Facts about Northern Territory Australia
                  
                  Area:1,349,130 sq kms (520,902 sq miles)
                  State Population:197,700
                  Capital: Darwin
                  Population: 144,00
The Northern Territory makes up nearly one-sixth of Australia and geographically most closely resembles the popular image of the Great Australian Outback.
The north or Top End, centred on the capital, 
                  Darwin, is tropical with rich vegetation and a varied coastline. 
                  251km east of Darwin is World Heritage-listed Kakadu National 
                  Park (the third largest National Park in the world and about 
                  half the size of Switzerland), an area of vast flood plains 
                  and rocky escarpments steeped in natural and cultural heritage 
                  and home to Aborigines for at least 40,000 years. Katherine 
                  is 314km south of Darwin and just beyond that is Nitmiluk (Katherine 
                  Gorge) National Park, a striking system of 13 gorges towering 
                  up to 60 metres high.
                  
                  The southern part of the Territory is centred on Alice Springs, 
                  which is virtually the centre of Australia and the starting 
                  point to explore many of the Red Centre's highlights including 
                  Uluru (Ayers Rock), which is located about 465kms to 
                  the south-west. 
Other of the Red Centre's natural and geological wonders include Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), King's Canyon, the Western MacDonnell Ranges and the Devil's Marbles.
Some areas that we visit have great significance 
                  to the local Aborigines and as such are culturally sensitive. 
                  Access to these areas (which includes the Uluru (Ayers Rock) 
                  climb) may be restricted for cultural reasons for unspecified 
                  times and with little prior notice. We reserve the right to 
                  amend our itineraries or visit alternative areas in these circumstances 
                  and no refunds will be given.
                  
                  Red Centre:
                  Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural Centre: in keeping with 
                  the park's importance to indigenous people, major emphasis is 
                  placed on helping visitors understand Aboriginal traditions 
                  and lifestyle. The Cultural Centre houses the park's information 
                  services with displays presenting the sights and sounds of Tjukurpa 
                  (creation stories and laws) and the local culture.
                  
                  Top End:
                  Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre: the centre's circular 
                  design represents a warradjan (pig-nosed turtle). As well as 
                  providing detailed information about Aboriginal culture in Kakadu, 
                  there is also a video room and a gallery that sells Aboriginal 
                  arts and crafts plus books and cards.
                  
                  Aboriginal Rock Art:amazing examples of rock 
                  art dating back an estimated 40,000 years can be seen throughout 
                  Kakadu but most notably at Ubirr and Nourlangie.
Red Centre:
                  You may see kangaroos, emus, wild camels, goannas, thorny devils 
                  and more. 
                  
                  Top End:
                  You may see wallabies, salt and fresh water crocodiles, buffalo, 
                  frill-neck lizards, wild pigs and a huge variety of bird life 
                  including wedge-tailed and sea eagles, jabiru and herons.
                
Seasonality of the Top End 
                  
                  Located in the Arid Tropical region of Northern Australia means 
                  that you enjoy beautiful weather for the majority of the year. 
                  The Top End experiences 2 distinct seasons as outlined below. 
                
|  
                       Average Minimum  | 
                    Average Maximum | Description | |
| Tropical Winter | 21.5°C | 31.5°C | Unlike most southern capitals which usually experience cool temperatures at this time of the year, the Top End enjoys blue skies, warm dry days and cool nights...perfect for outdoor adventures and touring. | 
| Tropical Summer | 24.6°C | 32.2°C | Spectacular electrical storms, sun showers and warm, humid weather are the characteristics. The waterfalls are in full flow, flocks of birds spread across the wetlands, and a rich lush green becomes the dominant colour scheme | 
                  
                
                  Due to rainfall and distinct seasonality, access into parts 
                  of Kakadu National Park will be restricted from Dec-Apr. At 
                  this time of year, some travellers may feel that Kakadu is a 
                  harder adventure than the soft nature of our other tours. 
Interest
Adelaide River township: approximately 110kms 
                south of Darwin along the Stuart Highway you will find the World 
                War II Cemetery. 
                
