Post on 25-Mar-2016
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“The Norther n Terr i tory- las t o f the g reat f ront ier s - beaut i fu l , natural , vast”
P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f P a u l A r n o l d
Contents
NTLIFE is a publ icat ion by DarwinLife Pty Ltd
Shop 2/48 Cavenagh Street, Darwin NT 0800
t : 8981 2600 e: nt l i fe@darwinl i femag.com
www.darwinl i femag.com
T h a n k y o u t o To u r i s m N T
8. Welcome: You have chosen to v i s i t the Norther n Terr i tory, one of the mostremarkable and unique places in the world and we welcome you.
10. Orientat ion: Unique, majes t ic and mult icul tural , the Norther n Terr i toryshowcases the true essence of Austra l ia .
17. Darwin: Darwin i s the gateway to some of the world’s g reates t adventureplaygrounds.
34. Fishing in the Top End: The pr i s t ine coasta l water s are where some of thebest t ropical sport f i shing act ion in the world takes p lace.
36. Aborig inal Culture: The Terr i tory’s norther n reaches encompass a cul turer ich in art i s t ic her i tage.
41. Cuis ine: Darwin ' s cuis ine re f lects i t s d iver se mixture of more than 60nat ional i t ies and of fer s year-round water front dining to sui t a l l moods andbudgets.
55. Shopping: The Darwin shopping scene i s bout ique in s ty le and ec lect ic .82. Kakadu: World Heri tage- l i s ted Kakadu Nat ional Park i s a landscape ofcontrasts.
87. Kather ine: T h e r e g i o n o f f e r s g r e a t f i s h i n g , h i d d e n n a t u r a l w o n d e r s a n da r i c h i n d i g e n o u s a n d p i o n e e r i n g h i s t o r y
94. Al ice Springs : There are a number of at tract ions located in Al ice Springsthat wi l l provide you with a good understanding of l i fe in the Red Centre.
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A WARM WELCOME
Yo u h ave c h o s e n t o v i s i t t h e N o r t h e r n Te r r i t o r y, o n e o f t h e m o s tr e m a rk a b l e a n d u n i q u e p l a c e s i n t h e w o r l d a n d w e w e l c o m e yo u .
T h e r e i s s o mu c h t o d o , s e e a n d e x p e r i e n c e d u r i n g yo u r t i m e h e r e .Fro m d i s c ove r i n g l i v i n g A b o r i g i n a l c u l t u r e r i c h i n t r a d i t i o n s m o r et h a n 5 0 , 0 0 0 ye a r s o l d , t o w a n d e r i n g t h r o u g h o u r b r i g h t a n dc o l o u r f u l c i t i e s , t h e N o r t h e r n Te r r i t o r y i s j u s t w a i t i n g f o r yo u t oe x p l o r e .
T h e N o r t h e r n Te r r i t o r y i s Au s t r a l i a ’ s r e a l O u t b a c k a n d h o m e t ot h e i c o n i c n a t u r a l w o n d e r s o f K a k a d u N a t i o n a l Pa rk i n t h e n o r t ha n d U l u r u / Aye r s Ro c k i n t h e Re d C e n t r e . O u r s p e c t a c u l a r f l o r aa n d f a u n a v a r i e s d r a m a t i c a l l y b e t w e e n t h e d e s e r t s o f C e n t r a lA u s t r a l i a a n d t h e t r o p i c s o f t h e To p E n d ; i t i s a p h o t o g r a p h e r sd r e a m a n d a n a d ve n t u r e r s p l a yg ro u n d .
T h e N T i s f i l l e d w i t h f a s c i n a t i n g c h a r a c t e r s , a w e - i n s p i r i n gl a n d s c a p e s a n d s i n g u l a r e x p e r i e n c e s . D o yo u i m a g i n e yo u r s e l f i na r e m a r k a b l e a n d u n i q u e d e s t i n a t i o n f i l l e d w i t h c u l t u r e , c o l o u ra n d a d ve n t u r e ? Yo u d o n’ t h ave t o i m a g i n e i t ; yo u a r e a l r e a dy h e r e .
TIONT h e N o r t h e r n Te r r i t o r y i s s i t u a t e d i n t h e N o r t h o f A u s t r a l i a n e s t l e db e t w e e n We s t e r n A u s t r a l i a , S o u t h A u s t r a l i a a n d Q u e e n s l a n d . I t i so f t e n c a l l e d t h e D o o r w a y t o A s i a d u e t o i t s c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t oI n d o n e s i a a n d b e yo n d .
U n i q u e , m a j e s t i c a n d mu l t i c u l t u r a l , t h e N o r t h e r n Te r r i t o r y s h o w c a s e st h e t r u e e s s e n c e o f A u s t r a l i a . Wi t h a n a b u n d a n c e o f n a t u r a lr e s o u r c e s , a t h r i v i n g p o p u l a t i o n a n d a p o s i t i v e o u t l o o k f o r t h e f u t u r e ,t h e N T i s h o m e t o a n a m a z i n g a r r a y o f p e o p l e , p l a c e s a n d a d ve n t u r e s .
Fr o m w a t e r f a l l s t o d e s e r t s , f r o m r i v e r s t o w i l d e s c a r p m e n t s , f r o mm a j e s t i c b i r d s t o c r a z y c ro c o d i l e s t h e N T d i s p l a y s n a t u r e a t i t ’ s f i n e s t . Tr a v e l t h e l e n g t h a n d b r e a d t h o f t h e Te r r i t o r y a n d y o u w i l le x p e r i e n c e a n a d v e n t u r e l i k e n o o t h e r. Vi s i t I n d i g e n o u s c o m m u n i t i e sa n d d i s c ov e r t h e t r a d i t i o n s a n d c u s t o m s o f t h e o l d e s t l i v i n g r a c e i nt h e w o r l d . Wa n d e r t h r o u g h o u r c i t i e s a n d t o w n s a n d t a l k w i t h t h el o c a l s . E n j o y o u r a r t s a n d c u l t u r e , o u r s p o r t a n d e v e n t s , o u r u n i q u ew a y o f l i f e .
T h e N o r t h e r n Te r r i t o r y h a s i t a l l . D i s c ov e r, e x p e r i e n c e a n d e n j o y.
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Parliament House - Darwin
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Darwin i s the Norther n Terr i tory ’s cap i ta l ; a moder n, t rop ica l
c i ty that s i t s on a harbour twice the s ize of Sydney’s. Considered
Austral ia’s most cultural ly diverse ci ty, more than 60 national i t ies
make up Darwin’s populat ion , inc lud ing the area ’s t rad i t iona l
ind igenous landowner s. There ’s l i t t l e wonder Lone ly P lanet
picked Darwin as one of the top ten c i t ies in the world to v i s i t in
2012.
Darwin i s the gateway to some of the world’s g reates t adventure
playgrounds. Surrounded by the wonders of Li tchf ie ld Nat ional
Park , World Her i tage- l i s ted Kakadu, remote Ar nhem Land and
the Tiwi Is lands, nature seeps into every pore of the c i ty.
DARWIN
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Tropical MarketsDarwin i s a v ibrant mix of cul tures, and every one of them has a s ta l l at
the open air markets. Get to Mindi l Beach in t ime for sunset (Thursdays
and Sundays, March to November) g rab something tas ty, s tare out to sea
and you’ l l sense Asia jus t over the hor izon. On weekend mor nings a l l year
round the exot ic produce, loca l wares and f r iendly faces move to Parap,
Nightc l i f f and Rapid Creek.
THINGS TO DO IN DARWIN
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Festivals and EventsIn August , Darwin Fest iva l igni tes
the c i ty wi th local and
inter nat ional per for mances. Don’t
miss the Beer Can Regatta , Darwin
Blues Fest iva l and Darwin Fr idge
Fest iva l . In March, hop over to the
Tiwi Is lands for a unique ins ight
into the community ’s twin pass ions :
art and AFL footy.
Feed the f ishSince the early 1950s a unique and
natural phenomena occurs on the high
t ide amongst the tranqui l t ropical water s
of Darwin’s Doctors Gul ly. Hundreds of
fr iendly local wi ld f i sh swim to the
shal low shorel ine in search of a g ratui tous
meal of f resh bread. Over the course of
this enduring 60 plus year tradi t ion, the
f i sh have shed their nor mal shyness and
are wi l l ing ly hand-fed to the del ight of
thousands of fasc inated locals and tour i s t s
every year.
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Wonder through the Botanic Gardens A network of paths connect the main features of the beaut i fu lGeorge Brown Botanic Gardens. Marvel at the tropical orchids,bromel iads, other exot ic p lants and specia l seasonal d i sp lays.The Gardens has an impress ive col lect ion of Cycads, 450 PalmSpecies, a Rainforest Gul ly and Chi ldren’s Evolut ionaryplayground.
Keeping your Cool The Terr i tory sure does l ike i t hot ! Make sure you a lways carryenough water wi th you when walk ing around in the heat of theday. Wearing sunscreen i s a must , even during the Wet Season ofthe Top End and the cooler days exper ienced in Centra lAustra l ia . Our sun’s s t ing doesn’t d i scr iminate ! Why not buy abig f loppy hol iday hat and big sunnies to look the part?
