Northern Territory - The Top End

Swaying palms, monsoon vine forests, dancing birds, crocodiles in the waterways, ancient cultures, ecologically significant areas - it sounds so exotic, it’s hard to believe we’re talking about Australia - but we are. The Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory has all of this and more.

Environment

One of the best things about exploring this part of the continent is the landscape. It’s so dramatic it never fails to make a lasting impression and the number of places to go and things to do is almost endless.

Picture a sunny day in July, floating on a li-lo down the spectacular Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk). Or bushwalking with a guide through World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park and 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture, not to mention the 275 species of birds, the 1000 different plants or the reptiles and other animals that call it home. You won’t ever have seen anything as amazing as the pillars of the Lost City in the Gulf Region, a helicopter will drop your tour group into this natural wonder.

Climate

Forget about winter chills, the Top End is blue skies and sunshine. Holidaying in the Top End in the tropical summer is like walking into another world. From November to April the skies are alight with Nature’s light shows and waterfalls thunder in applause. Gone are the narrow waterways of the dry season and in their place a single sheet of water stretches to the horizon. The monsoonal rain falls mainly in the late afternoon and overnight, so you can still spend your days touring. The appeal of this time of the year is fast becoming well known but as yet it is not reflected in prices; off season rates apply and they make this time of year even more appealing. Did you know that the temperatures from November to April in the Top End are almost the same as those in Singapore, Bali and Cairns?

Culture

There are so many things to see in The Top End, it’s hard to list them all in a small space. Aboriginal art, history and culture are featured on the Tiwi Islands and at Manyallaluk, and ancient Arnhem Land offers a special experience. Wildlife is easy to find roaming free in the National Parks and it’s also well displayed at the Territory Wildlife Park and the Darwin Crocodile Farm. The jumping crocodiles on the Adelaide River are something you have to see to believe. Litchfield National Park is just 105km by sealed road from Darwin and is largely untouched wilderness with spring-fed waterfalls that flow all year. A day or two relaxing there will really rejuvenate you.

The Top End is Australia’s tropical north and a region that gives its visitors an experience with a difference. Being closer to Asia than any Australian capital city, it has a distinct Asian flavour, especially in Darwin. One other thing that tops of its appeal is - you don’t need vaccinations. Just about all the locals speak English. Well there may be a few words that trick you like - “it’s only 310 km down the track” (the ‘track’ is the local slang for the Stuart Highway), or “would you like a white or a blue can?” - that means a can of Carlton or Fosters beer. You may be able to tell by now that the locals are pretty relaxed and friendly, so rest assured you will be welcomed and given a great holiday.

National Parks

There are many national and nature parks in the Top End. Although fees may apply for some camping sites, there is no entry fee for visitors to Kakadu National Park.

A two hour drive from Darwin is all it takes to reach the heart of a World Heritage region - Kakadu National Park. Its vast expanse is studded with natural jewels like Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock, Yellow Waters, Jim Jim and Twin Falls. Litchfield National Park is located even closer to Darwin, with waterfalls, nature walks and colourful, ever-present wildlife. The beauty of the Top End extends further south into the Katherine region and Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park, featuring the magnificent Katherine Gorge, made famous in the Australian movie Jedda.

Australia’s tropical north, the Top End, offers year round attractions that are truly memorable and inspiring.

Nitmiluk National Park - Katherine Gorge

One of the major towns in the Top End, Katherine is just 330km south of Darwin. It is a delightful town on the edge of spectacular wilderness regions and a part of the Top End not to be missed.

Katherine is a bustling community of 10,000 people which services an area the size of the state of Victoria. The community includes RAAF Base Tindal and has a multi-cultural mix which enhances its ‘outback’ image. Katherine Gorge, just 30km from Katherine’s town centre, is the major natural attraction in the area. The town itself has many places of interest including the historic Springvale Homestead, the River Corridor, Hot Springs and various museums and historic buildings. Katherine School of the Air, Edith Falls and the Cutta Cutta and Tindal Caves also attract many visitors every year.

