Top End in 3 days Relaxed tropical escape around Darwin

Here, we’ve crafted a sublimely relaxing Top End holiday. Whether you’re kicking back watching the sun set, meandering along the beautiful waterfront, floating in a waterhole or feasting on delicious local produce, there are so many ways to unwind.

Relaxing in the Top End

The Top End is renowned for its super-chilled vibe. People flock to Darwin to experience rubber time, to feel a weight lift off their shoulders, and to forget the stresses of their everyday lives.

There’s no doubt, the Top End is tonic for the stressed soul. All it takes is a few days and your worries simply melt away.

Step into the warmth of the Top End

As soon as you land in Darwin and step out into the tropical air, feel the tension release. With tropical temperatures cool to warm all year round, the air envelopes you and makes you feel right at home.

Book a room that suits your style

Check out More than a room, a boutique accommodation service that offers up a great range of options for your two-night stay in Darwin. Whether you want to set up camp in the salubrious surrounds of Cullen Bay, find a room with a view on the waterfront or stay in the heart of the CBD, there are choices aplenty to suit all tastes and budgets.

Soothe the soul with a Segway tour

There’s something incredibly calming about lush green gardens. Throw in a smooth Segway tour and you’re on your way to lazy town. The George Brown Botanic Gardens cover 42 hectares, featuring a large collection of north Australian and other tropical species. Your 1.5 hour Segway tour takes you through the most beautiful sections of the park, from the Boab plains to the Monsoon Forest (where you can pause a while to feed the fish), to the high ground of the Cycad park.

After the tour, retreat to your favourite part of the park and lie back under a palm tree, feeling the gentle Darwin breeze blow over you or grab a coffee and bite to eat on-site at Eva’s Botanic Gardens café. Bliss.

Meander the Mindil markets

The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets are a Darwin icon. Open on Thursday and Sunday nights in the Dry (April to October) from 4pm to 9pm, these markets pull in people from far and wide. Choose from a mouth-watering array of food stalls, featuring cuisine from Turkey, Greece, Sri Lanka, South America, North Africa, India and all over South East Asia.

Enjoy a picnic dinner on the beach or treat yourself to the VIP sunset lounge. Feast and chill out while watching a spectacular tropical sunset. Then, meander the laneways of eclectic market stalls, which are home to masseurs, tarot readers, leatherworkers, Aboriginal artists, tailors, handmade jewellers and more.

Wander the waterfront & cool off

Start your day with a wander along the Darwin Waterfront before washing off the worries of the world with a dip in the Recreation Lagoon. Find a sunbed to kick back on or, for the more adventurous, the legendary Wave Pool beckons, where a palm-fringed swimming pool turns into a tube-riding, boogie-boarding bucket of fun or simply relax on the sunbeds.

Head out of town for lunch

Your destination for lunch is Crazy Acres Mango Farm and Cafe. Open from May through to September, this delicious destination about half an hour’s drive south of Darwin is renowned for its homemade produce – which, naturally, features an abundance of mangoes. After a scrumptious lunch, cool off at the Berry Springs Nature Park.

Lounge poolside with a cocktail

Next, freshen up from your day’s adventure and in time for cocktail hour at Mindil Beach Casino Resort, renowned for its poolside cocktails at Infinity Bar. Your talented mixologist can whip up whatever cocktail takes your fancy. Kick back, relax and enjoy.

Catch an outdoor film

Uber it over to the Deckchair Cinema in time for the evening’s show. This crowd-pleasing outdoor cinema sits right on Darwin Harbour, screening a diverse range of Australian, foreign, popular, classic and family friendly films. There’s a fully-licensed kiosk so you can grab a drink and snack to accompany the movie.

Pack your bathers & a picnic lunch

Today, you’re in for an absolute treat. Litchfield National Park is an easy drive south of Darwin and is globally renowned for its stunning swimming holes, waterfalls, rock formations and walks. A day at Litchfield is guaranteed to chill you out and put you in the right frame of mind for whatever life throws at you upon your return home.

Fall in love with Florence

Your first stop in Litchfield is Florence Falls, a spectacular watering hole with a never-ending cascade of water tumbling down from great height. Swim across the waterhole towards the falls and feel the water wash your worries away.

Have a picnic lunch at Wangi Falls

Wangi Falls is the best-known attraction in Litchfield National Park, and for good reason. There are beautifully shaded lawns upon which to enjoy a picnic lunch or some food from the onsite kiosk, while watching twin waterfalls do an endless dance into the large pool below. After lunch, take a walk up and over the falls, before returning to the oasis down below and plunging into the deliciously cool water.

Bliss out at Buley Rockhole

Your final stop is Buley Rockhole, a favourite amongst locals and visitors. This popular swimming spot is a great place to relax and unwind after a day spent exploring. You can wade through the pools, find the perfect spot to sit and feel the water roll over your shoulders, or stretch out on a dry slab of rock and feel the sun warm your back. Your only challenge will be to drag yourself away from this beautiful spot to hit the road back to Darwin.

Kick back at dinner

After a relaxed day exploring Litchfield National Park, treat yourself to a delicious feast at the iconic Pee Wee’s at the Point. This famed restaurant is in a stunning location and has a menu to match, reflecting the produce, climate and multiculturalism of the Northern Territory. What better way to end a memorable few days in Darwin?