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War RelicsOn 19 February 1942 an unprepared Darwin was devastated by Japanese bombing.
Despi te 58 further ra ids, Darwin rose to the chal lenge, becoming a major forward
base for the Paci f ic Campaign. Discover WWII s tor ies in the ruins at the East Point
Mil i tary Museum and the Oi l Storage Tunnels. P lus drop into the Heri tage Aviat ion
Centre for a up c lose and personal look at p lanes during the war years.
Heri tage Aviat ion Centre
Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cr uise
More than 80,000 Sal twater Crocodi les now roam the waterways ofNorther n Austra l ia , yet they are rare ly ever seen. The crocodi le i sa co ld blooded an imal , they bask in the sun dur ing the coo lermonths of June, Ju ly, and early August . Most of the t ime i t ' s war m,Crocodi les are buried in the mud, under the trees in the shade. Here on the Ade la ide River, the crocodi le s know our boat s , theyleave their p lace of h iding, knowing they may be fed. This happensa l l year round! ! Our crew wi l l ensure you are equipped wi th theknowledge you need to surv ive your s tay in Aus t ra l ia ' s Nor ther nTerr i tory.
Did you Know? Sal twater Crocodi les are more l ike ly to be foundin freshwater. Jo in us to lear n more! !
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Litchfield National ParkLitchf ie ld Nat ional Park i s only an hour’s dr ive f rom the c i ty. Crysta l -c lear water fa l l s,
swimming holes, four-wheel dr iv ing and easy-going bushwalks are jus t the s tart . Enjoying
the plent i fu l shade and refreshing rock pools at F lorence Fal l s wi l l make you want to
come back for more.
Deckchair Outdoor CinemaI t ’s been a Darwin tradi t ion s ince the 1920s but now the secret ’s out .
Every evening from Apri l to November, locals gather by the shores of
Darwin Harbour to lounge in deckchair s and watch f l icks under the s tar s.
Come early, g rab some food and wine, and watch the sun set before the
movie s tarts.
The WaterfrontDarwin’s newest hang-out i s the Waterfront precinct , in the heart of the c i ty.
The wave poo l and swimming lagoon are sur rounded by ch i l l ed-out ca fé s,
bar s, shops and res taurants. For a s t ro l l , a dr ink and a choice of p laces to
eat , the Waterfront makes a re laxed a l ter nat ive to buzzing Mitchel l St .
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Eyeball a giant crocAdelaide River, 70km drive from the c i ty centre, i s per fect habi tatfor Sal t ies. Seeing one of these 4 .5m giants jumping from thewater r ight next to your boat i s something e l se. So i s swimming inthe ‘Cage of Death’ in Darwin’s CBD. Or for the fa int-hearted,meet Sweetheart - 5m long and safe ly s tuf fed - at the Museumand Art Gal lery of the NT.
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The Northern Territory is a fascinating and diverse regionaffected by extreme seasonal changes. At the TerritoryWildlife Park visitors will find the various habitats andwildlife characteristic of the northern tropical region.Within the space of a few hours visitors will have theopportunity to take a journey through a top end riversystem at the aquarium and come face to face with a 3.5msalt-water crocodile, be immersed in one of the largestwalk-through aviaries in the southern hemisphere and todiscover many of the Territory’s elusive animals in thenocturnal house.Visitors can travel on shuttle trains along a 4km road orwander along 6km of bush trails that link all majorexhibits. Discover close-up, native Territory wildlife likethe magnificent raptors at the Flight Deck, stroll past birdaviaries in a natural monsoonal forest, encounter reptiles,explore the wetlands and simply find a shady spot to relaxand enjoy the great outdoors.Special presentations are held throughout the dayincluding the famous Birds of Prey presentation and theopportunity to get up close and personal with FreshwaterWhiprays at the Oolloo Sandbar. Facilities include a kiosk,free shuttle train linking all exhibits, picnic facilities,wheel chair and stroller hire, children’s playground andgift shop.Located only 45 minutes drive south of Darwin at BerrySprings the Park is open daily from 8.30am-6.00pm, lastentry 4.00pm. A visit of four hours is recommended.For further information contact telephone: 08 8988 7200,visit our website at www.territorywildlifepark.com.auor like us on Facebook.
Territory Wildlife Park
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Fishing in the Norther n Terr i tory i s excel lent a l l year round and whi le barramundi
are most act ive f rom March to May, ang ler s can f i sh success fu l ly at any t ime for a
range of species. The norther n regions of the Terr i tory are a l so home to an array
of other g reat sport and reef f i sh, including giant treval ly (GT), queenf ish, Spanish
mackerel , cobia, black jewf ish, golden snapper, red emperor, coral trout and marl in
and sa i l f i sh .
You can hire a boat or br ing your own, take a fu l ly-guided f i shing safar i , s tay at a
remote f i shing lodge or charter a mothership - every type of ang ler and every type
of f i sh ing exper ience i s catered for in the Norther n Terr i tory.
There are inter nat ional f i sh ing operator s who only use the Norther n Terr i tory for
Austra l ian f i shing, which i s tes tament to the qual i ty. The Norther n Terr i tory i s the
per fec t f i sh ing des t inat ion , because due to i t s c lo se prox imi ty, keen ang ler s can
exper ience a real chal lenge whi le others in the travel l ing party can re lax and enjoy
the at tract ions of the mainland.
NTfishing
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Aboriginal Culture in the Top End
The Terr i tory’s norther n reaches encompass a cul ture r ich in art i s t ic her i tage.
Aborig inal ar t f rom the Top End ref lects the int imate connect ion between the
people and the land. Venture into the remote art regions of Kakadu, Kather ine and
Ar nhem Land and uncover the technique of t ransfor ming creat ion s tor ies into art .
Indigenous fes t iva l s are held across the Norther n Terr i tory typical ly f rom May
through October. Communit ies open their doors, drop the per mits and welcome
travel ler s to share their s tory. Act iv i t ies inc lude art sa les and auct ions, t radi t ional
music and dance, bush tucker displays wi th tas t ings and, somet imes jus t to add to
the exci tement , a sport ing event .
Amongst the aborig inal cul ture in Kakadu there are hundreds of d i f ferent
languages, customs and laws, each woven together to te l l a s tory that i s more than
50,000 years o ld. Sharing and lear ning about aborig inal ar t and cul ture i s centra l
to the Kakadu exper ience.
Kakadu Nat ional Park i s home to one of the world’s largest col lect ions of
Aborig inal rock art wi th Nourlangie and Ubirr being some of the most notable rock
art gal lery s i tes in the Park. At Nanguluwur you wi l l see the f i r s t records of
European contact painted on the rocks.
For more infor mat ion v i s i t : t ravelNT.com
Indigenous Ar tSculpture, weaving, pr ints, paint ings - a l l are on show - and on sa le, at
pr ices you won’t f ind e l sewhere. Try the gal ler ies in Parap, v i s i t the
Museum and Art Gal lery of the NT or walk the shorel ine in the company
of a Larrakia guide to see this country through indigenous eyes.
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Darwin's cuis ine ref lects i ts diverse mixture of more than
60 nationalit ies and of fers year-round waterfront dining to
sui t a l l moods and budgets. Choose f ine dining at the
award winning Char Restaurant on the Esplanade, one of
many funky eater ies on the Cul len Bay boardwalk, the
family fr iendly Trai ler Boat Club, f ish and chips on Stokes
Hil l Wharf or grab some food and cook it yourself on the
barbecues located on the foreshore.
Darwin i s famous for i t s local produce, part icularly the
seafood. From the oceans and rivers come succulent mud
crabs, f resh barramundi and prawns as wel l as popular
eat ing f i sh such as snapper, jewfish and salmon. You can
order al l of these of f a menu, or sample them al l at one of
the seafood buf fet restaurants overlooking the water.
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Since the doors opened in 2006, Char has firmlyestablished itself in the hearts, minds and palates of thepeople of Darwin. Along with awarded Brisbane sisterrestaurant Cha Cha Char, Char has revolutionised theperception of a steak restaurant; by not just selling a cutof meat, but offering a master class on beef. If you will,from the animals origin, age and feeding regime and a‘breed, age and feed’ specific cooking techniqueshowcasing the flavours and textures that Australia’sbest beef has to offer.
In 2011, Char revolutionised the Darwin dining scene,by not just being a steak restaurant that serves Darwin’sbest steak, but by also offering a specialised fish andseafood menu. Following the 2011 Brisbane Floods thatdevastated Brisbane sister restaurant Jellyfish, ownerJohn Kilroy, decided to bring his pioneering fishspecialty restaurant, jellyfish to the top end, along withformer award winning Cha Cha Char Brisbane HeadChef Richard Brown, set about rewriting the rules byshowcasing a steak specialty menu on one side and a fishspecialty menu on the other, truly a menu the like ofwhich Darwin has never seen. The response from
Darwin has been absolute and assured: Jellyfish is hereto stay! All this and a wine list displayed in a wovenfabric folder and offering an extensive selection of yourfavourites in amongst a carefully selected boutiquebunch, including an extensive hand picked cellarselection, individual bottles from champagne to dessertwines, to rival any list in Australia. We are confidentthere is not a palate we cannot please!