Nitmiluk National Park, encompassing Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls, is one of the Territory’s most scenic natural attractions. Katherine Gorge is actually a system of 13 separate gorges, each separated by rapids. Viewed from above, the gorges are a deep fissure carved into the ochre sandstone. The sheer red cliffs that stand guard either side of the Katherine River change colour throughout the course of the day. At dawn and dusk, they glow intense shimmering shades of orange and red. There are a multitude of ways to explore the Gorge system. Boat tours reach as far as the fifth gorge, while the more adventurous can hire canoes and explore all the gorges. For a breathtaking view, scenic flights are available in a fixed wing aircraft or by helicopter.

Whichever way you choose, Katherine Gorge is an all-encompassing treat for the senses. Nitmiluk National Park features over 100 kilometres of marked walking trails. It’s the ideal way to quietly discover the surrounding countryside and its eucalyptus, unusual bush flowers and perhaps even a kangaroo or two. Once the Katherine River winds its way slowly out of the gorge, it is transformed into a gentle, tree-lined watercourse. Popular with locals, they regularly vote for the Low Level Bridge and Weir as one of their favourite places.

In addition to its own wealth of natural attractions and activities, Katherine and its surrounding regions represent the cross-roads of the Outback. Positioned as it is between four areas of outstanding beauty and environmental significance, it offers the perfect base for exploring north to Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, east to the Gulf region, west to the Victoria River District and thence the Kimberley and south to Alice Springs, Central Australia and Ayers Rock.

Northern Territory Driving Holiday

Due to the fact that 85% of the Northern Territory’s most visited spots are accessible by sealed, all weather roads, and 85% of attractions in the NT are accessible by conventional (2 wheel drive) vehicles, campervans and caravans are familiar sight, with caravan parks plentiful and well equipped. Some attractions are only accessible by 4 wheel drive vehicles, and in some locations, seasonal conditions restrict access.

Fuel and food stops along these roads are no more than every 200 - 300km. Unless you particularly want to go off the beaten track, a fantastic Northern Territory driving holiday visiting all the best sites can be enjoyed in a standard family car with normal provisions and safety supplies.

Dangers

Dangers on the road include everything from kangaroos to cattle and roadtrains.

• Roadtrains are Prime Movers (trucks, lorries etc.) with three trailers hitched behind. The maximum length of these phenomenon is 50 metres!! Always give roadtrains plenty of room, and if overtaking, allow at least 1km of clear road ahead.
• Fatigue is a serious danger. Pull off the road and rest after a few hours driving.
• Floods Do not attempt to cross flooded bridges or causeways unless sure of the depth and any road damage. Most flash floods usually recede within 24 hours.
• Dust on Outback roads can obscure your vision. Do not take risks, stop and wait for it to settle.
• Lost or broken down? - do not leave your vehicle in any circumstances, a missing vehicle is easier to locate than missing people. Economise on water if you are on a less well used road.

4WD & Outback Driving

Part of the attraction of the Northern Territory to many people is the ability to visit many natural and unspoilt locations, with normally very few other people, if any. It also affords the chance to utilise a 4 wheel drive (4WD) vehicle (either their own, or rented) to gain access to these remoter places, as well as try out their off-road driving skills.

Whilst most attractions are available to all vehicle, the Northern Territory government sees the value of keeping a number of its attractions available only to 4WD vehicles. The reason is two fold; it helps reduce the impact of visitation of an area and it gives visitors the chance to experience our great outdoors, following in the footsteps of some of Australia’s greatest explorers - some which passed through just over one hundred years ago.

Information about these tracks and roads are available from quite a number of different sources, Including, the Conservation Commission of the NT, local Regional Tourist Associations the Automobile Association of the NT (AANT), the Department of Transport & Works, or Police Stations in the area.

Important! When travelling “off the beaten track”, you should advise the nearest police station of the number of passengers travelling, your proposed route, estimated time of arrival, and advise on arrival. Prepare your vehicle for the long distances and ensure you have all the basic equipment: jack, spare tyres, fan belt, radiator hoses and a tow rope. Plan ahead for fuel stops. You may need to carry fuel. Carry a map of the area, especially if travelling off the main roads. Always carry water (20 litres minimum).

