The Top End has many national parks both big and small. They are a great place to explore the Top End's natural beauty and heritage. The Top End also has may National Parks including World-Listed-Heritage National Park; Kakadu National Park. In our National Park's you will find native wildlife, scenic lookouts and spectacular waterfalls plus much more... 

Looking to visit a National Park while visiting the Top End? 

  • Darwin Region
  • Litchfield Region
  • Wildlife and Wetlands Region
  • Kakadu Region
  • Arnhem Land Region
  • Katherine Region
  • Victoria River and Timber Creek Region
  • Borroloola and the Gulf Region
  •  

    DARWIN REGION

    DarwinRegion

    CHARLES DARWIN NATIONAL PARK

    Close to the city off Tiger Brennan Drive, the park was developed to highlight the rich mangrove habitats of Darwin Harbour and it is a great place to enjoy a relaxing picnic. A great vantage point overlooking the city. During WWII, the site was one of a network used as a munitions depot. An informative display housed in one of the original storage bunkers depicts Darwin’s role in the war.

    What to see and do

  • mountain biking
  • see World War Two displays
  • view from the lookout platform
  • picnicking
  • bushwalking
  • wildlife watching
  • ranger-guided activities

  • Discover more on the region

     

     

     

    LITCHFIELD REGION

     LitchfieldRegion

    LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK

    Litchfield National Park is just an hour-and-a-half drive from Darwin and features a myriad of diverse environments including rugged sandstone escarpments, perennial spring-fed streams, monsoon rainforest, magnetic termite mounds, waterfalls and historic ruins.

    What to see and do

  • swimming
  • camping
  • bushwalking
  • wildlife spotting
  • visit scenic lookouts
  • view historic ruins at Blyth Homestead and Bambook Creek
  • four-wheel driving
  • waterfalls
     
  • Litchfield-Box1   Litchfield-Box2   Litchfield-Box3

    Wangi Falls

    Discover more on the region

     

     

    WILDLIFE AND WETLANDS REGION

    WildlifeandWetlandsRegion

    - DJUKBINJ NATIONAL PARK

    Located off the Arnhem Highway near Leaning Tree Lagoon turnoff. Part of the Marrakai Plains, Djukbinj National Park contains a portion of the catchment area and drainage for the Adelaide River. Consequently, the abundance of water year-round assures the park’s importance as a favourite feeding and roosting site for a wide variety of waterbirds including magpie geese, egrets, jabiru and brolgas.

    What to see and do

  • wildlife watching
  • photography
  • cultural drive
  •  

    - MARY RIVER NATIONAL PARK

    The wide expanse of the Mary River National Park protects part of the Mary River catchment, where floodplains, billabongs, woodlands, paperbark and monsoon forest provide visitors with excellent opportunities for observing wildlife, fishing, four-wheel driving, bushwalking, camping and photography. A drive along Point Stuart Road offers the opportunity to experience the exceptional views of the Mary River system from Couzens Lookout, Brian Creek Monsoon Forest, Jimmy’s Creek Monsoon Forest, Point Stuart Coastal Reserve and Mistake Billabong, which are easily accessible.

    What to see and do

  • boating
  • fishing
  • birdwatching
  • wildlife watching
  • photography
  • historic sites / memorials
  • scenic lookouts
  • walking tracks
  • four-wheel driving
  • camping permitted in designated camping areas
  • caravans premitted in designated campsites
  • accommodation

  • Discover more on the region

     

     

    KAKADU REGION

    KakaduRegion

    KAKADU NATIONAL PARK

    World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, is a place of contrasting landscapes and diverse habitats. Saltwater crocodiles lurk in freshwater billabongs dotted with lotus lilies. Rugged cliffs of the Arnhem Land escarpment hide deep sandstone gorges and pockets of monsoon rainforest. Waterfalls cascade into pools fringed with paperbarks and pandanus.

    What to see and do

  • birdwatching
  • croc spotting
  • fishing and boating
  • ranger guided activities
  • rock art
  • swimming
  • walks
  • waterfalls

  • Kakadu-Box1   Kakadu-Box2   Kakadu-Box4 

    Discover more on the region

     

     

    ARNHEM LAND REGION

    ArnhemLandRegion

    GARIG GUNAK BARLU NATIONAL PARK

    Pronounced Gah-rig Goon-uk Bar-loo, is Northern Australia’s first flora and fauna protected reserve, and the surrounding Cobourg Marine Park, provide an ideal habitat for many thousands of waterfowl and other bird species.

