1 Kakadu: Ancient stories and endless horizons
Three hours drive east of Darwin lies Kakadu national park. The world heritage site covers almost 20,000 sq km and contains wetlands, forests, rivers and mangroves, while more than 5,000 rock art sites yield snapshots from 50,000 years of indigenous Australian history.
The tour, organised by Gagudju Dreaming, starts with a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong to see saltwater crocodiles and species of birds, including jabirus, kingfishers and brolgas. Trek to the base of the mighty Jim Jim Falls and discover rock art among the caves and crags of Ubirr, before watching the sunset over Burrunggui. www.gagudju-dreaming.com
2 Litchfield National Park: Magnetic beauty
Visitors to this diverse national park, just 90 minutes south of Darwin, are met with rugged gorges, waterfalls and lush groves of paperbark, eucalyptus and bloodwood. Camp overnight and go “spotlighting” to find sugar gliders and possums. Flying foxes take to the skies at dusk and the plunge pool of Tolmer Falls provides a haven for orange horseshoe bats. Ethical Adventures leads tours to Litchfield national park from Darwin, including a visit to the Fogg Dam conservation area. ethicaladventures.com
3 Arnhem Land: Magic and mystery
Drive across the East Alligator River from Kakadu into near-mythical Arnhem Land. Covering 97,000 sq km of lush floodplains and billabongs, this is one of the least-disturbed regions of Australia. Tours organised by Venture North run from Darwin and Jabiru, while indigenous guides from Injalak Arts in the town of Gunbalanya lead visits to ancient rock art sites and share creation stories.
Four hours north lies Garig Gunak Barlu national park on Arnhem Land’s remote Cobourg peninsula. Camp out and explore the surrounding marine park to see dolphins, turtles and dugongs in the crystal-clear waters of Van Diemen Gulf and the Arafura Sea. venturenorth.com.au
4 Katherine: The Outback meets the Tropics
An easy four-hour drive south from Darwin, Katherine is the perfect base for adventure, set against the backdrop of Nitmiluk national park.
Boat tours with the region’s traditional owners, the Jawoyn, take visitors into Katherine Gorge, a network of 13 plunging ravines. Those who prefer to go at their own pace can explore by canoe and camp overnight under the stars. Wallabies and cockatoos shelter high above the gorge, while crocodiles cruise the waters below. To the west of the park, Leliyn (Edith Falls) offers trekking, swimming and camping. www.nitmiluktours.com.au
5 The Red Centre: Untamed spirit
Central Australia is a world of ancient rock formations and unique wildlife. The drive south from Darwin, along the Stuart Highway to Alice Springs, offers a dramatic introduction to the outback.
Many of the country’s most recognisable species live here: thorny devils, bearded dragons, dingoes and red kangaroos. Explore the gorges of Kings Canyon, wander the domes of Kata Tjuta or trek the rugged Larapinta Trail. Remember to set your clock to watch the sunrise over Uluru, the monolith at the heart of the continent.
AAT Kings and SEIT Outback Australia run day trips and guided tours throughout the red centre including Uluru. www.aatkings.com
How to get there
With Malaysia Airlines, the holiday begins as soon as you board. Its cabin crew know Australia better than most and will be able to tell you about the best places to visit. Flying on Malaysia Airlines to Australia from London Heathrow offers quick, convenient connections to six Australian gateways via its hub Kuala Lumpur.
There are twice-daily A380 flights from London Heathrow with connections to Sydney and Melbourne, plus daily flights to Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Planes go to Darwin four times a week. Prices for return flights from London to Australia start from just £649. For more information and to book visit malaysiaairlines.com
