DARWIN & KAKADU – A FLOURISH TOP END EXPERIENCE

23–28 June 2027 | 5 nights | Maximum 20 ladies

It’s happening! Flourish Experiences is heading to the Top End for five fabulous nights exploring Darwin and Kakadu National Park.

This is going to be a very special Flourish adventure – combining spectacular landscapes, Aboriginal culture and rock art, wildlife, beautiful food, tropical sunsets and some truly memorable experiences along the way.

We’ll spend four nights right on the Darwin Waterfront and one night in the heart of Kakadu at beautiful Cooinda Lodge. For our journey into Kakadu we’ll have our own private coach, driver and experienced local guide, allowing us to experience this incredible part of Australia at a relaxed Flourish pace.

And remember – you absolutely do not need to know anyone to come along! Many of our ladies join our trips on their own. That’s a big part of what Flourish is all about – experiencing somewhere new, meeting new people and having a whole lot of fun along the way.

With a maximum of just 20 ladies, this will be a small, personally hosted Flourish experience.

OUR TOP END ADVENTURE

Wednesday 23 June – Hello Darwin!

Our adventure begins as we travel to Darwin. Qantas flights are included for those ladies traveling from Hobart - or you can choose to make your own way there. For those arriving on our group flight, our private coach and local guide Deb will be waiting for us at the airport. Rather than heading straight to the hotel, we’ll enjoy a 20 min Darwin orientation, with commentary and seeing local sights along the way – a lovely way to get our bearings and have our first taste of the Top End.

Then it’s on to our home in Darwin, the Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront. And what a location! We’ll be staying right in the heart of Darwin’s fabulous Waterfront precinct, with the waterfront promenade, restaurants, cafés and bars virtually at our doorstep. The Wave Lagoon and Recreation Lagoon are right nearby, along with lovely open spaces where you can wander, swim, sit by the water or simply soak up Darwin’s relaxed tropical atmosphere.

The CBD is also within easy walking distance, so when you have some free time you’ll be perfectly positioned to explore.Aft er checking in, there’ll be time to settle into your room and relax before we come together for our welcome drink and group dinner. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet your fellow travellers, start putting names to faces and raise a glass to the adventure ahead.

Meals included today: Dinner (plus meals on the plane)

Thursday 24 June – Discover Darwin & Mindil Beach

Today we start discovering Darwin itself.

We’ll have time to explore the city centre, its colourful street art, shops, boutiques and cafés before enjoying some free time for lunch. This afternoon, our private coach will take us to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, where we can learn more about the art, culture, natural history and fascinating stories of the Top End - the Cyclone Tracy exhibit is so facscinating! From there we’ll head to one of Darwin’s absolute must-dos – the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Market.

Wander the market stalls, browse the local wares, choose something delicious for dinner and enjoy the atmosphere as everyone gathers near the beach to watch the sun disappear over the water. Tonight, dinner is entirely your choice – follow your nose through the incredible selection of market food and pick whatever takes your fancy. Our private coach will take us back to our Hotel at 8pm.

Meals included today: Breakfast

Friday 25 June – Berry Springs & Into Kakadu

Today the landscape begins to change as we leave Darwin behind and head towards one of Australia’s most extraordinary places – Kakadu National Park. We’ll be travelling by private coach with our private guide Deb, who’ll share stories, history and local knowledge with us throughout our journey.

Our first major stop is beautiful Berry Springs Nature Park. Surrounded by monsoon forest and tropical vegetation, Berry Springs is known for its gorgeous clear, spring-fed pools. Bring your bathers because, if the swimming areas are open and conditions allow, you’ll have the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the beautiful natural pools. Prefer to stay dry? No problem. Enjoy the shady surroundings, take a wander or simply relax and take in this gorgeous little slice of the Top End.

