Top End Safari Camp Day Tour

Map View Full Details Reviews

A day out from Darwin with a helicopter scenic flight over the floodplains of the Litchfield region, an airboat ride spotting wild crocodiles, birds and buffalo, a cruise on Sweets Lagoon and a live crocodile feeding.

Days

About 7 hours from Darwin, 4 hours at the camp

Group size

Group tour, minimum 10 guests

Start / finish

Darwin / Darwin

Return

See itinerary for details

Transport

Return air-conditioned bus from Darwin or self-drive; helicopter, airboat and cruise boat

Meals

A hearty meal on the lagoon cruise

Route

View map

Included experiences

Litchfield region floodplains — scenic helicopter flight
Airboat ride — crocodiles, buffalo and birds
Sweets Lagoon — cruise aboard Cyclone Creek
Rescue crocodile — live feeding and interaction
Infinity pool — views of the termite mounds

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

EARLY MORNING: DARWIN TO THE CAMP

The bus collects you from central Darwin from about 6:20am, with a last stop at Coolalinga on the way out of town. Prefer to drive? Be at the camp by 8:20am; the last 7 km is unsealed but fine for a normal car. The camp is a private property in the Litchfield region, about an hour and a half south-west of Darwin, off the Finniss River system. It's run by the team of Matt Wright, the Outback Wrangler of the National Geographic series, whose job for years has been catching problem crocodiles in this country.

THE HELICOPTER AND THE AIRBOAT

Everyone is weighed, then the morning starts in the air with a scenic helicopter flight over the floodplains. From above you see the channels, paperbark swamps and billabongs that fill and drain with the wet season. Back on the ground you board the airboat, a flat-bottomed boat pushed by an aircraft propeller, built to skim water only centimetres deep. It runs through the river channels and into the rainforest, then out over the floodplains. Watch for saltwater crocodiles on the banks, magpie geese and jabirus, and water buffalo, brought here from Timor in the 1820s and now living wild.

BRUNCH ON SWEETS LAGOON

Next comes a slower pace on Sweets Lagoon, a billabong off the river, aboard the cruise boat. A barbecue brunch is served as you drift, and it's a good time to look for the smaller life of the water's edge: whistling ducks, egrets, darters drying their wings and the odd croc's eyes just above the surface. Around the camp, look out for cathedral termite mounds, built over decades by termites smaller than a grain of rice and often taller than a person.

THE CROC ENCOUNTER AND HOME

The finale is a live feeding with one of the camp's rescued saltwater crocodiles, huge animals removed from places where they had become a danger to people. Salties are the largest living reptiles, and the biggest males pass five metres; the crew explain how they hunt and why each one ended up here. After about four hours at the camp, the bus takes you back to Darwin, about seven hours after pick-up all told.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Bus pick-up from 4 locations in Darwin, or drive yourself to the camp.
Departure time: Darwin pick-ups from about 6:20am; your exact time is in your confirmation. If you drive yourself, arrive at the camp by 8:20am.
Please note: The tour needs a minimum of 10 guests to be confirmed. All passengers are weighed before departure, and accurate individual weights must be given at booking — without them you may not be able to do the helicopter flight and airboat ride, and no costs are covered.

What is included

Scenic helicopter flight
Airboat ride
Cruise on Sweets Lagoon with a meal
Crocodile feeding and interaction
Return air-conditioned bus transfers from 4 Darwin locations, or a self-drive option

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 2 reviews

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

An amazing day with a great crew, and the brunch was far more than we expected. Matt and Jake went above and beyond to make it special. I only wish we'd booked to stay the night.

Shae Crombie Verified· Travelled 4th July 2025

Read original ↗

(5/5)

A major highlight of our Darwin trip, smooth from pick-up in Darwin to drop-off at our accommodation, with friendly staff full of knowledge. Next time we'll do the overnight stay.

Kelly Parker Verified· Travelled 4th November 2023

Read original ↗