Cloncurry to Darwin road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops

Cloncurry to Darwin road trip: Daly Waters to Nitmiluk National Park

Another option is Larrimah, home to the Pink Panther Roadhouse and the Larrimah Hotel – another great outback pub. It offers cold beer, meals, accommodation and a bizarre collection of animals in a mini-zoo outside.

You can also see the Gorrie Airstrip, a key World War II air base, about 10km to the north.

But you’re better off ploughing through to Mataranka and swimming in the Mataranka Thermal Pool next to the Mataranka Homestead. You can also swim at Bitter Springs or go for a walk by the Roper River in Elsey National Park.

Mataranka accommodation options are limited. Pick between the Mataranka Roadhouse and Territory Manor Motel and Caravan Park.

The Sterling Mill Rest Area and King River Rest Area are feasible stops on the leg from Mataranka to Katherine. But the Cutta Cutta Caves, part of a massive limestone karst system, are the biggest draw.

Katherine is usually used as a base for visiting Nitmiluk National Park, where the Katherine Gorge cruises and canoe tours are highlights of the whole trip.

Katherine experiences to book in advance

Two gorge boat cruise through Nitmiluk National Park – with commentary on nature, wildlife and Aboriginal Dreaming stories.
Half day Nitmiluk Gorge canoe hire – get closer to nature, paddling through at your own pace.
Outback show with live music, horse and working dog demonstrations.
Top Didj Aboriginal cultural experience – learn about ancient customs and feed baby wallabies.
Cutta Cutta Caves guided tour – spot bats and birds in the limestone cave system.

Good things to do in Katherine itself include the Katherine Hot Springs, the Katherine Outback Experience and the Top Didj Cultural Experience.

Swimming at Katherine Hot Springs, Northern Territory. Photo courtesy of Tourism NT/Backyard Bandits.

Further north along the Stuart Highway is the turn off for Leliyn (Edith Falls), which has a fantastic natural swimming pool at the base.

Best Katherine accommodation

The best Katherine accommodation choices are:

For a pool-based resort: Knotts Crossing Resort.
For location next to Katherine Gorge: Nitmiluk Chalets.
For really good value: Pine Tree Motel.
For a solid holiday park: Big4 Breeze or Discovery Parks – Katherine.
For glamping with a view: Gorge View Bush Retreat.

Cloncurry to Darwin drive: Katherine to Litchfield National Park

Keep going and you’ll reach Pine Creek, where the Kakadu Highway from Kakadu National Park joins the Stuart Highway. The Old Railway Station and Railway Museum is worth a look in Pine Creek, as is the Enterprise Pit Mine Lookout. This former open cut mine that has now filled with water, and is effectively a weird-looking lake.

4 Kakadu experiences worth booking in advance

Full day Kakadu tour from Darwin.

Corroboree Billabong wetland cruises.

Full day Arnhem Land tour from Jabiru.

The Yellow Water crocodile cruise in Cooinda.

Next is Adelaide River, where the Adelaide River War Cemetery is the only war cemetery in the country. There was a large World War II military base here.

A word of warning: This is not where you do the infamous jumping crocodile cruises. They run on the Adelaide River, but further upstream, just off the Arnhem Highway.

The main highlight on the Katherine to Darwin leg of the drive is Litchfield National Park. Turn off at Batchelor for waterfalls such as Florence Falls, Tolmer Falls and Wangi Falls, swims in the Buley Rockhole and the fields of giant termite mounds.

Buley Rockhole in Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory — Camping in Litchfield National Park means you can get to key attractions such as the Buley Rockhole before the tour buses arrive from Darwin. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

If you want to stay overnight, accommodation options include the Batchelor Butterfly Farm, Litchfield Tourist Park and Litchfield Outback Resort. There are also several Litchfield National Park campgrounds.

Click through to the next section: Batchelor to Darwin.

Cloncurry to Darwin road trip: Batchelor to Darwin

Carry on along the Stuart Highway, you pass the Manton Dam Recreation Area before arriving at the Arnhem Highway junction. Here, the tiny town of Humpty Doo is home to the Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Didgeridoo Hut and Art Gallery and birdwatcher-friendly McMinn’s Lagoon.

The drive into Darwin is via underwhelming satellite towns Howard Springs and Palmerston. You’ll also pass croc farm Crocodylus Park and the mangrove-heavy Charles Darwin National Park.

Top Darwin accommodation picks include the well-located Adina Darwin Waterfront and the apartment-style Oaks Elan Darwin.

7 great Darwin experiences to book before arriving

Swim face to face with an enormous crocodile in the Cage of Death.
Enjoy the romance of Darwin Harbour on a sunset dinner cruise aboard a traditional fishing ketch.
Explore Darwin’s food and art scenes on a 3.5 hour walking tour – with lunch or dinner included.
Flit between Darwin’s top attractions with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
Combine a wildlife tour with the famous jumping crocodiles cruise.
Get a history fix on a Bombing of Darwin WWII tour and harbour cruise.
Get the adrenalin pumping on a high speed airboat or jetski tour.

Darwin attractions include the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the Darwin Ferris Wheel, the Wave Lagoon and the Cage of Death crocodile swim.

For experiences, try sunset dinner cruises, jet ski tours and the Darwin water park.

The best places to stay in Darwin

You can check out deals on a wide range of Darwin accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.

For luxury on a special occasion: The superior suites with direct lagoon pool access at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.
For the buzziest location at the Waterfront: Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront.
The one with the best guest ratings: Hudson Parap.
For affordable city centre apartments with a pool: City Gardens Apartments.
For the magic combo of quality, price and location: Travelodge Resort Darwin.