Classic road trips in your Camper or 4WD with AABH

Day 3 Tennant Creek to Daly Waters DISTANCE 400KM – DRIVING TIME 5 HOURS Back in your 4WD campervan, there are a few stops to break up your journey to Daly Waters today. Where the Barkly Highway meets the Stuart Highway, you will find Threeways, where you can stop to stretch your legs and look at the memorial to the Reverend John Flynn, founder of the Flying Doctor Service. A few hours on the road will take you to Newcastle Waters, a ghost town that was once a vibrant hub that provided a gathering place for drivers to rest and restock their provisions. Today, a walk through the town offers insight into the challenges of life in a remote outback cattle town. From here, your overnight stop in Daly Waters is less than two hours away. In town, the main attraction has to be the multi-award winning Daly Waters Historic Pub, which offers backpacker, hotel and motel rooms, or a place to pitch a tent. As the quintessential outback Australian pub, it provides a unique outback experience backed by genuine hospitality – and of course a great pub feed. Of an evening, you can take in the banter of the resident entertainer, as you sip an ice cold beer and check out the extensive memorabilia left by guests passing through over the decades.

Day 4 Daly Waters to Katherine DISTANCE 270KM – DRIVING TIME 3 HOURS 20 MINS Back on the road, you will reach the small township of Mataranka in about two hours. Made famous by the 1908 novel We Of The Never Never, the town offers insight into what life was like living on a station at the turn of the century, just as Jeanie Gunn described it. Also worth a visit is the Mataranka Thermal Pool, where you can enjoy a rejuvenating dip in naturally occurring 34 degree waters, surrounded by lush palm forest. If you can, take time out to visit Bitter Springs in nearby Elsey National Park, providing another spot for a dip in spring-fed thermal pools surrounded by palms and tropical woodlands. The park itself offers some excellent walking tracks, or if you fancy getting out onto the river, try your hand at barramundi fishing on the Roper River. Further north, towards Katherine is Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, home to a variety of native wildlife and an extensive karst limestone landscape, found in only a few locations in northern Australia. Travelling on from there, you will reach Nitmiluk National Park and the majestic Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. Covering a vast area, the park features not one, but 13 impressive gorges, which you can explore on foot, by canoe, by boat or in a helicopter. From dramatic waterfalls and secluded swimming holes, to ancient Aboriginal rock art and inquisitive wildlife, there is so much to explore as you soak in these magnificent surroundings

Day 5 Katherine to Litchfield National Park DISTANCE 265KM – DRIVING TIME 3 HOURS If you missed seeing Edith Falls (Leliyn Falls) on your trip to Nitmiluk National Park yesterday, consider starting your day with a dip in this huge natural pool, fringed with paperbark and pandanus. This area is great for bushwalking, with the 2.6km Leliyn Trail offering a challenging loop, which can be broken up with a refreshing dip in the upper pool of Edith/Leliyn Falls. The longer 9km return walk to Sweetwater Pool offers another alternative for an early morning hike. Back in the campervan, Litchfield National Park is your ultimate destination today. Given its proximity to Darwin, the park is a popular destination with heaps to explore. With some gorgeous waterfalls to choose from, Florence Falls and Wangi Falls are firm favourites. Both offer the opportunity for swimming and a picnic, with scenic walks providing unforgettable views over the cascading falls and the surrounding valley. While there is 2WD access to most of the park’s highlights, there are some amazing 4WD trails to challenge yourself on throughout Litchfield National Park, such as Reynolds River Track. If you’re keen to venture further afield, try the three-day Tabletop Track bushwalk, a 39km circuit suitable for experienced bushwalkers, or indulge in world-class fishing from Dundee Beach or Crab Claw Island. Overnight, you can park up at any of the marked sites throughout the park, such as Wangi and Florence Falls

Day 6 Litchfield National Park to Darwin DISTANCE 130KM – DRIVING TIME 2 HOURS With Darwin only two hours away, you have the option to drive straight there to return your campervan, or take some time to enjoy the journey with a stop at Berry Springs Nature Park or Territory Wildlife Park. Offering a scenic spot to cool off in shady pools, Berry Springs Nature Park also provides some pretty bushwalks and the chance to see plenty of native plant life. Alternatively, Territory Wildlife Park is a favourite for kids, letting them get up close and personal with some of the Top End’s most exciting wildlife. Keep an eye out for the fantastic educational workshops and interactive programs offered during school holidays.