Wildlife Tours, Katherine Gorge Camping

Kakadu Katherine Gorge and Litchfield Waterfall 5Day Camping Tour

1 review

from $1,138.65 per person

Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.

Duration: 5 days
Meeting point: The Leea Darwin, 64 Cavenagh Street
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meal: Meal included
Run by: Wildlife Tours Australia

Overview

Five days of camping, walking and swimming through Kakadu, Katherine Gorge and Litchfield, run by Wildlife Tours Australia out of Darwin. The group travels in an air-conditioned 4WD off-road truck, sleeping four nights at private campsites near Jabiru and Katherine, with a choice between a permanent safari tent or a traditional bush swag, a canvas-covered bed roll. Park entry for Kakadu and Nitmiluk is covered, along with most meals: four breakfasts, five lunches and four dinners.

The route follows the Top End's big names in order. Days one and two sit inside Kakadu, taking in Ubirr's rock art and Gunlom and Jim Jim Falls with their plunge pools. Day three moves south to Katherine, day four covers Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, and day five swings back through Litchfield National Park's waterfalls before returning to Darwin. A billabong wetlands river cruise is included in the tour overall.

This is not a sit-down coach tour. Guided bush walks run up to 3km each day, graded 2 to 4, often on steep and rocky ground in heat and humidity, and the booking page asks for moderate to advanced fitness. It suits travellers who want long days outdoors, swims in natural waterholes, and a cultural layer of Aboriginal rock art and stories, with a maximum of 21 people per departure. Children aged 8 to 17 can come but must travel with an adult or legal guardian.

Where this tour sits among 8 tours in Multi-Day Kakadu And Litchfield Tours listed here (from-price per person, USD)

3-Day 4WD Expedition, Meals Included$698.06
3-Day Camping, Meals Included$803.30
Three-Park Adventure, Meals Included$1,083.93
Wild & Free 2-Day Tour$1,087.43
Wildlife Tours, Katherine Gorge Camping (this tour)$1,138.65
5-Day Camping, Katherine Gorge$1,308.43
5-Day Adventure, Arnhem Land Included$1,399.63
5-Day Camping, Nitmiluk$1,683.77

What's Included

Included

4 Nights Safari Style Tented Campsites (2 x Kakadu, 2 x Katherine)
Aboriginal culture and rock art viewing
Billabong Wetlands River Cruise
Kakadu Pass & National Parks entry fees included
Guided bush walks (up to 3km each day, grade 2-4)
Traditional bush swag - canvas-covered bush bed roll (Bush Swag option)
Top & fitted sheets, mattress and pillow & case provided (Safari Tent option)
Air-conditioned 4WD off-road truck travel
Lunch (5)
Dinner (4)
Breakfast (4)

Not Included

Meals not listed in the itinerary, There will be plenty of opportunities to purchase along the way
Spending money, For anything extra,snacks, drinks, souvenirs, or those special moments on the road

3-Day Camping, Meals Included

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3-Day 4WD Expedition, Meals Included

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Itinerary

Meet in DarwinMeet at The Leea Darwin, 64 Cavenagh Street, Darwin City, at 6:30am. Alternative pickup locations are available on request, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point.
Ubirr, KakaduA 12-hour day built around Ubirr, with Aboriginal culture and rock art viewing. Entry is free, and the night is spent at the private Jabiru campsite with permanent tents or bush swags and communal bathroom facilities. Lunch and dinner are provided.
Gunlom and Jim Jim FallsA 12-hour day from the Jabiru campsite to Gunlom Falls, Jim Jim Falls and the plunge pools, returning to Jabiru. Entry is free. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided.
Kakadu to KatherineA 12-hour travel day heading south from Kakadu National Park to Katherine. The night is at the private Buffalo Hill bush campsite near Katherine. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided.
Katherine Gorge, NitmilukA 12-hour day at Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, with admission included. A second night at the Buffalo Hill campsite. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided.
Litchfield to DarwinA 12-hour final day from Katherine through Litchfield National Park, with entry free, finishing back in Darwin. Breakfast and lunch are provided, with no accommodation this night.