The history of Admiralty House, and the way it is woveninto the very fabric of this city, demands a standard ofcare to the maintenance and preservation of the houseand grounds. The history of Admiralty House sets thetone at Char, with palm trees and frangipanis planted byrespected botanist Florenz Bleeser over fifty years agoproviding beauty and shelter in the outside paved areas,and the classic Darwin B style house, designed byrenowned government architect BCG Burnett, harkingback to pre-Cyclone Tracey. The glass doors on thelower level are designed to work with Darwin's seasons;closed and cool during the wet, open and flowing duringthe dry when outside transforms into a beautiful al frescoatmosphere under the stars during the dry.
On the cor ner of The Esplanade and Knuckey Street in Darwin.
Fine Dining at Char
Admiralty House
We focus on providing a high level of customerservice, but one that is also friendly, welcoming andrelaxing. Our floor staff are trained to a standardfitting a fine dining establishment, but with afriendliness suited to the Darwin lifestyle. You willalways be greeted with a smile, your napkin willalways be placed on your lap, and we willendeavour to meet your every request.
Char is truly one of the only restaurants in theNorthern Territory that offers fine dining orinformal alfresco, yet all delivered in a relaxed andwarm environment. Char can be a place for anintimate dinner for two, a function that caters for70 people, an environment for your perfect weddingor just a place to have a glass of perfectly chilledwine and enjoy our ‘to be shared’ menu with yourfriends.
Char can be whatever you need it to be, with aprivate dining room and a function room with itsown fully functional bar and professional team thatprides themselves on offering every guest the spaceto create memories that will stay with them forever.
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In Darwin, we love nothing more than sharing exotic food! We caught up with Selvam of Saffrron Restaurant in Parap, to findout more about the story behind this incredibly unique and eco-friendly establishment...
What type of cuisine do you have on offer at Saffrron?INDIAN CUISINE- (SOUTH INDIAN-TANDOORI-NORTH INDIAN)Dine in or Take away.
What makes Saffrron unique?Our eco-friendly aspect of the business and our food of course.
How long have you been in the Territory?12 years.
Where did you learn to cook?From my Grandmother I learnt about different spices. I alsocompleted a Bachelor degree in Hotel and Catering Managementspecialising in Indian cuisine at the University of Madras, Chennia.After I finished my degree I worked in the Park Sheraton HotelMadras, a 5 star Hotel.
What is your signature dish?Saffrron Butter chicken and the Saffrron Kulfi are our signaturedishes, however you could also say the Snake Bean Poriyal and theBarramundi Mooli are signature dishes as they are also verypopular and will always be on our menu.
Where do you source your ingredients?We source our produce locally - vegetables from Rapid CreekMarket and the seafood is Territory caught.
What are your most popular dishes on the menu?Every thing on the menu –the most popular is Butter chicken.
What do you love about the Territory?I met my wife Jo here in the Territory. Like most people who live inthe Territory they do so because of the casual life style, climate andthe easy going people.
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Darwin has an abundance of international cuisine, and at
Manoli's Greek Taverna, you will experience some of the best
of Greek traditional fare.
Tempt your tastebuds and satisfy your appetite in true Greek
style from a lovingly crafted menu of meat and seafood, with a
dessert menu to satisfy the fussiest sweet tooth.
Manoli's signature dish - their scallops - offer a combination of
wonderful unique flavours.
The watermelon forms the base of the dish, soaked in mint
dressing, topped with fresh pan-fried scallops and a drizzle of
mint and feta dressing. Some of their other favourites include
char grilled octopus, cheese balls and crunchy fresh greek salad
with plenty of soft tasty feta. Their dessert menu
is amazing - so you won't be disappointed - it's the "choosing"
which is the hard part.
So if you are looking for a great meal in a family friendly and
relaxed atmosphere, then check out Manoli's Greek Taverna - a
true Greek experience, right in the heart of town.
A Taste of Greece in the Top End!
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Ducks Nuts Bar and Grill has been a faithful meeting point for locals and visitors for
years. Along with Tzars Vodka Bar, Ducks Nuts has everything you need for a great
night out – fantastic food, grooving live acts, DJs and of course great drinks. The
designer interior with muted colours, clean lines, polished boards and cement floors,
creates the perfect venue for sitting back with a cool cocktail, a bottle of wine or
dancing the night away with your favourite party people.
Big screens around the bar let you catch all the sport you need. Get your mates down,
grab a beer, a snack and get into the action. Looking for something completely
different? Then why not try a house-infused vodka from Tzars Vodka Bar. Try the chilli
for a surprise punch or the bubblegum inspired sensation.
To complete the perfect experience wander into our café Bar Espresso. Awarded for
the best barista and coffee in Darwin, Bar Espresso offers a unique blend of coffee
along with a range of sweet sensations from the patisserie. Interested in doing some
people watching? Great. Just head out to a sidewalk seat and watch the passing parade.
Ducks Nuts Bar and GrillN e k t a r i o u s ʼ c r e a t i o n s
Trailer Boat ClubLocated on the shores of beaut i fu l Fannie Bay in Darwin, the
Trai ler Boat Club boasts a g reat t ropical atmosphere ideal for the
ent ire fami ly. With fac i l i t ies for members and bona f ide guests,
the c lub i s the perfect dest inat ion for a day of act iv i ty on the
water or re laxing af ter noon looking out over the sea. The Blue
Marl in Bis tro open every day for lunch and dinner has a g reat
range of d i shes f rom local seafood and sa lads to burgers, s teaks
and pizzas.
There i s a lways something to do at th i s iconic c lub with regular
boat ing and f i shing tr ips and enterta inment throughout the year.
Enjoy a cold g lass of beer or wine under the palm trees and
watch another perfect sunset over the bay. The Trai ler Boat Club
is the place to v i s i t dur ing your s tay in Darwin.
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ON THE LAKSA TRAIL (OR THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT LAKSA THIS SIDE OF MALAYSIA)
Nest led r ight onAsia ' s doorstep, theTop End has amazingchoices when i t comesto fantast ic As iancuis ine. Howeverthere i s one dish thathas become the localfavouri te - the humbleLaksa. This mouthwater ing spicy noodlesoup from ournorther n neighboursi s a complex blend ofspices, meats, noodlesand coconut mi lk .There are numerousmarket s ta l l s, cafesand res taurants acrossthe Top End c la imingthe t i t le of the 'BestLaksa in Darwin ' .
With secret rec ipes and ingredientsbehind each s teaming bowl of
del ic iousness, each has their own appeal .Obvious ly i t i s a matter of tas te, so yoube the judge. Take a wander and indulgein “Laksa heaven” as you hi t the hot-spots across Darwin. Hint - White shir t sare a no-no.
The Crowd Pleaser - Mary ' s Laksa atParap Markets, Parap. Look for thebiggest queue at the markets or s implyask to be pointed in the r ight direct ionby a fr iendly local . The Locals Hangout - Rendezvous inStar Vi l lage, Smith St Mal l . Arr ive earlyat luncht ime to avoid disappointment .This no fr i l l s cafe a lways gets a ment ionin the g reates t Laksa debate. The Pleasant Sur prise - The Deck Bar- Mitchel l St . You would assume thispopular water ing hole on Mitchel l Stwould serve more 'pub g rub ' then Asiancuis ine, however the Deck Bar serves upa huge del ic ious bowl of Laksa for bothlunch and dinner.
La
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ar
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Casuarina Square Shopping Centre is burstingwith brands and the best shopping in the TopEnd.With over 180 stores including iconic Australianretailers Country Road, RM Will iams, VeronicaMaine, Cue, Rip Curl and City Beach, a visit toDarwin is not complete without a visit toCasuarina Square.Major retailers are Big W, Kmart, Woolworths,Coles and Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas.The Centre provides a wide range of diningoptions including a 15 outlet 850 seat food courtand numerous cafés and restaurants from whichto tempt your tastebuds.Check out the iconic furniture instal lations andlush tropical plantings which are truly ref lectiveof the beauty of the Top End. We particularly
love the rustic Ubirr Rock furniture bench,showcasing the stunning Kakadu landscape.Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to5.30pm, Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to5pm and Sunday 9am to 3pm. Visit CasuarinaSquare online at www.casuarinasquare.com.auor at www.facebook.com/cassquare.
The Centre of fers undercover parking, a taxirank and a bus interchange facil i ty, togetherwith a City to Casuarina Square Visitor ShopperShuttle Service from 1 June to 30 September.Check with your hotel concierge for details ofpick up and drop of f locations and times.With the Dry Season upon us, there has neverbeen a better t ime to visit the Top End and theTerritory’s premier shopping destination –Casuarina Square!
Casuarina Square is Bursting with Life
5 6 NT L i f e
The Darwin shopping scene i s smal l but ec lect ic . Vis i tor s are sure to
come across some exot ic f inds i f they delve a l i t t le deeper. The CBD
area holds cut t ing-edge fashion and l i fes ty le homewares. You wi l l
certa inly f ind quirky fashion f inds blended with pieces f rom
Melbour ne Fashion Week.
Knuckey and Cavenagh Streets both have high-end bout ique s tores.
Enjoy the range of h igh-end swimwear, s tatement jewel lery and edgy
f lat sandals sui ted to Darwin’s t ropical v ibe.
