About the Northern
Territory Region
| Area: |
1,349,130 sq kms
(520,902 sq miles) |
| State
Population: |
197,700 |
| Capital:
|
Darwin |
| Population:
|
88,100 (official
estimate 1999) |
The Northern Territory makes up nearly one-sixth of Australia
and geographically most closely resembles the popular image
of the Great Australian Outback.
The north or Top End, centred on the capital, Darwin, is
tropical with rich vegetation and a varied coastline. 251km
east of Darwin is World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park
(the third largest National Park in the world and about half
the size of Switzerland), an area of vast flood plains and
rocky escarpments steeped in natural and cultural heritage
and home to Aborigines for at least 40,000 years. Katherine
is 314km south of Darwin and just beyond that is Nitmiluk
(Katherine Gorge) National Park, a striking system of 13 gorges
towering up to 60 metres high.
The southern part of the Territory is centred on Alice Springs,
which is virtually the centre of Australia and the starting
point to explore many of the Red Centre's highlights including
Uluru (Ayers Rock), which is located about 465kms to
the south-west.
Other of the Red Centre's natural and geological wonders
include Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), King's Canyon, the Western
MacDonnell Ranges and the Devil's Marbles.
Culture
Some areas that we visit have great significance to the local
Aborigines and as such are culturally sensitive. Access to
these areas (which includes the Uluru (Ayers Rock) climb)
may be restricted for cultural reasons for unspecified times
and with little prior notice. We reserve the right to amend
our itineraries or visit alternative areas in these circumstances
and no refunds will be given.
Red Centre:
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural Centre: in keeping with
the park's importance to indigenous people, major emphasis
is placed on helping visitors understand Aboriginal traditions
and lifestyle. The Cultural Centre houses the park's information
services with displays presenting the sights and sounds of
Tjukurpa (creation stories and laws) and the local culture.
Top End:
Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre: the centre's circular
design represents a warradjan (pig-nosed turtle). As well
as providing detailed information about Aboriginal culture
in Kakadu, there is also a video room and a gallery that sells
Aboriginal arts and crafts plus books and cards.
Aboriginal Rock Art:amazing examples of rock
art dating back an estimated 40,000 years can be seen throughout
Kakadu but most notably at Ubirr and Nourlangie.
Wildlife
Red Centre:
You may see kangaroos, emus, wild camels, goannas, thorny
devils and more.
Top End:
You may see wallabies, salt and fresh water crocodiles, buffalo,
frill-neck lizards, wild pigs and a huge variety of bird life
including wedge-tailed and sea eagles, jabiru and herons.
Climate
Seasonality of the Top End
Located in the Arid Tropical region of Northern Australia
means that you enjoy beautiful weather for the majority of
the year. The Top End experiences 2 distinct seasons as outlined
below.
| |
Average Minimum
|
Average Maximum |
Description |
| Tropical Winter |
21.5°C |
31.5°C |
Unlike most southern capitals which usually experience
cool temperatures at this time of the year, the Top End
enjoys blue skies, warm dry days and cool nights...perfect
for outdoor adventures and touring. |
| Tropical Summer |
24.6°C |
32.2°C |
Spectacular electrical storms, sun showers and warm,
humid weather are the characteristics. The waterfalls
are in full flow, flocks of birds spread across the wetlands,
and a rich lush green becomes the dominant colour scheme |
Due to rainfall and distinct seasonality, access into parts
of Kakadu National Park will be restricted from Dec-Apr. At
this time of year, some travellers may feel that Kakadu is a
harder adventure than the soft nature of our other tours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do clients need to bring?
A sturdy pair of walking shoes (preferably ankle-high), swimming
gear, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, water bottle, insect
repellent, torch, camera and lots of film, a sleeping bag
(can be hired for a $15 cleaning fee) and a towel (not necessary
for 'Safari in Style'). For touring around the Red Centre,
warm clothing in the winter months between June and September.
CLIENTS MUST ALSO PRESENT A VALID VOUCHER FOR TRAVEL
TO THE GUIDE ON THE MORNING OF TOUR DEPARTURE.
Are there fitness requirements?
Our tours are designed for active, independent travellers
between 18-45, as a reasonable level of fitness and swimming
ability is required (walks differ in duration and grade depending
on the trip chosen). If you or your passenger has any doubts
about their suitability for our tours, please check with our
Reservations Department before making a booking.
