Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lems and substance abuse among a few people can present an unpleasant picture, are not
indicative of Aboriginal communities as a whole.
Tours to Aboriginal lands (most operated by the communities themselves) and visits to
arts centres are gradually becoming more widely available, as communities feel more in-
clined to share their culture. Benefits are numerous: financial gain through self-determin-
ed endeavour, and educating non-Aboriginal people about their culture and customs,
which helps to alleviate the problems caused by the ignorance and misunderstandings of
the past.
National Parks
The NT is all about its national parks; it has some of the largest and most famous natural
areas in Australia, including Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Nitmiluk. Parks Australia (
Click here
) manages Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta, while the NT's Department of Nat-
ural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport (
Click here
) manages the other parks
and produces fact sheets, available online or from its various offices.
2
Activities
Bushwalking
The Territory's national parks offer well-maintained tracks of different lengths and de-
grees of difficulty that introduce walkers to various environments and wildlife habitats.
Carry plenty of water, take rubbish out with you and stick to the tracks.
Top bushwalks include the Barrk Sandstone Bushwalk in Kakadu National Park, the
Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park, Ormiston Pound in the West
MacDonnell Ranges, Trephina Gorge in the East MacDonnell Ranges, and the Valley of
the Winds at Kata Tjuta.
Fishing
No permit is required to fish the Territory's waterways, though there are limits on the
minimum size and number of fish per person. Travel NT produces the excellent
The
EsseNTial Fishing Travel Guide
booklet (free from information centres), and publishes
some info online (
www.travelnt.com
)
. The
Amateur Fishermen's Association of the
The feisty barramundi lures most fisherfolk to the Top End, particularly to Borroloola,
Daly River and Mary River. Increasingly, the recreational-fishing fraternity encourages
catch and release to maintain sustainable fish levels. Loads of tours offer transport and
gear and start at $250 per person.
