Birdwatching Safari of Kakadu & Litchfield National Parks

Departing Darwin early, the journey east into the tropical outback takes you through some of the Northern Territory's most rewarding birding country. A first stop at Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve on the Adelaide River floodplain offers a walk into monsoon forest teeming with birdlife, before continuing east across the vast river systems that drain the Top End wilderness. Entering Kakadu National Park, a walk at Mamukala Wetland delivers a first taste of the tropical wonders ahead. Wildlife highlights include radjah shelduck, green pygmy-goose, brolga, rainbow pitta, barking owl, and saltwater crocodile. Meals: Lunch, dinner.

Ubirr is one of Kakadu's most extraordinary places — a landscape of ancient rock art, sweeping wilderness views, and a spiritual presence that is profoundly moving. The Bardedjilidji Walk takes you deep into Kakadu's remarkable geological formations, while an Aboriginal-guided boat tour on the East Alligator River explores the boundary of Arnhem Land, with expert commentary on the significance of this vast and sacred country. The afternoon includes a visit to Injalak Arts at the Border Store, showcasing works by local Indigenous artists. Return to Jabiru in time to watch corellas roost and flying foxes take flight at dusk. Wildlife highlights include chestnut-quilled rock-pigeon, sandstone shrike-thrush, Wilkins rock-wallaby, and saltwater crocodile. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

The Nourlangie region offers another spectacular window into the Arnhem Land escarpment, where ancient sandstone ranges rise directly from the Kakadu floodplains. The Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art site contains some of Australia's most powerful Aboriginal paintings, including the iconic depiction of Namarrkon, the Lightning Man. The afternoon brings a visit to Pine Creek's Water Treatment Plant — a surprisingly rewarding birding location with regular sightings of oriental pratincole, great bowerbird, and a diverse range of waders. Wildlife highlights include several finch species, emu, hooded parrot, blue-winged kookaburra, and bush stone-curlew. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

An early departure takes you to Leliyn (Edith Falls) — one of the Top End's finest locations for Gouldian finch, where patience at the water's edge is rewarded with sightings of this spectacular and sought-after species alongside three other finch species. The permanent waterfalls tumble off the Arnhem Escarpment into crystal-clear pools, with a circuit hike offering additional wildlife encounters including sandstone shrike-thrush and diverse honeyeaters. The afternoon heads north to Adelaide River for lunch before arriving at accommodation beside Litchfield National Park, with a sunset visit to the iconic Magnetic and Cathedral Termite Mounds. Wildlife highlights include Gouldian finch, masked and double-barred finch, Pacific baza, and red goshawk. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Morning birding around Litchfield National Park takes in Buley Rockhole and the Greenant Creek Walk / Tjaetaba Falls trail — one of the best locations in Australia to find the red goshawk, the country's rarest raptor, and the remarkable oriental honey buzzard, recorded fewer than a dozen times in Australia. Optional visits to Wangi Falls and Tolmer Falls round out the morning before the journey to Darwin. The afternoon is spent exploring Darwin's coastal habitats in search of species not yet encountered, including chestnut rail, rufous owl, mangrove golden whistler, beach stone-curlew, and Pacific reef heron. Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

The final morning explores the Muirhead Bushland Reserve for finches and honeyeaters before heading to Buffalo Creek — one of Australia's premier wader watching locations, with the elusive Chestnut Rail frequently encountered at the mangrove edge. An exceptional diversity of migratory shorebirds includes Far Eastern Curlew, Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, and both Great and Red Knot. Drop-off at Darwin Airport or city hotel is around midday. Wildlife highlights include Pacific Reef Heron, Little Kingfisher, Lesser Crested Tern, and Crimson, Star and Long-tailed Finch. Meals: Breakfast.