Australia

Australia's Outback (third part) - From Alice Springs to Darwin

 

After leaving Alice Springs and heading north on Stuart Hwy you'll have the chance to experience again the Outback's atmosphere.

There are several interesting sites on the way between Alice Springs and Darwin which will be described later on:

• Devils Marbles- a collection of huge rocks in different shapes.
• Mataranka- a small town offering some thermal pools, resorts and walking trials.
• Katherine and its surrounding- an area at the "Top End" with many attractions highlighted by the Katherine Gorge which offers various activities.
• Kakadu National Park- A famous world heritage site and one of Australia's "Top End" touristic places.
• Litchfield National Park- A beautiful park offering different treks, cascades, gorges and a rich variety of animals and flora.

 

 

Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve:  The Devils Marbles are a collection of huge, round, red-colored boulders found 114 km south of Tennant Creek in Australia's Northern Territory. "Karlu Karlu" as it is called by the local Aboriginals contains formations of rounded and oval boulders located in an Aboriginal sacred site. The "Kaytetye" people who are the natives around Barrow Creek and Tennant Creek believe that the boulders are the eggs of the rainbow serpent.

The Devils Marbles are made of granite, which surface like a little geological island in the desert, surrounded by incredible sandstone.

There's an easy short walk commencing from the car park on the western side of the road with signs explaining the formation of the 'marbles'.

Near the site there's a bush camping area with fire places and pit toilets but no water nor firewood are provided so you should come well equipped.

 

After you pass Tennant Creek on your way north on Stuart Hwy you'll see that the arid desert climate is slowly giving way to more trees and green vegetation.

 

Mataranka: The town is located near Roper River, 420 km south east of Darwin. The climate in this region is somewhere between the aridity of the 'Red Centre' and the tropical climate of 'The Top End'. The town is best known for the thermal pool located within the "Elsey National Park".

The thermal pool is a turquoise colored lagoon surrounded by palm trees. It's very relaxing to dip in the 30C water surrounded by the tropical beauty of the Katherine region. Near the thermal pool there's a small information center where you can find out about the activities in the area and also a Caravan park, a camping area and a small bar. 

 If you are looking for a crowded place, try Bitter Springs Thermal pools. The springs here branch off into a stream which you can follow down 100 meters to a bridge and then climb out on a ladder and walk around the springs.

 A pleasant 4 km walk along the Roper River leads to Mataranka Falls where the tranquility of the river turns into roaring waters.

 

Katherine and its surroundings: 100 km north of Mataranka you'll arrive to Katherine, the third largest town in the Northern Territory. Katherine, which is situated on the banks of Katherine River, has several churches, sport clubs, parks and shopping complexes. Within the town there are some interesting places such as the Katherine Museum, Old Train Station, School of the Air and Springvale Homestead.

Despite all this, the main attractions in the area are actually located out of town:

• The "Cutta Cutta" Caves Nature Park consists of limestone caves and Orange Horseshoe Bats. Near the caves there are two Aboriginal communities, Manyallaluk and Barunga, which are worth visiting.
• If you are looking for a quiet place to swim, there are some thermal pools along the Victoria Hwy. The swimming pond by the weir on the Katherine River is recommended especially during the dry season.
• Katherine Gorge, which consists of 13 gorges divided by rapids, is the main attraction in this area. There are some spectacular walks around the gorge but the best way to explore the area is by a canoe or a flat bottom boat.

 

Kakadu National Park:

 

The Park is located 150 km east of Darwin. It was declared as one of the few UNESCO world heritage sites because of its natural and cultural importance. The park is one of the most touristic sites in Australia. It combines wetlands and waterfalls, crocodiles and wallabies, caves, creeks and one of the world's best ancient rock art collections. The park has a rich world of animals and flora. It is partly owned and managed by Aboriginals, whose ancestors have lived on this land for more than 40,000 years.

Kakadu has a tropical climate and the temperature in the park is high all the year. The best season to visit the park is during the dry season between May to November.

There are many activities for visitors within the park such as trekking through trails which lead to beautiful waterfalls and gorges,

Aboriginal rock art and Kakadu's diverse wildlife. In addition, the Kakadu region is one of the world's best places for bird watching since approximately 30 percent of Australia’s bird species are found here.

The park provides all the necessary tourist facilities. However, don't forget to take with u mosquito net and spray against mosquitoes. The park is full with insects. For further information visit one of Kakadu's I-sites.

 

Litchfield national park:  The Park which is located 100 km south-west of Darwin contains several types of typical "Top End" habitats including lush monsoon forests, termite mounds, unusual rock formations, waterfalls and cascades.

The Park’s traditional owners are the Wagait Aboriginal people, many of whom live in the area. The main attractions in the park are permanent spring fed waterfalls (Florence, Tolmer and Wangi), cascades at Buley Rockhole, magnetic termite mounds and a wildlife cruise along the majestic Reynolds River.

Sealed roads link all main attractions and there's no need for 4wd to drive within the park. Keep in mind that during the wet season some of the treks are closed as well as most of the swimming areas.

The town Batchelor, located near the park entrance, serves as a gateway to the park. Travellers can stay there overnight, buy food and get some information about the park.