The best places to camp from Darwin to Kakadu and Katherine

The driving route from Darwin to Katherine via Kakadu and Nitmiluk national parks is a popular one.

But it does require a little planning ahead – including knowing where to pitch your tent. We did the hard work for you: here are the best campsites from Darwin to Kakadu and Katherine.

Warm nights, bright stars, and the rush of nearby waterfalls – camping in the Top End is paradisiacal fare for summer-loving campers.

From May to September, the tropical dry season , rain is off the agenda; and that means camping without a tent fly and enjoying open access to the skies. With the city lights in your rear view mirror, set out from Darwin and explore these idyllic NT campsites.

1. Best places to camp from Darwin to Kakadu (Jabiru)

Mary River

The Arnhem Highway, linking Darwin with the gateway town to Kakadu National Park, carries you across five of the Top End’s eight rivers. Mary River National Park sits roughly at the halfway point along this journey.

Camp at Couzen’s Lookout, where sunset views stretch across a river system teeming with birdlife, crocs, paperbark trees and lotus flowers.

Cost: $3.30 per adult, per night
Facilities: campsite only, but the nearby Shady Camp has toilets and showers
4WD required: yes

Ubirr

One kilometre north of Jabiru you’ll pass the turn-off to Ubirr, one of the most evocative rock art sites in Kakadu.

Merl Campground sits three kilometres from the main rock formations, and is a great base for bushwalking along the East Alligator River and seeing the sun descend over the stone country of Arnhem Land.

Cost: $15 per adult, per night
Facilities: toilets, showers and picnic tables
4WD required: no

2. Best places to camp from Kakadu (Jabiru) to Pine Creek

Maguk

Travel south along the highway to visit Maguk , a larger swimming hole tucked behind a rolling trail of rocks and black wattle.

Photography: Dillon Seitchik-Reardon — The Maguk waterhole can be serene or for the more adventurous. Image courtesy: Dillon Seitchik-Reardon

The campsite is set in a quiet nook, one kilometre shy of the pools. After you’ve plunged inside Maguk’s sparkling emerald waters, follow the walking trail leading to a serene series of rock pools set above the main swimming zone.

Cost: $6 per adult, per night
Facilities: pit toilets and picnic tables4
WD required: yes

3. Best campsites Pine Creek to Nitmiluk (Katherine)

Discovery Parks Katherine

Lean into a smorgasbord of amenities at Discovery Parks Katherine , located about a 10-minute drive north-east of the local Woolworths and main life source (aka, the pub). New cabins with split-system air conditioning are up for grabs, as are budget-friendly rooms and campsites, and if you visit after April 2025, you’ll also find an additional spread of new cabins. Meanwhile, a swimming pool, barbecue, laundry, kiosk and wi-fi should sort out every one of you.

Umbrawarra Gorge

At this stunning and secluded gorge, red cliffs rise above a small sandy beach. The water here is crystal clear – but be sure to visit early in the dry to see the nearby creek flow (and keep an eye out for rock art on the gorge walls, too).

The Umbrawarra Gorge campsite – close to a tin mine site from the early 1900s – is small and sits one-kilometre back from the waterhole. Take the picturesque walking trail to the gorge early in the morning to maximise your tranquillity levels.

Cost: $3.30 per adult, per night

Facilities: barbeque and toilet

4WD required: yes

Nitmiluk National Park

Camp beside a cavernous gorge at Smitt Rock in Nitmiluk National Park, where red-tailed black cockatoos soar in the sky and a rambling track leads to a swimmable pool.

072 Smitt Rock, Katherine Gorge, NT — The spectacular sky as seen from the camp site at Smitt Rock, Nitmiluk National Park.

This is another of the Top End’s most jaw-dropping sites, but you’ll need to devote serious puff to getting here – namely, a 24-kilometre return walk along Nitmiluk’s Southern Walks trail.

