Back in 2019 I finally pulled the plunge and splurged on a helicopter pub crawl tour around Darwin with my friends Jasmine and Maddie and ever since then, I have sung the praises of this tour to anyone and everyone who will listen.
In my opinion, this tour is the absolute best thing you can spend your money on whilst on a trip through Darwin and the Top End of Australia. It may be expensive, but for the fun, the adventure and the memories that you’ll create, it is undoubtedly worth the money. Furthermore, it is a tour that is like no other – where else in the world could you get away with such shenanigans than in Darwin!
I loved this tour so damn much that when Ella and I started planning our Top End getaway it was a given that we would be doing a heli pub crawl – although we did opt to do a slight twist on the standard tour that takes you to Crab Claw Island, Dundee, Goat Island, Darwin River and Noonamah.
After checking in and getting our obligatory photo with our chopper for the day, we were taking off and the beauty of Darwin’s coastal waterways were below us.
Our first stop of the day was Crab Claw Island, which is the perfect way to kick your day off with a bang. Soaring over the red earth that is synonymous with the territory and landing on the beautiful beach in front of Crab Claw is an experience like no other.
It was a slightly overcast and gloomy morning, but that in no way dampened our excitement and fun. We kicked back on the deck with a couple of beers and enjoyed the views.
Now, on a standard heli crawl you’d head to Dundee Tavern after Crab Claw, but as I mentioned earlier, we had opted to put a bit of a spin on the usual tour…
I mean, it’s definitely not every day that you get the opportunity to literally land a chopper in a FREAKING WATERFALL.
Yep, that’s right, we had flown over the ever beautiful Litchfield National Park and landed on a teeny and dry rocky outcrop in a literal waterfall. This swimming hole is exceptionally remote and you are pretty much guaranteed to have this gorgeous spot to yourself – it was absolutely freaking epic.
I’ve had the pleasure of swimming in many swimming holes during my time in the Territory, but this has gotta be up there with the absolute best. If Ella and I hadn’t already gotten engaged before this trip, this would have been a heckuva place to pop the question.
We even spotted a cute little water monitor! This reptilian was remarkably chilled out as I crept closer and closer, it was such a cool experience.
I also could not resist the opportunity to break out Droney Boi and capture a few shots of the waterfall from the downriver angle – if you squint a bit at this next shot you’ll be able to see Ella and I sharing a sneaky smooch.
After we had had sufficient swims, it was back in the chopper and onto our next stop, although I must admit, I didn’t actually take many pictures at this next stop.
Lake Bennett was our lunch stop and I must admit, the views from above are probably the most exciting thing about Lake Bennett, but we did have a pretty delish parmi, so I can’t complain too much!
Our last stop for the day was the ever infamous Goat Island. Owned by the undeniably entertaining Kai (or King Kai as he often proclaims), this small little lodge in the absolute middle of nowhere is home to a lot of politically incorrect signage, cold beers and pet crocodiles – and no, I am not kidding.
Right in front of the lodge when we arrived was this big old girl who was happily being fed by Kai. Now, I use the term ‘pet’ because Kai has names for the crocs and knows them all pretty well, but it goes without saying that he never gets too close to these salties – if they were given the opportunity they would absolutely go for it.
After a few beers and good chats with Kai, it was time to head back to Darwin and to end what had been a phenomenal day seeing Darwin and surrounds in this completely unique way.
THE LOWDOWN
Litchfield Swim & Resort Tour: This tour is definitely a splurge at $1310 AUD per person, but I can attest that it is absolutely worth the money. To learn more or to book, click here
Remember: Pack sunscreen, bathers and a motivational speech for your liver
Thanks for sharing the beautiful views on the ground and above! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I’ll be waiting for your next post. 😊🇦🇺