Sorry, judilie, can't help much with the accommodation - first trip to Darwin stayed in a youth hostel, second rented a camper. In Batchelor we stayed at the Rum Jungle Motor Inn - nothing flash, but not a hell hole by any means (that was in '00).

Here's another idea, that optimizes your time a little better:

Thursday: arrive in Darwin, drive to Batchelor, maybe catching sunset at the termite mounds in Litchfield. Overnight Batchelor.

Friday: Spend most of the day in Litchfield, leaving for Katherine in time to arrive for dinner. (lot's of great swimming holes in Litchfield - the waterfalls you mention as well as Buley Rockhole). Overnight Katherine.

Saturday: Katherine Gorge, etc. Evening drive to Cooinda. Overnight there. (Drive carefully at night in the outback!!).

Sunday: Kakadu - Yellow Waters, Nourlangie, etc. Overnight Cooinda or Jabiru.

Monday: Kakadu - East Alligator cruise, etc, Ubirr (at sunset!!). Overnight Jabiru.

Tuesday: Drive back to Darwin. Jumping Croc, etc..

Thanks very much, RalphR. Interesting idea! I'll seriously consider it. Would it be a problem driving to Batchelor after dark? Another thought I've had (which is not necessarily inconsistent with your suggestion) is to spend an extra day in the Top End; i.e., leave on Saturday. This would be at the expense of a day in Perth and Western Australia. It seems like there are more impressive, unique things to do outside of the city in the Darwin area than in the Perth area. (If I do this, we would still have 4 full days and 2 nearly full days in Perth and the surrounding area.) I'll rework my Top End itinerary and also post one for the Perth area and then make my final decision, so that I know when to book our flight from Darwin to Perth.

I dont think driving to Batchelor after dark should be any problem - again, drive carefully keeping an eye out for wildlife and free ranging stock.

Perth and environs is one part of Australia I have not seen, so it' s hard for me to be objective about whether to cut your visit there a day short. That being said, the Top End really does offer a lot to see, especially if you enjoy the outdoors, natural attractions, wildlife, and aboriginal culture. On our second trip, we spent a total of 10 days in the area - every day we experienced wonderful places - and this trip didnt even include Katherine.

RalphR - The more I think about your idea the better I like it because it will enable us to avoid the 1-night stand in Darwin that I had at the begining in my plan.

I "misspoke" in my previous message. Even with the extra day on the Top End, we'd still have 5 full days and 2 nearly full days in Perth and that area. (Tentatively planning on a 2-3 days in Perth, 1 day each in Rottnest Is. and Fremantle, and 2-3 days for a road trip either N or S (with decision perhaps depending on where the wildflowers will be best [near the end of Sept.]).

I've booked a flight that gets to Darwin at 12:30 pm. That should allow us plenty of time to get to Batchelor and see some of Litchfield the day we arrive in Darwin.

Is it going to be a problem driving into Katherine or into Cooinda after dark? Or should we plan to arrive in those destinations before sunset?

Does anyone have recommendations for our overnight in Katherine? Knotts Crossing Resort, Jan’s B&B, and Beale Motor Inn all sound like possibilities.

Has anyone been to the Katherine School of the Air? Is it worth doing the tour there?

I'm interested in doing some canoeing in Katherine Gorge. Can one do OK on one's own for several hours, or is it better to take a guided trip, say of a half day? How does the canoe trip compare to the boat cruise?

Thanks. I really appreciate all of the useful suggestion I have received from folks on this website.

judilie...the roads you will be on should be paved and in good condition, mostly 2 lane (i.e., not 4 lane highway), with very little traffic. You should be fine but keep in mind the wildlife. Keep alert, stay below the speed limit (which is mostly 100-110 km/hr or 60-70 mph)and be prepared to stop. Look for roadkill, obviously a warning that you are in a risky area. Wildlife is particularly active at dusk (AM and PM), so if you wanted to minimize the risk you'd have to travel only in full daylight. Not really practical.