After Berry Springs, we’ll continue towards Kakadu with a casual lunch stop along the way.Then we enter the magnificent landscapes of Kakadu National Park and make our way to Burrungkuy (Nourlangie). Here we’ll explore one of Kakadu’s most significant Aboriginal rock art areas before continuing on foot to the lookout.The walk takes us past ancient shelters and remarkable rock art before checking out the spectacular views across Kakadu’s escarpment and vast savannah woodlands.

This is one of those moments when you can really appreciate just how enormous, ancient and beautiful this landscape is – and definitely one to have your camera ready for!

We’ll continue to Cooinda Lodge, our home for the night.

A Night at Cooinda Lodge

Staying overnight in Kakadu means we don't have to rush away at the end of the day – we get to actually experience what it feels like to stay in the heart of this extraordinary national park. Cooinda Lodge has a wonderful tropical oasis feel and is surrounded by the landscapes of Kakadu.

There are two shaded swimming pools, restaurants and bars, outdoor areas where you can relax and a general store. Once we’ve checked in, there’ll be time to cool off in the pool, find yourself a drink, relax or simply enjoy having nowhere you need to be for a little while.

Then we’ll come together for our group dinner at Cooinda. Get some sleep tonight because tomorrow starts with something very special.

Meals included today: Breakfast and Dinner

Saturday 26 June – Yellow Water, Culture & Kakadu

Today starts with what will be one of the absolute highlights of our entire trip – a Yellow Water sunrise cruise.

We’ll head out onto the wetlands as Kakadu wakes up around us. This is one of Australia's great wildlife experiences, with the chance to see an incredible variety of birdlife and wildlife – and, of course, keep watch for the crocodiles that call these wetlands home. After our cruise we’ll return to Cooinda for breakfast before checking out and continuing our Kakadu adventure.

Today also gives us an opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal culture through a painting and weaving experience with local indigenous women and a visit to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

We’ll then make our way to Jabiru for an included lunch at the instantly recognisable Kakadu Crocodile Hotel – yes, the building really is shaped like a giant crocodile!

We'll arrive back at our Adina Waterfront hotel with the evening completely free. Head out for dinner, enjoy a drink by the Waterfront, catch up with some of the other ladies or simply put your feet up after two fabulous days exploring Kakadu.

Meals included today: Breakfast and Lunch

Sunday 27 June – Darwin Your Way & Our Farewell Sunset Cruise

No early start today!

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then the day is yours to spend however you please. You might like to stay around the Darwin Waterfront, take a dip, find a shady spot with a coffee or enjoy a long lunch overlooking the water.

Or head into Darwin for some shopping. Darwin has some gorgeous little boutiques and interesting shops to discover, along with Aboriginal art galleries, locally made jewellery, fashion, gifts and plenty of cafés when it's time for a break. You can even visit Crocosaurus and take part in their Cage of Death crocodile experience (yes you actually share the water with a croc).

Those interested in Darwin's wartime history may choose to visit the RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility and Bombing of Darwin Experience, or perhaps your idea of the perfect day is simply doing very little at all!

Then we'll come back together for our final evening. We'll board our Darwin sunset dinner cruise and spend our last night together on the water.

Dinner, a spectacular Top End sunset and a boat full of Flourish ladies – we can't think of a better way to celebrate the end of our adventure. Drinks on this cruise will be at own expense.

Meals included today: Breakfast and Dinner

Monday 28 June – Homeward Bound

After breakfast, we'll check out of our hotel. For those travelling home on our group flight, our private coach will collect us for our transfer to Darwin Airport. We'll leave the Top End with plenty of photos, plenty of stories and – if our other Flourish trips are anything to go by – probably quite a few new friendships too.

