We are planning a trip to Darwin and surroundings for next August. I know it seems a long time away but with Frequent Flyer miles there is no waiting.

We will be arriving in Darwin at what I think will be the start of the Darwin Festival though they haven't posted the exact dates of the festival yet. For this reason we will need to line up our accommodations and travel plans pretty far in advance.

Any recommendations for places to stay in Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu and the Litchfield Park area? We will be staying in the area for 9 or 10 days.

NT is fantastic. You will love it. Remeer to visit the Mindle Beach markets at sunset. Thursdays and Sundays (from memory). To find places to stay visit http://www.sensis.cm.au an Australian site for just about everything. Lichfield Park is great, lots of waterfalls and safe places to swim (no crocodiles). Kakadu is also wonderful (watch out for crocs) Swim only is designated swimming pools at the resort or caravan park. Have fun and remembe to take your time when visiting these places. Elly

You have chosen the best time of year for the tropics.
here is more info on crocs in Kakadu.
("Crocs" is a commonly used australian abbreviation for crocodiles)

Well LunK, it's just 4 months away so you may have already locked in some of your accomodation and the places you will be visiting.
August will be ideal for anywhere in the Australian, centre & tropics. Certainly do Kakadu - the main attractions are unique, probably stay there overnight if you can.
Litchfield would be a good day trip and Katherine is about 300km (180miles) South which has Katherine Gorge now that is also spectacular. But it would be a very full day.
So if you can organise say a 2-3 day round trip out of Darwin to take in these places it may be more practical than individual day trips. The roads are good & you could also go as far south as Mattaranka (take your togs (swimming bathers).
There would be other attractions on the way like Howard Springs, Pine Creek (WW2 cemetary). Elsey Station 90km south of Katherine from the book by Aeneas Gunn's 'We of the Never Never' written about 1910.

You'll 'Never Never know if you Never Never go.

Have a great time..