Kakadu National Park

The wilderness of Kakadu National Park is a bewildering variety of distinct yet harmonious environments ranging from the rivers and billabongs of the wetlands to woodlands, forests, coastal mud flats and stone escarpment country.

Nature at its Best

Kakadu is nature at its most dramatic. Rock escarpment towering 400 metres above dense rainforest, winding waterways and in the summer, cascading waterfalls. Teeming bird life wheeling above saltwater crocodiles lurking watchfully on the river banks below. Silvered barramundi breaking the placid surface of waterlily-accented billabongs. Rock faces bearing a painted record of a continuing Aboriginal culture stretching back more than 60,000 years.

Little wonder then that Kakadu National Park is World Heritage listed and one of the essential destinations for visitors to the Northern Territory. Untouched natural beauty on such a massive scale tends to make a lasting impression. So it’s more than likely that memories of Kakadu will linger long after you have returned home and left the whisper of pandanus leaves and soothing choruses of birds far behind.

Kakadu Tours

Tours to Kakadu range from a half day flying tour to 1, 2, 3 days and extended tours. There are regular departures and private charters with personalised itineraries. Time spent in the Park with a Tour guide or Ranger means exploring art sites and learning about Aboriginal Dreamtime and culture. Observing the indigenous flora and fauna. Bushwalking on well placed walking tracks through a variety of habitats and landscapes from stone country to monsoon forest. Relaxing and swimming at the waterfalls or fishing at Yellow Waters, Jim Jim Creek and other locations. Cruises on the South Alligator River and Yellow Waters will reveal many of the 275 species of birds found in the Park and estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles in their natural environment. In Kakadu you can join a 4WD tour and travel into Arnhem Land. The Bowali Visitor Centre is a must for all visitors - it’s a one stop mine of information. When you are there, make sure you pick up a copy of the Visitor Guide to Kakadu National Park. Self drivers also can obtain a schedule of Ranger guided walks and talks. These will help you get the most out of the Park.

The visitors who enjoy Kakadu the most are those who stay the longest. Those that only allow a day in their itinerary can leave disappointed at not seeing all the attributes of the Park, if possible plan to spend at least two, but preferably three days in the Park.

Ayers Rock

Rising from the flat, red expanse of the landscape, Ayers Rock / Uluru and nearby Mt. Olga / Kata Tjuta appear to be the visible parts of some great submerged creature. They are the major draw card for visitors to Central Australia.

Ayers Rock, aka Uluru, is situated in Kata Tjuta National Park (Uluru) and rising 348 metres with a circumference of 8 kilometres, is considered by many to be one of the great natural wonders of the world. Visitors from around Australia and the world simply stand in awe and marvel at its very existence. The more courageous attempt a climb to its summit, no easy task when the ascent is 1.6 kilometres and particularly steep in parts. It might be noted that the local Aboriginal people prefer visitors to enjoy Ayers Rock / Uluru in other ways. There are many sacred and significant sites associated with Uluru, so a walking tour around its base with a guide is rewarding.

Depending on the time of day, position of the sun and atmospheric conditions, Uluru’s vast bulk metamorphoses through various shades, from glowing reds and soft oranges to delicate lilacs. It is an unmatched spectacular light show. The white sails of the adjacent Ayers Rock Resort herald its existence, with colour and form designed to blend in as much as possible with the environment. Hugging the contours of the land, the Resort offers a variety of accommodation from camping to luxury hotels.

A mere 30km away, as the ‘crow fly’s’ (50km by road), Kata Tjuta seems overshadowed by Uluru. The tallest peak, Mt. Olga, is in fact, more than 200 metres taller than Uluru. The distinctive domes and striated, weathered surfaces of Kata Tjuta match Uluru in colour and are an excellent subject for photographers. Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park with its famous landmarks is a special place and not to be missed.