Top End

Understand

The Top End of Northern Territory is a tropical area, home to Kakadu National Park, the second largest national park in Australia. It contains the highest concentration of Aboriginal rock art in the world and amazing nature and wildlife. A perfect example of Top End living can be found in Darwin, with its relaxed lifestyle and warm weather all year round. A colourful history and fascinating cultural mix make it the perfect place to experience culinary delights or wander through some of the weekly markets. The Victoria River is the longest river in the Northern Territory and is the lifeline to some of the biggest cattle stations in the NT. The region is also home to "Coolibah Station" where the reality series Keeping up with the Joneses was filmed. Its captivating landscapes stimulate a deep connection to the land and its people.

Culture

More than 50 nationalities make up Darwin's 100,000 population, including the area's traditional landowners, the Larrakia Aboriginal people. The cultural and culinary benefits of such a melting pot are best experienced at Darwin's weekly markets, variety of restaurants and through the annual calendar of festivals and other Darwin events. In Kakadu Aboriginal guides enjoy teaching visitors about the daily aspects of their culture on various tours of the park. However the Bininj/Mungguy culture has its own set of social behaviours and customs, which are considered good manners. Show respect by not entering restricted areas. They may be sacred sites, ceremonial sites, burial grounds or even someone’s home.

Getting there

Regular interstate domestic flights arrive into Darwin. From South Australia, driving north you can take the Explorer’s Way (Stuart Highway) from Adelaide through Coober Pedy into the Northern Territory. Travel along the Victoria Highway as it winds past immense escarpments split by the mighty Victoria River. Gregory National Park protects the area's colourful scenery featuring grassy plains, boab trees and majestic gorges carved out of sandstone escarpments. The famous Ghan train travels from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs and Katherine and The Inlander from Queensland.

Getting around

By car is the best, and possibly the only way to get around.

See

The Top End has some world-famous natural and cultural attractions that can’t be missed. The Victoria River, affectionately known as "The Vic" is the backbone of the region. The Vic is a lifeline for pastoral properties; a guardian angel for Aboriginal heritage; a tour guide for recreational pursuits. As protective as The Vic can be she can also be unrelenting in her domain. In flood her power is awesome; in arid times she demands survival.

Darwin Wharf Precinct, ☏ +61 8 8981 4268. Darwin Wharf, Darwin. At 9.58am on February 19, 1942, the wharf was a target for Japanese bombs, which claimed the lives of many service personnel and waterside workers. Katherine Gorge. Located in Nitmiluk National Park about 30 minutes northeast of Katherine. There are many ways to experience the spectacular Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) and its world-renowned gorge system - you can walk, swim, canoe, boat or fly. Free entry Aboriginal Rock Art Sites There are three main art sites to explore in Kakadu National Park independently or on a tour - Ubirr, Nourlangie Rock, Nanguluwur

Itineraries Savannah Way. The Savannah Way is a collection of linked outback roads and highways that form a spectacular touring route traversing northern Australia from Cairns to Broome. Whilst the majority of the Savannah Way is sealed there are large sections of unsealed, but well maintained gravel highways. A large four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Darwin. A week in Darwin gives you time to visit the city attractions, before heading down the track to Litchfield National Park for an overnight adventure, then spend a day learning about Aboriginal culture on the Tiwi Islands. Kakadu. With a week up your sleeve, start a comprehensive tour of Kakadu and its surrounds at Mary River National Park. Take a wildlife cruise and fish at Corroboree Billabong before delving into Kakadu's waterfalls, wetlands, cultural centres and Aboriginal rock art sites.

Do

The Top End offers the visitor an amazing array of activities to immerse yourself in, from the adventurous to the more subdued. Most tours leave from Darwin. Whether it’s a 4x4 trek in the National Park, desert discovery, nature watching, fishing or cruising the mighty Vic, hiking and bushwalking, scenic flying, photography, experiencing the wet season and its thunderstorms or sipping your favorite beverage at sunset, the region offers an experience for you. The escarpment country is beautiful and in the wet season waterfalls flow straight off the escarpment. You can take a scenic helicopter flight with Coolibah Air from the Victoria River Roadhouse over the escarpment, Gregory National Park, the mighty Victoria River and Coolibah Station; home to 'The Joneses' a family who have become recent television stars after a reality documentary based on their life on the station called Keeping up with the Joneses aired on national television. The Victoria River is a mecca for fishing and produces some of the Territory’s best and biggest Barramundi. “Barra” can be caught all year round but the best time is on a neap tide, between the months of March and late May - coinciding with the end of the monsoon season called the “Run-off”. If travelling the Buntine Highway be sure to stop in at the Top Springs Motel for a cold beer, enjoy a real outback meal, and have a yarn with a local. Top Springs is located at the junction of the Buntine and Buchanan Highways, 291 kilometres south of Katherine. The Top Springs Motel is located on the Savannah Way drive and is a fantastic rest stop with an awesome reputation as a colourful outback pub. The Top Springs Hotel is in the heart of cattle country and a good base for four-wheel-drive adventures on the way to Gregory National Park and the Victoria River Region. Further west is the small township of Timber Creek. Fishing is Timber Creek's biggest drawcard however Max's Victoria River Cruises is a must do experience when travelling through

Eat

Make sure you take in the culinary delights of multi-cultural Darwin while in the Northern Territory. There’s a great range of outdoor eateries, exotic local produce and a diversity of culinary choices on offer. Great eating areas in Darwin include:

The local markets for something cheap made on the spot. Fannie Bay offers some great pub-style food or seafood. Darwin CBD is brimming with restaurants, cafes and pubs – classy or casual but always relaxed. Cullen Bay has a barrage of seafood choices and expansive harbour views. Grab some picnic-style take away at Stokes Hill Wharf. Head to Parap for Chinese, Mexican or gourmet goodies. Kakadu National Park Basic food is available at the sporadic rest stops and museums throughout the park. The Top End of Australia is also famous for its Aboriginal bush tucker. The billabongs,