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The arcades of f Smith Street Mal l are treasure troves holding decadent
chocolates to s tr ik ing dresses, so you wi l l not be disappointed. Pink Hi l l
bout ique i s nest led in the Vic Arcade. Pink Hi l l i s sure to p lease even the
most d i scer ning fashionis tas wi th leading Austra l ian and inter nat ional
des igners. The Bungalow also has s tr ik ing fasc inator s and dresses.
Parap shopping Vi l lage i s 10 minutes f rom the c i ty and home to the
famous Parap Markets held every Saturday mor ning. Parap Vi l lage has
some g lamorous l i fes ty le and chi ldren’s bout iques. For those enjoy reta i l
therapy in a mal l atmosphere, Casuar ina Shopping Centre i s only 15
minutes dr ive f rom the CBD.
Paspaley i s the crème de la crème of the pearl ing industry and an asset to
Darwin’s her i tage. Step into the opulent showroom at the Smith Street
Mal l and be capt ivated by s tunning pieces wi th unrival led qual i ty.
Paspaley sources the lus trous South Sea Pearl f rom the Norther n
Austra l ian coast to the world’s fashion houses.
6 0 NT L i f e
Meander down to Shine Gif t s at the Waterfront . The Bout ique
has a range of unique jewel lery and e legent homeware to sui t
a l l tas tes. Shine Gif t s i s the perfect p lace to f ind g i f t s. The
Waterfront i s a l so a g reat p lace to have lunch and immerse
yourse l f into the re laxed pace of the Darwin l i fes ty le.
On the way to Cul len
Bay, s top in at Harr iet
Place to v i s i t Cross
Cultural Art Exchange.
The gal lery exhibi t s,
promotes, nurtures and
encourages Indigenous
Austra l ian, Austra l ian
and Asia Paci f ic art i s t s.
Gal lery hours are
10-5pm Tuesday to
Friday and 10-2pm
Saturday.
6 4 NT L i f e
PAUL ARNOLDPaul Ar nold i s a photographer with pass ion. Explor ing the Austra l ian bush for the past 20 years,Paul has fo l lowed this pass ion and captured many memorable images during his t ravels. For himphotography i s a l l about l ight and captur ing a perfect ins tant in t ime that Mother Nature hascreated.
Discover ing the landscape, colours and the people of the Norther n Terr i tory during their t ravels,Paul and his wi fe Jul ie were seduced by i t a l l . They cont inue their NT explorat ion to this day withPaul pursuing his quest to capture the beauty and unique world that i s the Norther n Terr i tory.
Smith Street Mall - The hub of Darwin’s CBD
Locals and v i s i tor s shop here for Aborig inal ar t , local lymade jewel lery and tropical c lothing. Relax and enjoy thecool ambience at one of the many a l f resco cafés. Free WIFI i s avai lable in the mal l so you can s i t in a shadyspot whi l s t sending your envious f r iends and re lat ives yourhol iday snaps. Don’t forget to v i s i t The Bungalow whi l s t in the Mal l andpick up a beaut i fu l ly craf ted crocodi le handbag or someeye-catching jewel lery.
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6 8 NT L i f e
RELAX & UNWIND
So you have arr ived at your dest inat ion af ter t ravel l ing for what seems an eter ni ty.You need to recharge your bat ter ies, re lax, unwind and enjoy some ‘me’ t imebefore going of f on the next adventure. Where to go? What to do? What you needis a local to help you f ind jus t what you’re looking for, jus t what you’re needing.Don’t worry here are some ideas to help you. . .
7 0 NT L i f e
Darwin Wander down to Casuarina Beach andDripstone Caves and enjoy a long walk by thesea. On you retur n why not get somepampering in at Casuar ina Vi l lage HairStudio - Excel lence in cut t ing, colouring &per ming they are open 7 days a week.For the k ids get down to Leanyer Water Park– a f ree recreat ional park with pools, s l ides,p laygrounds and skate parks.Need more pampering and the ul t imate inre laxat ion? You can’t go past El la Baché.Their fac ia l s and bodycare treatments wi l lput you in a s tate of bl i s s and have youbuf fed and pol i shed to perfect ion!How about some oyster s and a chi l led bott leof wine on the beach watching the sunset –the perfect way to end the day.
K atherineFeel l ike a bi t o f gent le exerc i se? How aboutthe Kather ine Country Club for a round ofgol f or a game of lawn bowls.The local pub i s a lways an interes t ing placeto go to get a meal and be surrounded by thecharacter s that make up the town.
Tennant CreekGo to the Infor mat ion Centre in the middleof town and get some bush walk ing maps. I fthat i s a l l too much and you jus t need a coolbeer and read a book, why not go to theMemoria l Club and re lax.Feel ing a l i t t le hot and bothered? TennantCreek has a local publ ic swimming pool tocool of f in .
Alice SpringsFeel ing lucky? Great . Lasseter s Cas ino i s theplace for you.What about Al ice Springs Gol f Club, c lassedas one of the top10 desert courses in theworld. Al ice Springs has a g reat se lect ion of artgal ler ies and res taurants and cafes to choosefrom. Perfect for unwinding, re laxing andindulging.
7 2 NT L i f e
When we’re far f rom home and on hol idaysenjoying ourse lves, the las t th ing we worry abouti s our heal th or having an accident . Somet imesthough, you do need some help, so here i s a l i s tthat wi l l keep you covered. Just in case…In the Darwin region we are lucky to have twoDental Cl inics complete ly dedicated to the heal thand wel lbeing of your teeth. Able Dental Careand Palmerston Dental Surgery take care of thewhole fami ly and are ready and avai lable in theevent of an emergency. The helpful s ta f f wi l lensure you’re looked af ter and back into hol idaymode as soon as poss ible.
DarwinDentis t :Able Dental Care : 8932 6882Palmerston Dental Cl inic : 8932 1544Phys iotherapis t :Terr i tory Sportsmedic ine Phys iotherapy8941 5970Chiropractor :The Chiropract ic Place: 8941 3135Optometr i s t :Helen Summers Optometr i s t : 8981 1399Medical Cl inic :Top End Medical Centre : 8927 1033Hospi ta l :Royal Darwin Hospi ta l : 8922 8888
K atherineDentis t :M Carus i : 8972 1422Phys iotherapis t :BT Phys iotherapy Cl inic : 8971 2505Chiropractor :Chiropract ic Heal th Centre of Kather ine8971 1711Medical Cl inic :Kintore Cl inic : 8972 1677Hospi ta l :Kather ine Hospi ta l : 8973 9211
Tennant CreekHospita l :Tennant Creek Hospi ta l : 8962 4399
Alice SpringsDentis t :Al ice Springs Dental Surgery: 8952 3533Phys iotherapis t :Al ice Springs Phys iotherapy & Sports InjuryCl inic8952 1666Chiropractor :Al ice Springs Chiropract ic : 8952 3333Optometr i s t :OPSM Al ice Springs : 8952 8277Medical Cl inic :Centra l Cl inic : 8952 1088Hospi ta l : Al ice Springs Hospi ta l : 8951 7777
KEEPING YOU COVERED
Heading southalong the Stuart Highway, travel lers can
stop at the small townships of Batchelor
and Adelaide River. At Adelaide River
you wi l l f ind the Adelaide River War
Cemetery, which is Australia’s largest and
a sombre reminder of the Northern
Terri tory’s role in WWII. Board a croc-
jumping cruise on the Adelaide River and
see massive crocs leap from the water for
bait.
Next s top, Litchf ie ld National Park, just
an hour-and-a-hal f dr ive from Darwin,
features a myriad of diverse environments
including rugged sandstone escarpments,
perennial spring-fed streams, monsoon
rainforest , magnet ic ter mite mounds,
waterfal l s and historic ruins. You can
spend as l i t t le as one day in the park,
taking a quick dip in each of the plunge
pools and rockholes on the drive through,
but to really experience the true beauty of
Litchfield it ’s best to camp overnight.
Melvi l le and Bathurst Is lands, known
col lect ively as the Tiwi Is lands, l ie 80
kilometres north of Darwin, an easy day
trip from Darwin via boat or light aircraft.
The Tiwi people are world famous for their
art, extending from the traditional forms of
paintings on bark and canvas to wood
carvings, distinctive silk screened cloth,
woven accessories and pottery. There are
several art galleries on both Melville and
Bathurst Island and you are more than
welcome to purchase directly from the
artists. The Tiwi Islands are also famous for
their love of sports, in particular Australian
Rules Football. The Tiwi Football Grand
Final held in March is a must-see i f you
are in the area at the t ime.
Kakadu i s shaped by water, be ing the catchment area for the South Al l igator, Eas tAl l igator, Kather ine, Roper and Daly r iver s. From November to May, water fa l l s are attheir most spectacular and the lowlands are f looded, at tract ing mi l l ions of migratorybirds. The unique and diver se avian l i fe in Kakadu inc ludes jacanas, azure k ingf i sher s,cuckoos, rufous owls, magpie geese, jabirus and more.
Kakadu Nat ional Park i s a p lace of rugged escar pments, lush wet lands and cascadingwater fa l l s cover ing over 19,000 square k i lometres. The Nature’s Way touri sm dr ive i s agreat way to explore the park, which runs a long the Ar nhem Highway to Jabiru, thenthe Kakadu Highway to Pine Creek.