                Alice Springs: Alice Springs is the famous geographical 
                centre of Australia. This town is situated on the Stuart Highway 
                and is a place where the traditional Arrernte Aboriginal owners 
                have lived for about 20000 years. About 29000 people live in the 
                town nowadays. Alice Springs is unique insofar as the town is 
                situated 'in the middle of nowhere' but the atmosphere there is 
                really warm, the nightlife is just amazing, and the attractions 
                nearby are numerous.
                
                Annaburroo: a saltwater, crocodile free swimming 
                billabong.
                
                Barramundi Gorge (Maguk): one of the few permanent 
                waterfalls in Kakadu, it has cut its path through the ancient 
                sandstone creating an oasis where we can swim. 
                
                Barrow creek pub: this pub is a typical stopover 
                point on the Stuart Highway and is located about 280 kilometres 
                north of Alice Springs. 
                
                Buley Rockhole: with Wangi Falls this series 
                of small waterfalls is certainly the most popular and beautiful 
                swimming spot in the Litchfield National Park. 
                
                Carr Boyd ranges: located south of Kununurra 
                Carr Boyd Range offers beautiful sceneries with deep gorges, nice 
                waterfalls and pretty fern pools. The wildlife is also abundant 
                there.
                
                Coober Pedy: is the opal capital of the world, 
                producing 95% of the world's opals and attracts a special breed 
                of people. There are 41 different nationalities living in a population 
                of just over 4000 people. 80% of them live underground to avoid 
                the heat. There are underground shops, churches, hostels and hotels. 
                We accommodate our guests in an underground bunkhouse, but also 
                offer the opportunity to upgrade accommodation to a 4 star hotel 
                for those who want to break the journey. Passengers will be taken 
                on a mine tour and given the opportunity to ‘noodle’ for their 
                own opals.
                
                Curtin Springs Station: a working cattle station 
                of some 4000 square kms, on which is located Mt Connor. 
                
                Cycad Gorge at Palm Valley: clumps of tall, slender 
                palms lending a tropical atmosphere to their barren setting. These 
                pre-historic palms are leftovers from much wetter times in Central 
                Australia. 
                
                Daly Waters: the famous pub at Daly Waters, the 
                oldest in the Northern Territory, is situated 588kms south of 
                Darwin and also acts as a bank, post office and police station. 
                It dates back more than a hundred years and was originally built 
                for the pioneer drovers on the long cattle drives through this 
                part of the Outback. 
                
                Darwin: This is the most popular town and also 
                the territorial capital of the Northern Territory. It is a city 
                of about 110000 inhabitants with a large proportion of Aboriginal 
                people, which justify the fact that the town is sometimes called 
                'the multicultural capital of Australia'.
                
                Devils Marbles: massive red granite boulders 
                balancing precariously on top of each other located some 100kms 
                south of Tennant Creek.
                
                Edith Falls: located about 60 kilometres north 
                of Katherine, Edith Falls is a series of superb waterfalls and 
                beautiful pools cascading into a lake. An ideal place for swimmers…
                
                Finke River: this River is the main river in 
                Central Australia and also one of the oldest rivers in the world. 
                
                
                Florence Falls: situated in the Litchfield national 
                park near the rainforest, it is an impressive and beautiful double 
                waterfall dropping down into a clear rock pool where people can 
                enjoy a swim.
                
                Fogg Dam: a conservation reserve about 60kms 
                from Darwin, where permanent wetlands are alive with bird and 
                wildlife and water lilies. Anbangbang Billabong - a small and 
                picturesque seasonal billabong that's home to a variety of bird-life. 
                
                
                Glen Helen Gorge: situated about 130 kilometres 
                from Alice Springs Glen Helen gorge is one of the six waterholes 
                along the Finke River and is a beautiful spot for swimming and 
                enjoying what nature has to offer. 
                
