Sunshine CoastNORTHERN TERRITORY
Northern Territory Accommodation and Travel Info
| Drink plenty of waterand carry extra water Other State Information Nothern Territory Destination InformationDarwin . Kakadu . Katherine . Tennant Creek . AliceSprings . Yulara
Foodand fuel (petrol, gas, diesel) all cost more in The Territory, becauseof the distance it has had to be carted to get it there.Accommodation too is usually a little dearer than in our other Statecapitals, especially in places like Ayers Rock (Yulara). Whentravelling by road in The Territory, always carry spare tyres andplenty of water. Some spare fuel can be a good idea too. Servicestations are hundreds of kilometres apart in some places. Bookingaccommodation ahead is always a wise idea. DARWIN Takingthe ARNHEM HIGHWAYtoward KAKADU NATIONALPARK there are a number of good stoppingplaces en route. These include DJUKBINJNATIONAL PARK,FOGG DAM CONSERVATIONRESERVE, LEANINGTREE LAGOON NATUREPARK, WINDOWSON THE WETLANDSat Beatrice Hill, BRIANCREEK MONSOONFOREST at Mary River and CORROBOREEBILLABONG, 20 kilometres off the highwayat Mary River. On the same route there's also MARYRIVER CROSSINGRESERVE and in the general area MISTAKECREEK, NORTHROCKHOLE, SHADYCAMP and WILDMANRIVER PRIVATEWILDLIFE AREA WILDERNESSLODGE. KAKADU OUTOF DARWIN DOWNTHE TRACK FROMDARWIN SOUTHFROM LITCHFIELD KATHERINE WESTOF KATHERINE TENNANTCREEK THEDEVILS MARBLES 106 kms south of Tennant is a spectacularattraction. Thousands of huge rounded boulders scattered over a widevalley, precariously balanced one on top of the other, change colourduring the day. Self drive, or take a tour from Tennant Creek. TENNANTCREEK IS “AUSTRALIA¹S LAST GOLDRUSH TOWN” and has many remindersof the rough tough goldrush days of the 1930¹a. ATBATTERY HILL overlooking TennantCreek, there are many surprises in store. The Information Centre hasdisplays, films, interactive touch screen, photographs, history,sheltered picnic area, nature walk and more. BATTERYHILL MINING CENTRE - BATTERY HILL TOURSdaily through the operating Gold Stamp Battery where you¹ll see thegold ore treatment process and have it explained, with fascinatingstories of the early goldrush days. The tour includes the small goldmining museum. The Battery Hill underground mine tour demonstratesworking machinery, and creates the atmosphere of a real mine withspecial sounds and lighting effects. A memorable experience. THEDOT MINE EARLY MINE TOURS Take a tour with Colin throughhis original mine. Learn how it was dug with hammer and tap. Morestories are told and poems recited while you sip your billy tea aroundthe camp fire. THEGOLD FEVER TAG-ALONG TOUR takes you with miner Paul to hisold gold mine, where he demonstrates how to fossick and pan for gold.Gold detectors and pans are provided to try your luck. Keep what youfind. Alsoin the region is a public fossicking area. HORSERIDING - CATTLE DRIVE You can do on a trail ride throughbush country and learn about bush tucker, but book ahead. Bush campavailable. ATTRACTIONSinclude a MINING TRAIL, the MARYANN DAM recreation lake, historic sites, TEDRYKO BIKE PATH through the Honeymoon (McDouall) Ranges andmore. ACCOMMODATIONranges from backpacker, self contained, family style and caravan parksto three star motels. DRIVINGTHE EXPLORER HIGHWAY (Stuart Highway) is an experience not to bemissed. The fascinating history at Wayside Inns and small towns alongthe Stuart (Explorer) Highway will capture your imagination. ELLIOTT,360 kms north of Tennant Creek, is a town of 600 people. You¹ll besurprised to find a grassed nine hole golf course - clubs can be hiredfrom the Elliott Hotel. Just north of Elliott is the historic drovingtown of Newcastle Waters, with its bronze statue of the Drover in thepark, and historic hotel and store. No services available here. FORBROCHURES, INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS contact The Tennant Creek RegionalTourist Association, P.O. Box 601, Tennant Creek. Tel: +618 8962 3388, Fax: +61 8 8962 2509 Email: tcrta@topend.com.au CENTRALIA ALICESPRINGS WESTMACDONNELL RANGES EASTMACDONNELL RANGES YULARA DESERTCOUNTRY
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TheNorthern Territory is to be found at the top centre ofAustralia. It is a tropical, very sparsely populated region,which nevertheless has some of Australia's most famous touristattractions - ALICE SPRINGS, AYERSROCK and KAKADUNATIONAL PARK.Its capital, DARWIN, is closer toSingapore than Canberra (our national capital) and thus its populationhas a high Asian as well as Aboriginal content. Its climate variesfrom the Wet season (November to April) to the Dry season (May toOctober) and these dates can vary slightly by a couple of weeks.However, some northern tour operators do not operate between lateOctober and mid April during The Wet. Flash flooding is then areal hazard. However, The Wet is the very best time to see KakaduNational Park's prolific bird life. It is an amazing spectacle.