World Heritage- l i s ted Kakadu National Park is a landscape of contrasts. Beneath watersdot ted wi th lo tus f lower s, sa l twater crocodi le s lurk . Jagged peaks o f tower ingescar pments hide pockets of monsoon rainforests. Waterfa l l s cascade into pools f r ingedwi th paperbarks, pandanus and cycads. You can v iew the spec tacu lar J im J im Fa l l s ,browse through a natural ga l lery of ancient Aborig inal rock art at Ubirr or NourlangieRock, or explore the scenic Yel low Water, a b i l labong teeming wi th wi ld l i fe. Around1,000 di f ferent p lant spec ies, a quarter o f a l l Austra l ian f reshwater f i sh spec ies, andover one-third of Austra l ian bird species can be found in the Park.
A number of Aborig inal c lans s t i l l res ide within the park.
Kakadu i s home to one of the largest concentrat ions of
Aborig inal rock art in the world with gal ler ies at s i tes l ike
Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock. Other spectacular landmarks
include J im J im Fal l s, Twin Fal l s, Maguk (Barramundi
Gorge) , Jarrangbar nmiu (Koolpin Gorge) and Gunlom
(Waterfa l l Creek) . There are many es tabl i shed walk ing tracks
within the Park, wi th a se lect ion s t i l l access ible during the
wet season.
At the centre of the park i s the smal l mining township of
Jabiru, which of fer s a range of serv ices and accommodat ion.
Another set t lement , Cooinda, a l so of fer s accommodat ion,
and i s located on the banks of Yel low Water, a bi l labong
teeming with migratory birds, sa l twater crocodi les and other
wi ld l i fe. Cruises on Yel low Water depart dai ly. A v i s i t to
Kakadu i s best s tarted at the Bowal i Vis i tor s Centre near
Jabiru or the Warradjan Aborig inal Cultural Centre near
Cooinda.
There i s a wide range of accommodat ion in Kakadu. Along
with hote l s and resorts are some new propert ies, inc luding
Hawk Dreaming, a safar i camp where operator s have the
exclus ive per miss ion from tradi t ional owners to br ing v i s i tor s
onto their land and share an authent ic cul tural exper ience.
Another of Kakadu’s features i s the Gagudju Hote l – a
crocodi le-shaped complex that i s qui te amazing when viewed
from the a ir. Resort - s ty le accommodat ion i s a l so avai lable at
Cooinda, a v i l lage on the famous Yel low Water Bi l labong.
Family f r iendly resorts are located in Jabiru as wel l as at the
entrance to Kakadu on the South Al l igator River.
7 9 NT L i f e
M u s t d o :C r u i s e t h e p a l m - f r i n g e d Ye l l o w Wa t e rB i l l a b o n g a n d s p o t b i r d s , a n i m a l s a n db i g c r o c o d i l e s .Ta k e t o t h e a i r i n a l i g h t a i r c r a f t d u r i n gt h e Tr o p i c a l S u m m e r ( N ov e m b e r –M a r c h ) f o r a b r e a t h t a k i n g v i e w o fK a k a d u ’ s m a j e s t i c Tw i n a n d J i m J i mw a t e r f a l l s .H e a d t o G u n l o m Fa l l s i n t h e s o u t h e r ne n d o f t h e p a r k w h e r e i t f e e l s l i k e yo u ’ r es t a n d i n g o n t h e e d g e o f t h e w o r l d .Ta k e a c u l t u r a l c r u i s e o n t h e E a s tA l l i g a t o r R i v e r.B i r d w a t c h a t M a r d u g a l B i l l a b o n g o r t r yt h e M a r d u g a l B i l l a b o n g Wa l k .Vi s i t t h e B o w a l i Vi s i t o r C e n t r e f o r t h el a t e s t i n f o r m a t i o n o n K a k a d u a n d h o wb e s t t o e x p e r i e n c e i t .
8 2 NT L i f e
S U R RO U N D SA R N H E M L A N D
A r n h e m L a n d i s a r e g i o n o fp r i s t i n e w i l d e r n e s s - 1 0 0 , 0 0 0s q u a r e k i l o m e t r e s o f p r o t e c t e dl a n d r e g a r d e d a s A u s t r a l i a ’ s l a s tf r o n t i e r. A b o u t t h r e e t h o u s a n dA b o r i g i n a l Pe o p l e l i v e i nA r n h e m L a n d t o d a y a n d i t i so n e o f t h e f e w a r e a s i nA u s t r a l i a w h e r e t h e y s t i l l l i v e at r a d i t i o n a l l i f e a n d m a i n t a i n as t r o n g s e n s e o f c u l t u r a li d e n t i t y. To h e l p p r o t e c t t h el a n d a n d t h e f r a g i l e c u l t u r e i tp r e s e r v e s , a n yo n e v i s i t i n gA r n h e m L a n d m u s t o b t a i n ap e r m i t i n a d v a n c e f r o m t h eN o r t h e r n L a n d C o u n c i l .A r n h e m L a n d ’ s m a i n a c c e s sp o i n t i s G ov e ( N h u l u n b u y ) - a nh o u r a n d 2 0 m i n u t e f l i g h t e a s to f D a r w i n . C o m m e r c i a l f l i g h t sa r e a l s o av a i l a b l e f r o m C a i r n s .G ov e h a s a p o p u l a t i o n o fa r o u n d 4 0 0 0 a n d i s a s t r o n g h o l do f t r a d i t i o n a l A b o r i g i n a l a r ta n d c r a f t . T h e C o b u r g Pe n i n s u l a ( C a p eD o n ) i s h o m e t o t h e G a r i g G u n a k B a r l u N a t i o n a l Pa r ka n d o f f e r s v i s i t o r s s t u n n i n g s c e n e r y w i t h a b u n d a n tw i l d l i f e a n d b i r d l i f e .T h e a z u r e w a t e r s a r o u n d b o t h t h e G ov e a n d C o b u r g
Pe n i n s u l a s o f f e r s o m e o f t h eb e s t r e e f a n d t r o p i c a l s p o r t sf i s h i n g i n t h e w o r l d . 4 x 4 a c c e s st o b o t h r e g i o n s i s p o s s i b l ed u r i n g p e a k s e a s o n ( M a y t oO c t o b e r ) . I n t h e G ov ePe n i n s u l a , i t ’ s w o r t h t a k i n g at o u r t o v i s i t t h e t o w n l a g o o n –G y n g a r u , t h e N a b a l c o B a u x i t eM i n e a n d A l u m i n a P l a n t ,N a m b a r a A r t s a n d C r a f t s C e n t r ea n d Yi r r k a l a B u k u - L a r r n g a yM u l k a A r t s a n d C u l t u r a lC e n t r e . O f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s ti n t h e C o b u r g Pe n i n s u l a i s t h eB l a c k Po i n t C u l t u r a l C e n t r e a n dVi c t o r i a S e t t l e m e n t . F i s h i n g t h em a n g r ov e - l i n e d b i l l a b o n g s f o rb a r r a m u n d i , M a n g r ov e Ja c k a n do t h e r s p o r t f i s h a r e h u g e l yp o p u l a r p a s t i m e s i n t h i s a r e a . Vi s i t o r s t o A r n h e m L a n d h av e aw i d e c h o i c e o f a c c o m m o d a t i o no p t i o n s . Aw a r d - w i n n i n g S e v e nS p i r i t B a y Wi l d e r n e s s L o d g e i sl o c a t e d i n t h e r e m o t e n o r t h e r nt i p o f A r n h e m L a n d a n d i s t h e
u l t i m a t e e s c a p e t o r e l a x a t i o n a n d a d v e n t u r e . A f av o u r i t eh a n g o u t o f l o c a l s , t h e G ov e Ya c h t C l u b h a s s e e n m a n y at r av e l l e r t a k e i n t h e s u n s e t w i t h t h e i r w e l l - e a r n e db e v e r a g e .
KA
TH
ER
INE T h e D o u g l a s a n d D a l y R i v e r s r e g i o n
i s l o c a t e d m i d w a y b e t w e e n D a r w i na n d K a t h e r i n e , a n e a s y s c e n i c d r i v ef r o m b o t h d e s t i n a t i o n s . W h i l e i t ’ sf o c a l p o i n t i s t h e m a i n c e n t r e o fK a t h e r i n e , t h e w h o l e r e g i o n i s k n o w na s t h e Te r r i t o r y ’ s p l a y g r o u n d . T h er e g i o n o f f e r s g r e a t f i s h i n g , h i d d e nn a t u r a l w o n d e r s a n d a r i c h i n d i g e n o u sa n d p i o n e e r i n g h i s t o r y, s t r e t c h i n gf r o m t h e G u l f o f C a r p e n t a r i a t o t h eWe s t A u s t r a l i a n b o r d e r. K a t h e r i n e w a s n a m e d by e x p l o r e rJo h n M c D o u a l l S t u a r t i n t h e l a t e1 8 0 0 s a f t e r t h e d a u g h t e r o f o n e o f h i se x p e d i t i o n s p o n s o r s . T h e a r e a w a sr e n a m e d ' N i t m i l u k ' - m e a n i n g ' c i c a d ap l a c e ' - i n 1 9 8 9 w h e n t r a d i t i o n a lo w n e r s , t h e Ja w o y n A b o r i g i n a l p e o p l e ,g a i n e d t i t l e t o t h e l a n d a n d n o w,N i t m i l u k N a t i o n a l Pa r k i s aTe r r i t o r i a n f av o u r i t e .T h e K a t h e r i n e R i v e r f l o w s t h r o u g h 1 3s e p a r a t e g o r g e s t h a t c a r v e t h e i r w a yt h r o u g h t h e A r n h e m P l a t e a u . Yo u c a nc a n o e , c r u i s e a n d s w i m b e t w e e n s h e e rc l i f f s t o t h e s a n d y f r e s h w a t e r b e a c h e so f t h e m a i n g o r g e s , a n d v i e w a n c i e n tA b o r i g i n a l r o c k p a i n t i n g s h i g h o n t h er o c k f a c e s . Wa t e r f a l l s a n d r o c k p o o l sa r e f o u n d a l o n g ov e r 1 0 0 k i l o m e t r e so f w a l k i n g t r a c k s , b e g i n n i n g a t t h ep a r k ’ s v i s i t o r c e n t r e .
