The Top End of Australia - The Australian National Parks

Australia Top End is another "must see destination" that should stay on your list when planning your travel in Australia.

Darwin offer great connection from most asian airports, so that you can get to the frontier city of Northern Australia in about 4hours flight. For many international visitors coming from Europe an ideal short cut to the long journey to Australia and an excellent way to start their trip around Australia.

The main attraction of the Northern Australia region is certainly the Kakadu National Park, a World Heritage Area listed for both its natural and cultural heritage and also listesd as a Unesco site. If you plan to include this area in your travel you should be aware of one thing: you will need at least 3 full days to visit Kakadu alone. On this page I am giving you some guideline information about the key areas and things to see in each national park.

The first thing you can do is download the Kakadu Guide and print some of the Kakadu Maps for the areas that more interest you. There is also a large Map of Kakadu All these information material will help planning your visit to the Kakadu National Park and to get an insight about what areas you want to focus on.

How to get to to the Top End and how to get around

You can reach Australia Top End from any Australian airport, alternatively you can catch the train from Alice Springs, The Ghan, that takes you in 24 hours up to Darwin. Or if you have more time you can self drive from Alice Springs, it's a long journey though, over 1500km. Whatever way of transportation you choose, the connection to the Top End is good.

I would suggest you to start from Darwin, visit the lovely tropical town and then head for the Kakadu for a few days. From Darwin the best way to get to the Kakadu is to hire a car. Or, if you love to, you can consider joining a tour, there is a huge offer both in town and directly inside the park. Darwin is located 150 km from the southern entrance of the park and 250 km far from the Bowali Visitor Centre.

To learn more about Darwin click now on Darwin, Australia's tropical city.

What to see in Australia's Top End

The Kakadu National Park along with the Litchfield National Park are the two major attractions, of the two the Kakadu is largely more popular. You should plan your visit according to the time available, the period is not so relevant, both the wet and dry season has lots to offer.

Even though some places are accessible only from May-September (dry season), there are other gorgeous areas to visit during the rest of the year from October-April, and special itinearies for the wet season are available too. Some Kakadu areas are even more attractive during the wet months because the gorges are filled with water, you can see myriads of birds and wildlife is very active that time of the year. If you are travelling in the wet months, you can check out the official government site for an update report on the northern australian road and tracks conditions this will also help planning your visit.

The months of May-June, are possibly the ideal time for a visit to Kakadu, to stay off the crowds of tourists and enjoy the advantages of the end of the wet season and the beginning of the dry season.

To make the most of your visit to the Top End allow 6 days to explore the whole area including Litchfield National Park, Katherine Gorge and Darwin. Do not venture out to Kakadu on a day trip, it's not worthwhile, you will be just spending your time driving and will not manage to see anything; if you are on a tight schedule make a day trip to Litchfield instead or visit Katherine Gorge. Here you can find more tips for your Kakadu Trip Planning.

Where to stay in Northern Australia

Ideally spend the first day in Darwin, see some attractions and enjoy the tropical laid off lifestyle of this nice town, stay overnight in Darwin, on the following day you hire a car and set off to the Kakadu National Park. In the park there are different kind of accommodation ranging from luxury hotels and resorts to hostels and camping facilities. Everything is offered. You can get all information about the accommodaiton available in Darwin, from the visitor Bowali visitor centre inside the park or you can check out the site to get the best hotel deals in Kakadu to see what is available in real time.

The Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land

This park is the major reason why international travellers visit Australia Top End Area. To give you some information about this huge park I have made a list of the key areas inside the park so as to give you some guideline and help make your planning your visit. Let's have a closer look at the single Kakadu Attractions now:

• The Bowali Visitor Center offers extensive information about the Kakadu National Park, this is absolutely the best way to learn about the park before you start your visit . You can spend a few hours browsing through the many videos, displays, books, pick up all free materials, like brochures maps, and also get a free copy of the guide "What's on in Kakadu" with the full program of the free guided walks available. The visitor centre is located in Jabiru, a town inside the National Park, offering a variety of services from accommodation to tours booking, just outside the town there is the Jabiru East Airport from wheren you can also access the park.

• The Nourlangie Area with huge rock shelters, ideal for a cool stop in the hottest months, you can climb to the lookouts for great view over the Nourlangie Rock. Moreover you can do some of the different walks to explore aboriginal sites and enjoy awesome aboriginal art. The walks take you to pools and billabongs.

• The Jim Jim Falls these falls are regarded as the most spectacular Kakadu's waterfalls but you can access them only during the dry season. The best way to enjoy these falls is actually a scenic flight since there is no water in the falls during the dry season and in the wet months the track is closed. There are a couple of walks to the bottom of the Jim Jim Falls to reach two plunge pools, where people enjoy swimming in the calm and cold water, the bigger pool is surrounded by huge, stunning cliffs, the other one not far from the Falls has a nice sandy beach. Moreover there is a 6 km walk with a track climbing up and going through bushland to reach the top of the Falls, where you can enjoy a gorgeous view of the area!

• The Twin Falls are with the Jim Jim Falls the most known falls of the Kakadu park. They are located just 10km away from the Jim Jim Falls. The only viable access is by crossing the creek on a boat, there is a boat shuttle service, (tickets area available at Garnamarr) that takes you across the creek, from there after a short walk you can reach the pool and a sandy beach at the bottom of the falls. Do not miss the walk to the top of the falls too, where you can have a swim! If you keep walking along the creek you'll find more pools and nice spots to stop for a break and a swim!

