The Top End’s Best Kept Season 7-day itinerary

Visit the Top End from September to April where everything is a little different to the rest of Australia. We’ve kicked off summer a little early in the NT (spoiler alert: we never really said goodbye to endless sunshine).

Up here, warm sunshine is a given, the landscape is bursting with colour and the tropical vibe remains in full swing. Between September and April, enjoy more affordable holidays when there’s great deals on offer, smaller crowds and the Top End’s legendary sunsets turn the sky into blazing colours of dusky pink through to blood-red scarlet. Every. Single. Day.

Check out this 7-day itinerary highlighting all the fun things to see and do around Darwin, Litchfield National Park and Kakadu National Park from September – April.

Culture, cuisine & cocktails in Darwin

Start your Top End holiday with an alfresco breakfast at one of Darwin City’s popular cafés. Explore the vibrant street life of Darwin and admire the magnificent street art adorning buildings across the city. As part of the annual Darwin Street Art Festival, murals have been painted by renowned local and interstate artists, creating a collage of artworks. Download the app to interact with the art or take a guided tour to learn the stories behind each artwork.

Immerse yourself in local art

The Territory’s art scene is like no other and Darwin is the best place to immerse yourself in the Aboriginal art scene. The art galleries around Darwin showcase Aboriginal art and artists from across the Territory. Wander through Darwin’s CBD to respected galleries like Mbantua Fine Art Gallery and Mason Gallery. Or head to Parap for the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art to discover a wider range of Northern Territory art.

Give yourself plenty of time to wander the exhibits at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), which offers a fascinating and broad overview of the region’s Aboriginal art and history. The museum and art gallery houses an extensive collection of natural history, art and cultural exhibits. When you’ve had your fill of art, culture and history, enjoy lunch amongst the lush gardens framing Arafura Sea views from Saltwater @ Bundilla café.

Relax poolside in spring sunshine

Soak up the warm spring sunshine and enjoy an afternoon by the lagoon pool at Mindil Beach Casino Resort. Here, Darwin’s only swim-up pool bar serves eclectic cocktails to be enjoyed on the white sand beach dotted with sun lounges and market umbrellas bathed in spring sunshine.

Experience the adrenalin with an Apex predator

Get up close and personal with an Apex predator at Crocosaurus Cove in the heart of downtown Darwin, where crocs, literally, rule. Get up close and personal with the largest reptile on the planet, the saltwater crocodile, while also learning about the Territory’s unique fish and reptile species at the aquarium.

Don’t miss the exciting twice-daily crocodile and fish-feeding show. But to really experience the adrenalin, slink into the Cage of Death for a face-to-face heart-stopping encounter with some of the largest saltwater crocodiles in captivity. Immersed in a clear perspex cage, you’ll gain a unique perspective of crocodiles while creating envy-inducing photos to share on Instagram.

Tuck into native Australian bush foods

Tuck into a delicious lunch at Aboriginal Bush Traders, a bush food café that uses native Australian products and bush tucker in their menu. The café is a great place to enjoy a variety of cakes, teas, dampers, jams, sandwiches and salads. Take time to peruse their adjacent gallery and shop which has a selection of Aboriginal art and craft, unique gifts and home wares.

Aboriginal Bush Traders are a not-for-profit organisation which provides avenues for Aboriginal people wanting to engage in economic activities in a sustainable way.

Explore the Darwin Waterfront & Stokes Hill Wharf

Pack your swimsuit and head to Darwin Waterfront where a Wave Pool and free Recreation Lagoons are surrounded by lush parklands. Paddle, swim or play in these manmade lagoons where waves are generated in the Wave Pool and the lagoon is a tranquil saltwater swimming spot. Both areas are safe for swimming, are patrolled by lifeguards and are protected from stingers.

Both pools are surrounded by a vast selection of cafés and some of Darwin’s best restaurants for a delicious lunch at the Darwin Waterfront.

If you’re seeking something a little more adrenaline-fuelled, get out on Darwin Harbour with a 00seven Jet Ski Adventure, which departs from nearby Stokes Hill Wharf.

Another day, another sunset

Darwin’s sunsets are legendary and the best way to see the sun sink below the horizon is on one of the many sunset cruise options such as Charles Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise. Enjoy the tropical vibe on the harbour as the sky morphs into shades of scarlet as you sip champagne and linger over a delicious Territory-inspired dinner.

If dining at sea is not your thing, book a table at Pee Wee’s at the Point where you’ll have front row seats to view the setting sun over Darwin Harbour as well as twinkling city lights.

Enjoy less crowds at World Heritage-listed Kakadu NP

Travel between September to April also means less crowds so you’ll likely have iconic sites all to yourself. Leave the city behind and drive south along the Stuart Highway to reach Kakadu National Park less than 2 hours later. Don’t forget to purchase your Kakadu park pass online, which includes entry to the park along with ranger-guided walks and talks.

Visit Bowali Visitor Centre to plan your Kakadu activities and check if there are any road closures or conditions you should be aware of as you drive through the park. Stop for refreshments at the café then wander through the interpretive displays and gallery for a deeper understanding of Kakadu’s features.

Check into Cooinda Lodge, where accommodation ranges from campsites to luxurious villas, and enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants and cafes. Later, make your way to Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) for a walk along the shady path where an ancient rock art gallery tells stories dating back tens of thousands of years.