Knott's Crossing rings a bell - I believe that is where we stayed in 1997. Nothing that memorable, but, like I said about the Rum Jungle Motor Inn, not a hell hole either. My wife and I did visit the School of the Air. It was very interesting, especially to my wife, a school teacher.

We did a gorge cruise, so can't comment on the canoe trip other than you might want to allow yourself more time to see the gorge that way. In the evening, we went to an aboriginal corroboree just out of town, which was really fun and interesting. Again, cant remember the details.

The Corroboree sounds like fun. Does anyone have information about it -- where and when it is and how you sign up?

Saturday night we will stay at the Gagudju Lodge in Cooinda. The next morning we will go on the Yellow Water Cruise at 6:45 am. The rest of that day we'll do/see some of the following: Warradjan Visitors Center, Museum at Cooinda, Nourlangie Rock, Anbangbang Gallery, and Anabangbang Billabong. Would it make more sense to spend that Sunday night in Cooinda or Jabiru?

[We are planning to spend Monday night in Jabiru (probably at Lakeview Park), and on Monday are planning to see/do some of the following: Mamukala, Bowali Visitors Center, climb to Nadab (Ubirr) lookout, boat trip (Guluyambi) on the East Alligator River, Monsoon Rain Forest Walk, and Ubirr Rock (for sunset).]

Also, has anyone gone to the Coral Reef by Night show (which includes dinner) at Indo-Pacific Marine in Darwin? If so, is it worthwhile? Is there any point going to Indo-Pacific Marine during the day if you go at night?

Wow. I have lots to say as we did a very similar trip in 2006. There are several previous threads that include a trip report. We stayed at Lakeview. Thought it was a very good value. Not luxury for sure, more like upscale camping in the place we stayed, but they do have cabins too. But we liked our little unit. Definitely read through this thread I am showing here.

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...-with-kids.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...and-kakadu.cfm

Litchfield and Kakadu ---Another useful thread

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...ld-lodging.cfm

Here is another with a post by me about our stay in Bachelor and visit to Litchfield

Thumbs up to Tim's as a place to eat in Darwin.

Our trip made the circle clockwise as Judie's first description. If you go that way you would spend one or two nights in Jabiru, then one night in Cooinda then on to Katherine.

I want to impress that you don't just "see" Litchfield and the area. There are waterfalls and swimming holes and at Berry Berry Springs there is a hot springs. These are all great to experience and they aren't right next to each other. Please leave enough time to do this.

We did the Gorge cruise. The all day one, which included hiking to upper gorges, was much too advanced and strenuous for us. We did the 4 hour cruise which was just right. We first bought on for the more advanced cruise, but realized it was too much and they will let you stop half way and catch a boat back if you realize you are in over your heads. So this was great and they gave us a refund. The 2 hour cruise would not have been enough for me. Not sure I'd want to do the canoe/kayak thing on Katherine Gorge. I think you spend a lot of time trying to get your boat over rocks and see less of the various gorges. That is very much a personal thing though, so others might not mind it and prefer the sense of being in a smaller boat alone rather than on the bigger boats (still not that big..)

Also, the rental car companies specify that you are not allowed to drive at night! Or at least Budget did for us! We very rarely drove at night, but did risk it coming back from the sunset at Nadab to the Lakeview in Jabiru. There was really no other way to do it and the sunset is so worth it. Just be very careful. The wildlife is active at dusk and in the evenings.

When we drove from Katherine to Bachelor and on to Darwin we saw many, many, many dead wallabies/kangaroos along the side of the road...so it is a real threat.