Looking down at Smitt Rock during the day, Nitmiluk National Park. Image Courtesy Tourism NT / Shaana McNaught

Cost: $3.30 per adult, per night

Facilities: toilet only

4WD required: no

4. Best campsites Nitmiluk (Katherine) to Darwin

Douglas River Esplanade Conservation Area

Travel along the Stuart Highway and take the scenic route north of Hayes Creek, following Oolloo Road until you reach Douglas River Esplanade Conservation Area.

A top pick for families with young kids, these shallow thermal hot springs feature quiet pools tucked inside a thicket of wattle and melaleuca trees.

The relaxing thermal pools of Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Nature Park are a hit with all travellers. The springs are an oasis in the middle of the dry woodland, attracting birds and wildlife. like bandicoots, quolls and flying foxes. Image Courtesy Tourism NT / Nathan McNeil

Stroll along the river and picnic on the sandy banks. Nine campsites nudge the surrounding bushland, and a small store sells supplies.

Cost: $6.60 per adult, per night

Facilities: toilet only

4WD required: yes

Litchfield National Park

One hundred and forty kilometres further north lies Litchfield, home to an abundance of achingly pretty waterfalls and swimming holes. The most iconic of these is Wangi Falls.

Its campground has all the comforts, including wi-fi. Take the two-kilometre loop walk past a colony of fruit bats for views of the sparkling green lower pools, then pull out your swimwear and lounge beneath the twin falls.

An aerial of Wangi Falls, including the visitor centre and camping facilities at left. Image Courtesy Tourism NT / Dan Moore

Near to the smaller of these streams you’ll find a plunge pool thought to be a traditional fertility site for Litchfield’s Aboriginal people. Other waterholes with camping facilities worth a look in Litchfield include Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole.

Cost: $6.60 per adult, per night

Facilities: showers, toilets, cooking facilities and barbecues

4WD required: no

For more information on things to do in the NT, visit our Ultimate guide to the NT page and the official Northern Territory website .

Summer transforms the Northern Territory into a lush paradise of colour and life, as a visit during the ‘low-season’ reveals secrets the locals willingly share.

Waterlilies bloom, floodplains are alive with birdlife, waterfalls are gushing, and everywhere the green is dazzling. Summer in the Top End and the Red Centre is a kaleidoscope of unexpected wonders that delight and surprise visitors. Of course, the locals know only too well that the Northern Territory low season is often the best time to see and experience this amazing part of Australia.

Here are some of the reasons why savvy travellers – avoiding the crowds – are discovering a new dimension to the Territory. Remember that you’ll need a Parks Pass to visit national parks.

1. Take a dip in the Florence Falls waterhole

Wander through savanna woodland and monsoon forest to discover the perfect place to cool off – the waterhole at the base of spectacular Florence Falls in the magnificent Litchfield National Park , just 90 minutes’ drive from Darwin. The falls flow year-round but are most spectacular during the summer. Camping is available nearby but bookings are essential and must be made online before you visit.

Surrounded by lush forest, a woman cools off in Florence Falls, just one of many incredible things to do in the Northern Territory. — Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls. (Image: Joshua Griffin)

2. Wind down at Buley Rock Hole

Another popular local swimming spot in Litchfield National Park is Buley Rock Hole , open year-round. This is a great place to wind down after exploring everything the park has to offer, including towering termite mounds. Wade through the rock pools, soak up the scenic bush or just lie back and relax as the cool water rolls over you.

Buley Rockhole, Litchfield National Park — Let the cool water wash over you. (Image: Tourism Australia)

3. Tour the Tiwi Islands

The Tiwi Islands , a scenic 80km flight from Darwin across the narrow Clarence and Dundas Straits, reveal a different side to the Territory, with their own distinctive culture. Take a day tour with Tiwi by Design to visit Bathurst Island and learn about creation stories, the Mission days, World War II history and the islanders’ obsession with AFL!

Take a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of Tiwi Design’s screen-printing workshop and pick up a great souvenir in the form of art. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi designs and a wide range of work including carvings, paintings, pottery, printmaking, bark paintings and tunga (bark baskets).