Do clients have to participate?
With the exception of the 'Safari in Style' tour, everyone
is expected to help, under the direction of the guide, with
the preparation of meals, cleaning up of dishes and campsites
and the gathering of wood. We rely on each passenger's participation
and sense of adventure to make the tour a complete success!
How much luggage is allowed?
We ask that clients limit their luggage to a maximum of 15kgs
in a backpack or soft overnight bag and include a small daypack
to hand carry for easy access to camera etc.
Will passengers be picked up and dropped off at their
accommodation?
Yes, but please make sure to advise us of passengers pick
up point at time of booking.
What about special dietary requirements?
The meals we provide are largely BBQ and camp-oven cooking.
We can cater for vegetarians or those that are gluten intolerant
but if clients have very specific dietary requirements (e.g.
vegan), they may need to provide their own food. Please advise
us of your client's needs at time of booking.
How much water do clients need to drink?
Doctors advise that between 2 and 3 litres (10-12 glasses)
of water per day is essential when travelling in Northern
Australia. All vehicles carry adequate water supplies.
Do clients need to reconfirm their tour?
Yes, passengers must contact our Reservations Department on
1300 654 604 quoting their 6 digit booking number before 4pm
the day prior to travel with both the name of their accommodation
and room number.
FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN THE CANCELLATION OF THEIR
BOOKING.
Cancellations: In the event of a cancellation, fees will be
charged as follows:
Between 30 days - 48 hours: 25% of fare
Between 48 hours - 24 hours: 50% of fare
Within 24 hours: 100% of fare
Safety: All the tours and activities that
we do are approved by local authorities, National Parks &
the NT Transport Department. We have a first class safety
record and carry public liability of $20,000,000 and all other
insurance required by law.
Insurance: Please consider it an important
service to your clients to encourage them to purchase comprehensive
travel insurance before leaving home. We strongly recommend
that all passengers be fully covered by insurance.
Accommodation
For travellers who look for a backpacker accommodation we
recommend:
DARWIN
Cavenagh
ALICE SPRINGS
Haven Backpackers
Alice Springs Plaza Hotel
Available facilities to go to the accommodation:
- Airporter Shuttle Bus services are available – AUD $6
one-way / AUD $10 return per person (Darwin); 9.90$ AUD one-way
/ AUD$16.50 return per person (Alice Springs)
- Taxi fare from airport to : (from last known prices)
- Cavenagh: about 20/25$ AUD
- Haven Backpackers: about 25/30$ AUD
- Alice Springs Plaza Hotel: about 25/30$ AUD
- Check if free transfer buses are provided by the hostels.
Interest
Adelaide River township: approximately 110kms
south of Darwin along the Stuart Highway you will find the
World War II Cemetery.
Alice Springs: Alice Springs is the famous
geographical centre of Australia. This town is situated on
the Stuart Highway and is a place where the traditional Arrernte
Aboriginal owners have lived for about 20000 years. About
29000 people live in the town nowadays. Alice Springs is unique
insofar as the town is situated 'in the middle of nowhere'
but the atmosphere there is really warm, the nightlife is
just amazing, and the attractions nearby are numerous.
Annaburroo: a saltwater, crocodile free swimming
billabong.
Barramundi Gorge (Maguk): one of the few
permanent waterfalls in Kakadu, it has cut its path through
the ancient sandstone creating an oasis where we can swim.
Barrow creek pub: this pub is a typical stopover
point on the Stuart Highway and is located about 280 kilometres
north of Alice Springs.
Buley Rockhole: with Wangi Falls this series
of small waterfalls is certainly the most popular and beautiful
swimming spot in the Litchfield National Park.
Carr Boyd ranges: located south of Kununurra
Carr Boyd Range offers beautiful sceneries with deep gorges,
nice waterfalls and pretty fern pools. The wildlife is also
abundant there.
Coober Pedy: is the opal capital of the world,
producing 95% of the world's opals and attracts a special
breed of people. There are 41 different nationalities living
in a population of just over 4000 people. 80% of them live
underground to avoid the heat. There are underground shops,
churches, hostels and hotels. We accommodate our guests in
an underground bunkhouse, but also offer the opportunity to
upgrade accommodation to a 4 star hotel for those who want
to break the journey. Passengers will be taken on a mine tour
and given the opportunity to ‘noodle’ for their own opals.
