Darwin houses an amazing history including 3 cyclones, with its worst being Cyclone Tracy in 1974 which destroyed most of the town. Darwin was miraculously rebuilt after the disaster and now houses many galleries and museums, including many Aboriginal collections. Aboriginal culture is very much etched into the community.

Kakadu National Park, 200km east of Darwin, is a World Heritage area both for its natural and cultural importance. Covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, the park is so diverse and contains approximately 275 species of birds, 75 species of reptiles, 25 species of frogs, 10,000 species of insects and more than a third of the Top End's plant life. The landscape of Kakadu incorporates flood plains, billabongs, woodlands, rock plateaux, rock escarpments and plummeting waterfalls.

Kakadu National Park contains both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. The best chance of finding a saltwater crocodile (considered very dangerous) is on an East Alligator or Yellow Water cruise. Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls both have resident freshwater crocodiles as well as lizards, turtles and snakes.

Kakadu is transformed by the different seasons and during the wet season many areas become impassable and cut off. Perhaps the most popular time for visiting Kakadu National Park is the late Dry (July/August). At this time wildlife is abundant especially the birdlife in the shrinking billabongs and watercourses.

Bathurst and Melville Island lie off the coast to the north of Darwin. These two islands are home to the Tiwi people, with their own culture distinct from the mainland Aborigines. Visits to the islands are now only allowed as part of organised tours in an attempt to maintain the islands cultures and history.

The town of Batchelor is the gateway to the Litchfield National Park. Numerous permanent waterfalls cascade down the outstanding sandstone plateau of Tabletop Range. There are many beautiful swimming holes, lookouts, walking trails and picnic areas. There are also many magnetic termite mounds to be found in the national park - their size will amaze you.

Pine Creek is an historical mining town situated at the junction of the Stuart and Kakadu Highways and is the ideal base for swimming, sight seeing, fishing, gold panning, horseriding, bushwalking and fossicking.

Katherine is located 315km south of Darwin. Katherine is the centre of a large region covering cattle country, farmlands and national parks. The area also boasts magnificent Aboriginal rock art.

The township of Katherine has many galleries and aboriginal communities. Watch aboriginal artists create their paintings, weave their baskets and tell their stories of the past.

Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park is located 30km from Katherine itself. Carved through the Arnhem Land plateau by the Katherine River, Katherine Gorge is one of the Territory's top tourist attractions. The waters of Katherine Gorge are an enticing deep blue, but it is the sheer scale of the gorge that is the most mesmerising feature. Boat cruises and flights allow you to experience the wonders of the magnificent gorges. There is also an extensive system of walking trails through the rugged surrounds.

Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park is located 25km south of Katherine. These fascinating limestone caverns are located about 15 metres below the surface and 2 are open to the public with guided tours.

Continuing south-east, reach Mataranka and Elsey National Park. Mataranka Thermal Pool is extremely popular, where you can swim in the crystal spring waters and enjoy the surrounding forest of paperbarks and cabbage palms. Nearby you can also go fossicking for gems.

Fact Summary

Darwin Airport Transfers:To city centre by shuttle bus $6, or taxi $12.

Climate: Summer 31-32 deg CC. Winter 20-31 deg CC.

Darwin International Airport is located approximately. 13 kilometre from the town centre. Katherine Airport is located 11 kilometre from Katherine town centre.

Conventional vehicles are forbidden to travel on unsealed roads and it is recommended that when driving off road in 4WD that vehicles are equipped with at least 20 litres of water and basic maintenance equipment.

All visitors to the Northern Territory must take account of the hot and humid climate and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and carry adequate sun protection.

Weather