What To Expect From The Tour

Days are long, roughly 12 hours each, with daily walks, swims and a lot of time in the truck on rough roads. Here is what travellers should sort out before booking.

$1,138.65from, per person

5 daysduration

4.0across 1 guest review

21guests at most

Fitness and walking. The booking page calls for moderate to advanced fitness, with daily walks of 2 to 4km on steep and rocky terrain in sun and high humidity. One reviewer confirmed the regular walks, up to about an hour each, ending at swimming holes. Guides adjust the pace for safety.
Sleeping arrangements. Choose between a safari tent with a mattress, pillow and fitted and top sheets, or a traditional bush swag, the canvas-covered bush bed roll. Both options use communal bathroom facilities at the private campsites.
What to pack. One dry-season reviewer recommended bringing a blanket or sleeping bag for cold nights despite warm days. Beyond that, pack for sun, humidity and swimming, plus spending money for snacks, drinks and souvenirs, since meals outside the listed ones are not covered.
Group and vehicle. Travel is in an air-conditioned 4WD off-road truck with a maximum of 21 travellers. A reviewer described the group travel as pleasant, with regular stops, and noted it can suit mobile seniors who have no back problems, given the rough roads.
Food and fees. Four breakfasts, five lunches and four dinners are included, and the Kakadu Pass plus national park entry fees are covered. Nitmiluk admission is also included. Anything not listed, including extra meals, is at your own cost, with chances to buy food along the way.

Straight bitumen road through flat dry savanna woodland with low red termite mounds along the verge and a white minibus far ahead in hazy morning light.

Medical and age rules. Travellers over 75 need a doctor's certificate submitted at least 30 days before departure. Any known medical conditions must be declared at booking. Children aged 8 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian at all times.

Check availability →

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems, partly because of the rough roads. The walking demands, steep and rocky terrain, and tropical heat rule out anyone without moderate fitness. Unlisted meals, travel insurance and spending money are all extra. Cancellations are strict: a full refund only applies six full days or more before departure, 50 percent between two and six full days, and nothing inside two full days. One reviewer also flagged that nights can be cold in the dry season, so a blanket or sleeping bag matters.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

Four nights at private safari-style tented campsites, two in Kakadu and two in Katherine, are included, along with travel in an air-conditioned 4WD off-road truck. The Kakadu Pass, national park entry fees and Nitmiluk admission are covered. Meals total four breakfasts, five lunches and four dinners, plus the billabong wetlands river cruise, Aboriginal rock art viewing and guided bush walks.

Where Does The Tour Start And What Time?

The main meeting point is The Leea Darwin, 64 Cavenagh Street, Darwin City, at 6:30am. Alternative pickup locations are available on request. The tour finishes back at the same meeting point.

Is It Suitable For Children Or Older Travellers?

Children aged 8 to 17 can join but must be with an adult or legal guardian at all times. Travellers over 75 need a doctor's certificate submitted at least 30 days before departure. A reviewer found the trip suitable for mobile seniors, provided they have no back problems because of the rough roads.

How Fit Do I Need To Be?

The booking page asks for a moderate to advanced level of fitness. Expect daily walks of 2 to 4km, graded 2 to 4, often on steep and rocky terrain in sun and high humidity. Guides adjust the pace for safety, but the tour is physically demanding.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least six full days before the start time for a full refund, or two to six full days before for a 50 percent refund. Inside two full days there is no refund. Changes made less than six full days before departure are not accepted, and cut-off times follow the experience's local time.

Do I Need To Bring A Sleeping Bag?

One dry-season reviewer recommended a blanket or sleeping bag for colder nights, even though days stay warm. Safari tent guests get a mattress, pillow with case, and fitted and top sheets. Bush swag guests use the canvas-covered bush bed roll, and warmth at night is worth planning for.