Explore the NT
As tempting as it is just to fish the many wonderful locations the NT offers, and to maximise your time targeting that magical Million Dollar Fish it would, perhaps, be folly to travel so far and miss out on the diverse landscapes, ancient culture and colourful characters of Australia’s vast Northern Territory.
Your fishing experience might also have to form part of a wider family holiday, or you may have a non-fishing partner travelling with you, so here we take a brief look at some of the many incredible opportunities the NT offers visitors when they are not fishing.
BY REGION
Darwin and the Surrounds
The cosmopolitan ‘gateway to Asia’ is a vibrant city where you can revel in the excitement of the Darwin Festival, shop, enjoy a wide range of art and cultural activities and discover the natural riches of the surrounds.
Highlights include the Litchfield National Park with its waterfalls and waterholes, the wildlife of the Mary River wetlands and the Tiwi Islands – ‘the Islands of Smiles’.
In fact the Top End teems with exotic birdlife, mammals, reptiles and marine life, indeed there are more crocodiles in the Northern Territory than anywhere else in the world, so you can jump in a boat or visit a park and meet the ‘real’ locals.
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park is timeless and visitors can experience pristine landscapes that have changed little over thousands of years and an ancient Aboriginal culture that dates back more than 50,000 years. In this magical and ancient land you will experience cascading waterfalls, rugged escarpments, aboriginal rock art, giant crocodiles and exotic bird life.
Arnhem Land
A spectacular landscape and one of Australia’s last true wilderness areas Arnhem Land is one of the Top End’s most stunning natural destinations. Its scenery is both beautiful and diverse, including rugged coastlines, remote islands, rivers teeming with fish, lush rainforest, towering escarpments and savannah woodland.
Katherine and Surrounds
Where the outback meets the tropics you can discover a region full of gorges and misty waterfalls, thermal springs and ancient cultures. It’s perfect for families and solo travellers alike and you’ll be spoilt for choice from driving, camping, kayaking and trekking. And if the family is not around there is some incredible fishing to be found in the area including the Daly River and the Gulf of Carpentaria, one of the Territory’s best remote fishing destinations!
Alice Springs and Surrounds
There’s not much fishing to be found in this spirited outback centre despite it being home to the oldest river system in the world – the Finke! Alice Springs is as famous for the personality of its locals and contemporary and traditional art as it is for the natural wonders including the stunning Larapinta Trail, the MacDonnell Ranges which surround it, Rainbow Valley and Finke Gorge.
From hot air ballooning to 4WD adventures, quad biking and ‘choppers’ there are a multitude of ways to explore the region, its people and its history.
Uluru and Surrounds
Considered the spiritual heart of Australia, this region’s gem is Uluru/Ayers Rock – a ‘must visit’ for any holiday maker – angler or not. It’s Australia’s most recognisable natural icon and culturally significant for the Anangu people.
The region does, however offer visitors so much more, and it is only a few hours from Sydney too. You can wind your way through Kings Canyon, see the ancient red rocks of Kata Tjuta, marvel at star-filled skies, experience real outback stations and even go camel trekking.
The NT ‘TOP TEN’
As you can see from the regional highlights above there is just SO much to see and do in the NT that you need to visit more than once!
Of course everyone has different tastes and is looking for different experiences when they are not enjoying the world-class angling, so who better than Tourism NT to recommend the ‘Top Ten’ NT experiences. So here, in no particular order, they are:
1. Uluru/Ayers rock, Uluru and surrounds
Visit at sunrise or sunset for the spectacular sight of this 348-metre high monolith transforming in colour from ochre to burnished orange and intense red.
2. Kakadu National Park
From cascading waterfalls and ancient rock art to giant crocodiles and exotic birdlife – Kakadu and Arnhem Land will change how you see the world.
3. Litchfield National Park
Discover misty waterfalls and lush waterholes, hit the trail in a 4WD, or take it nice and slow and wander through Litchfield National Park on foot.
4. Katherine Gorge and Nitmiluk National Park
Make your way to the ancient sandstone country of Nitmiluk National Park and explore the 13 stunning gorges on foot, by canoe, boat or helicopter.
5. Nature and wildlife
View rare species of flora, native wildlife and birds around the many established walking trails, swimming holes and camping areas in NT.
6. Walking and hiking
Appreciate the breath-taking beauty of the NT’s wilderness by exploring it on two feet. You’ll find some of the best bushwalks in the country.
7. Self-drive touring
Venture from place to place creating your own itinerary, or choose from three long journeys: The Red Centre Way, The Explorer’s Way and Binns Track.
8. Rail journeys
The legendary Ghan train travels through the centre of the continent, visiting some of the Territory’s most spectacular destinations along the way.
9. Aboriginal culture tours
Discover Aboriginal tradition, Dreamtime stories, art and culture on a guided tour in NT, home to Australia’s largest population of Aboriginal people.
10. Art galleries
See renowned Aboriginal artworks at the Araluen Cultural Precinct in Alice, and at indigenous galleries throughout Katherine, Kakadu and Arnhem Land.
Whether you are looking to do just one, or the whole top ten, for full details of just how amazing an adventure in Australia’s Outback can be check out the website HERE
