Northern Territory
Wild, remote, and enormous, the Northern Territory is Australia's true outback, sparsely populated by people as rugged as its wide range of alternately lush and harsh ecosystems. If you saw Crocodile Dundee or Priscilla, then went to Sydney and won¬dered where the "real" Australia was, it's probably here, nestled in some dusty pub somewhere between the croc-infested tropical rainforests of the north and the sun-scorched earth of the Red Centre. But the NT is more than kitschy stereotypes. It is heterogeneous in every aspect-biology, geology, climate, and culture—and the rich patchwork that emerges provides a true adventure for die traveler with gusto and an independent spirit.
Dutch explorers were the first Europeans to infiltrate the region in the 17th century. Discoveries of gold along the Finniss River in 1865 brought more settlers com¬posed mainly of zealous miners and occasionally equally zealous missionaries. No permanent settlement was established until 1924, and it wasn't until 1978 that Can¬berra granted die fledgling territory self-government. The fragile nature of this auton¬omy was revealed in summer 1998, when the Canberra government simply invalidated a new Territory law legalizing medical euthanasia. The resulting Territorian anger gave strength to a movement for statehood, which John Howard's govern¬ment seized upon as an opportunity to revitalize the Australian federation. Pending approval by its citizens in a referendum scheduled for October 1998, the NT will become Australia's seventh state in January 2001. While new to white settlers, the region contains some of the oldest land formations as well as the longest surviving cultures in the world. Million-year-old sandstone formations (like Australia's most famous image, the vivid red Ayers Rock), gorges, and plateaus imbue an ancient grace to die raw land. Closely linked with these natural wonders, Aboriginal communities possess complex histories that date back up to 50,000 years as well as rich cultural and spiritual ties to the land. Today, one quarter of Territorians are Aboriginal, by far the highest proportion in die country.
Tile Northern Territory encompasses nearly one-fifth of Australia's land—1.3 mil¬lion square kilometers—but barely more than one percent of its people. Further^ more, the vast majority of its less than 200,000 hearty inhabitants cling to two centers: Darwin, the cosmopolitan capital, gateway to Asia, and mecca for backpack¬ers; and Alice Springs, an isolated desert outpost that clings to its rough-and-ready image despite the influx of cappuccino-drinking tourists. Between the two are stretches of land so astonishingly empty as to bring post-apocalyptic visions to the minds of the brave but lonely drivers who venture across. At the same time, the luxu¬riant tropics are a paradise forgotten by those who think "outback" is synonymous with barren desert. The Top End's dramatic gorges, winding rivers, and pristine plunge pools teem with wildlife, highlighted by world-famous Kakadu National Park, die not-to-be-overlooked Litchfield National Park, and the huge Arnhem Land. For travelers who don't mind being far from bright lights and big cities, the NT offers.
Featured Destinations from Australia
Australia : Capricorn and Whitsunday Coasts
Capricorn and Whitsunday Coasts From the Tropic of Capricorn, the Bruce Highway worms its way north through sugar cane fields and along the tropical coast. Between Rockhampton and Towns-ville, some oceanside towns have morphed into backpacker havens like Airlie Beach, while others, such as Mackay, still grimace at the sight of
Government House
Government House Government House on St George’s Terrace was completed in 1864 and is still the official residence of the Governor of Western Australia. If you walk down between the Concert Hall and Government House, you will also get a glimpse of the magnificent gardens here.
The Super Pit, Kalgoorlie
The Super Pit, Kalgoorlie The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Super Pit is definitely one of the goldfields outstanding attractions. Although really nothing more than a hole in the ground, it is nevertheless a huge and expensive one by any standards. During the past 100 years this goldfield has produced over 1000 tonnes of precious
Salt Lake Lefroy, Kambalda
Salt Lake Lefroy, Kambalda Salt Lake Lefroy is a mining town surrounded by desert. Located 56 km south-east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, 74 km from Coolgardie, 616 km east of Perth and 309 m above sea-level, Kambalda is a mining town which is divided into two very different sections - Kambalda East
Narooma
Narooma A small fishing village surrounded by beautiful beaches, bays and coastal lakes, NAROOMA lies at the heart of an area famous for its succulent mud oysters. You can canoe and windsurf on the Wagonga Inlet or sail to Montague Island – an offshore sanctuary for sea birds, seals and penguins.
Beaches in Perth
Beaches in Perth There are plenty of beaches around Perth, along what has become known as the Sunset Coast. The most famous of them is Scarborough. Scarborough can be reached by taking bus no. 15, 400 or 402 from the Wellington Street Bus Station. One of the nearest ocean beaches
Cape Byron
Cape Byron Cape Byron is the most easterly point in Australia and the lighthouse attracts a lot of visitors. A pretty well kept secret is that the lighthouse cottages are available for rent at a reasonable price from a real estate agency in town. They have two bedrooms and are
Nowra - Bomaderry
Nowra - Bomaderry This busy and expanding agricultural and business centre, located just upstream from the mouth of the Shoalhaven River, is an extremely popular tourist resort because of its stunning beaches extending north and south of the town. Wreck Bay to the south is extremely popular spot for surfing (Australia's
Burswood Casino
Burswood Casino To the east of the city, on the other bank of the river, is the impressive Burswood Casino, which also contains a high class hotel and conference facilities. It can be reached by taking a train to Burswood Station, on the Armadale Line. Next to the casino is
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay Just southeast of Nowra, the sheltered waters of Jervis Bay, (pronounced “Jarvis”) by a political quirk, are technically part of the ACT, in order to provide Canberra with access to the sea. The beautiful coast of the Jervis Bay National Park, at the southeast arm of the bay,