    The Cobourg Peninsula, remote and rugged, is fringed with magnificent white sandy beaches. The Peninsula, recognised as one of Australia’s most spectacular fishing locations, is accessible only by four-wheel drive from Oenpelli via Jabiru (it’s essential you report to the Ranger Station on arrival), or a 30-minute charter flight from Darwin.

    What to see and do

  • fishing
  • boating
  • wildlife watching
  • birdwatching
  • view historic ruins
  • bushwalking
  • scenic lookouts
  • camping - permit needed

  • Discover more on the region

     

     

    KATHERINE REGION

    KatherineRegion

    - ELSEY NATIONAL PARK

    Incorporating the spring-fed Roper and Waterhouse Rivers, the park offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing and bushwalking. Mataranka Thermal Pool, Bitter Springs, Stevie’s Hole, Mataranka Falls and the tracks along the Roper River are some of the highlights of a visit. A popular activity is bird-watching. The rare Red Goshawk, Hooded Parrot, and Northern Rosellas are some of the many species to be observed.

    What to see and do

  • camping
  • boating
  • bushwalking
  • fishing
  • view historical sites
  •    

    - NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK

    Just 32 kilometres from the town centre, the gorge system is the major natural attraction in the area - a visitor’s delight of 292,800 hectares of natural wonder. There are 13 gorges in the system, carved out of the rock by torrential summer rains. Within the gorge system are many fine examples of Aboriginal rock paintings that are thousands of years old. Nitmiluk Gorge / Katherine River was the cultural and spiritual foundation for the first inhabitants of the area, the Jawoyn and Dagomen people, providing food and water for both spiritual and recreational needs.

    What to see and do

  • canoeing
  • bushwalking
  • swimming
  • waterfalls
  • camping
  • view aboriginal rock art
  • fishing
  • wildlife spotting
  • scenic lookout
  • boating

  • Katherine-Box2---Copy   Katherine-Box1   Katherine-Box3   

    Discover more on the region

     

     

    VICTORIA RIVER AND TIMBER CREEK REGION

    VictoriaRiverTimberCreek BannerImage

    KEEP RIVER NATIONAL PARK

    This small park contains a diversity of landscapes. Visitors can explore sandstone ridges and ‘Bungle Bungle-like’ formations from the campgrounds. Spectacular walks include the two-kilometre Gurrandalng walk which presents one magnificent view after the next; and the 5.5-kilometre Jarnem Lookout Walk which is particularly stunning in the soft light of early morning and late afternoon.

    What to see and do

  • bushwalking
  • camping
  • aboriginal sites
  • wildlife spotting
  • scenic lookout

  • Discover more on the region

        

     

    BORROLOOLA AND THE GULF REGION

    BorroloolaandtheGulf

    - BARRANYI (NORTH ISLAND) NATIONAL PARK

    The park, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, is one of the Territory’s most remote visitor destinations. This peaceful wilderness haven is the traditional home of the Yanyuwa people. Special features of the island park include long sandy beaches like Paradise Bay, a glorious stretch of white beach ideal for walking, beachcombing and birdwatching.

    What to see and do

  • fishing
  • bushwalking
  • camping
  • boating
  • wildlife spotting
  •    

    - LIMMEN NATIONAL PARK

    Located 182 kilometres north-west of Borroloola, this park is accessed from the Roper River Road or by travelling north from Cape Crawford. It features several large sandstone spires and rounded dome formations resulting from erosion of the sandstone escarpment. The main recreational activity is fishing throughout the towns and Limmen Rivers.

    What to see and do

  • swimming
  • waterfalls
  • boating
  • bushwalking
  • fishing
  • camping
  • four-wheel driving
  • wildlife spotting
  • vising aboriginal sites

    Borroloola-Box1

  • Discover more on the region

    Receive Monthly Deals, News and Events!

    Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive all of the above and more

    Choose to Book with the Top End's Local Experts

    Need a hand choosing or booking your Top End Adventure?