30 Days Melbourne to Darwin (with Bell Gorge)

by Nick

I have found your resources to be most helpful in planning my trip away with my wife and five children aged from 12 – 2 years. We are taking a Kimberley Kamper with us.

I would be appreciate your view of the proposed itinerary (July 2 - 31).

Day 1 Melbourne – Port Augusta (1000 km)
Day 2 Port Augusta – Cooper Pedy (540km)
Day 3-4 Cooper Pedy – Uluru (758km) (2 nights)
Day 5 Uluru – Kings Canyon (305km)
Day 6 Kings Canyon – Alice Springs (275km)
         Hotel
Day 7 Alice Springs – Tilmouth Well (on Tanami Track) (206km)
         Book cabin?
Day 8 Tilmouth Well – Halls Creek (on Tanami Track) (869km)
Day 9-10 Halls Creek – Bungle Bungles (161km) (2 nights)
Day 11 Bungle Bungles – Fitzroy Crossing (450km)
Day 12 Fitzroy Crossing – Broome (396km)
Day 13-16 Broome – Kooljaman Resort at Cape Leveque (200km)
         (4 nights, beach shelter/caravan park)
         Explore around Bardi country.
Day 17 Kooljaman - Windjana Gorge (254km)
         (Kooljaman – Derby 110km
         Derby – Windjana 144km)
         Stay at Charnley River Station (where Charnley River?)
         or Windjana Gorge
         Stock up at Derby but stay at Windjana Gorge
         Visit Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge
         camp at Windjana Gorge
Day 18 Windjana Gorge - Bell Gorge (96km)
         (arvo trip)
         and Lennard Gorge on the way to Bell Gorge.
         Overnight Silent Grove campground.
Day 19 Bell Gorge - Manning Gorge (86km)
         All day.
         Continue to Manning Gorge.
         Overnight Manning Gorge campground
         or Mt. Elizabeth Cattle Station
Day 20-22 Manning Gorge - El Questro (321km) (3 nights)
         El Questro. River campsite
Day 23 El Questro – Kununurra
         Drive to Kununurra. Explore around Kununurra as time allows.
         Optional detour to Wyndham.
         Overnight Kununurra.
Day 24-25 Kununurra – Katherine (514km) (2 nights)
         Drive to Katherine.
         Walks in Keep River or Gregory National Park as time allows.
         Overnight Katherine or Katherine Gorge.
Day 26 Katherine - Kakadu National Park
         Drive to Kakadu National Park via southern entrance.
         Explore southern region according to interests.
         Overnight at Gunlom, Maguk or near Yellow Water
         Boat Cruise
         Hot Springs.
Day 27 Kakadu National Park
         Explore central areas of Kakadu: Nourlangie, Jabiru, Ubirr.
         Overnight near Nourlangie, Jabiru or at Ubirr.
Day 28 Kakadu - Litchfield National Park
         Leave Kakadu along the Arnhem Highway
         if time allows visit Fogg Dam or take Jumping Crocodile Cruise
         drive to Litchfield via Batchelor.
         Overnight at Litchfield, e.g. Florence Falls or Buley Rockholes.
Day29 Litchfield National Park - Darwin
         Explore Litchfield, drive to Darwin late afternoon.
         If time allows visit Territory Wildlife Park.
Day 30 Darwin
         Unwind in Darwin. Family flies back to Melbourne.