Breeze Holiday Parks Mary River

One of the great things about staying at Mary River is that you don’t need to travel far for a good meal. The on-site Gecko Restaurant is the heart of the park — open-air, relaxed and surrounded by tropical greenery. It’s open for a buffet dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.

The continental buffet breakfast here is equally worth it and offered daily from 7am - 9am. We grabbed some toast with a strong coffee before heading out for a morning walk. The bar serves cold beer and wine in the evenings, and it’s the perfect place to swap travel stories with other adventurers or unwind after a day exploring Kakadu or Litchfield. Takeaway alcohol is also available.

For those who prefer to cook for themselves, the park’s Camp Kitchen makes it easy to self-cater. There’s plenty of space to prep, cook and dine —  you might even have a wallaby wander past while you’re at it.

It’s important to plan ahead: the retreat is remote, and there aren’t major shops nearby. If you’re driving from Darwin, we recommend stocking up in town before you arrive.

Right from the park, you can wander down to the Mary River, a place alive with wildlife and well-known for fishing, croc-spotting, birdwatching, bushwalking and four-wheel driving. If you’re into fishing, this is barramundi country. The park has its own off-site boat ramp and fish cleaning facilities. Early mornings or late afternoons tend to be the most rewarding times to cast a line.

If you’d rather stay on land, a 4WD track just beyond the property lets you explore deeper into the wetlands for an even closer look at the landscape.

If you’re up for a day trip, Litchfield National Park is well worth the drive. Around two hours away, it’s a showcase of the Territory’s natural drama — waterfalls that plunge into crystal-clear pools, towering termite mounds and walking tracks that wind through tropical forest. We swam at Wangi Falls, picnicked in the shade and still definitely didn’t see it all — a reason to come back.

Another option is heading east to Kakadu National Park, around 30 minutes from the park. It’s emblematic of the Northern Territory’s natural beauty and one of Australia’s most iconic spots. We started early, stopping at Mamukala Wetlands for sunrise before driving on to Ubirr to see ancient Aboriginal rock art and views across the floodplains. By the time we returned to Mary River that evening, dusty and happy, it felt like we’d seen the heart of the Northern Territory in a single day.

The park keeps lighting low to protect the natural environment, which means once night falls it’s properly dark. Bring a torch or headlamp if you’re walking between your site and the restaurant.