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Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The township of Cooinda is located in the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, on the banks of the Yellow Water Billabong, recognised as one of the most spectacular wetlands in the world. Cooinda is home to the Warradjan Cultural Centre where visitors can gain an insight into the culture of the local Aboriginal people. Cooinda is the main access point for the Yellow Water Cruise which travels along Jim Jim Creek and the South Alligator River. Sunrise and sunset are the best times for bird and wildlife spotting. The Yellow Water Cruise is a favourite among bird watchers with sightings of kingfishers, honeyeaters, darters, jacanas, sea eagles, jabirus and many other interesting species. Gagudju Lodge Cooinda offers lodge accommodation, campsites, a grocery outlet, fuel, a souvenir shop, restaurant and large swimming pool.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The Maningrida community lies on the north coast of Arnhem Land and is best known as a pristine fishing destination. Travellers need a permit from the Northern Land Council to visit. Maningrida’s waterways are teeming with species such as barramundi, salmon, mangrove jack, golden snapper, Spanish mackerel, trevally and coral trout. Visitors can also learn about Aboriginal art and culture at the Maningrida Arts and Culture, which features traditional and contemporary art, bark paintings, sculptures, fibre craft, prints and items of material culture. Conical woven fish traps made by the local men and women are unique to the area and a popular collector’s item.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Batchelor is best known as the gateway to Litchfield National Park. Located 98 kilometres south of Darwin, just off the Stuart Highway (Explorer’s Way) and with a population of 358, Batchelor is an excellent base from which to explore Litchfield. Tourism became Batchelor’s key industry when Litchfield was declared a National Park in 1986. The town is also home to a residential tertiary college, catering specifically to Aboriginal students. While in Batchelor, drop into the Coomalie Cultural Centre. The centre conducts artist’s residencies, exhibitions and cultural projects and operates a retail outlet of art and craft. A bush tucker garden and a mural surround the centre. The town was named after the South Australian Labour politician Egerton Lee Batchelor (1865-1911) who became Minister for the Northern Territory in 1911. Batchelor grew slowly, with brief spurts of mining and agricultural activity until World War II when it was turned into an Allied Air Force base. An extension to the 1930s airstrip occurred in 1941 to accommodate the large US B-17 flying fortress aircraft, which operated here following the bombing of Pearl Harbour. In the 1950s a prospector named Jack White discovered uranium deposits at nearby Rum Jungle. The town grew as mining began in 1951, the mine was closed in 1963 with the treatment plant closing down in 1971. Legend has it that Rum Jungle earned its name after a rather raucous incident in 1871 when a bullock-wagon loaded with rum became bogged near jungle in the East Finniss River area causing the bullockies to settle in for one of the most notorious binges in Northern Territory history.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is a landscape of contrasts. Beneath waters dotted with lotus flowers, saltwater crocodiles lurk, jagged peaks of towering escarpments hide pockets of monsoon rainforest and waterfalls cascade into pools fringed with paperbarks, pandanus and cycads. Travellers can view the spectacular Jim Jim Falls, browse through a gallery of ancient Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr or Burrungui / Nourlangie Rock, or explore the scenic Yellow Water, a billabong teeming with wildlife. An entry fee applies to enter Kakadu National Park. Kakadu is shaped by water, being the catchment area for the South Alligator, East Alligator, Katherine, Roper and Daly rivers. From November to May, waterfalls are at their most spectacular and the lowlands are flooded, attracting millions of migratory birds. The unique and diverse avian life in Kakadu includes jacanas, azure kingfishers, cuckoos, rufous owls, magpie geese, jabiru and more. Travellers have several accommodation options in Kakadu, ranging from campsites to hotel accommodation. Further east lies Arnhem Land, encompassing 91,000 square kilometres of unspoiled wilderness. This land harbours a rich and ancient Aboriginal culture and is home to many Aboriginal people, many of whom continue to practise the traditional way of life. The natural beauty of areas such as Gunbalanya / Oenpelli and Mount Borradaile, and the endless coastlines of the Nhulunbuy / Gove and Cobourg Peninsula, make venturing into Arnhem Land unforgettable. These coastal areas are also excellent fishing destinations. Travellers wanting to visit Arnhem Land need to apply for a permit from the Northern Land Council, or if visiting on a tour, these are organised for you.