Day 1, April 25, Arrival in Darwin
The flight with Singapore Airlines from Frankfurt was pleasant. Departure at 12:15, after 12.5 hours in Singapore, with a 1.5-hour layover there, and then on to Darwin, a flight...
Preparations for 4 weeks in Northern Territory and Queensland
Published: 12.04.2026
Flight
FRA → DRW
Singapore Airlines · Economy
Flight
CNS → FRA
Lufthansa · Economy
On Friday, April 24, our flight from Frankfurt to Darwin departs – with a stopover in Singapore. Fortunately, we booked our trip long before the Iran war, although the rising prices and particularly the availability of diesel in Australia are a concern for us now.
From Darwin, we will travel by camper through the Northern Territory to Queensland. Our goal is clear: To observe as many wild animals as possible – with a special focus on marsupials. The impressions from this trip will later be included in my popular science book “60 Years After Grzimek in Australia”.
We are two behavioral researchers: Dr. Carsten Schradin and Dr. Lindelan Makuya, both working at CNRS in Strasbourg. Our joint research typically takes us to South Africa, where we conduct long-term studies on small mammals. The central question we are exploring is a rather fundamental one: How do animals cope with drought, heat, and food scarcity – and why do some species live in groups while others are solitary?
May is the peak travel season in northern Australia. Accordingly, we have already booked most of the route – flexibility is not an option. Four weeks are already tight for this vast region. We have about 7000 kilometers ahead of us, along with numerous national parks. Additionally, we will be giving talks at James Cook University in Cairns and meeting with colleagues.
The planned travel itinerary is as follows:
April 24 Departure from Frankfurt at 12:15 with Singapore Airlines
April 25 Arrival in Darwin at 14:45
April 26 Litchfield National Park
April 27 Litchfield National Park, Jumping crocodile tour, Mary River Wilderness Retreat
April 28 Kakadu National Park, Merl Camping Ground: Ubirr rock paintings, Cahills Crossing
April 29 Kakadu NP: Malabanjbanjdju Campground: Nourlangie rock paintings.
April 30 Kakadu NP: Mardukal Campground: Yellow water river tours
May 1 Elsey National Park
May 2 Karlu Karlu National Park: Devils Marbles Campground.
May 3 Alice Springs: Alice Springs Desert Park
May 4 West MacDonnell National Park, Ormiston Gorge Campsite
May 5 West MacDonnell National Park, Ellery Creek Campground
May 6 Uluru, Ayers Rock Resort Caravan Park
May 7 Uluru, Ayers Rock Resort Caravan Park
May 8 Watarrka National Park with Kings Canyon
May 9 Watarrka National Park, Karlu Karlu
May 10 Camp at Camooweal billabong
May 11 Riversleigh Fossil Centre, Julia Creek
May 12 Porcupine Gorge Pyramid campground
May 13 Bowling Green Bay National Park (Alligator Creek)
May 14 Cape Hillsborough NP
May 15 Cape Hillsborough NP
May 16 Eungella NP, Broken River Bush Camp
May 17 Big Crystal Creek (Paluma Range NP)
May 18 Malanda Falls Conservation Park
May 19 Granite Gorge, Camp Barrabadeen
May 20 Cairns: Talks at the university
May 21 Great Barrier Reef (Cairns)
May 22 Daintree NP, Cape Tribulation
May 23 Daintree NP, Cape Tribulation Camping
May 24 Departure at 18:10 from Cairns with Lufthansa
May 25 Arrival in Frankfurt at 6:40
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