• The Yellow Water Wetlands this area is located about 50 km south of the Bowali Visitor Centre and is known for the boat cruises which offer a great opportunity to view Kakadu's abundant and birdlife and spot wildlife especially saltwater crocodiles. There are 2 short walks through the wetlands and around the billabong edge. Moreover for those interested in aboriginal culture there is the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre with a large display and video room, in the gallery you can also buy local arts and crafts.

• The Mary River Area possibly the less visited Kakadu area but a great experience during the wet season when some other attractions may not accessible. The 2 main attractions of this are are the Gunlom and Maguk Falls, offering great walks and beautiful pools. You can visit the The Gunlom Falls from Darwin for a day trip, since they are located in the southern part of Kakadu, if you like bushwalking take the Yurmikmik Walks half way to the Falls. From the parking a short walk will take you through the forest to the main pool of the Gunlom Falls, a big plunge pool of a stunning green water. From there you can take the 1km track up to the top of the Falls for a rewarding view of the area.

• The South Alligator Area The main attraction is the Mamukala Wetlands with its observatory platform where you can admire and listen to myriads of birds, a very relaxing place to take photos and enjoy the birds singing. This area also offer a nice walk through woodlands, forest and along the billabong, a picnic area and various boating and birdwatching destination tracks.

• The East Alligator Area this area is located at the border between the Kakadu and Arnhem Land, the largest aboriginal reservation are in Australia. The major attraction is the Ubirr Rock where you can admire amazing aboriginal rock art sites, you can also join a free talk on Aboriginal art and culture offered by the ranger. You find all details about these free talks in the What's on in Kakadu brochure at the Bowali Visitor Centre. There is a nice climb that take you to the top of the Rock to enjoy a great view over the Arnhem Land and the floodplains. Cruises with talks on aboriginal culture are offered on the East Alligator River during the dry season.
• Maybe before you keep reading you may want to watch this Video about ancient Kakadu National Park. Click on the link and come back to read more about the other gem of the Top End: the Litchfield National Park.

The Litchfield National Park

This is a beautiful small park, far less known than the most popular Kakadu National Park. Located close to Darwin it is an ideal destination for a day trip, since all attractions are close together so that you can explore all of them in one day without spending lots of time driving.
At the major falls swimming is not allowed.

Let's have a look at the Litchifield National Park attractions:

• The Termite Mounds site is located just after the park entrance. The most stunning are the stunning cathedral termite mounds, very impressive because of their shape and their height, they can reach up yo 5 meters. You can find lots of interesting information about the termites on the displays around the site.

• Florence Falls these are along with the Wangi Falls the biggest attraction of the Litchfield National Park, you can take photos from the top platform as well as descend steep stairs to the plunge pool. There is also another way get to the pool through a nice short walk: the Shady Creek Walk. A path takes you to the well equipped picnic areas, this is also the start of the Florence Creek Walk, which takes you to the Buley Rockyholes, through small pools, rapids and little waterfalls.

• The Wangi Falls the number one attraction of Litchfield, also very well visited by tourists. Has a viewing platform from the top and a boardwalk with stairs. The campground has great facilities, where caravans and kiosks are also allowed. It's definitely a place to visit but not a place to enjoy the solitude.

• The Tolmer Falls You can view the Tolmer Falls either by walking to the platform after, it's only a short walk from the car park or if you prefer you can walk along the Tolmer creek, and you will enjoy a very beautiful scenery with a series of falls which you would not see from the platform, in fact from there you can only view the last one.

The Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine Gorge

Most people associate the Nitmiluk Park with the Katherine Gorge, in fact this is the major attraction in the park. There are two ways of visiting the gorge: either you take a boat cruise, thi is the most popular way, or you take an helicopter ride, which is also a great way of visiting the gorge. We could only access one of the two gorges, at that time, and we had a nice short walk to the aboriginal rock sites.

• Boat cruises along the Katherine Gorge: they operate all year through, can be easily booked online, its' a good way of visiting the gorge in a short time, if you are on your way to other destinations, for instance on the way to Alice Springs or as a train stop when travelling on the Ghan. You can choose between a 2 hours or a 4 hours cruise, both involve some stops and short walks to rock sites where a cruise guide will tell you about the the history and the geology of the area.

• Katherine Gorge Scenic Flights I have heard a lot about them. They are simply spectacular and it's the best way to view the gorge, during the wet season. They also operate all year through, offer different flight options and most operators do offer hotel transfer too. Absolutely a must do thing if you visit this park!


• Katherine Gorge hiking - another great way to explore this huge park is also hiking. There are many walking tracks ranging from easy short walks to full day strenous trails. You will have the opportunity to go through the most diverse landscape, from flood plains, rocky escarpments, to stunning lookouts view , waterfalls and swimming holes. All trails are open in the dry season. The visitor centre will provide you with all information materials, there you can also buy a mini Guide to Nitmiluk National Park.

For finding accommodation in Australia's Top End click on this link.

I hope you find this Top End Mini Guide useful. If you want to add your comments, you can send in your travel experience about the Kakadu, add a tip, feel free to contact me and I will add your contribution!

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