1. Litchfield National Park
Ninety minutes south, Litchfield is the Territory's favourite backyard: Florence Falls for the early swim, Wangi for the long one, termite mounds for the photos. Private tours leave at 07:30 to beat the coach crowd, and the kitchen packs a hamper that has never once come back full.
2. Fogg Dam at Dawn
Forty-five minutes east, the wetland boardwalk at first light is a birdwatcher's opera — jabiru, kingfishers, and crocodiles doing what crocodiles do at a respectful distance. Back by lunch; leave the dawn alarm to us.