Feathers Bed & BreakfastSanctuary, DarwinSet in the grounds of a landscaped private bird park,each of the luxurious hut-style guestrooms has anensuite outside bathroom with a private glass atriumbrightened by rare birds and sugar gliders, tinymammals that coast from tree to tree. A highlight isto join your host after breakfast on the daily roundsof the delightful garden to feed the collection ofvisiting and resident birds. With the city and airportten-minutes away, Feathers bed & breakfastcombines nature with a perfect location.Saville Park Suites, DarwinIn the heart of this tropical city, these award-winningsuites are located on Darwin's picturesqueEsplanade with views of the city and sparklingArafura Sea. Guest accommodation ranges fromsimple hotel rooms to three bedroom suites, eachbeautifully furnished, well equipped and with sunnybalconies, and friendly, efficient service makes thisan ideal city-centre home. The hotel has anexcellent restaurant on site, but Cullen Bay marina,with its Asian, Indian, Australian and Europeanrestaurants, is just a short drive away.NORTHERN TERRITORYTHE TOP END |37LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK A massive sandstone plateau, scattered withpockets of verdant rainforest, impressivewaterfalls and cool, crystal pools, LitchfieldNational Park epitomises the true beauty of theTop End. The cliffs surrounding the plateaucreate spectacular perennial waterfalls of whichthe most breathtaking, hidden in a pocket ofmonsoon forest, are the double Florence Fallsand the stunning Tolmer Falls, home to a rarecolony of orange horseshoe bats. Estuarinecrocodiles skulk in some of the waters (warningsigns are clearly posted where necessary) hopingto get a bite of such animals as the antelopinewallaroo, and the lush growth is filled with anarray of birds that are as colourful as they arenoisy. One of the park's unique attractions aregroups of narrow 'magnetic' termite moundsthat eerily resemble bush graveyards.Constructed by millions of termites, all areprecisely aligned to catch the sun and many areover a hundred years old. Reached in just undertwo hours from Darwin this is one of the TopEnd's most accessible parks. WALLAROO ECO TOURSThis small, locally owned company operate 4WDvehicle day visits and their combination of smallgroups of like-minded visitors and enthusiastic,knowledgeable guides makes for a fantasticexperience. Their leisurely day includes a cruisealong the Adelaide River crocodile spotting,gentle interpretive bush walks, a visit to thetowering magnetic termite mounds and plentyof time to swim in the fresh water pools. Yourday finishes at Cullen Bay, Darwin where with aplatter of fresh seafood you can watch thespectacle of a Darwin sunset.Feathers Bed & Breakfast Sandy Creek Falls

Kakadu escarpmentKAKADU NATIONAL PARKRugged stony plateaux, red escarpments rivenby waterfalls, long twisting rivers and wetlandsfestooned with flowers and birds: add in awealth of Aboriginal rock art sites and faunathat is more curious the closer you look and it iseasy to see why this is one of the mostimportant UNESCO World-Heritage areas. Jointlyowned by three traditional Aboriginal groups,the Gagadju, Gundjehmi and the Jawoyn, a visitto this park offers a vivid insight into an ancientland. Cruise the Yellow Water, East Alligator orMary River wetlands to see Kakadu in all itsglory: crowded with lotus lilies, crocodilesresting idly on the banks, the chatter of thekookaburras puncturing the peace and swarmsof parrots scattering the sky. The finest rock artsites can be found at Nourlangie, while at UbirrRock the rock paintings combine with heart-stopping panoramic views. A sandstone ridgeworn by the two strands of Twin Falls and JimJim Falls: both are exquisitely tranquil during thedry season, seething maelstroms in the wet. Dayvisits to the park are possible but an overnightstay accompanied by a guide certainly makes fora more rewarding experience.38EgretsTOURING THE TOP ENDODYSSEY TOURS & SAFARIS Given the vastness of the Top End it makessense to explore this captivating territory with alocal. Odyssey Tours & Safaris' guides combine alove of the bush with in-depth knowledge of itsflora and fauna, and are classified as MasterOperators of the Savannah Guide network - thehighest guiding accolade in Australia. With aprogramme of small-group tours of two, three,five and seven days they explore remote areas ofKakadu, Litchfield, Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge)National Parks and Arnhem Land, withaccommodation in permanent camps, scatteredaround secluded locations. Odyssey Permanent Camps Odyssey's private camps located in Minjungari,Litchfield National Park, Gunlom in the south ofKakadu National Park and Mardugal in the park'scentre, are especially designed for the tropicalOutback environment. Accommodation is in safaritents set on wooden decks, with insect screens onthe windows and comfortable twin beds. In additionto your guide, each site is hosted and together theywill ensure that everything from your cookedbreakfast to your delightful candlelit dinner is freshlyprepared and contributes to your experience. Forthose that seek a little more adventure, you maychoose to sample Outback life by sleeping out underthe stars in a bushman's swag.Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn,Jabiru, Kakadu National ParkThis hotel, renowned for its crocodile shaped design,is situated in the small township of Jabiru. With overa hundred air-conditioned ensuite guestrooms and ashaded swimming pool it serves as a welcome baseafter a long day exploring the national park.Aboriginal guide at Injalak Hill