Curtin Springs Station: a working cattle
station of some 4000 square kms, on which is located Mt Connor.
Cycad Gorge at Palm Valley: clumps of tall,
slender palms lending a tropical atmosphere to their barren
setting. These pre-historic palms are leftovers from much
wetter times in Central Australia.
Daly Waters: the famous pub at Daly Waters,
the oldest in the Northern Territory, is situated 588kms south
of Darwin and also acts as a bank, post office and police
station. It dates back more than a hundred years and was originally
built for the pioneer drovers on the long cattle drives through
this part of the Outback.
Darwin: This is the most popular town and
also the territorial capital of the Northern Territory. It
is a city of about 110000 inhabitants with a large proportion
of Aboriginal people, which justify the fact that the town
is sometimes called 'the multicultural capital of Australia'.
Devils Marbles: massive red granite boulders
balancing precariously on top of each other located some 100kms
south of Tennant Creek.
Edith Falls: located about 60 kilometres
north of Katherine, Edith Falls is a series of superb waterfalls
and beautiful pools cascading into a lake. An ideal place
for swimmers…
Finke River: this River is the main river
in Central Australia and also one of the oldest rivers in
the world.
Florence Falls: situated in the Litchfield
national park near the rainforest, it is an impressive and
beautiful double waterfall dropping down into a clear rock
pool where people can enjoy a swim.
Fogg Dam: a conservation reserve about 60kms
from Darwin, where permanent wetlands are alive with bird
and wildlife and water lilies. Anbangbang Billabong - a small
and picturesque seasonal billabong that's home to a variety
of bird-life.
Glen Helen Gorge: situated about 130 kilometres
from Alice Springs Glen Helen gorge is one of the six waterholes
along the Finke River and is a beautiful spot for swimming
and enjoying what nature has to offer.
Gosse Bluff: a spectacular remnant of a huge
meteor crater believed to be about 130 million years old.
Gunlom Falls: a large waterfall situated
in the southern end of Kakadu National Park, it offers scenic
swimming holes etched into the Escarpment by the relentless
action of erosion. The climb to the top is rewarded with fantastic
views over the park.
Gregory National Park: situated about 350
kilometres from Darwin, this National Park is the second-largest
in the Northern Territory. It is a mixture of beautiful sandstones,
escarpments and gorges.
Jim Jim & Twin Falls: spectacular waterfalls
accessible only during the Dry Season (May to November) by
4WD vehicles. Swimming ability is a must (1km return paddle
to the base of Twin Falls)
Kakadu National Park: this National Park
situated about 250 kilometres from Darwin is an Australian
icon and one of the most visited National Parks in Australia.
It is renowned for its diverse environment from amazing waterfalls
and to beautiful Aboriginal rock art. Between Alligators,
birds and kangaroos, the wildlife is rich and numerous.
Kata Tjuta (the Olgas): this 'place of many
heads' has 36 domes that make up a site of even greater cultural
significance to the Aborigines than Uluru. There are two permitted
walks in Kata Tjuta (no climbing is allowed as requested by
the traditional owners), the Mt Olga pass, which is around
3km return and the Valley of the Winds which is approx 8km
return.
Katherine Gorge: actually consisting of 13
gorges which are best viewed from the air, you can canoe or
cruise around the first few gorges appreciating the striking
landscape.
Kings Canyon (Watarrka): is a canyon almost
275 metres deep. A 6-8km walk around the canyon gives spectacular
views of the surrounding desert and special features such
as the 'Lost City', the 'Amphitheatre' and the 'Garden of
Eden'.
Litchfield national park: situated about
130 kilometres from Darwin, this National Park is a mixture
of dense tropical rainforest, eucalyptus, and magnetic termite
mounds.
Mamukala Wetlands: Mamukala Wetlands is one
of the most visited places in Kakadu National Park, and an
ideal place to see thousands of magpie geese and lots of other
birds.
Mary River Wetlands: is the largest system
of its kind in the Northern Territory. It boasts the highest
concentration of salt-water crocodiles in the Southern Hemisphere,
as well as an amazing profusion of other wildlife. ATA offer
a private boat cruise on the wetlands for our passengers.
Our boats seat only 24 passengers in contrast to the 50 seat
boats operating on other cruises such as Yellow Waters and
the Adelaide River.