Meals included today: Breakfast

YOUR FLOURISH EXPERIENCE INCLUDES

• Return economy airfares with Qantas Hobart–Darwin–Hobart (optional)

• Darwin airport transfers for guests travelling on the group flights

• Welcome introduction to Darwin with local commentary en route from the airport

• Four nights' accommodation at Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront

• One night's accommodation at Cooinda Lodge, Kakadu National Park

• Breakfasts as specified in the itinerary

• Welcome drink and group dinner in Darwin

• Private coach transport and experienced local guide for our Kakadu adventure

• Visit to Berry Springs Nature Park with the opportunity to swim, conditions permitting

• Kakadu National Park entry

• Visit to Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art area

• Burrungkuy walk and lookout

• Group dinner at Cooinda Lodge

• Yellow Water sunrise cruise

• Aboriginal weaving and painting/cultural experience

• Visit to Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre

• Lunch at the Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru

• Visit to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

• Visit to Mindil Beach Sunset Market

• Free day to enjoy Darwin your way

• Darwin sunset dinner cruise (drinks at own expense)

• Airport transfer for guests returning on the group flight

• Personally hosted throughout by Jacqui from Flourish Experiences

  
  

WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR?

This experience has been designed for women who enjoy exploring, meeting new people and experiencing a destination rather than simply seeing it through the window of a coach. You do not need to be super fit, but you do need a reasonable level of general fitness and mobility to comfortably participate in this trip.

You must be able to:

• Get on and off our coach independently and without assistance

• Walk reasonable distances each day

• Manage uneven ground, pathways and outdoor terrain

• Be comfortable walking in warm tropical conditions

• Complete our Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) walk, which includes a moderately steep section to the lookout

• Carry your own personal belongings and manage yourself independently throughout the trip

  
  

There will be periods of standing and walking during our sightseeing days, and some attractions may have uneven or natural surfaces.

If you have mobility concerns or are unsure whether this trip will be suitable for you, please contact Jacqui before booking so we can have a chat.

PRICING

INCLUDING RETURN FLIGHTS FROM HOBART

Twin Share – $4,895 per person

Single Room – $6,095 per person

LAND-ONLY OPTION

Want to use frequent flyer points? Coming from somewhere other than Hobart? Or perhaps you'd like to arrive early or extend your Top End holiday?

No problem – you can join us in Darwin and arrange your own flights.

Twin Share Land Only – $3,695 per person

Single Room Land Only – $4,895 per person

Guests choosing the land-only option are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring they are in Darwin in time to join the Flourish experience. If you're arriving or departing separately from our group, our local guide may also be able to arrange a private airport transfer directly with you at your own cost.

PAYMENT PLAN

To make things a little easier, your trip can be paid in three stages.

$500 deposit – payable when booking

Your deposit secures your place on the trip.

$1,500 interim payment – due 31 January 2027

Final balance – due 23 April 2027

Your trip must be paid in full at least 60 days before departure.

Places are strictly limited to 20 ladies and your place is not secured until your deposit has been received.

Our standard Flourish Experiences booking terms and cancellation conditions apply. Please note refunds are not possible due to the fact that we pay for many of our experiences in advance. For this reason we recommend that each person takes out travel insurance.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Comprehensive domestic travel insurance is highly recommended for this trip.

Even when travelling within Australia, unexpected things can happen – illness or injury before departure, flight disruptions, lost or damaged luggage or circumstances that mean you are no longer able to travel.

Flourish Experiences has supplier commitments and cancellation conditions that mean we are not able to provide a refund if you need to cancel.

For this reason, we strongly recommend purchasing appropriate travel insurance as soon as possible after booking and making sure you understand what your chosen policy does and does not cover.

Travel insurance is the responsibility of each individual traveller.

COME ON YOUR OWN – THAT'S WHAT FLOURISH IS ALL ABOUT

Please don't think you need a travel companion to join us.So me women come with a friend, sister or family member, but many of our ladies arrive knowing absolutely no one. That's one of the things we love most about our trips.

By the end, you've shared dinners, bus rides, swims, sunsets, laughs and experiences with women you may never otherwise have met.

There are no membership fees and no cliques to break into. Just a group of women saying yes to doing something a little different.

Darwin. Kakadu. Culture. Wildlife. Swimming holes. Ancient rock art. Tropical sunsets. Beautiful experiences. New friendships.

23–28 June 2027

Maximum 20 ladies.

We'd love you to join us.