I just read that you arrive in Darwin at 12:30 pm and then expect to pick up your rental car and get to Litchfield in time to do something there..presuming you are now planning to make the circle counterclockwise (or anti-clockwise as they say in Australia) I think you will feel rushed not have time to really experience Litchfield. If you spend the night in Bachelor you could do some of Litchfield in the first afternoon and then maybe more in the morning before heading to Katherine. We loved exploring Litchfield. We drove from Katherine (3 hours) and got there around noon. We then went off to swim, see the various places, climb down to the falls pool, etc. We were SO exhausted at the end of the afternoon. It definitely took us all afternoon and you won't even get there until mid-afternoon...tired from a plane ride and still not having your bearings on the area.

Check out Low Level Caravan Park and their cabins in Katherine. Didn't stay there but have heard good reviews about it from more than one source. Knotts is more upscale than a caravan park. We ate there and it looked nice.

If you can write out a list of your current proposed itinerary whether clockwise or anti-clockwise with what you intend for each half day we could see how it sounds.

Thanks very much, LynAK, for all of the useful information. I was hesitant to bore folks with another version of my itinerary, but since you asked, it is below.

As you will see above, I originally was planning to do the clockwise trip, after several days in Darwin, but RalphR suggested "anti-clockwise" so that we could begin our road trip as soon as we arrive in NT and since we could get to the Litchfield area more quickly than to Kakadu.

I'd very much appreciate your and others' reactions to our latest plan. Thanks in advance.

Thursday: Flight arrives Thurs., Sept. 10, at 12:30 pm; get rental car at the airport. (NEED TO ARRANGE FOR RENTAL CAR. The amount of mileage covered will be a consideration.)

- Drive to Batchelor, maybe catching sunset at the termite mounds in Litchfield
- Overnight Batchelor (DECIDE WHERE - possibly at Batchelor Resort or Banyan Tree Caravan)

Friday: Spend most of the day in Litchfield, leaving for Katherine in time to arrive for dinner
– in Litchfiled: Magnetic termite mounds, Cathedral termite mounds, waterfalls and pools (Wangi, Tolmer, Florence, or Tjayera)
– Cemetary in Adelaide River
- ?Crocodile Night Adventure, in Katherine
- ? Aboriginal corroboree just out of town
- Overnight Katherine (?Low-Level Caravan Park?, ?Knotts Crossing Resort?, ?Jan’s B&B?, ?Beale Motor Inn?)

Saturday: Katherine Gorge, etc. (being there on a Saturday, I don’t think we’ll be able to see the Katherine School of the Air)
- Nitmiluk Visitors Center
- Canoe or boat cruise Katherine Gorge
- ?Edith Falls National Park for swimming in another good natural pool
- Evening drive to Cooinda (OK TO DRIVE THIS AT NIGHT?)
- Overnight there at Gagudju Lodge

Sunday: 6:45 am Yellow Water Billabong Cruise, at Cooinda
- Warradjan Visitors Center
– Museum at Cooinda
– Nourlangie Rock
– Anabangbang Billabong
- Overnight Cooinda or Jabiru (DECIDE WHICH). (Possible places to stay in Jabiru are Kakadu Lodge, Lakeview Park, and Gugadju Crocodile; leaning toward Lakeview Park)

Monday: Kakadu
– Mamukala
– Bowali Visitors Center.
– Climb to Nadab lookout
– ?Boat trip (Guluyambi) on the East Alligator River
– ?Walking tracks along the E. Alligator R.
–?Monsoon Rain Forest
– Ubirr Rock (at sunset)
- Overnight Jabiru

Tuesday: Drive to Darwin and see things along the way:
– Mary River N.P
– Jumping Crocodile Cruise (?Adelaide River Queen or Jumping Croc?)
– Windows on the Wetlands
– Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve
– Didgeridoo Hut and Urrduddu Emu Farm

Tues, Wed., Thurs., and Fri. nights in Darwin (NEED TO DECIDE WHERE TO STAY. Mirambeena Resort is a possibility. Barramundi Lodge and Asti Hotel also sound interesting.)

