70 need a doctor's certificate. Children from age 8 can join if accompanied by an adult.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Darwin to Kakadu National Park

• Depart Darwin to Wetlands Region
• Spot birdlife and crocodiles
• Arrive Kakadu National Park and visit Bowali Visitor Centre
• Travel to Cahills Crossing
• Visit Ubirr rock for sunset and Aboriginal rock art
• Return to private camp and prepare dinner

Day 2: Waterfalls and Cultural Centre

• Travel south into Kakadu National Park
• Hike and swim at waterfalls and plunge pools
• Visit Warradjan Cultural Centre and gallery
• Return to camp for dinner and rest

Day 3: Kakadu Rock Art and Katherine

• Explore Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art and lookouts
• Picnic lunch at Barramundi Gorge (Maguk) Waterfall
• Travel to private safari campsite in Katherine
• Relax under stars and enjoy campfire

Day 4: Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls

• Early start to Nitmiluk National Park
• Take 2-hour NitNit Katherine Gorge boat cruise
• Optional scenic helicopter flight (guest expense)
• Visit Edith Falls for picnic and swim
• Return to private campsite for sunset and evening

Day 5: Litchfield National Park to Darwin

• Travel north to Litchfield National Park
• View Magnetic Termite Mounds
• Swim at Buley Rockholes or Wangi Falls
• Visit Florence Falls or Tolmer Falls waterfall
• Return to Darwin for rest

The experience

You depart Darwin heading into the Mary River Wetlands, where the landscape opens into the Top End's signature mix of water, sky and wildlife: crocodiles and birdlife are constant sightings along the way. The 4WD truck carries a small group, and by late afternoon you reach Kakadu National Park and the private Jabiru campsite, where you'll spend your first two nights in a permanent tent or swag. After settling in, the guide takes you northeast to Cahills Crossing on the border of Kakadu and Arnhem Land, then to Ubirr rock art site for sunset. The climb is short (1km loop, grade 2–3), and from the top you look out over the Nadab Floodplain while the guide explains the rock art styles and Dreamtime stories painted across the stone. Back at camp, everyone helps prepare dinner together.

Day two starts early. You head south into the park to spend the day at waterfalls and plunge pools: the guide chooses from Motor Car Falls, Jim Jim Falls, Gunlom Falls or Moline Rockhole depending on the group's fitness level and conditions. The hikes range from 1.5km to 4km and grade up to 5–6, with steep climbs and rocky crossings through monsoon rainforest. You swim in pristine pools beneath cascading water, surrounded by escarpments and cliffs. If time allows, you stop at Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre to see artefacts and hear stories from the traditional owners about how the landscape and culture have changed. On day three, you visit Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art and Kunwarddewardde Lookout in the morning, then drive south on 4WD tracks to Barramundi Gorge (Maguk) Waterfall for a picnic lunch and a 2km walk through the forest. By evening you reach the private Katherine campsite, 420km south.

Day four is the Katherine Gorge boat cruise: a 2-hour trip down Nitmiluk National Park's Katherine Gorge, where 70-meter sheer rock walls rise on both sides and wildlife appears around every bend. The cruise is included. Scenic helicopter flights are available at your own expense with pre-booking. After the boat, you drive to Edith Falls for a picnic lunch and more swimming in a large plunge pool beneath the waterfall. The walks here grade 2–4, with the main pool a short, easy walk and upper pools requiring a steeper climb. On the final day, you head north toward Darwin through Litchfield National Park. You see the Magnetic Termite Mounds, swim at Buley Rockholes or Wangi Falls, and visit a thundering waterfall like Florence Falls or Tolmer Falls. The guide delivers you back to Darwin around 6:30pm.

What’s included

• Accredited outback driver-guide with local commentary in English.
• all Kakadu National Park entry fees.
• small-group air-conditioned 4WD off-road truck travel.
• guided bush walks up to 3km daily (grades 2–6).
• billabong wetlands river cruise.
• 2-hour Katherine Gorge boat cruise at Nitmiluk National Park.
• four nights' accommodation in permanent safari tents or single swags at private campsites.
• communal meals prepared at camp each evening.

Options for this experience

2 options

Bush Single Swag [KC5-B]Guide in English · Available from 3 Apr 2027Single-person bush swag (KC5-B): Guests sleep on the ground under the stars in a self-contained, canvas-covered bush bed roll with a camp mattress (one person per swag). Camping style: Experience genuine outback camping, with shared communal showers and toilet facilities at an unpowered site. Duration: 5 days, with 5 days and 4 nights at a permanent campsite. Meals included: 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners, prepared by the guide, with guests asked to help with meal preparation. 4WD off-road outback vehicle: an all-terrain 4x4 mini-coach with comfortable seating, built to go off-road and explore more of outback Central Australia. Optional swag extras: sleeping bags can be hired from us onboard for $40 AUD, cleaning costs included. You are welcome to bring your own.

Twin Share Eco Tent [KC5-S]Guide in English · Available from 3 Apr 2027Twin-share eco tent (KC5-S): Guests sleep in a permanent tented campsite on twin beds with mattresses and supplied bed linen, sheltered from the elements (sleeps 2). Camping style: Experience genuine outback camping, with shared communal showers and toilet facilities at an unpowered site. Duration: 5 days, with 5 days and 4 nights at a permanent campsite. Meals included: 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners, prepared by the guide, with guests asked to help with meal preparation. 4WD off-road outback vehicle: an all-terrain 4x4 mini-coach with comfortable seating, built to go off-road and explore more of outback Central Australia. Solo traveller bookings: travellers booking separately into a Safari Tent Twin Share are paired with another solo person, where possible of the same gender.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 3 Apr 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 to 75 years) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 21

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Autopia Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to camp in the bush and move through three national parks on foot and by 4WD, swimming at waterfalls and viewing rock art with a guide who knows the landscape and the stories. The small group and communal camp setup mean you travel with the same people for five days and help prepare meals together. It's built for travelers who want immersion in the outback, not a coach-window experience. Moderate to advanced fitness is essential. The walks are steep and rocky, and the 4WD truck rides are long.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 12 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What kind of accommodation do I get on this 5-day tour?

You stay at private bush campsites: two nights near Jabiru in Kakadu, two nights near Katherine. Each campsite has permanent twin-share tents or single swags (you choose at checkout), communal bathroom facilities, and an equipped camp kitchen where you help prepare meals each evening.

How much walking and swimming is involved each day?

Daily walks range from 1km to 4km and grade from 2 to 6, with some requiring moderate to advanced fitness and agility: rocky crossings, steep climbs and descents are common. You swim in plunge pools at waterfalls most days. The tour requires at least moderate fitness. Travelers over 70 need a doctor's certificate before booking.

What rock art sites does the tour visit?

You see Ubirr on day one at sunset, where multiple styles of Aboriginal rock art showcase Bininj Dreamtime stories. On day three, Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art features more incredible paintings and stories. Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre on day two displays artefacts and allows you to hear directly from traditional owners about cultural and environmental change.

Is the Katherine Gorge boat cruise included?

Yes, the 2-hour Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge boat cruise is included on day four. It travels down the middle of 70-meter sheer rock walls with wildlife sightings and creation stories woven through the landscape. Scenic helicopter flights after the cruise are optional and at your own expense with pre-booking required.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

Included are all park entry fees, the accredited guide, 4WD transport, four nights' accommodation, guided walks, the billabong wetlands river cruise, and Katherine Gorge boat cruise. Meals are prepared communally at camp (you help with prep and cleanup). Sleeping bags can be hired onboard for $40 AUD. Baggage is limited to one 15kg travel bag and one 5kg day bag per person.