Reef & Top End

Drive to the luscious beaches of Palm Cove, a peaceful beach village lined with palm trees. Choose from the many water sports on offer, or simply chill out on the sands. While you’re here, you’ll ride the Skyrail to Kuranda village, taking in the far-reaching aerial views of the forest and browsing the markets as you go. Later, spend some time learning first-hand about aboriginal culture at Tjapukai Cultural Park, where you can also watch traditional musical and dance performances.

Continue to the forests of Cape Tribulation, the only place in the world where two World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest – sit side by side. Look for birds, possums, lizards and bats on a night walk in the Daintree Rainforest, thought to be around 120 million years old. Spend some time exploring – perhaps on foot on one of the many boardwalks, perhaps by boat or by kayak, or perhaps on a ziplining adventure.

Head on to Port Douglas, your gateway to the kaleidoscopic underwater wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Hop on board a catamaran and set sail for the outer corals, dive down beneath the waves and explore this colourful world, either by diving or snorkelling or, if you prefer to stay dry, by semi-submersible. Moored at Agincourt Reef, you’ll also have the chance to watch the fish, which include butterfly fish, parrot fish and angel fish, from a unique underwater viewing platform and underwater observatory.

Spend three nights in the tropical forests of the Atherton Tablelands, where you’ll stay in a treehouse at the peaceful Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat. Here you can look for wildlife – perhaps you’ll see the tiny musky-rat kangaroo, a cassowary or, if you’re very lucky, a platypus. Other activities include birdwatching, jungle hiking and checking out the nearby waterfalls, as well as taking part in a jungle photo workshop with a wildlife photographer.

Fly to Darwin and spend the day exploring the swimming holes, pools and waterfalls of Litchfield National Park. You’ll admire the tumbling waters of Wangi Falls and Florence Falls, where you can swim, and take a dip in the delightful Buley Rockhole. While you’re in the park, keep your eyes peeled for giant termite mounds, many of which are well over two metres tall and some of which are magnetic, being aligned north to south.

Spend two days exploring Kakadu National Park on an overnight trip from Darwin. You’ll learn about aboriginal traditions and view some of the park’s well-preserved rock art, then take a guided cruise along the Yellow Water Billabong, keeping an eye out for birds and saltwater crocodiles. You’ll also explore the park’s Ubirr region, home to more aboriginal cave paintings, and explore the and East Alligator River with your guide.

Return to Darwin for one more night. Perhaps grab a bottle of wine and a picnic blanket and head down to watch the sunset at Mindil Beach, home to the popular sunset markets, where plenty of tasty dishes are up for sampling. For something cultural try the Fannie Bay Gaol, or take a look around the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, one of the finest museums in the country, found harbourside in a tropical garden.