Wednesday - Friday: Darwin

Wednesday
– 10:30 am - noon: tour of Northern Territory Parliament House
– Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
– If time, other things in and just outside of Darwin (see list in my earlier post)
– 7 pm: Coral Reef by Night show including dinner at Indo-Pacific Marine

Thursday
– Some other sights not yet visited in Darwin
- 5-10 pm: Mindil Beach Sunset Market
- Botanical Garden is near the Mindl Beach Market, so perhaps do that in the afternoon this day.

Friday
– Some other sights not yet visited in Darwin
– 6:30 pm: Deckchair Cinema

Saturday – Flight departs (for Perth) at 7 am.

Would you recommend both the Crocodile Night Adventure, in Katherine, and the Jumping Crocodile Cruise along the Adelaide River, or is that too many crocodiles? If only one, which one?

First take on your itinerary--
Take a look at Berry Springs which is about a half hour drive from Darwin off the Stuart Hwy. This might be a good stop on your way south...probably take an hour. There is a hot springs pool there that is very nice...little hot waterfall you can sit under. Not so good to visit on a weekend as crowded with daytrippers from Darwin, so a Thursday would probably be fine. This is next door to the Territory Wildlife place, which has its merits but may take longer than you want to visit. They have one of the best aquariums I've ever seen...and I've been to quite a few. It isn't large, but the displays are great and the feeling is intimate. It was very hot (and we were there in August) so most of the animals in the outdoors areas were not active and often not even seen. Except for the aquarium, the Territory Wildlife Park wasn't one of our favorite stops...would probably be different if the weather had been different.

OK--on to Bachelor. Not much going on in the little town of Bachelor so you won't want to plan to spend much time there. If you get there early enough, either by skipping the Berry Springs or if your time works out, you could probably drive into Litchfield NP and go to one of the pools or falls. Then next morning go do more. It is a bit of a drive from Bachelor into the park..can't remember how long...maybe half hour at least?

You will see many, many termite mounds (to the point of saying "oh look, another huge field of termite mounds") on your way back from Jabiru to Darwin, so don't fret about making sure you see them at Litchfield.

Drive to Katherine...this will take 3 hours as I recall. It is a long, empty drive. You will be tired after your day at Litchfield so don't leave too late. Also be aware of the possibility of wallabies on the road at dusk. We stopped at the Adelaide Cemetery. Unless you are particularly interested from an historical point of view this is something I think you could miss if your time is tight. I would not plan to do anything much in Katherine that night...if you get there and are not too tired then you can check into the Crocodile thing. We didn't do any crocodile tourist event so can't comment on those. Litchfield, if you swim at all the places and really explore, is in itself a big day.

One thing you could do in Katherine if you get there early enough, and you wouldn't have to plan or book, is to go to the free hot springs. Our 10 yr old loved this and we had to go twice. There is a natural slide. If you come from somewhere with hot springs this might not be so interesting but for us it was wonderful. This isn't a big area and it might be crowded (not with tourists, but with locals) on a Friday night, but would be worth checking out. We loved just hanging out in the pools with local very friendly people.

Saturday in Katherine--I think you have a lot on your plate for this day. Maybe too much. Do the early Gorge trip...4 hours is best if you can manage it, but if you want to get to Cooinda that day you may have to settle for the 2 hour trip. If you do the 4 hour and then leave straight away to drive toward Cooinda you might be OK. We did not go to Nitmiluk Visitors Center so can't comment on whether that would be worth the time.

We swam at the lower Edith Falls pool (VERY cold water) and I regret very much that we didn't take the time to hike to the top pools. We thought we were running out of time and that we needed to get on to Katherine. Several people have told me that it is worth it to hike up so take that info into consideration.

It takes hours to drive from Katherine to Cooinda. I can't remember how long but I'm sure you could mapquest it. The resort at Cooinda is kind of sweet. It is the only game in town and there is a nice bit pool, the bistro is lively. You might enjoy hanging out here. You will be there on a Sat. so it would be likely that they would have some entertainment. We got involved in a rousing game of trivia sponsored by the resort...they fixed us up in teams with other travelers and we had a blast.

