Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Road Hazards
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Take a rest every few hours: driver fatigue is an all-too-common problem.
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Wandering cattle, sheep, emus, kangaroos, camels etc make driving fast a dan-
gerous prospect. Take care and avoid nocturnal driving, as this is often when native
animals come out. Many car-hire companies prohibit night-time driving.
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Road trains are an ever-present menace on the main highways. Give them a wide
berth, they're much bigger than you!
The Tropics: Darwin, Kakadu & Katherine
The outback in the tropical Top End is a different experience to the deserts further south.
Here, the wet and dry seasons determine how easy it is to get from A to B. In the Wet,
roads become impassable and crocodiles move freely through the wetlands. But before
you cancel your plans, this is also a time of abundance and great natural beauty in the na-
tional parks - plus Kakadu resorts approach half-price! Darwin isn't really an outback
town these days, especially in the Dry when backpackers from around the world fill the
bars and Mindil Beach market. Katherine, three hours to the south, is much more 'coun-
try', and the jumping-off point for the astonishing Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National
Park.
The Victoria Highway: Katherine to the Kimberley
The Victoria Highway is a significant section of the epic Savannah Way from Cairns to
Broome, the classic 'across-the-top' route. Leaving Katherine it winds through classic
cattle country, where farms can be as big as small European countries. There are 4WD
and hiking opportunities, outback campsites, rock art, national parks, red gorges and cro-
codiles. And this region boasts some of the Top End's best barramundi fishing. The im-
mense Gregory National Park, a former cattle station, is best explored with 4WD,
however, in the Dry a 2WD will get you into most of the historic sites, campgrounds and
Keep River National Park near the border with Western Australia.
PERMITS FOR ABORIGINAL LAND
In the outback, if you plan on driving through pastoral stations and Aboriginal com-
munities you may need to get permission first. This is for your safety; many travel-
