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Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Melville Island, along with nearby Bathurst Island, is part of the Tiwi Islands, about 80 kilometres to the north of Darwin in the Arafura Sea. Melville Island is Australia’s second largest island after Tasmania. Melville Island isn’t open to the public for general tourism, but can be visited on an organised tour or fishing charter. Melville Island was first sighted by Abel Tasman in 1644 on his way from Batavia. In 1818 Phillip Parker King explored the island (he named it after Viscount Melville) and was surprised to discover that the local Aboriginal people knew some Portuguese words. He deduced they had made contact with Portuguese sailors after a Portuguese ship had been wrecked nearby. Ownership of Melville Island was returned to the Tiwi people in 1978, and like Bathurst Island, it is run by the Tiwi Land Council. Milikapiti, Pirlangimpi and Paru are the main communities, which are serviced by schools, sports ovals, museums and art and craft galleries.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Arnhem Land is made up of 91,000 square kilometres of unspoiled wilderness bordered by Kakadu National Park, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Travellers wishing to visit Arnhem Land must obtain a permit in advance from the Northern Land Council. Alternatively, many organised tours visit the region, and in these cases a permit is usually organised by the tour operator. Arnhem Land is rich in culture and features a diverse landscape characterised by wild coastlines, towering escarpments, savannah woodlands and wetlands teeming with wildlife. The park protects wetlands of international importance and provides a habitat for abundant wildlife, including crocodiles, dugongs, nesting turtles and migratory birds. The town of Maningrida, on the north coast of Arnhem Land, is famous for its indigenous art. Gunbalanya, one of the first stops east of Kakadu National Park, is an Aboriginal community where indigenous artists gather at the Injalak Art and Craft Centre. An open day is held in Gunbalanya usually during July, when travellers can visit freely and enjoy the cultural activities without a permit. The town of Nhulunbuy is located on the Gove Peninsula, approximately 600 kilometres east of Darwin. It is a major service centre, providing accommodation and supplies, and offers spectacular beaches and great fishing. There are many areas of historic significance including the ruins of an early European colony at Victoria Settlement in Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the secluded Coburg Peninsula and the Black Point Cultural Centre which displays Aboriginal, Macassan and European histories of the area.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Katherine is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory, with a population of around 8,000 and is located 300 kilometres south of Darwin. The town was named by the explorer John McDouall Stuart, after Catherine, the daughter of his benefactor. The region is home to the Jawoyn Aboriginal people. Katherine is often described as a place where ‘the outback meets the tropics’ and is well equipped with a range of accommodation and facilities. Travellers visiting Katherine may like to browse the Katherine Railway Museum, view the fine collection of Aboriginal art at Katherine Art Gallery, relax in the Katherine Hot Springs or gain an insight into the workings of a cattle station with a visit to the historic Springvale Homestead, built in 1878.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Nestled near the spectacular Arnhem Land Escarpment in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, Jabiru was established as a mining town in the 1970s. It is the only Australian town set inside a national park, and is now the main service area for Kakadu, offering a range of accommodation and facilities. The town supports about 1,100 residents with the Mirrar people the traditional Aboriginal owners of the Jabiru area. The people of Jabiru take pride in their unique town and enjoy a relaxed lifestyle with fishing, camping, bush walking and bird watching favourite pastimes. It has an Olympic size swimming pool, tennis courts and a challenging 9 hole golf course.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The scenic Victoria River area, located south-west of Katherine, is home to one of Australia’s last wild rivers. The Victoria River teems with fish and other unique wildlife and is a popular fishing destination. The small, historic township of Timber Creek is located on the Victoria Highway, 285 kilometres west of Katherine. Gregory National Park sits at Timber Creek's doorstep, covers around 13,000 square kilometres, and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Some activities to be enjoyed include escarpment walks, four-wheel driving, swimming, boat cruises and bird watching. A sunrise or sunset river cruise lets travellers see the river and its surrounds, and offers a chance to view the park’s diverse wildlife. Situated 170 kilometres west of Timber Creek is Keep River National Park. This park encompasses towering sandstone landforms and Aboriginal rock art and is best explored on foot following one of its many bushwalking trails.