Sunday, the Yellow Waters Cruise at 6:45 (catch shuttle bus from the resort) and then check out the museum (is it open on a Sunday?...it is worth seeing if open, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is closed then). After that you will be ready to head on toward Jabiru, doing Nourlangie, etc. on the way. Definitely plan to stay in Jabiru that night. You will not want to back track to Cooinda. We liked Lakeview. (They had wireless internet up by the office so you can take your laptop and sit at the table outside the office to connect. Ask them for pots and pans to use at your bush bungalow, if that is what you choose)

More later.

Quick thought...you may want to consider giving up a night in Darwin to exhange for a second night in Katherine. Might make you less crazy trying to get to Cooinda. Spend Fri. night and Sat. night in Katherine. Then on Sat. you could do the 4 hr. gorge trip, go to museum, see the crocs, and/or the corroborree, visit the Katherine hot springs. Leave on Sun. morning to head to Edith Falls...do the climbing to top pools, on to Cooinda in the afternoon. Hang out at resort on Sunday night, then visit the museum and Yellow Waters on Monday.

I love Darwin, but am not sure you need that many nights there. Mindl Market is a must do, but you will be there on a Thursday so this idea doesn't compromise that.

Consider--

Thurs. arrive Darwin drive to Bachelor
Fri.Explore Litchfield, drive to Katherine (this is a long day), stay in Katherine
Sat. Katherine Gorge, etc. stay in Katherine
Sun. drive to Edith Falls, then on to Cooinda
Monday drive to Jabiru spend night there
Tuesday do all the stuff around Jabiru...E. Alligator cruise, Nadab at sunset, etc. spend night Jabiru
Wed. drive to Darwin seeing stuff along the way
Thursday explore Darwin, Mindl Market
Friday explore Darwin
Sat. flight out to Perth

Mostly agree with LynAK's suggestions. Regarding termite mounds, Litchfield was the only place I recall seeing the magnetic variety - still very much worth a look.

We also visited Berry Springs and the Territory Wildlife Park, which we enjoyed very much. However they seem tough to fit into judilie's compressed itinerary.

– Mamukala: you could do this on way out of Jabiru on way back to Darwin. It is 30 km west of Jabiru so you could drive out and then back to Jabiru if you decide to do the hike. Nice little lookout, doesn't take long to visit the lookout, unless you take the hike, which was closed due to crocs when we were there so you might ask at the Bowali before you go. The walk could take 1-2 hrs if you do that. If the walk is closed or you don't want to do the walk just pop in here on your way back to Darwin. Note: take some good binoculars with you everywhere in Kakadu

– Bowali Visitors Center. Go first thing in the morning of your day around Jabiru. Good people, good advice, nice little museum

– Climb to Nadab lookout: do this when you go to Ubirr. They are together. Go later in the day so you time it to climb to Nadab for sunset. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been, so don't worry if you get to the top of Nadab a little too early. Go see Ubirr rock paintings first then climb Nadab. Park closes at sunset so do the rock paintings first. Takes about an hour to see the rock paintings. Climb to Nadab is not easy, but not too hard either. Look at this info for a good map of the place: http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/...otes_ubirr.pdf

– ?Boat trip (Guluyambi) on the East Alligator River: We liked this. River is not so special or beautiful, but you get to get off on Arnhem Land and walk around, which is otherwise restricted access. Saw lots of crocs along the way. Our guide was knowledgable and we learned a lot about Aboriginal history and culture. Be on time for boat departure. It left exactly on time and you'd be out of luck if you weren't there, even if you had a ticket.

– ?Walking tracks along the E. Alligator R. We did this while waiting for the boat trip. OK, but not my most favorite thing,

–?Monsoon Rain Forest: Didn't do this
– Ubirr Rock (at sunset) See above about Nadab
- Overnight Jabiru: definitely