8 6 NT L i f e
Reaching further from Katherine is the Gulf
country; a huge area that sweeps east of
Katherine to the Queensland border. In the Gulf
country you wil l f ind some of Australia’s most
remote and unspoilt waterways, making it an
exciting f ishing destination. The Savannah Way
tourism drive that l inks Cairns and Broome
offers drivers ever-changing soaring landscapes.
Cape Crawford’s Heartbreak Hotel is worth a
stop for a coldie and a chat with the locals; this
is 100 kilometres south-west of Borroloola, an
area surrounded by savannah woodland, rock
escarpments, waterfal ls and waterholes.
Borroloola is a remote f ishing community on the
McArthur River in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Once a frontier town, Borroloola is now the
capital of the Gulf region. The area, home to
four main indigenous language groups, includes
many large Australian catt le stations. Fishing
and camping remain a way of l i fe for locals and
travellers chasing barramundi. King Ash Bay, a
great f ishing spot 50 kilometres from Borroloola,
also attracts thousands of visitors each year and
a fishing competit ion is usually held on the long
Easter weekend.
Barranyi (North Island) National Park, located
in the Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands is a
haven for wildli fe. The park provides a home to
nesting turtles and migratory birds and provides
good reef f ishing where red emperor, coral trout
and parrot f ish can be caught. Access to the
islands is l imited, and you must contact Parks
and Wildli fe NT before making the journey.
SURROUNDSKATHERINE
Cape Crawford i s a remote s top, home of the famous Heartbreak Hote l , at the junct ionof the Car pentar ia and Table lands Highway. Despi te the f i r s t part of i t s name, CapeCrawford i s s i tuated approximate ly 120 k i lometres f rom the ocean and i s so namedbecause i t i s s i tuated at the norther n extremity or ‘cape’ of the Abner Ranges, whichwere f i r s t ‘d i scovered’ by drover Lindsay Crawford in 1880. The Abner Ranges arehome to an impress ive for mat ion known as the Lost City. The Lost City covers an areaof about e ight square k i lometres and i s dot ted with towering sandstone for mat ions.These natural p i l lar s remind many observer s of skyscrapers, and are wel l worth a v i s i t .Hel icopter f l ights which land in the Lost Citygive access to four wheel dr ive tours throughthe sandstone for mat ions. Surrounded by golden g rass lands, rockescar pments, water fa l l s and waterholes, CapeCrawford i s wi thin easy reach of LimmenNational Park. The area i s home to amagni f icent array of nat ive wi ld l i fe. Anothermust-see dest inat ion i s Poppy’s Pools. Locatedon the Savannah Way near Cape Crawford, thePools are surrounded by quartz-r ich sandstoneand mudstone, g iv ing the rocks a hard pol i shedsurface. Located 285 k i lometres west of Kather ine, Gregory Nat ional Park i s the Norther nTerr i tory ' s second largest Nat ional Park, cover ing 13,000 square k i lometres betweentropical and semi-ar id regions of the Norther n Terr i tory. The Park encompassesspectacular ranges, escar pments, gorges, eucalypt woodlands and dis t inct ive Boab Treesthat can be exper ienced on the several walks or four-wheel dr ive tracks running throughthe park. In addi t ion to the awesome scenery, the his tor ic s i te of Bul l i ta Homesteadgives v i s i tor s a look into the area’s pastoral past . The Aborig inal sacred s i te atGregory’s Tree can be enjoyed from the encompass ing boardwalk.
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Nitmi luk (Kather ine) Gorge has been carved out of the sandstone c l i f f s
that l ine the Kather ine River creat ing 13 dis t inct gorges – each with
i t s own s tunning natural features and landmarks and each s teeped in
the cul ture and the local Indigenous people - the Jawoyn.
Within the r iver sys tem, Barramundi and turt les l ive, and the
sandbanks reveal the tracks of f reshwater crocodi les. Water buf fa lo
and wi ld brumbies come down from the pla ins to the r iver to dr ink
along with an abundance of b irds many of which are unique to this
area. Cruis ing the Gorge sys tem under the soar ing sandstone c l i f f s
and past indigenous rock art dat ing back more than 30,000 years
v i s i tor s to Kather ine lear n to appreciate the ancient power and
majesty of th i s land.
Nitmiluk (K atherine) Gorge
Nitmi luk Gorge and the Kather ine
River are the heart of Kather ine but by
no means the only reason to v i s i t . As
one of the o ldest and largest in land
set t lements in the Norther n Terr i tory,
Kather ine has a r ich and las t ing
his tory. I t was an integral part of the
famous Overland Telegraph and i s a
major s top on the g reat ra i l l ine which
now l inks north to south.
Today Kather ine has a thr iv ing tour i sm
industry pr imari ly centered around
Nitmi luk Gorge but a l so inc luding the
stunning Edith Fal l s ; the o ld gold mining
town ship of Pine Creek; the Adela ide
River War Cemetery; Cutta Cutta Caves
Nature Park; Springvale Homestead, the
oldest s tat ion homestead in the Norther n
Terr i tory and much more.
S P R I N G SPICTURE A LANDSCAPE WHERE DEEP CHASMSAND GORGES CARVE THOUGH TOWERINGRANGES, WHERE THE VAST DESERT SURROUNDSA PALM-FRINGED OASIS, AND THE CULTURE OFITS ANCIENT PEOPLE SPANS MORE THAN 40,000YEARS. LOCALS SIMPLY CALL IT “THE ALICE.”
9 3 NT L i f e
9 5 NT L i f e
B u s t l i n g c a f é s l i n e t h e To d d
S t r e e t m a l l i n t h e c e n t r e o f t o w n , s t a t i o n c o w b o y s i n w i d e - b r i m m e d h a t s
s a u n t e r t h e s t r e e t s a n d A b o r i g i n a l p a i n t i n g s s p l a s h e d w i t h o c h r e a n d v i b r a n t
c o l o u r s a d o r n g a l l e r y w a l l s . C o m b i n e d , t h i s f o r m s a n d m e l d s t h e v i b r a n t
c h a r a c t e r a n d o u t b a c k c h a r m o f t h i s u n i q u e C e n t r a l A u s t r a l i a n t o w n . I t
d e f i e s t h e e x p e c t a t i o n s o f a d e s e r t t o w n , c o m b i n i n g a s t ro n g s e n s e o f i t s o w n
h e r i t a g e w i t h a l l t h e c o nv e n i e n c e o f m o d e r n f a c i l i t i e s a n d a c t i v i t i e s . T h e r e ’ s
a w i d e c h o i c e o f q u a l i t y r e s t a u r a n t s a n d c a f é s , a n d t r av e l l e r s c a n e v e n e n j o y
a m e a l a c c o m p a n i e d by a n A b o r i g i n a l d a n c e p e r f o r m a n c e . T h e t o w n h a s a
s t r o n g f e s t i v a l s a n d e v e n t s p r o g r a m t h r o u g h o u t t h e ye a r.
9 6 NT L i f e
Attractions and Touring
There are a number of at tract ions located in Al ice Springs that wi l lprovide you with a good understanding of l i fe in the Red Centre. TheAlice Springs Desert Park, Araluen Cultural Precinct and the Royal F lying
Doctor Service are just a few. I f you want to get up c loseand personal with some scaly fr iends you can vis i t theRepti le Centre. I f you’re interested in his tory the HeritageWalk including the Hart ley Street School , the NationalPioneer Women’s Hal l of Fame or The Residency might bemore your s ty le. Vis i t ing these attract ions wi l l add value tothe experiences you wi l l have whi le travel l ing within ourregions. Al ice Springs of fers a wide range of touring opt ionsthat wi l l include these attract ions and many more on theiri t ineraries. You can do a ‘hop-on, hop-of f ’ town tour withAlice Wanderer or explore further af ie ld with Tai lor madeTours and AAT Kings. Ride a camel at the Pyndan CamelFar m, experience the outback on a quad bike at UndoolyaStat ion or get a bird’s eye view of Al ice Springs andsurrounds from a hot air bal loon or hel icopter – the opt ionsare endless ! A ful l range of at tract ions and touring opt ionsare presented in our Product Directory.
