The ultimate Kakadu to Nitmiluk National Park road trip with kids

The Northern Territories ultimate Nature’s Way road trip itinerary with kids

Remote wilderness, winding waterways and stark plains stretching as far as the eye can see. A bewilderingly bright starry sky – all teeming with wildlife – road tripping Nature’s Way is the perfect way to experience a snippet of the vast Northern Territory.

Best for: Wetlands and crocs
Drive time: 10 hours return

Stop 1: Kakadu National Park

Encompassing almost 200,000 square kilometres of World Heritage-listed wilds – and plenty of colourful flora and fauna in between – Kakadu National Park is so much more than just a ‘park’. Changing with the seasons, head here for ancient rock art, plunging waterfalls and floodplains reaching to the horizon.

Must do

• Take a dip in the glorious waterhole at Gunlom Falls. The falls are just 200 metres from the car park along a paperbark-lined trail. But don’t stop there: Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls and Maguk Falls are all essential stops as well.
• Appreciate the rock-art paintings – in various styles and from various centuries – at Ubirr. Afterwards, check out the Nardab Lookout, located just 250 metres from the main gallery, for unbelievable views across the floodplain.
• Join an exclusive tour of a rarely seen area of Kakadu – learning about the fascinating history of buffalo hunting, the local wildlife and traditional bush foods – with Ayal Aboriginal Tours.
• Attend Australia’s premier Indigenous food and culture festival, A Taste of Kakadu. Be sure to sign up for a guided foraging walk. You’ll try Kakadu staples such as crocodile, barramundi and buffalo cooked in ground ovens. Then glide along the famed Yellow Water Billabong while enjoying bush tucker-inspired canapes.
• Experience a whole new perspective of Kakadu’s extraordinary floodplains and escarpments from the air with a scenic helicopter flight.

Stop 2: Pine Creek

A small settlement that boomed in 1870 when the team building the Overland Telegraph Line stumbled upon some gold – and a frantic Gold Rush frenzy ensued – Pine Creek is a quietly pretty town and a great place to break up the journey between national parks (thanks to its position just off the highway).

Must do

• If you have a train buff or kids in tow, stop by the Railway Museum to check out the lovingly restored steam engine (built in Manchester in 1877) and the Darwin–Pine Creek railway display (a line which ran from 1889 to 1976). Afterwards, amble down the nearby ‘Walk Through Time’ footpath, which walks you through the history of the district through a series of tiles.
• Drive or walk up to the Enterprise Pit Mine Lookout for views of the surrounding countryside and the old open-cut mine, which is now full of water up to 135 metres deep.
• Have a splash at the pretty swimming hole at Umbrawarra Gorge, located three kilometres south from town and host to a little beach and campground.
• Have a picnic among the baobab trees at Miners Park.

Keep reading:

• The best holiday parks in the Northern Territory
• Why Kakadu with a toddler is worth the effort

Stop 3: Nitmiluk National Park

Home to the spectacular Katherine Gorge, the 2,920 square kilometres that make up the majestic Nitmiluk National Park encompasses a series of 13 deep sandstone gorges carved by the tranquil Katherine River. Families can explore the world-famous park on foot, by canoe, boat or helicopter.

Must do

• Dine under the stars on a true Aussie bush tucker dinner at Marksie’s Stockman’s Camp.
• Canoe up Katherine Gorge – spotting waterfalls, Aboriginal rock art and wildlife along the way – or board a cruise for a more leisurely afternoon.
• Join a two-hour cultural experience with local man, Manuel Pamkal, at Top Didj, learning the Rarrk painting technique, how to light a fire and the mechanics of throwing a boomerang.
• Stroll down the winding boardwalk that leads to Cutta Cutta Caves, one of Australia’s only tropical limestone cave systems. You’ll see stalactites of all shapes and sizes.
• Relax in the turquoise waters of Katherine Hot Springs after a long day of exploring. Still feeling adventurous? Take the raised walking path up to the viewing platform to see the source of the spring water.

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Lead image: Boy at Florence Falls © Tourism NT/Sean Scott

Keep reading:

• Northern Territory family-friendly travel guide
• Broome to Darwin road trip via the Gibb River Road

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