Top End luxury in 4 days Luxe tropical getaway from Darwin

This incredible adventure takes you from Darwin’s premier attractions to the Top End’s best-kept glamping secret, with thermal springs, gorgeous gorges and fine dining experiences to make your Top End adventure truly memorable.

Your luxury tour of the Top End

Darwin and the Top End do luxe oh-so-well. Imagine some of the most exhilarating experiences and spectacular sights on the planet, served up with five-star service to make you feel like a rock-star. Sound good? Well, we’ve got the perfect Top End luxury itinerary for you.

It involves a little driving. So book yourself a luxury hire car, prepare a playlist of tunes to accompany you on the journey and get ready for the trip of a lifetime.

Wander the waterfront & cool off

Pick up your hire car and head off from your accommodation. Spend your first day getting into the swing of Darwin-time. Life up here is leisurely; time is elastic. You may want to start your trip with a wander along the Darwin Waterfront before washing off the worries of world with a dip in the Recreation Lagoon. Right next door, the legendary Wave Pool beckons, where a palm-fringed swimming pool turns into a tube-riding, boogie-boarding bucket of fun when the siren signals the start of the swell or you could simply relax and kick back on a sunbed.

Enjoy a leisurely lunch

After your swim, treat yourself to a mouth-watering lunch at one of the waterfront’s high-end restaurants. The order of the day is impeccable Vietnamese, Mexican or seafood, served up at one of the waterfront’s renowned restaurants. Enjoy wood-grill cooking, sensationally fresh, seasonal, local produce and a glass of your favourite chilled beverage to celebrate your arrival to the Top End… after all, you’re on holidays.

Shop for something special

Following your long lunch, head into the CBD for a spot of shopping. Not just any old shopping, though. On a luxury trip like this, you’ll find boutique shops and galleries with products unique to the Top End including some of the nation’s most revered Aboriginal artworks, sculpture and textiles. And why not treat yourself or your loved one to a crocodile accessory or an inimitable Paspaley pearl while you’re in true pearling territory?

Sample the best of local produce

At the end of your first day, settle in at Wharf One to dine on delicious local produce that has been impeccably prepared and delivered to your waterside table. Whether you fancy some cured Northern Territory barramundi or perhaps a mouth-wateringly tender Wagyu rump, feast up – you’ve got an amazing few days ahead of you.

Drive into a remarkable wilderness

It’s a three hour drive to your luxury campsite at Bamurru Plains, where they take glamping to the next level. Leave Darwin early to give yourself plenty of time to experience this remote and beautiful wilderness. Set on the edge of the Mary River floodplains and on the doorstep to the famous Kakadu National Park, the region is renowned for its wildlife, fishing and culture.

Choose your own adventure

Bamurru Plains is an extraordinary place, serving up an array of experiences to tempt every traveller, from airboat safaris across the stunning floodplain to leisurely river cruises. Whether you’re spotting birds or fishing for barramundi, there’s wildlife at every turn, including the odd crocodile and plenty of buffalo.

At the end of the day, slip into the cooling waters of Bamurru Plains’ infinity pool and let the views of the wetlands wash over you. Then, settle in at the main lodge at Bamurru Plains, where your chef will serve up an incredible meal of local produce, paired with a crisp white wine. After the meal, retreat with other guests out to the open fire, where you can trade stories of the wildlife you spotted and adventures you’ve had during the day.

Wake up to your wetland backyard

Wake up at Bamurru Plains in your safari-style, super-luxe bungalow and soak up the uninterrupted views of the surrounding wetlands. After breakfast, you’re back in the car and heading to the world-renowned Nitmiluk National Park. The drive takes you down the Stuart Highway through classic outback territory, giving you time to experience some of that Savannah woodland landscape that the Top End is known for.

Revitalise with a dip in thermal springs

Before you head to Nitmiluk National Park, stop in at the Katherine Hot Springs for a dip in the warming waters of this natural wonder. Nestled on the banks of the Katherine River, these thermal springs are surprisingly refreshing and inviting – the warm water the perfect antidote to the morning’s drive.

From Katherine Hot Springs, it’s just a short drive to Nitmiluk, famous for its breathtaking gorge. Settle in at Cicada Lodge, which overlooks Katherine Gorge and provides the perfect base to explore the lands of the Jawoyn people.

Find a private, pristine waterhole

Nothing says ‘luxury holiday’ more than a helicopter ride to a private and pristine waterhole. Take to the skies to appreciate the remarkable landscape and then take a refreshing dip in the cooling water.

Cruise into the night

As the day draws to a close, get set to experience Nitmiluk Gorge from the best vantage point possible: a sunset cruise that serves up a spectacular palette of ever-changing colours on the towering walls of rock around you. The Nabil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise is the perfect combination of fine dining in a once-in-a-lifetime setting.

Wind down with resort-style chill time

It’s time to head back to Darwin for some end-of-adventure pampering. Book into your room at the beautiful Mindil Beach Casino Resort and settle in for a day of resort-style chill-out time. Nestled on 30 acres of tropical gardens fringed by the crystal blue Arafura Sea, Mindil Beach Casino Resort is a super-stylish hotel boasting a spectacular infinity pool, a lagoon pool with swim-up bar, five distinctive dining experiences and a beautiful private beach.

Pamper yourself with a spa treatment

Indulge in a pamper package at Mindil Beach Casino Resort’s Lagoon Day Spa so that your luxury Top End adventure leaves you feeling revitalised in body and mind. From detoxifying sea mud therapies to an aromatic massage, there's something for everybody at this exquisite spa.

End the trip on a high

To end your luxury trip to the Top End in true style, you can’t go past an Airborne Solutions Romantic Sunset Getaway. Your private helicopter will whisk you away to a secluded beach where you and your partner can bask in the glow of the setting sun and enjoy a meticulously prepared platter of local produce for dinner. It’s a truly magical experience – the perfect end to a perfect stay in the Top End.