Savannah Way: Top End Leg
Darwin to Mataranka through Litchfield’s falls and Nitmiluk’s gorge country — croc-smart swimming, hot springs and the best barra fishing of the dry.
Join to pin routes to your passport — then stamp them by checking in along the way.
Itinerary
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Day 1:Litchfield’s falls
Darwin Litchfield · 115 km
Florence, Buley, Wangi — swim them all. The magnetic termite mounds on the way in look like a cemetery for compasses.
Magnetic termite moundsFlorence FallsBuley RockholeWangi Falls -
Day 2:Down the track
Litchfield Katherine · 280 km
South on the Stuart with a barra stop at the Adelaide River. Pine Creek’s gold-rush bones are worth the detour.
Adelaide RiverPine CreekEdith Falls -
Day 3:Nitmiluk gorge day
Katherine · out and back · 60 km
Canoe the first two gorges before the tour boats wake up. Baruwei lookout at sunset over the whole system.
Nitmiluk gorge canoeBaruwei lookout -
Day 4:Hot springs finish
Katherine Mataranka · 105 km
Mataranka and Bitter Springs — 34° spring water under the palms. Wash a week of red dust out of everything you own.
Cutta Cutta cavesBitter SpringsMataranka thermal pool
Good to know
- Best season
- May–Sep (the dry)
- Grade — Easy tourer
- Sealed or well-kept roads — any vehicle, any experience level.
- The route
- NT · Darwin → Litchfield → Katherine → Mataranka
Leave no trace — pack it in, pack it out, fill your holes. And tell someone your plan before you lose bars.
Run it as a member
Members get partner rates on gear, fuel and stays, field days along routes like this one, and an Adventure Passport that keeps the score.