                Gosse Bluff: a spectacular remnant of a huge 
                meteor crater believed to be about 130 million years old. 
                
                Gunlom Falls: a large waterfall situated in the 
                southern end of Kakadu National Park, it offers scenic swimming 
                holes etched into the Escarpment by the relentless action of erosion. 
                The climb to the top is rewarded with fantastic views over the 
                park. 
                
                Gregory National Park: situated about 350 kilometres 
                from Darwin, this National Park is the second-largest in the Northern 
                Territory. It is a mixture of beautiful sandstones, escarpments 
                and gorges.
                
                Jim Jim & Twin Falls: spectacular waterfalls 
                accessible only during the Dry Season (May to November) by 4WD 
                vehicles. Swimming ability is a must (1km return paddle to the 
                base of Twin Falls) 
                
                Kakadu National Park: this National Park situated 
                about 250 kilometres from Darwin is an Australian icon and one 
                of the most visited National Parks in Australia. It is renowned 
                for its diverse environment from amazing waterfalls and to beautiful 
                Aboriginal rock art. Between Alligators, birds and kangaroos, 
                the wildlife is rich and numerous.
                
                Kata Tjuta (the Olgas): this 'place of many heads' 
                has 36 domes that make up a site of even greater cultural significance 
                to the Aborigines than Uluru. There are two permitted walks in 
                Kata Tjuta (no climbing is allowed as requested by the traditional 
                owners), the Mt Olga pass, which is around 3km return and the 
                Valley of the Winds which is approx 8km return. 
                
                Katherine Gorge: actually consisting of 13 gorges 
                which are best viewed from the air, you can canoe or cruise around 
                the first few gorges appreciating the striking landscape. 
                
                Kings Canyon (Watarrka): is a canyon almost 275 
                metres deep. A 6-8km walk around the canyon gives spectacular 
                views of the surrounding desert and special features such as the 
                'Lost City', the 'Amphitheatre' and the 'Garden of Eden'.
                
                Litchfield national park: situated about 130 
                kilometres from Darwin, this National Park is a mixture of dense 
                tropical rainforest, eucalyptus, and magnetic termite mounds.
                
                Mamukala Wetlands: Mamukala Wetlands is one of 
                the most visited places in Kakadu National Park, and an ideal 
                place to see thousands of magpie geese and lots of other birds.
                
                Mary River Wetlands: is the largest system of 
                its kind in the Northern Territory. It boasts the highest concentration 
                of salt-water crocodiles in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as 
                an amazing profusion of other wildlife. ATA offer a private boat 
                cruise on the wetlands for our passengers. Our boats seat only 
                24 passengers in contrast to the 50 seat boats operating on other 
                cruises such as Yellow Waters and the Adelaide River. 
                
                Mataranka: this is a small town located along 
                the Stuart Highway about 100 kilometres south of Katherine.
                
                Mataranka thermal springs: these thermal springs 
                are situated underground in the Elsey National Park and are incredibly 
                clear and hot. 
                
                Mereenie 4WD Track/Loop Road: completed in 1994, 
                this 4WD road loops around the western edge of the MacDonnell 
                Ranges linking Kings Canyon with Alice Springs. 
                
                Motorcar falls: with its amazing 25 metres waterfall 
                dropping down into a pretty rock pool, Motorcar Falls is one of 
                the best wet season areas in Kakadu National Park. 
                
                Mt Connor: higher than Uluru and often mistaken 
                for it, we pass this flat topped monolith on the way to Yulara. 
                
                
                Nourlangie Rock: located approximately 330km 
                east of Darwin in the heart of Kakadu National Park, another ancient 
                rock art site famous for its dynamic display of art and panoramic 
                views of the Escarpment country. 
                
                Nungulawar art site: a site which allows people 
                to see aboriginal art, paintings, dreaming stories etc.
                