Mataranka: this is a small town located along
the Stuart Highway about 100 kilometres south of Katherine.
Mataranka thermal springs: these thermal
springs are situated underground in the Elsey National Park
and are incredibly clear and hot.
Mereenie 4WD Track/Loop Road: completed in
1994, this 4WD road loops around the western edge of the MacDonnell
Ranges linking Kings Canyon with Alice Springs.
Motorcar falls: with its amazing 25 metres
waterfall dropping down into a pretty rock pool, Motorcar
Falls is one of the best wet season areas in Kakadu National
Park.
Mt Connor: higher than Uluru and often mistaken
for it, we pass this flat topped monolith on the way to Yulara.
Nourlangie Rock: located approximately 330km
east of Darwin in the heart of Kakadu National Park, another
ancient rock art site famous for its dynamic display of art
and panoramic views of the Escarpment country.
Nungulawar art site: a site which allows
people to see aboriginal art, paintings, dreaming stories
etc.
Ormiston gorge: this gorge has a beautiful
waterhole surrounded by nice tropical plants and flowers.
Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge: this Lodge,
just 30kms outside Kakadu National Park, offers travellers
the opportunity to explore the pristine Mary River Wetlands
renowned for its abundance of wildlife, beautiful billabongs,
cool rainforests and excellent barramundi fishing. The Lodge
has a range of accommodation from air-conditioned units with
en-suite facilities to backpacker dorms and camping. It also
has a swimming pool and fully licensed bar and bistro.
Robin falls: located about 17 kilometres
south of Adelaide River, Robin Falls is a beautiful little
waterfall.
Small gorge: this gorge is, as its name says,
a pretty small gorge, however this is a really beautiful double
fall with a nice clear pool.
Tennant Creek: about 986 kms south of Darwin
was the centre of Australia's last gold rush in 1930. Passengers
enjoy a gold mine tour here on our trips between Alice and
Darwin.
Ti Tree: Ti tree is a small service town
and supply point on the Stuart Highway, and is located about
190 kilometres from Alice Springs. Lots of Aboriginal people
(about 1300) still live there.
Timber creek: this small town of about 600
inhabitants is situated about 290 kilometres from Katherine.
It lies on Victoria Highway which connects Australia’s top
end and the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
Tolmer falls: this long and narrow waterfall
is one of the highest and most spectacular in the Litchfield
National Park.
Tropic of Capricorn: This is one of the five
main circles of latitude on Earth maps. It passes about 30
kilometres north of Alice Springs.
Ubirr Rock: approximately 280km east of Darwin,
Ubirr has been home to Aborigines for an estimated 25,000
years. They have recorded and documented the changing landscapes
and social occurrences in the rocks at this site. The art
is endemic to this region.
Uluru (Ayers Rock): the second largest
Monolith in the world and centre of the sacred heart of Australia,
it is of deep cultural significance to local Aborigines. Though
the traditional owners would prefer if they didn’t, visitors
can still climb it. Our guides give clients the information
to make an informed decision and then the choice is up to
the individual (the climb is 1.6km from base to top and people
with heart conditions or breathing difficulties should not
attempt it). Climbing is not permitted if the Rangers consider
it unsafe due to extreme temperatures, wind or rain. Photography
is limited in some sites because of their significance.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural
Centre: In keeping with the park's importance to
indigenous people, major emphasis is placed on helping visitors
understand Aboriginal traditions and lifestyle. The Cultural
Centre houses the park’s information services with displays
presenting the sights and sounds of Tjukurpa (creation stories
and laws) and the local culture.
Valley of the Winds (Kata Tjuta): this spectacular
hike, varying in length from (approx) 6-8km depending on the
trip chosen, winds through some of the 36 weathered domes.
NB: The trail is closed when temperatures rise above 36°C.
Wangi falls: situated in the Litchfield National
Park, Wangi Falls is a renowned area for swimming and picnicking.
Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre: The
centre's circular design represents a warradjan (pig-nosed
turtle). As well as providing detailed information about Aboriginal
culture in Kakadu, there is also a video room and a gallery
that sells Aboriginal arts and crafts plus books and cards.
Western MacDonnell Ranges: form an imposing
red barrier from east to west for 400kms across the vast central
Australian plain with Alice Springs situated in the centre.
The Ranges stretch 160kms west of Alice Springs offering spectacular
landscapes and gorges.
|