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Events and FunAlice Springs i s known for i t s unique and sometimes al i t t le bi t wacky events. Where e lse can you see camelsracing, cheer on the winners in a boat race up a dryriver bed or choose one of 4,000 spectacular beaniesto be your very own. Check out our Events Calenderand plan your vis i t to Al ice Springs around one ofthese unique experiences. You wi l l be sure to have astory or two share with your fr iends!
Sightseeing
A l i c e S p r i n g s i s n e s t l e d
b e t w e e n t h e E a s t a n d We s t
M a c D o n n e l l R a n g e s , a n d i s
4 4 0 k i l o m e t r e s n o r t h - e a s t o f
U l u r u . T h e To d d R i v e r
w i n d s t h r o u g h t h e t o w n b u t
r a r e l y s e e s w a t e r a n d i s
h o m e t o t h e q u i r k y a n n u a l
H e n l e y - o n - To d d ‘ b o a t r a c e ’ .
T h e f a m o u s Ro y a l F l y i n g
D o c t o r S e r v i c e i s b a s e d
h e r e a n d p r ov i d e s a n a e r i a l
m e d i c a l s e r v i c e t o o u t b a c k
r e s i d e n t s . S i m i l a r l y, t h e
A l i c e S p r i n g s S c h o o l o f t h e
A i r b r o a d c a s t s l e s s o n s ov e r
t h e r a d i o t o s t u d e n t s l i v i n g
i n r e m o t e a r e a s o f N o r t h e r n
Te r r i t o r y. T h i s ‘ c l a s s r o o m ’
c ov e r s a n a r e a b i g g e r t h a n
s e v e r a l E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s .
Finke Desert Race
The Finke Desert Race is Australia's premier off-road racing event that attracts bike, car and buggy entries from
around Australia and overseas. It is a multi-terrain, two-day race through desert country from Alice Springs to the
small Aputula (Finke) Community and is reputed to be one of the most difficult off-road races in one of the most
remote places in the world. The Finke, as the event is commonly known, is run along sections of the Old Ghan
Railway service track, adjacent to the railway line, along a winding corrugated track, which snakes through
typical outback terrain of red dirt, sand, spinifex, mulga and desert oaks.
Henley-On-Todd Regatta
The Henley-On-Todd Regatta is a day of fun where teams and individuals race 'boats', in the dry bed of the
Todd River in outback Alice Springs. Have fun and enjoy the hilarity as you watch seemingly sane people race in
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when Reg Smith, an Alice Springs local, and his work colleagues proposed holding a regatta based on the famous
Henley-on-Thames. The idea was taken up by the Rotary Clubs of Alice Springs and the fact that the town
was 1,500 kilometres from the nearest large body of water was never seen as a problem. So the ASSA ABLOY
Henley-On-Todd was born.
The Camel Cup
While camels may have a reputation as dedicated 'ships of the desert', these magnificent beasts are certainly not short on personality. Racing them can prove a nightmare for riders and
handlers but fantastic viewing for spectators. Entertainment is assured, with nine unique races scheduled around the dusty outback track throughout the day. There will be lots of
action between races, too. Belly dancers, rickshaw races, 'Kids Kamel Dapers' hobby camel races, rides, Mr and Miss Camel Cup challenges, food stalls and bars all add to the
carnival atmosphere.
Alice Springs Desert Festival
The Alice Desert Festival shares the stories, songs and the unique lifestyle of Central Australia’s arid region. Featuring a vibrant program borne out of the desert landscape, they
celebrate the dynamic exchange between cultures in the heart of Australia. The Alice Desert Festival attracts audiences of around 50,000 people from around Australia to over 50
events across its season. The festival presents an atmosphere not found anywhere else in Australia, where strong traditional cultures and a vibrant contemporary arts community, work
together in presenting an amazing 10 days.
East MacDonnell RangesThe East MacDonnel l Ranges, whi le not as wel l known as the West MacDonnel l s, do provide beaut i fu lscenery for bush walk ing, camping and four-wheel dr iv ing. Travel ler s can v i s i t Arl tunga, a ghost townthat was the s i te of a gold rush in the 1930s. Other places of spectacular natural beauty l ike TrephinaGorge, make a t r ip to the Eas t MacDonnel l Ranges more than worthwhi le.
Not to be missed• Set o f f fos s ick ing for gar nets, go ld or z i rcons at Gemtree.
The popular loca l sport here i s bowl ing paddy melons by moonl ight at the camping g round
• Take the 90-minute s t ro l l and fo l low the Chain o f Ponds at Trephina Gorge Nature Park
• Set up a bush camp by the Hale River in Ruby Gap Nature Park where the ground shines red with t iny garnetsEarly miner s mis took them for rubies
• Take a quad b ike tour r ight in to the bes t o f the Eas t MacDonnel l Ranges
• Stay the n ight at the re furbi shed Ross River Homestead
West MacDonnell Ranges• Finke River Gorge, reputed to be the world ’s o ldes t r iverbed, leads to Palm Val ley; f i l led with cabbage palms, cycadsand other rare p lants• Swim through the cool water s o f E l lery Creek Big Hole then s tay the n ight at h i s tor ic Glen HelenHomestead• Pul l on the walk ing boots and do one, or a l l 13 sec t ions o f the 223 k i lometre Larapinta Trai l thatwinds i t s way f rom Al ice Spr ings to Mt Razorback• Stop of f at the Abor ig ina l community o f Her mannsburg, se t up in the mid-nineteenth Century byGer man Lutheran miss ionar ies and home of Alber t Namat j i ra , the famous Abor ig ina l water co lourar t i s t• Exper ience the Red Centre Way tour i sm dr ive, which s tar t s in Al ice Spr ings and t racks through theWest MacDonnel l Ranges and on to Uluru/Ayer s Rock and Kings Canyon
1 0 0 NT L i f e
Discover theOutback with us
Alice Springs Helicopters
www.alicespringshelicopters.com.au
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erer thevooack with usack with us
Alice Springs HelicoptersAlice Springs Helicopter
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T h e p a n o r a m i c l a n d s c a p e s o f t h e We s t M a c D o n n e l l R a n g e s a re e a s i l y a c c e s s e d f ro m A l i c e
S p r i n g s . E a ch o f t h e We s t M a c D o n n e l l R a n g e s ’ ch a s m s a n d g o rg e s h a s i t s ow n d e f i n i n g
ch a r a c t e r a n d s c e n e r y. S i m p s o n s G a p s p o r t s a p e r m a n e n t p o o l a n d ro c k w a l l a b i e s l i ve i n
t h e g a p ' s r o c k y r i d g e s . S t a n d l e y C h a s m l i g h t s u p i n f i e r y c o l o u r s r e f l e c t e d by t h e
ov e r h e a d s u n a t m i d d a y. P i c t u r e s q u e s w i m m i n g h o l e s s u c h a s E l l e r y C r e e k B i g H o l e ,
O r m i s t o n G o r g e , G l e n H e l e n G o r g e a n d Re d b a n k G o r g e o f f e r r e f r e s h i n g r e l i e f o n a
s c o rc h i n g d a y. I t i s a l s o p o s s i b l e t o v i s i t t h e O c h r e P i t s t h a t d e s e r t A b o r i g i n a l p e o p l e
o n c e u s e d a s a q u a r r y f o r o ch re p i g m e n t s . T h e wo r l d - r e n ow n e d L a r a p i n t a Tr a i l f o l l ow s
t h e b a c k b o n e o f t h e M a c D o n n e l l R a n g e s f o r 2 2 3 k i l o m e t r e s a n d t h e re a r e a nu m b e r o f
s p e c i a l i s t w a l k s s o t r ave l l e r s o f a l l f i t n e s s l e ve l s c a n ex p e r i e n c e i t .
SURROUNDS
1 0 4 NT L i f e
Ru n n i n g 2 2 3 k i l o m e t r e s a l o n g t h e s p i n e o f t h e M a c D o n n e l l R a n g e s , f r o m A l i c e S p r i n g s
t o M o u n t S o n d e r, i s t h e L a r a p i n t a Tr a i l . T h i s w a l k w e av e s i t s e l f a m o n g s t s o m e o f t h e
w o r l d ' s m o s t a n c i e n t m e t a m o r p h i c a n d i g n e o u s r o c k ,
s o m e o f w h i c h h av e a n e s t i m a t e d a g e o f b e t w e e n 1 , 6 0 0
a n d 2 , 3 0 0 m i l l i o n ye a r s a n d b o a s t s n e a r l y 6 0 0 s p e c i e s o f
r a r e f l o r a . T h e t r a i l c r o s s e s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l l a n d s o f t h e
A r r e r n t e p e o p l e a n d f o l l o w s t h e p a t h o f a n u m b e r o f
A u s t r a l i a ' s e a r l y e x p l o r e r s .
T h e t r a i l i s d i v i d e d i n t o t w e l v e s t a g e s w i t h a c c e s s p o i n t s
o p e n t o v e h i c l e s a l o n g t h e t r a c k a t S i m p s o n ' s G a p ,
S t a n d l e y C h a s m , E l l e r y C r e e k B i g - H o l e , B i r t h d a y
Wa t e r h o l e , O c h r e P i t s , J a y C r e e k , G l e n H e l e n a n d
Re d b a n k G o r g e .