Finish your day in Kakadu with a memorable sunset view at Nawurlandja lookout overlooking Anbangbang Billabong and the Arnhem Land escarpment.

Discover tropical waterfalls & wildlife

Check out the wildlife at sunrise on a Yellow Water cruise, where it’s definitely worth the early start to take the first cruise of the day when wildlife and birds are most active.

Alternatively take a scenic flight over Kakadu, departing from Cooinda Lodge or Jabiru, where you’ll gain insight into the mammoth size of Australia’s second largest national park.

Leave Kakadu behind and drive north along the Stuart Highway to Litchfield National Park where accommodation ranges from campsites to boutique retreats. Pack your swimmers and drive to some of Litchfield’s famed waterfalls and swimming holes such as Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Buley Rockhole.

Enjoy wild swimming & rainforest walks

Enjoy swimming in waterholes and thermal pools. Litchfield National Park is a nature lovers paradise and there’s plenty to see and do. Walk some of the trails, many of which lead to waterfalls and swimming holes, view the massive termite mounds which stand up to 6m tall or chill out in a shady campsite which can all be found in the Litchfield Destination Guide.

Take a tour to Litchfield from Darwin with NT Indigenous Tours where guides with connections to country offer detailed insight to the region, and lunch is fresh-cooked over an open-flame BBQ.

As you drive back to Darwin, stop for another relaxing swim in the thermal pools at Berry Springs Nature Park, where crystal clear water is fed from an underground hot spring.

Go wild at Territory Wildlife Park

Later, stop at Territory Wildlife Park where you can view the famed animals and plants of the Top End. Walk the grounds or take the free shuttle train around the 4km-long loop to cover the whole park. See the renowned ‘birds of prey’ show or hand feed the whip rays in the Oolloo Sandbar. Wander through treetop aviaries, around a natural lagoon and through the aquarium to see animals of the Territory, including a saltwater crocodile.

View carpets of scarlet as flame trees bloom

Spring is the best time to visit East Point Reserve to see Poinciana trees (aka flame trees) in full bloom with their dazzling display of scarlet blossoms. Even if the flame trees are not blooming, East Point is one of Darwin’s nature reserves and it rich in biodiversity. It’s a great place to spot wallabies or birdlife, walk on the beach or along the walking trails or paddle and swim in saltwater Lake Alexander.

Sip a sunset beer overlooking Fannie Bay

The Darwin Ski Club or Darwin Sailing Club are both ideally positioned to view Darwin’s epic sunsets in a casual, relaxed setting. Order a meal from the bistro, a drink from the bar and enjoy front row seats to the nightly spectacle of tropical sunsets over Fannie Bay.

Experience fishing, history & waterfront picnics

Experience the thrill as you hook the famous barramundi. Local fishing enthusiasts say that nothing compares to hooking a wild barramundi in the Top End. Book a Top End fishing charter for your chance to hook a barra or take a heli-fish tour to get to remote locations where the barra are sure to be biting.

The annual Million Dollar Fish competition is hotly contested each year, giving anglers a chance to win $1 million (the 2024 winner was a teenager fishing in the Katherine River).

If you’re not lucky enough to catch your own feed, wild-caught barramundi appears on menus across the Top End.

Historical harbour views

Head towards the Esplanade where you’ll find Bicentennial Park perched on the cliffs of Darwin Harbour. Visit the Cenotaph, Darwin’s first war memorial commemorating Australians who lost their lives in WWI, and the Aboriginal men and women whose bush skills assisted the Army during WWII. Nearby is Parliament House, the Smith Street Mall and Mitchell Street where restaurants, cafes and bars are in abundance.

Picnic like a local

Around sunset head to Nightcliff Foreshore to enjoy a picnic on the grass overlooking the Arafura Sea. There’s free BBQs along with a diverse selection of pop-up food vans which line the foreshore park all the way from Nightcliff Jetty to Rapid Creek. As the sun sets there’s a lively atmosphere as families and groups gather to enjoy balmy tropical evenings.

Visit Darwin for laksa, a spicy noodle soup

Taste the flavour of Darwin’s famed laksa, the spicy noodle dish popular in Asian cuisine. Darwin International Laksa Festival runs through the entire month of October, making it the perfect time to indulge in this popular dish. But in truth, you can find exceptional laksa year round at the city’s markets, restaurants and popup food trucks.

On Saturday mornings make a beeline for Parap Markets where Darwin’s multicultural vibe is on full display with stalls selling fashion, art, crafts and much more. You’ll be spoilt for choice with food options, including Mary’s laksa food truck, which is world famous. Nearby, Laneway Coffee is favoured by Darwin locals for breakfast, lunch or some of the city’s best coffee.

Take in the beauty of the botanic gardens

Not far from Parap Village is George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens where you will experience the incredible flora of Northern Australia. Wander through monsoon forests, coastal dunes, mangroves and open woodlands before relaxing with lunch at Eva’s Botanic Gardens Café.

Slake your thirst in style

Finish your Top End explorations at one of Darwin’s pubs, bars and restaurants which take full advantage of the balmy climate. Try The Trader Bar where an old house has been converted into a garden sanctuary café by day, funky cocktail bar by night. Or Stone House where a 200-plus-bottle wine list lures wine connoisseurs, Hanky Panky for funky cocktails or Smoke and Oak where whiskey is an experience rather than a mere beverage.