Chasing waterfalls, gorges and sunsets: Roady's ultimate NT road trip

Hi, I’m Cam from Roady, your favourite travel planning app. I spend a lot of time exploring bucket‑list destinations across Australia and New Zealand, camera in hand. For this trip, my friend Shayla and I hit the road through the Northern Territory. As I had the camera, you'll see Shayla in most of the pictures below of the incredible region that is the NT.

One of the most adventure‑packed places we’ve experienced so far, we packed a lot into just a week, and so can you. We travelled in October, and after a late‑night flight from Brisbane, we landed in Darwin just after midnight and began a five‑day loop between Darwin, Litchfield National Park and Katherine. It was a full-to-the-brim itinerary, but every day delivered something unforgettable.

First impressions: Water everywhere

Most people picture the NT as dusty red landscapes, and yes, you definitely get that, but what surprised us most was just how much water there is. Across a single trip we swam at Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Katherine Hot Springs and Edith Falls, cruised and paddled along the river at Nitmiluk Gorge, and saw crocodiles on the Adelaide River. We were never far from a swim, which made the warm October weather feel completely perfect.

Another standout was how much you can see within just a few hours’ drive of Darwin. In only five full days, we went from tropical city vibes to lush waterfalls to dramatic gorges, all without long, punishing drives.

Exploring with BIG4: Our basecamps

We stayed at three BIG4 parks throughout the trip, each with its own charm and each well‑placed to access the plethora of amazing experiences located nearby.

BIG4 Hidden Valley Holiday Park, Darwin

This was our first home base and the perfect spot to ease into NT life. Our cabin sat among tropical gardens, and every morning we’d have coffee on the porch before heading out for sunrise shoots. With a saltwater pool and a great open‑air camp kitchen, it was an easy place to unwind between adventures.

BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park

Howard Springs brought out our inner kids. Pedal karts, a jumping pillow, splash park, multiple pools and spas, this park really nails the family‑friendly vibe. We loved wandering the leafy grounds, capturing content and befriending the park’s resident furry visitors.

BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks – Katherine

This was our base for Nitmiluk Gorge, Baruwei Lookout, Katherine Hot Springs and Edith Falls. After long days exploring, the pool here was a lifesaver. The open spaces around the park also gave us that classic NT outback feel, great for capturing wide shots and road-trip moments.

The Highlights: Katherine takes the crown

Across the entire itinerary, Katherine absolutely stole the show.

Sunrise at Baruwei Lookout was unreal. The first light spilling over the gorge is something I’ll remember for a long time. After that, we paddled through the gorge on the canoe tour, surrounded by towering rock walls. It was one of those moments where you stop mid‑paddle and try to take in how lucky you are to be there.

Litchfield National Park was a close second. The falls there, Florence Falls and Wangi Falls especially, feel like scenes straight out of an adventure film. Clear water, lush forests, dramatic rock walls… the NT really knows how to deliver waterfall magic.

The Must‑Dos

If you’re planning your own Northern Territory loop, these are my must‑visit stops from this trip:

• Mindil Beach for a classic NT sunset
• Florence Falls and Wangi Falls in Litchfield NP
• Nitmiluk Gorge: do both a cruise and the Baruwei Lookout walk if you can
• Katherine Hot Springs for a refreshing soak
• Edith Falls, for another perfect swimming spot
• A crocodile cruise on the Adelaide River (we did Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruises)

Hidden gems worth slowing down for

A couple of places really surprised us:

• Katherine Hot Springs: An easy spot to overlook, but floating in that clear blue water surrounded by greenery after a long day is just bliss.
• Baruwei Lookout: Most people do the gorge cruise and move on, but sunrise or sunset from the lookout gives you a whole new perspective.

Planning a trip to the NT

If you’re travelling from the southern states, treat the NT like a proper holiday, not a quick weekend dash. For the Darwin–Litchfield–Katherine loop, I’d recommend at least five full days, but a week is even better. We would’ve loved more time to explore Kakadu.

A few planning essentials I’d suggest:

• Lock in BIG4 stays and key tours early
• Keep driving days realistic
• Start early to beat the heat
• Leave some buffer time—there are plenty of places you’ll want to linger
• Do a bit of location scouting on Instagram or through the Roady App to build your bucket list

Because the NT is more remote, we were a bit more meticulous than usual with timings. We checked driving distances closely and made sure we weren’t overpacking each day. Booking the Nitmiluk cruise, canoe tour and croc cruise ahead of time was essential.

Capturing the NT: Photography tips

If you’re shooting content on your trip:

• Aim for early morning or late afternoon: the waterfalls and gorges glow in golden light
• At Nitmiluk, mix wide landscape shots from lookouts with closer details from the canoe
• For midday shooting, use shade or reflections to soften harsh light

This region was designed for photographers; you almost can’t take a bad shot.

Final thoughts: Why the NT belongs on your list

If I had to sum up the Northern Territory in three words, it would be: Adventurous. Wild. Refreshing.

Where else can you spend the morning swimming beneath waterfalls, the afternoon paddling through gorges, and the evening watching a sunset melt into the ocean? It feels completely different from the coastal cities most Aussies know, but still incredibly accessible with good planning and great stays like the BIG4 parks we used as our bases.

Whether you’re into road trips, warm weather, dramatic landscapes, photography, or just exploring places that feel a little different. Put the NT at the top of your list. It’s one of the most rewarding trips I’ve ever done, and I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Check out all of Roady's adventures around the country with BIG4!