theshallow waters at high tide), the AUSTRALIANPEARLING EXHIBITION(an important industry off our northern coast), CROCODYLUSPARK (see plenty of these creatures inthis new park, along with other Australian wildlife), DARWINBOTANIC GARDENS,the ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE,HOLMES JUNGLENATURE PARKat Karama, INDO PACIFICMARINE (a living coral reef eco-system)at Stokes Hill Wharf and many lovely nature reserves in and aroundtown. There are plenty of car rental companies and the TouristInformation Centre is the place to go for information on accommodationif you haven't pre-booked.
whowish to know more about this country's first settlers. There aremany guided tours and cruises available daily within the park, butpeople may get around on their own, if they choose. Special caremust be taken when camping near the rivers though, as the crocodiledanger is a very real one. Don't miss the rock art tour at UBIRR.It is quite extensive and unique. The EASTALLIGATOR RIVER CRUISE and theYELLOW WATERS CRUISE are good and there are also Gorgetours and air tours, which cost more, but which are very spectacular.
before you reach Katherine. Just out out of Darwin there'slovely little BERRY SPRINGS NATURE PARK(take your swimming togs), HOWARD SPRINGSNATURE PARK (equally scenic in a rainforest setting) andLAKE BENNETT WILDERNESS RESORT. There's also MANTONDAM, the MAJESTIC ORCHID FARMat Darwin River and the TERRITORY WILDLIFEPARK at Berry Springs. LITCHFIELDNATIONAL PARK has many spectacular waterfalls dropping intowonderful, natural swimming pools. This is a really good spot for apicnic and to see the magnetic giant termite mounds that are such afeature of the Top End. In this area you can also see the LOSTCITY, BATCHELORBUTTERFLY FARMand the old BLYTH HOMESTEAD.
touristparks, motels and first class hotels. And as for attractions,there is the ABORIGINAL ART & CULTURECENTRE in Todd Street; the ADELAIDEHOUSE MUSEUM,the SCHOOL OFTHE AIRand the FLYING DOCTORSERVICE BASE;the historic TELEGRAPH STATIONRESERVE; the ARALUENARTS CENTRE;CHATEAU HORNSBYWINERY; the DATEGARDENS; the FRONTIERCAMEL FARM;the GHAN PRESERVATIONSOCIETY train collection; MINERALSHOUSE, the MUSEUMOF CENTRALAUSTRALIA; the ROADTRANSPORT HALLOF FAME;the NATIONAL WOMEN'SHALL OFFAME; the PITCHIRICHI SANCTUARY;the OLD TOWNGAOL; the OLDTIMERS FOLKMUSEUM; the OLIVEPINK BOTANICAL GARDENS;PANORAMA GUTH - a must unique art gallery; the
ABORIGINAL DIORAMAS;some great murals on the town's walls, the historic cemetery with somevery famous graves, the ART GALLERY;LASSETER'S CASINO;BALLOONS ALOFT;the AIRCRAFT MUSEUMand much more. Then there are all the day trips you can take outto places like PALM VALLEY(don't miss it), RAINBOW VALLEY,FINKE NATIONALPARK, the GORGECOUNTRY and other points ofspectacular interest in either your own vehicle or in an airconditioned coach or 4WD. Cars can be rented at the airport or fromvarious agencies in 
town,if required and there is a regular town tourist minibus travellingaround all the most popular attractions from 9-5 daily. Hop on and offas often as you please with your all day ticket. An informativecommentary is given by the friendly driver. Eating is no problemin The Alice, as there are plenty of takeaway food bars, cafes andgood restaurants, as well as a number of supermarkets andhotels. Here you can try crocodile, emu, buffalo and kangaroosteaks, if you have a mind to do so. There are many festive eventstaking place in The Alice all year long and these include the CAMELCUP RACES, the HENLEY ONTODD REGATTAin a dry creek bed and a JAZZ FESTIVAL,to name but three.
spot, which has a fine colony of little rock wallabies. GLENHELEN GORGENATIONAL PARKis simply beautiful, with colour all around. It looks at itsbest when there is water in the ancient FINKERIVER. There isaccommodation available at various prices in the old Glen Helen Lodge,which was recently purchased by new operators and upgraded.There is a bar and a good restaurant there too, which day trippersalso enjoy using.
middle of the desert. Ayers Rock is a very ancient monolith(single piece of rock) that measures nearly 10 kilometres around thebase and about 350 metres in height. It is sacred to the localAboriginal people, so they ask that visitors do not climb it, but atleast half of them do. Entry to this park, which was deeded back tothe Aboriginal people some years ago, costs $15 each for adults, butthere is no charge for children under 16 years of age. Guided toursaround its base and caves are available and there is an AboriginalInterpretive Centre at Yulara that costs nothing to enter. Thereare also shops, several hotels from three to five stars, apartments,lodges and a caravan and camping park that is quite expensive. Peoplecan drive to Yulara, arrive by bus, or fly in from The Alice in about40 minutes. Once visitors have seen and photographed the Rock,they will usually drive out (or be driven) to the Olgas, which are farmore dramatic, colourful and somewhat spooky, because of their coloursand the sighing of the wind in the VALLEYOF THEWINDS. The Aborigines callthem Katajuta, meaning 'many heads'. They are a group ofmassive, wind worn boulders, that have strong mineral stains and quitea bit of bush around their bases which, with the brilliant blue skyand the rich red desert sands, makes for some great photography.