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The tiny township of Ti Tree, 314 kilometres south of Tennant Creek, is home of the Anmatjere people and services several Aboriginal communities, including Utopia, which is renowned for its art. The Red Sands Art Gallery is a respected gallery and one of the best places to acquire some Utopian art. Ti Tree is also an unlikely agricultural centre producing significant crops of table grapes and melons thanks to the abundant sunshine and huge underground water resources. Ti Tree roadhouse offers fuel and basic provisions for travellers between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Borroloola is a remote fishing community on the McArthur River in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This historic town is considered the gateway to the Gulf region and is famed for its excellent fishing. Borroloola can be accessed via the Carpentaria Highway from Daly Waters in the Northern Territory or on the road through Garawa Aboriginal Land Trust from Queensland. Once a frontier town, Borroloola is now the capital of the Gulf region. Today, the town is still a bit wild and unruly at times, but the people are friendly and easy going. Fishing and camping remain a way of life for locals and travellers chasing barramundi. King Ash Bay, a great fishing spot 50 kilometres from Borroloola, also attracts thousands of visitors each year. The Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands provides good reef fishing where red emperor, coral trout and parrot fish can be caught. The settlement has two main fishing event every year, the King Ash Bay Fishing Festival which is held the first week of May each year and the Borroloola Barra Classic, held on the Easter Sunday, both events are held in King Ash Bay.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The small town of Tennant Creek sits at the junction of the Barkly and Stuart highways, 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs and 1,000 kilometres south of Darwin. Known by locals as 'Tennant', the town is the service centre for the surrounding Barkly Tablelands, a huge area of grassy plains that house enormous cattle stations. Tennant Creek has a diverse history, shaped by the Overland Telegraph Line, gold mining, Aboriginal culture and pastoralism. The site of Australia's last major gold rush in the 1930s, Tennant Creek's mining past can be explored at the excellent Battery Hill Mining Centre, where underground tours shed light on the gold extraction process that made this area Australia's third-largest gold producer. The town's Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre is an award-winning museum and gallery that showcases the culture of the local Warumungu people. Other attractions include Tingkkarli/Lake Mary Ann, a picturesque swimming and picnicking spot. At the old Telegraph Station you will see stone buildings from 1872 and find out about the town's role in the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line. Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles is a sacred site about 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek and is the region's most spectacular landmark. The Devils Marbles consist of hundreds of enormous boulders balanced on top of one another across a shallow valley. The local Aboriginal people call them 'Karlu Karlu', and Aboriginal lore says the rocks are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent. Kunjarra/The Pebbles, is a women's dancing site located a short drive north of Tennant Creek. The Davenport Range National Park, accessed via the Barkly Highway, is a fantastic spot for four-wheel driving and camping. You will find some of the Territory's most challenging four-wheel drive tracks, and a series of permanent waterholes that attract plenty of birdlife.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The calm waters of the Mary River are best enjoyed on a fishing trip or nature cruise. The Mary River area, between Darwin and Kakadu on the Arnhem Highway, is an angler's paradise, literally jumping with barramundi and other tropical estuarine species. Wildlife spotting cruises are another ideal way to explore the area. Diverse fauna such as crocodiles, buffalo, wild horses and migratory birds are frequently seen. Travellers come to view magpie geese, brolgas, white-bellied sea eagles, red-tailed black cockatoos, rufous owls and more. Accommodation options in the area range from airconditioned cabins to caravan parks and campsites. Corroboree Park Tavern and the Bark Hut Inn are found along the Arnhem Highway, with Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge located through Mary River National Park. Mary River House Boats offer a unique accommodation option available for hire. Four-wheel drive enthusiasts will enjoy the floodplains, paperbark forests and monsoon rainforests found on the Hardies and Wildman four-wheel drive tracks.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Aileron is a welcome rest stop along the Stuart Highway offering meals, accommodation, fuel and is located close to Ryan Well Historical Reserve. Aileron Hotel and Roadhouse is located 132 kilometres north of Alice Springs and 370 kilometres south of Tennant Creek. A giant sculpture of an Aboriginal warrior (Anmatjere Man) guards over the roadhouse. The roadhouse offers a convenience store, meals, free guest laundry, children’s playground and visitor information. There is a collection of original Albert Namatjira watercolour paintings in the dining room. The accommodation ranges from powered and unpowered campsites, backpacker dormitory and self-contained motel rooms.