We pick you up from your accommodation between 7:00 and 7.30am, before heading to the renowned bird watching areas of Fogg Dam for coffee and a briefing on the trip ahead. We then get off the sealed roads and travel east by 4WD along the old Jim Jim Road, passing some of the great wetlands such as Red Lily Billabong. Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage area covering around 20,000 square kilometers so a short drive may be a couple of hours!

In the afternoon, after setting up camp at Mardugal, we travel to Yellow Waters, an expansive billabong that is home to an astounding variety of wildlife. Here you may encounter brumbies, wallabies and goannas drinking from the waterside, salt water crocodile and thousands of birds including Magpie Geese, Brolgas, Cormorants, Pelicans and Jabiru, Australia's largest flying bird. The flat-bottomed boat and commentary by an expert wildlife guide ensures an extraordinary insight in to the wetlands of Kakadu. The cruise finishes about 6:30pm at which time you will hopefully see one of the unforgettable Top End sunsets behind the lagoon.

Wake up to the call of hundreds of birds. After a leisurely breakfast, we drive to Jim Jim and Twin Falls, Kakadu’s most famous waterfalls. Our day includes swimming through crystal clear waters and exploring these remarkable waterfalls and gorges. The thundering torrent usually depicted in the postcards is a phenomenon that only occurs during the wet season and this flow declines gradually through the dry season until it is a gentle trickle. We return to our group camp-site at Mardugal.

It is about a 45-minute drive to Maguk (Barramundi Falls), which flows all year round. We walk through lush sub-tropical forest before stumbling across the falls themselves. A large glassy pond at the foot of the falls lends itself to a relaxing morning of swimming or exploring the natural surroundings replete with the flora and fauna for which Kakadu is renowned.

In the early afternoon we drive to Koolpin Gorge, a remote and restricted area accessed by just a handful of tour operators and locals. By now we are well into the southern part of the Park - it is much drier, which means less wetland (and hence fewer mosquitoes in the evenings!). You can swim in the main plunge pool with its white sandy beaches and shady pandanus palms.

Today involves a full-day hike in the Koolpin Gorge area, deep in to wilderness of the Southern plateau and stone country. The walk involves a lot of rock scrambling through spectacular gorges, but your efforts are well rewarded by crystal clear, unspoilt rock pools of remarkable beauty and some outstanding views

of the surrounding hills and woodland.

The pace of the walk and the distance covered is up to the mood of the group on the day. On the way there are often limpid rock pools lined with ferns and Livistonia palms. Within the walls of the gorge birds and animals find water and shelter from the heat of the plains. It is a wonderful opportunity to explore this magical environment and, once again the day can be as strenuous as the group prefers.

This is an area that only very few people are privileged to experience, and for many, this day is one of the highlights of the trip. Return to our overnight camp at Koolpin Gorge.

After an early breakfast, we pack and board the vehicle once again for our drive to the Katherine River. We leave Kakadu National Park and pass through the old goldmining town of Pine Creek. On reaching the river we pack our gear into airtight containers, and after a short lesson on canoeing technique, we set out down river for a short paddle to the evening camp which is set in peaceful surroundings on the river's edge. (Please note, this trip does not include a visit to Katherine Gorge, as that area is often teeming with tourists. Instead we find peace and serenity further down the river away from the gorge.)

Today is a full day of paddling but the going is fairly easy as the river changes from small ambling rapids to a vague current luring us downstream. The prolific foliage lining the river accommodates countless bird species and our mode of transport enables us to enjoy fabulous close encounters with them. Wild buffalo,

brumbies and wallabies also come to drink along the riverbank. There are plenty of fresh water crocodiles to be seen during the day (these crocodiles are small in size and eat only fish - no threat to us). Whilst paddling there is also time to fish for the prized Barramundi.

After our second night camped by the river, pack up for a our 4WD trip back to Katherine We aim to return to town by mid morning and head back up the Stuart Highway to Darwin. We may enjoy a relaxing lunch beside the waterfall of Edith Falls or Adelaide River on the way north and expect to arrive back into Darwin around 5:00pm.