3 Day Kakadu & Litchfield 4WD Expedition: Wildlife & Rock Art

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Free cancellationLikely to sell out

1/25

Duration3d

GroupUp to 16

PickupAt your hotel

Drive into national parks, swim in remote waterfalls, and read ancient rock art with a guide who knows the country.

A 3-day 4WD expedition through Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks from Darwin combines wildlife spotting, Aboriginal cultural sites, and swimming in remote gorges and waterfalls. You travel with an expert local guide, stay in safari tents in the outback, and eat all meals provided. The tour balances hiking, water entry and early starts with time to absorb the landscape; it's built for travelers with moderate fitness who want immersion over comfort.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Darwin to Kakadu National Park

Join wildlife cruise on Corrobboree Billabong
Drive toward Kakadu National Park
Picnic lunch near East Alligator River
Explore Ubirr rock art site

Day 2 — Explore Kakadu National Park

Hike and swim at Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
Hike and swim at Gunlom Falls

Day 3 — Litchfield National Park to Darwin

Visit Cathedral and Magnetic mounds
Swim at Buley Rockhole
Swim and waterfall visit
Picnic lunch and swim
Return to Darwin

The Experience

The tour starts with a wildlife cruise on Corrobboree Billabong, where you watch crocodiles and birdlife in their habitat before driving into Kakadu National Park proper. A picnic lunch sits near the East Alligator River—another chance to spot crocs and flying foxes—then you head to Ubirr in the north, where some of Australia's finest Aboriginal rock art covers the rock faces. Your guide explains the paintings and their meaning, and a climb to the summit rewards you with 360-degree views across the Nardab Floodplains toward Arnhem Land. You sleep that night in a safari tent at Mardugal Billabong, in the heart of the park.

Day two is built around two swims. After breakfast you hike 1 kilometre through paperbark forest with some rock scrambling to reach Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) and its plunge pool. Later, you drive south to Gunlom Falls, where a hike leads to naturally formed infinity pools at the top and a larger plunge pool below—both set against panoramic views of southern Kakadu. The second night is at a private safari camp on the Litchfield border.

On the final day you explore Litchfield National Park, learning about the Cathedral and Magnetic mounds as you travel, then swim at Buley Rockhole with its waterfall and lookout. After a picnic lunch and a last swim, the drive back to Darwin ends the expedition. All meals are provided throughout; nights are spent in safari tents with pillow and sheet, or you can choose to sleep under the stars in a swag. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Darwin are included, as are national park fees and the services of your guide.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Darwin.
national park entry fees.
an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle for all drives.
all meals prepared at camp.
safari tent or swag accommodation with pillow and sheet.
toilets and showers at each camp.
and a knowledgeable local guide who shares the history, culture and stories of the region.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Territory Expeditions

Is this one for you?The tour runs early starts and full days of hiking, swimming and 4WD travel, so it suits travelers with moderate fitness who are ready to move between sites and enter water regularly. If you prefer a slower pace or want to avoid early mornings and physical activity, a shorter day trip to one park would fit better.