Hi - my wife and I will be in Australia in 2024 from about 13 June to 14 August.
From approx 14 July to 8 August we are interested in exploring the Darwin and Kakadu National Park area. We have some questions:
How many days would you devote to the Darwin area...and how many to Kakadu (of the 24 total days or so we have)?
Right now (and we are happy to change these dates/number of days), we are booked into Kakadu from Thursday, 25 July (2024!) and depart Thursday, August 7 (2024)= 14 nights (and 13 days). From 25 July to 29 July, we have reserved a Bush Bungalow (run by Australian Parks) in the Jabiru town area. on 29 July through 8 August we move to a cabin (nicer has full kitchen and a larger space). Is this too much time in Kakadu and should we spend some time in Litchfield Nat Park near Katherine?
We will have an SUV (or 4 WD) to explore the entire park. Do we need a 4WD for this time of the year in Kakadu?
Once we can sort out how many days in Kakadu, we can add (or subtract) days in the Darwin area or Litchfield NP or elsewhere. We are looking for the best birding sites.
So OK,,,if you had 24 days or so in NT, how would you spend them?
Thank You!
Bob
======================
Here is the trip we've arranged so far:
Arrive 13 June in Sydney; have an Air BnB booked in Mosman).
We start off with a pelagic boat trip for albatrosses and others on Sat 15 June 2024 with these guys (Sydney Pelagics):
WEB SITE (Sydney Pelagics & Nature Watching Tours) | BOOKINGS (Bookings: Sydney Pelagics & Nature Watching Tours) | PICK-UP (Pick up: Sydney Pelagics & Nature Watching Tours)
M: Greg 0405578 967 (tel:0405-578-967) or David 0408 905 666 (tel:0408-905-666)
================
Then we fly to Cairns, rent an SUV at the airport and stay overnight 16-17 June):
=======================
2. June 17 (Monday) to 27 June (Thursday) – Atherton Tablelands Birdwatchers' Cabin (near Cairns).
Here is listing: Atherton Birdwatchers’ Cabin | Forest Retreat for nature lovers
About 1 hour 45 minutes from Cairns
====================================
3. June 27 (Thursday) to 4 July (Thursday) – Thornton Beach (Cape Tribulation).
Here is the Air BnB listing: Cabin in Thornton Beach · ★4.88 · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 bathroom
========================
4. July 4 (Thursday) to 9 July (Tuesday) – Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges.
Here is the hotel’s web site: Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges
Now while there (great for night mammals and wildlife), try to book this guy: Allan Gillanders (Welcome to tree-kangaroos, bird & nocturnal mammal tours | Alan's Wildlife Tours | Rainforest Wildlife Spotlighting) is a well-known local guide.
Here is Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges on Booking.com: ★★★ Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges, Lake Eacham, Australia
=================================
we then have from 9 July to about 14 July...and are thinking of going to the Daintree River area to take some river trips with this guy: Murray (Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises) to see little kingfisher, marbled frogmouth, etc.
on 14 July we fly to Darwin from Cairns...and I am working on this part of the trip...how much time for near Darwin and the northern area (and Strait of Torres) and how much time in Kakadu....am researching! I'll keep you posted and we are open to all suggestions, advice etc.
Fly back to Sydney on 9 August...and do pelagic trip again on that Saturday 10 August...then do some birding around Sydney and fly home about 14 August.
From approx 14 July to 8 August we are interested in exploring the Darwin and Kakadu National Park area. We have some questions:
How many days would you devote to the Darwin area...and how many to Kakadu (of the 24 total days or so we have)?
Right now (and we are happy to change these dates/number of days), we are booked into Kakadu from Thursday, 25 July (2024!) and depart Thursday, August 7 (2024)= 14 nights (and 13 days). From 25 July to 29 July, we have reserved a Bush Bungalow (run by Australian Parks) in the Jabiru town area. on 29 July through 8 August we move to a cabin (nicer has full kitchen and a larger space). Is this too much time in Kakadu and should we spend some time in Litchfield Nat Park near Katherine?
We will have an SUV (or 4 WD) to explore the entire park. Do we need a 4WD for this time of the year in Kakadu?
Once we can sort out how many days in Kakadu, we can add (or subtract) days in the Darwin area or Litchfield NP or elsewhere. We are looking for the best birding sites.
So OK,,,if you had 24 days or so in NT, how would you spend them?
Thank You!
Bob
======================
Here is the trip we've arranged so far:
Arrive 13 June in Sydney; have an Air BnB booked in Mosman).
We start off with a pelagic boat trip for albatrosses and others on Sat 15 June 2024 with these guys (Sydney Pelagics):
WEB SITE (Sydney Pelagics & Nature Watching Tours) | BOOKINGS (Bookings: Sydney Pelagics & Nature Watching Tours) | PICK-UP (Pick up: Sydney Pelagics & Nature Watching Tours)
M: Greg 0405578 967 (tel:0405-578-967) or David 0408 905 666 (tel:0408-905-666)
================
Then we fly to Cairns, rent an SUV at the airport and stay overnight 16-17 June):
=======================
2. June 17 (Monday) to 27 June (Thursday) – Atherton Tablelands Birdwatchers' Cabin (near Cairns).
Here is listing: Atherton Birdwatchers’ Cabin | Forest Retreat for nature lovers
About 1 hour 45 minutes from Cairns
====================================
3. June 27 (Thursday) to 4 July (Thursday) – Thornton Beach (Cape Tribulation).
Here is the Air BnB listing: Cabin in Thornton Beach · ★4.88 · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 bathroom
========================
4. July 4 (Thursday) to 9 July (Tuesday) – Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges.
Here is the hotel’s web site: Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges
Now while there (great for night mammals and wildlife), try to book this guy: Allan Gillanders (Welcome to tree-kangaroos, bird & nocturnal mammal tours | Alan's Wildlife Tours | Rainforest Wildlife Spotlighting) is a well-known local guide.
Here is Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges on Booking.com: ★★★ Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges, Lake Eacham, Australia
=================================
we then have from 9 July to about 14 July...and are thinking of going to the Daintree River area to take some river trips with this guy: Murray (Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises) to see little kingfisher, marbled frogmouth, etc.
on 14 July we fly to Darwin from Cairns...and I am working on this part of the trip...how much time for near Darwin and the northern area (and Strait of Torres) and how much time in Kakadu....am researching! I'll keep you posted and we are open to all suggestions, advice etc.
Fly back to Sydney on 9 August...and do pelagic trip again on that Saturday 10 August...then do some birding around Sydney and fly home about 14 August.