Northern territory.k angellotti

The Essential Northern Territory

Prepared for: Smithsonian Travel

Northern Territory Overview

Climate Ranges from Tropical Shores in the North to the Outback in the Center

Over 3x the Size of California, with Fewer than 300,000 Residents

Home to 24 National Parks, 2 of Which are World-Heritage Listed

Archaeological History Dates Back Over 50,000 Years

Indigenous Australians Own Nearly Half the Land

Getting There & Around

AIR – Darwin International Airport is the

main airport for the Northern Territory

RAIL– The Ghan train journey connects

Adelaide from the South via Alice Springs with Darwin

CAR– Stuart Highway, also known as the

Explorer’s Way, is the main artery linking Darwin to Southern Australia

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Uluru / Ayers Rock– World Heritage-listed sandstone formation, drawing tourists from all over the

world

Kata Tjuta / The Olgas – Group of 36 weathered rock domes deeply cleaved with narrow gorges

Anangu People– Aboriginal peoples inhabited the region for over 10,000 years, holding the

park’s natural wonders sacred

Geological Significance– Sedimentary beds that make up Uluru and Kata Tjuta were laid down over 600

million years ago

Home to Australia’s Most Famous Natural Icon

Kakadu National Park

Aboriginal Culture– Home to the world’s oldest living culture, dating back 50,000 years

Biodiversity– Encompassing 20,000 square meters of diverse nature, including waterfalls,

sandstone galleries, and four rivers Art

– Aboriginal rock art paintings dating back 25,000 years Wildlife

– Home to nearly one-fifth of Australia’s mammals, including crocodiles, birdlife and eight types of kangaroos and wallabies

One of the Few World Heritage Sites Listed for Both its Cultural and Natural Values

Arnhem Land

Aboriginal Culture– Protected land* owned by a small indigenous population of Aborigines

Biodiversity– Landscape made of up wild coastlines, deserted islands, rainforests and savannah woodlands

Art– Birthplace of the Didgeridoo and home to thousands of aboriginal rock art sites

Archeological Significance– The oldest known stone axe was found here, believed to be 35,000+ years old

*This land is accessible by permit only

One of the Last Great Unspoiled Areas in the World

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Katherine & Surrounding Areas

Nitmiluk National Park– Home to the world-famous Katherine Gorge, a series of 13 deep sandstone

gorges carved by the Katherine River

Litchfield National Park– Majestic sandstone plateaus, monsoon forests, waterfalls, crocodile-free plunge

pools and unusual termite mounds

Cutta Cutta Caves– The only cave system open to the public in the NT, with limestone caves, a

unique ecology and endangered ghost bats

World-Class National Parks









Alice Springs

Watarrka National Park– Home to King’s Canyon and three communities of Aboriginal peoples

Finke Gorge National Park– One of Australia’s premier wilderness reserves, also known for its rare red

cabbage palms

MacDonnell Ranges– 400 kilometers of weather beaten mountain ranges stretching through the

desert

The Heart of Australia’s Outback







Capital City of Darwin

Australia’s Only Tropical Capital– Home to the NT’s international airport, boasting a variety of

accommodations, restaurants, markets and festivals

Mary River National Park– Covering Mary River wetlands, great for bird watching and wildlife spotting

Tiwi Islands– Protected lands inhabited by the Tiwi Aboriginal people, located 80

kilometers to the north of Darwin, made up of dense rainforests and sandy beaches

Designated a Top 10 City to Visit in 2012 by Lonely Planet







Essential Australia

No trip to Australia is complete without a visit to the vast, unspoiled, diverse lands of the Northern Territory

Perfect for:Adventure SeekersNature LoversStudents & TeachersBirdwatchersHistory BuffsArchaeology EnthusiastsAnthropologistsGeologists