Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
8
The Top End
by Lee Mylne
T
he “Top End” is a last frontier, a vast
sweep of barely inhabited country from
Broome on the west coast to Arnhem-
land in the Northern Territory and
eastern Queensland. Most of it is in
the Northern Territory, and the term
is also used to differentiate the north-
ern part of the Territory from the “Red
Centre.” It is a place of wild, rugged
beauty and, sometimes, hardship.
The Northern Territory's capital,
Darwin, is a small city, rich, modern,
and tropical. Katherine is famous for
its river gorge. Visit an Aboriginal
community, canoe along lonely rivers,
and soak in thermal pools. To the east
of Darwin is Kakadu National Park,
home to wetlands teeming with crocs
and birds; one-third of the country's
bird species are here. Farther east is
Arnhemland, a stretch of rocky escarp-
ments and rivers owned by Aborigines
and seen by few others.
Life in the Top End is different than
elsewhere in Australia. Its slightly
lawless image is one the locals enjoy.
Isolation, the summer wet season,
monsoons, predatory crocodiles, and
other dangers make 'em tough up
here.
1 Exploring the Top End
Read “Exploring the Red Centre,” at the start of chapter 7; it contains informa-
tion on traveling the entire Northern Territory.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Northern Territory Tourist Commission
(NTTC),
Tourism House, 43 Mitchell St., Darwin, NT 0800 (
&
13 30 68
for
trip-planning inquiries in Australia, or 08/8999 3900 for administration; www.nt
holidays.com), can supply you with information on Darwin, Litchfield National
Park, Kakadu National Park, Katherine, and other destinations in the Territory.
The commission has a website tailored for international travelers at
www.
australiasoutback.com
, and another at
www.ntexplore.com
for the self-drive
market. It also publishes a helpful annual guide to the Top End that details many
hotels, tour operators, rental-car companies, and attractions, and a separate fish-
ing guide. The Commission's Territory Discoveries division offers package deals.
The
Tourism Top End
information center in Darwin and
Katherine Region
Tourist Association
(listed in the “Darwin” and “Katherine” sections of this chap-
ter) can supply information about the Top End in addition to their local regions.
WHEN TO GO
Most folks visit the Top End in the winter
dry season
(“the
Dry”). Not a cloud will grace the sky more than likely, and temperatures will be
comfortable, even hot in the middle of the day. The Dry runs from
late April
to late October/early November.
It is high season, so book every hotel or tour
in advance.
The
wet season
(“the Wet”) runs
November (sometimes as early as Oct)
through March or April,
sometimes a few weeks longer in the Kimberley. While