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Alice Springs is a diverse and vibrant outback town. Situated on the banks of the Todd River (which only occasionally runs with water) ‘Alice’ is famous for its colourful characters and relaxed atmosphere. Travellers can enjoy the view from Anzac Hill, browse the Araluen Cultural Precinct, learn about the hardships of the pioneers at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station or the Royal Flying Doctor Service, meet rare and endangered wildlife at Alice Springs Desert Park or tee-off on one of the best desert golf courses in the world. A range of quirky events also provide entertainment - cheer at the Imparja Camel Cup, see the hilarious ASSA ABLOY Henley-on-Todd (a ‘boat’ race on the dry Todd River), or road test one of 3,000 beanies at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival. Alice Springs is a great base from which to explore the surrounding region, with attractions such as the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, the Larapinta Trail, Finke Gorge National Park, Hermannsburg (birthplace of Albert Namatjira), the Simpson and Tanami Deserts and more within easy reach.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Newcastle Waters township (no longer inhabited) is located 269 kilometres north of Tennant Creek just off the Explorers Way. It is part of the vast, historic Newcastle Waters Station in the Barkly Tablelands. The explorer John McDouall Stuart reached the area in 1861 and was excited to find large body of water in Lake Woods nearby and named it after the Duke of Newcastle, the then Secretary for the Colonies. Stuart established a base camp near the present site of the station. With the development of the pastoral industry, a small township sprang up and thrived as a supply point at the junction of major droving routes. The introduction of the road train in the 1960s, however rendered droving obsolete and Newcastle Waters quickly became a ghost town. The National Trust has preserved several buildings and created the Drovers Memorial Park (its centrepiece being a life sized bronze statue of a drover). It is a worthwhile stop for those travelling the Explorers Way as an insight into a way of life long past.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Howard Springs is a rural area on the outskirts of Darwin that features mango farms and picturesque rustic surrounds. Howard Springs Nature Park is a great place to enjoy natural springs, view long necked turtles and feed the huge barramundi that live there. There is a 1.8 kilometre walking track with signs explaining some of the different vegetation and animals along the way. Another short track meanders through dense rainforest to the springs which feed the main pool.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Renner Springs Roadhouse is located 150 kilometres north of Tennant Creek along the Stuart Highway. It was originally established by Dr Frederick Renner whilst working on the Overland Telegraph line in 1877. The Renner Springs Roadhouse itself is a World War Two army hut relocated from Banka Banka Station (established in 1885) 50 kilometres away. Renner Springs provides fuel, meals, bar facilities, motel accommodation and campsites to the traveller on the Explorers Way.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Located 80 kilometres north of Darwin, the Tiwi Islands are the combination of Bathurst and Melville Islands and collectively the Aboriginal population call themselves the Tiwi people. The Tiwi Islands remain a unique and rare opportunity to view and share this culture. Travellers do need a permit to visit the Tiwi Islands and cannot arrive unannounced, it is therefore imperative to go on an organised tour or fishing charter. There are several fishing lodges on the Islands to cater for the fishing enthusiast or for those wanting a cultural experience, you can do this on a day tour. There are also overnight experiences including going out with a hunting party to gather traditional bush foods such as mud mussels, mud crabs and mangrove worms. The Tiwi people are world famous for their art, many paintings can be found hanging in major art galleries around the world. Their art extends from the traditional forms of paintings on bark and canvas to wood carvings, distinctive silk screened cloth, woven accessories and pottery. There are several art galleries on both Melville and Bathurst Island and you are more than welcome to purchase directly from the artists. The Tiwi Islands are also famous for their love of sports, in particular Australian Rules Football. The Tiwi Football Grand Final, usually held in March, is a must see if you are in the area at the time. Nicknamed the Island of Smiles, the Tiwi people are coastal Aborigines with a culture different to those on the mainland. Their strong traditions, rituals and traditional foods are still a very important part of everyday life today and they appear to have successfully combined both traditional and modern lifestyles.

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

Originally a German Lutheran mission in the 1880s, Hermannsburg retains some historic buildings including a stone church and schoolhouse giving it an unusual character. It is located on Larapinta Drive, 130 kilometres south west of Alice Springs near the entrance to Finke National Park and Palm Valley. Hermannsburg is also known as the home of famous Aboriginal painter Albert Namatjira who captured the light and colour of the area so well. If continuing west towards Kings Canyon, Hermannsburg is the last fuel stop and outlet to purchase a Mereenie Loop Pass.