                Ormiston gorge: this gorge has a beautiful waterhole 
                surrounded by nice tropical plants and flowers.
                
                Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge: this Lodge, just 
                30kms outside Kakadu National Park, offers travellers the opportunity 
                to explore the pristine Mary River Wetlands renowned for its abundance 
                of wildlife, beautiful billabongs, cool rainforests and excellent 
                barramundi fishing. The Lodge has a range of accommodation from 
                air-conditioned units with en-suite facilities to backpacker dorms 
                and camping. It also has a swimming pool and fully licensed bar 
                and bistro. 
                
                Robin falls: located about 17 kilometres south 
                of Adelaide River, Robin Falls is a beautiful little waterfall.
                
                Small gorge: this gorge is, as its name says, 
                a pretty small gorge, however this is a really beautiful double 
                fall with a nice clear pool. 
                
                Tennant Creek: about 986 kms south of Darwin 
                was the centre of Australia's last gold rush in 1930. Passengers 
                enjoy a gold mine tour here on our trips between Alice and Darwin. 
                
                
                Ti Tree: Ti tree is a small service town and 
                supply point on the Stuart Highway, and is located about 190 kilometres 
                from Alice Springs. Lots of Aboriginal people (about 1300) still 
                live there.
                
                Timber creek: this small town of about 600 inhabitants 
                is situated about 290 kilometres from Katherine. It lies on Victoria 
                Highway which connects Australia’s top end and the Kimberley 
                region in Western Australia. 
                
                Tolmer falls: this long and narrow waterfall 
                is one of the highest and most spectacular in the Litchfield National 
                Park. 
                
                Tropic of Capricorn: This is one of the five 
                main circles of latitude on Earth maps. It passes about 30 kilometres 
                north of Alice Springs. 
                
                Ubirr Rock: approximately 280km east of Darwin, 
                Ubirr has been home to Aborigines for an estimated 25,000 years. 
                They have recorded and documented the changing landscapes and 
                social occurrences in the rocks at this site. The art is endemic 
                to this region. 
                
                Uluru (Ayers Rock): the second largest 
                Monolith in the world and centre of the sacred heart of Australia, 
                it is of deep cultural significance to local Aborigines. Though 
                the traditional owners would prefer if they didn’t, visitors 
                can still climb it. Our guides give clients the information to 
                make an informed decision and then the choice is up to the individual 
                (the climb is 1.6km from base to top and people with heart conditions 
                or breathing difficulties should not attempt it). Climbing is 
                not permitted if the Rangers consider it unsafe due to extreme 
                temperatures, wind or rain. Photography is limited in some sites 
                because of their significance. 
                
                Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural Centre: 
                In keeping with the park's importance to indigenous people, major 
                emphasis is placed on helping visitors understand Aboriginal traditions 
                and lifestyle. The Cultural Centre houses the park’s information 
                services with displays presenting the sights and sounds of Tjukurpa 
                (creation stories and laws) and the local culture.
                
                Valley of the Winds (Kata Tjuta): this spectacular 
                hike, varying in length from (approx) 6-8km depending on the trip 
                chosen, winds through some of the 36 weathered domes. NB: The 
                trail is closed when temperatures rise above 36°C.
                
                Wangi falls: situated in the Litchfield National 
                Park, Wangi Falls is a renowned area for swimming and picnicking. 
                
                
                Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre: The centre's 
                circular design represents a warradjan (pig-nosed turtle). As 
                well as providing detailed information about Aboriginal culture 
                in Kakadu, there is also a video room and a gallery that sells 
                Aboriginal arts and crafts plus books and cards.
                
                Western MacDonnell Ranges: form an imposing red 
                barrier from east to west for 400kms across the vast central Australian 
                plain with Alice Springs situated in the centre. The Ranges stretch 
                160kms west of Alice Springs offering spectacular landscapes and 
                gorges. 
 
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