A creative moment shared inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing space. — Take a peek inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing studio. (Image: Tourism NT)

4. Dine in Darwin

Foodies are spoilt for choice in multi-cultural Darwin. Try Sri Lankan flavours at Ella by Minoli, where Masterchef contestant Minoli De Silva creates delectable dishes, or head to Charlie’s of Darwin for gin-tasting, cocktails and more. Bowls of fragrant laksa, excellent coffee, fresh vegetables and authentic crafts are all part of a weekend visit to Darwin’s Parap Markets , Rapid Creek Markets and the Nightcliff Markets .

Prefer to catch your own dinner? Book a Top End fishing charter to bag a barramundi – and from October register for the annual Million Dollar Fish competition. Hooking one of the tagged barra released each year in waterways across the Territory could win you up to $1 million.

A bowl of Laksa. — Eat your way through multicultural Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT)

5. Up close with Uluṟu

The magnificent monolith Uluṟu is even more magical when the summer rains fall. When it rains on The Rock, the locals come out to watch – consider yourself lucky if that happens when you visit. Waterfalls cascading off the sides of Uluṟu is a sight that relatively few tourists see.

There’s so much to do at Uluṟu, from guided walks to learn the stories of the Aṉangu people and the ancient landscape they live in to scenic flights for a bird’s-eye view or a leisurely walk around the base of Uluṟu. Book ahead to spend the evening wandering through the Field of Light installation by Bruce Munro.

A closer look at Uluru and uncover its ancient stories, sacred sites, and striking natural beauty – one of the most iconic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Discover the details that make Uluṟu truly sacred. (Image: Tourism NT)

6. Drive the Red Centre Way

From Alice Springs, take an epic road trip along the Red Centre Way, taking in Uluru and Watarrka National Park, home to the magnificent Kings Canyon. Allow at least a week to drive through the red heart of Australia by 4WD, a little longer on the sealed road by 2WD vehicle, travelling through ochre deserts, palm-lined valleys and dramatic gorges. Stop off at waterholes for a refreshing dip along the way.

Kings Canyon offers hiking options for all levels of fitness, from the three-hour Rim Walk atop soaring sandstone walls to the gentler Kings Creek Walk. Either way, you’ll have breathtaking views.

SEIT Outback Australia is a small group touring specialist offering exciting, adventurous, exclusive and specialised iconic, pioneering and cultural touring in the Red Centre of Australia, giving you the time to learn, absorb and relax in the heart of Australia.<br /><br />This innovative tour company focuses on providing clients with the ultimate interpretive touring experiences with a range of products and customised touring itineraries for small groups and bespoke private charters.<br /><br />The company bases its philosophies from the key words of Spirit, Emotion, Intellect and Task (SEIT). — Drive through Australia’s heart. (Image: Outback Australia Tours)

7. Take a walk at Kata Tjuṯa

Head out early to tackle the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuṯa . This natural wonder, also known as The Olgas, is a labyrinth of soaring ochre domes that glow golden at sunrise and sunset (the walk may be closed during the middle of the day as temperatures rise).

Walking trails range from easy to longer, more difficult tracks. At the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area, take in the panoramic view of the domes. The longest of the trails is the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7.4km circuit that winds between the domes and through creek beds. It’s moderately difficult and steep in places, but offers stunning views – and occasional encounters with kangaroos.

The Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuta is one of the most awe-inspiring things to do in the Northern Territory, especially at sunrise when the domes glow golden. — Step into the golden light of Kata Tjuṯa. (Image: Tourism NT)

8. Explore Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges

Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park lies 135km west of Alice Springs, with many fascinating natural features to beguile visitors. The ‘West Macs’ formations include chasms, gorges and waterholes – take your swimsuit for a dip at Ormiston Gorge waterhole, open year-round. The Ormiston Pound Walk is a three to four-hour circuit that leaves from the visitor centre and loops back along the gorge via the main waterhole. Other places of interest in the park include Simpsons Gap , Standley Chasm , Ellery Creek Big Hole and Glen Helen .

Soaking in the serenity of Ormiston Gorge, these two travellers enjoy one of the most scenic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Take the plunge at Ormiston Gorge waterhole. (Image: Joshua Griffin Litchfield)

Start planning the NT road trip of a lifetime at northernterritory.com