W h i l e t h e o v e r a l l t r a i l h a s b e e n d e s i g n e d f o r
e x p e r i e n c e d w a l k e r s , s e l e c t i n g yo u r s t a r t i n g p o i n t c a n v a r y t h e d i f f i c u l t y a n d l e n g t h o f
t h e t r a i l . G u i d e d w a l k i n g t o u r s , f o o d d r o p s a n d t r a n s f e r s c a n b e a r r a n g e d f o r t h o s e
s e e k i n g a m o r e r e l a x e d w a l k i n g e x p e r i e n c e . Wa l k e r s p l a n n i n g o v e r n i g h t w a l k s a r e
e n c o u r a g e d t o r e g i s t e r t h e O v e r n i g h t Wa l k e r Re g i s t r a t i o n S c h e m e o n 1 3 0 0 6 5 0 7 3 0 .
L a r a p i n t a Tr a i l
1 L e a r n t h e D r e a m t i m e s t o r i e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h U l u r uo n a w a l k i n g t o u r a r o u n d i t s b a s e w i t h t r a d i t i o n a lA n a n g u o w n e r s .2 S e t o f f o n t h e Va l l e y o f t h e Wi n d s w a l k – a ni n t e r p r e t a t i v e t r a i l a r o u n d t h e d o m e s o f K a t a T j u t a . 3 R i d e q u a d b i k e s a t K i n g s C r e e k S t a t i o n , n e a rWa t a r r k a N a t i o n a l Pa r k o r c a m e l s a t C u r t i n S p r i n g sS t a t i o n n e a r U l u r u .4 Wa t c h t h e s u n r i s e l i g h t u p t h e 1 0 0 - m e t r e h i g hw a l l s o f K i n g s C a n yo n a s yo u t a c k l e t h e R i m Wa l ko r t h e e a s i e r K i n g s C r e e k Wa l k t h a t l e a d s t o al o o k o u t i n t h e c e n t r e o f t h e C a n yo n5 Jo i n a t o u r t o A t i l a / M t C o n n e r, i n t h e U l u r u - K a t aT j u t a N a t i o n a l Pa r k , w h e r e yo u ’ l l s e e e v i d e n c e o fe a r l y p i o n e e r s , v i e w s a l t l a k e s w h e r e i n l a n d o c e a n so n c e f l o w e d a n d d i s c ov e r a n c i e n t f o s s i l s6 Ta k e a s c e n i c f l i g h t a n d v i e w t h e s t u n n i n gf o r m a t i o n s o f K a t a T j u t a a n d s e e t h e u n s p o i l tb e a u t y o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n g r e d d e s e r t7 E x p l o r e t h e G i l e s Tr a c k o n a n ov e r n i g h t t r e k f r o mt h e t r a n q u i l , s p r i n g - f e d w a t e r h o l e a t K a t h l e e nS p r i n g s t o t h e s h e e r r e d r o c k f a c e o f K i n g s C a n yo n8 I n Wa t a r r k a N a t i o n a l Pa r k , t a k e a n e a r l y m o r n i n gt r e k a l o n g t h e K i n g s C a n yo n R i m Wa l k f o ru n f o r g e t t a b l e v i e w s o r t h e e a s i e r h o u r - a n d - a - h a l fK i n g s C r e e k Wa l k f o r a l o o k o u t i n t h e c e n t r e o f t h eC a n yo n9 Ta k e t h e f o u r - w h e e l ‘ a d v e n t u r e t r a i l ’ t h r o u g hm o u n t a i n r a n g e s a n d d e s e r t l a n d s c a p e s a l o n g t h eM e r e e n i e L o o p r o a d t o Wa t a r r k a N a t i o n a l Pa r k1 0 Ta k e a t o u r a r o u n d t h e s a l t l a k e s o f t h e A m a d e u sc h a i n a n d v i s i t t h e s p e c t a c u l a r m e s a o f M o u n tC o n n e r t h a t i s t h r e e t i m e s l a r g e r t h a n U l u r u .T
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ULURUFo r b o t h i t s A b o r i g i n a l c u s t o d i a n s a n d t h e t r av e l l e r s t h a t f l o c kh e r e , U l u r u - K a t a T j u t a N a t i o n a l Pa r k , 4 4 0 k i l o m e t r e s s o u t h - w e s to f A l i c e S p r i n g s , r e p r e s e n t s t h e p hy s i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l h e a r t o fA u s t r a l i a . T h e r e g i o n e n c o m p a s s e s U l u r u a n d K a t a - T j u t a ,p o s i t i o n e d a l o n g s i d e t h e t o w n s h i p o f Yu l a r a , K i n g s C a n yo n , a n dt h e i n t e r m i t t e n t o u t b a c k c a t t l e s t a t i o n s .
R i s i n g f r o m t h e b r o a d d e s e r t p l a i n i n t h e d e e p c e n t r e o f A u s t r a l i a ,U l u r u i s A u s t r a l i a ’ s m o s t r e c o g n i s a b l e n a t u r a l i c o n . I t s t a n d s 3 4 8m e t r e s h i g h , a n d , l i k e a n i c e b e r g , h a s m o s t o f i t s b u l k b e l o w t h es u r f a c e . I t i s l o c a t e d 4 4 0 k i l o m e t r e s s o u t h - w e s t o f A l i c e S p r i n g s i nt h e U N E S C O Wo r l d H e r i t a g e - l i s t e d U l u r u - K a t a T j u t a N a t i o n a lPa r k . To t h e w e s t by 4 0 k i l o m e t r e s o f U l u r u / Aye r s Ro c k i s K a t aT j u t a , a l s o k n o w n a s T h e O l g a s . T h i s m a s s i v e p i l e o f r o c k d o m e sd a t e s b a c k 5 0 0 m i l l i o n ye a r s . B o t h U l u r u / Aye r s Ro c k a n d K a t aT j u t a / T h e O l g a s h av e g r e a t c u l t u r a l s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r t h e A n a n g ut r a d i t i o n a l l a n d o w n e r s , w h o l e a d w a l k i n g t o u r s t h a t i n f o r m a b o u tt h e l o c a l f l o r a a n d f a u n a , b u s h f o o d s a n d t h e A b o r i g i n a lD r e a m t i m e s t o r i e s o f t h e a r e a .
1 0 8 NT L i f e
Watarrka Nat ional Park , 300 k i lometres to the north-eas t o f Uluru , i s bes t known for Kings Canyon - amighty chasm that c leaves the earth to a depth of 270metres. The sheer red rock face o f the Canyon soar sover 100 metres above cycad gardens. The park i s animportant conservat ion area , where rock ho le s andgorges prov ide re fuge for over 600 spec ie s o f p lant sand many nat ive an imal s. The park encompasses thewester n end of the George Gi l l Range and i s home toa var ie ty o f unique nat ive f lora and fauna, inc ludingmore than 600 d i f f e rent p lant spec ie s. The area hasa l so been home to Lur i t ja Abor ig ina l peop le for thelas t 20 ,000 year s. The word Watar rka re fer s to theumbre l la bush that pro l i f e rate s in th i s un iquelandscape. Trave l l e r s can exper ience the umbre l labush on a hike to the Canyon r im. Trekkers wi l l f i r s tencounter a s teep c l imb to the Canyon r im, but thespectacular v iews of the sheer red rock faced Canyonwi l l make the trekkers forget the trouble. Al l a long the
r im walk are the weathered , but t re s sed domes o f theLos t Ci ty and the she l tered va l l ey, Garden o f Eden,which i s burs t ing with per manent waterholes and lushvegetat ion . Thi s wa lk i s su i table for f i t andexperienced walkers. The shady and more sedate KingsCreek Walk ambles 1 k i lometre a long the va l ley f loorto an incred ible lookout po int and i s su i table forfami l ies.
Thi s reg ion does have i t s share o f re s taurant s andcafés, mainly in Uluru/Ayers Rock’s touris t v i l lage andat Kings Canyon accommodat ion , but the mos tspec tacu lar a f ter dark enter ta inment out here i s thesky. When night fa l l s, the s tar s shine so much br ighter,and many t rave l l e r s ju s t s i t and s tare for hour s.Another spec ia l n ight t ime ac t iv i ty i s the Sounds o fSi lence dinner – a feast in the open air wi th Uluru andKata Tjuta in the d i s tance and a lone d id jer idu andastrologer for accompaniment . Other sunset opt ions inthis area are camel r ides and outback barbecues.
A rchaeo log i ca l work sug ge s t s t ha t
Abor i g ina l peop l e have l i ved in the a rea fo r a t l e a s t 22 ,000 yea r s .
T he Anangu peop l e a re U lu ru ’s t r ad i t i ona l cu s tod i an s bu t un t i l
r e cen t l y, t he mono l i th wa s known a s Aye r s Rock ( named a f t e r fo r mer
premie r S i r Henr y Aye r s by European exp lo re r Wi l l i am Gos s e, who
f i r s t s i gh t ed the rock i n 1873 ) . U lu ru wa s re tu r ned t o the ca re and
owner sh ip o f t he Anangu in 1985 and they now j o in t l y manage the
nat i ona l pa rk w i th Pa rk s Aus t r a l i a .