Cairns

Embark on a journey through the Northern Territory’s breathtaking natural wonders with visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Kakadu National Park and Katherine Gorge. Ancient rock art, diverse wildlife, and vast wetlands await as you explore sacred Aboriginal rock art galleries, cruise along the Yellow Water Billabong in search of wildlife and visit Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park for a cruise through towering sandstone cliffs that rise dramatically from the Katherine River.

Special Note: Any guests travelling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour. This program is not suitable for guests who utilize a wheelchair or rely on walking aids due to the level of mobility required to participate in each of the activities. Located within the National Parks, the accommodations are modest but comfortable.

The average high temperatures in the Northern Territory can be 85° f to 100° f. Activities include walking for extended periods over natural earth paths and some rocky surfaces. A moderate level of fitness is required to participate in this program. Unfortunately, this program is not appropriate for guests or that use wheelchairs or with walking difficulties.

DAY 1 – March 16, 2026?

Following lunch onboard the ship, you’ll disembark and meet your Tour Director on the pier.

Transfer directly to the Cairns airport where you will board a flight to the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory. Upon arrival, you’ll travel to Kakadu National Park.

Covering more than 20,000 square kilometers, the park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The combination of mangrove fringed coastal areas, expansive flood plains, lowland hills, and open woodland and forest habitats, make Kakadu one of the most diverse landscapes you’ll ever experience. It’s home to a myriad of animals, hundreds of bird species and thousands of different insects and plants.

You’ll arrive at the Cooinda Lodge Hotel, a modest retreat within the park, where you can settle in before dinner at the hotel restaurant. The rest of the evening is yours to relax and enjoy the local surrounds. On site you will find a general store, a restaurant, bar, two swimming pools and a cultural center.

Your Yellow Water Villa (similar to a safari-style tent) is nestled deep within the World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park and situated on the edge of the renowned Yellow Water Billabong. Elevated on stilts high amongst the treetops, you will be completely immersed in this wonderland of nature of the Australian bush. Each room has 1 x King size bed, 2 x Day Lounges (sitting area by day, air-conditioning, table and chairs, ensuite bathroom with walk in shower, large deck overlooking the bush with an outdoor bathtub and outdoor dining table. Note: There is a steep stairway (approx. 8 steps) to access the villa.

DAY 2 – March 17, 2026

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before you depart for Marrawuddi Art Gallery, an Aboriginal art gallery and community hub in Kakadu National Park. You will find here a variety of Aboriginal art, including paintings, bark paintings, woven baskets, and dilly bags created by artists from across Kakadu and West Arnhem Land.

Continue to Ubirr, where you’ll climb up through the ancient Aboriginal rock art galleries, believed to be 20,000 years old, to the lookout for a spectacular view over the surrounding wetlands. You’ll be mesmerized as you wander around the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) Rock art site. It has provided shelter to the indigenous people for many thousands of years, and while taking shelter, the rock evolved into a canvas that illustrates the traditional owner's very deep spiritual culture.

Throughout your Kakadu visit, you’ll have the opportunity to see many different forms of Aboriginal rock art paintings. The Bininj people are the traditional custodians of Kakadu and now you’ll visit the Warradjan Cultural Center where you will be introduced to their way of life.

Following your tour around the Kakadu National Park, you’ll return to the hotel to freshen up before dinner later in the evening.

DAY 3 – March 18, 2026

Enjoy breakfast in the hotel before you check out and prepare for departure. The first activity of the day is a cruise on Yellow Water Billabong, Kakadu’s most famous wetland. The picturesque yellow waters are home to thousands of saltwater crocodiles and up to 60 species of colorful birdlife.

Following the cruise, travel to Katherine, the third largest town in the Northern Territory. There will be a couple of stops before arriving in Katherine, your first being a lunch stop in Pine Creek, a former mining town and treasure trove of heritage bush buildings.

Next, you’ll venture down the road stopping at Leliyn (Edith Falls). The paperbark and pandanus fringed natural pool at the base of the falls is suitable for swimming throughout most of the year (conditions permitting). If you’re not up for a swim, you can at least sit at the water’s edge and dip your legs in the natural pool to cool off.

Next, you’ll make your way to Katherine Gorge where you’ll check into Cicada Lodge, located right in Nitmiluk National Park. Relax and enjoy the native bushland before dinner is served in the hotel restaurant.

Your comfortable room offers traditional and modern comforts in one of the world’s most beautiful locations. Rooms include king or twin beds, air-conditioning, balcony and a mini fridge. On site you will find two swimming pools, a lounge, restaurant and mini bar.

DAY 4 – March 19, 2026

Enjoy breakfast in the hotel restaurant before checking out.

Depart for a Nitnit Gorge Tour. The Gorge is one of the most visited sites in Australia’s Top End. It is a stunning network of thirteen gorges carved from billion-year-old sandstone that are home to many rapids and falls, flowing from the Katherine River.

The cruise will put you at the heart of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge among freshwater crocodiles, wonderful birdlife and some of the most amazing scenery the Northern Territory has to offer. Afterwards you will have a brief time to look through the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre before departing for Darwin.

As you make your way back to Darwin, you will have several comfort stops along the way including a lunch stop.

About an hour away from Darwin, you will meet a local Aboriginal family and enjoy an authentic hands-on, informative, and educational tour. It’s a unique cultural immersion allowing you to gain an understanding of aboriginal ways of life that are still used today. Learn of their ceremonies, the sounds of the didgeridoo, of their art, weaving, hunting and gathering techniques, of the tools they use and even try your hand at spear throwing.

Following this cultural experience, you’ll make your way to Darwin Port where you will re-join your ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step:

•Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are not guaranteed.

•Please review your final itinerary carefully for any amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

Day 1 – timing subject to change based on flight details which can change up to time of departure

12:15pm Disembark the ship and meet your tour director on the pier

12:30pm Depart for Cairns Airport

2:50pm Flight from Cairns to Darwin – flight details TBA and subject to change

4:55pm Arrive in Darwin

5:30pm Depart for Kakadu National Park

7:30pm Arrive at Cooinda Lodge Hotel – Check in

8:00pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Cooinda Lodge Hotel

Day 2

7:00am Breakfast in the hotel

8:30am Depart for Kakadu activities

4:30pm Return to hotel

6:30pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Cooinda Lodge Hotel

Day 3

7:00am Breakfast in the hotel

8:00am Check out and depart for Yellow Water cruises

8:45am Arrive at Yellow Water Cruises

9:00am Commence Yellow Water Cruise

11:00am Cruise concludes

11:15am Depart for Pine Creek

1:00pm Arrive Pine Creek - Lunch

2:00pm Depart for Edith Falls

3:00pm Arrive Edith Falls – swim or hike

4:00pm Depart for Katherine

5:00pm Arrive Katherine – check into Cicada Lodge

6:30pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Cicada Lodge

Day 4

7:00am Breakfast in the hotel

8:45am Depart for Nitnit Dreaming 2 Gorge Tour

9:00am Nitnit Dreaming 2 Gorge Tour departs

11:00am Tour concludes – Enjoy the Visitor Centre

11:30am Depart for Darwin with comfort stops along the way (including lunch)

4:00pm Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tour

5:30pm Tour concludes, depart for Darwin

6:30pm Rejoin your ship

Expected Weather:

Northern Territory: In March, the weather is typically hot and humid with temperatures ranging from 25-38 °C /77 to 100°F.

What to Bring:

Bring comfortable casual clothes and good walking/hiking shoes. You may want to include a smart pair of shorts (or skirt) with a polo shirt for dinner occasions and a light sweater in case it gets cooler in the evening, hat and biodegradable sunscreen as well as a bathing suit.

Local Currency:

Australian Dollars. The U.S. dollar is not accepted. However, all major credit cards can be used. A credit card will be required at by the resort at check in for any incidentals.

Electricity:

Australia operates with 220 volts, and guests should bring an international travel adaptor for electronic devices.

Luggage information:

Guests are allowed to bring a maximum of 1 small, checked suitcase free of charge for domestic flights. Maximum weight is 20kg (50bs.) One small carry-on per person that can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you is also permitted. Guests having excess or overweight luggage will be responsible for any fees upon check in at the airports.

Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations)

1.Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) - Guests must obtain a Doctor’s Certificate mentioning their medical condition and the need to carry a POC. Further paperwork may be required by the airline. Please advise RSSC of the specifics at least 90 days before sailing.

2.CPAP Machine NOT being used in flight – please advise RSSC right away (pre cruise program) or the Destination Staff on board the ship (post cruise or overland programs) at least 96 hours before the program starts if you will bring a CPAP on the internal flight(s) used in this land program. Please supply the make, model and battery type.

3.CPAP Machine to be used during flight – same as above + a doctor’s note is required mentioning the need to use the machine during flight.

*Guests are required to bring with them any details from the manufacturer regarding the CPAP specifications. While most modern CPAP machines are FAA-approved for in-flight use, having a copy of your manufacturer’s FAA-approval status will help to quickly clear any confusion that may arise.

* Failure to provide the above details in a timely manner may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises nor our local ground operator will be responsible for.

*Some hotels do not provide distilled water. While we can certainly request this for you, we cannot guarantee that it will be available. If received in a timely manner, requests will be sent on the final manifest that our ground operators and hotels receive. We highly recommend packing your own supply especially on programs that travel to more remote locations to avoid not having it. Please keep in mind the rule for liquids in carry-on bags. Many hotels will charge for distilled water. If there is a fee, this will be added to your hotel incidental account to be paid at check-out. Fees will vary from hotel to hotel.

Documents and Visa Requirements:

Guests will need a visa to visit Australia and should check with their travel agent or embassy for requirements for their nationality.

VERY IMPORTANT – The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be the same for flight ticket purchase for this program otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.

Accommodations:

Cooinda Lodge

Kakadu National Park, Kakadu Highway, NT 0886

Phone: +61 (0)8 8979 1500

Cicada Lodge

Gorge Road, Nitmiluyk, NT 0852

Phone: +61 (0)8 8974 3100

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If comparable hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards, and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•2 nights at Cooinda Lodge Hotel - Yellow Water Villas

•1 night at Cicada Lodge – Standard room

•Breakfasts x 3, Lunch x 3 (includes 1 boxed lunch), Dinner x 3

•All touring mentioned above

•One way, economy class domestic flight from Cairns to Darwin

•Porterage

Program Excludes for guests:

•Gratuities for drivers and guides

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

•Additional meals, drinks not included in the program

•Excess or overweight luggage on flight

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. The pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Mid cruise overland programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty.