Nitmiluk National Park – The Hidden Panorama

Top Destinations and Attractions – Northern Territory Traveler’s Panorama Guide

Planning to explore Northern Territory? Wanted to make it full and lasting holiday in this federal territory of Australia called as the country’s outback? You are in the right place to check and see what this full of desert landscapes has to offer.

This post will give some insights what places to see and visit in Northern Territory using some questions to know your travel preference.

1. Are you an Adventure Seeker?

I can truly say that people visited Northern Territory are adventurers. Why? Because most of the places to visit in this part of Australia requires physical activities like walking, trekking, climbing, swimming or combination. It means that you cannot see the awesome places without doing an effort to see or experience it unless you wanted to see wonderful places from above through flying with helicopter which is different. The lists below are a must-see.

Uluru (Ayers Rock) – Bush Walking, Walking, Trekking

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) – Trekking

Kings Canyon – Trekking

Litchfield National Park – Walking, Trekking, Swimming

Nitmiluk National Park – Trekking, Swimming

2. Are you a Scenic View Lover?

Northern Territory offers a lot of fascinating natural wonders, that sometimes even myself thinking how on earth these nature wonders ever created? The list below should not be missed.

Nitmiluk National Park

Litchfield National Park

Mount Conner Lookout

Uluru / Ayers Rock Lookout

Kata Tjuta Dune Viewing Area

Kings Canyon

3. Are you a History and a Culture Buff?

Have you ever wondered that Northern Territory also offers its part of its history and culture based on the nature wonders that it offers? Yes, it is still correlated to each other and visitors like me wondered that the aboriginals that lives in this part of Australia are being proud of their own identity and community. Below list are recommended places for it.

Uluru (Ayers) Rock

Judbarra (Gregory) National Park

Strauss Airfield

4. Are you a Shopaholic?

If you are still tend to buying stuff while in Northern Territory, I think the shopping experience you will have in this part of Australia will be a bit different compared when you are into buying things in the city, as most of the things you can buy around Northern Territory will reflect the culture of the Aboriginals or their local products which can be found in markets across the territory. Since both of my tour in the said territory are more on adventure tour, I do not have experience in doing shopping aside from basic needs like food and drinks. But I had visited and seen aboriginal arts stores across the territory.

5. Are you Just Chilling Out?

Do you want to travel in Northern Territory without exerting too much physical adventures just to reach amazing places in this part of Australia? And you just wanted to rest to unwind and become a bit of lazy? Here are some options for you to do that.

Alice Spring

Darwin

Notes :

Coming to Northern Territory for me is not a typical or ordinary travel that people usually does. Traveling in this part of Australia means, a great love for nature and willing to go beyond the comfort zone. And wanted to have an extraordinary travel or adventure. For people who are not adventurous enough and does not want to exhaust itself from lots of physical activities to reach the wonderful places in Northern Territory has a choice to do sightseeing in luxurious ways like bus tour or fly tour. And people like me who just had enough to do adventures chose to go in affordable way. I can’t afford luxury travel therefore I came in this part of Australia in most economical way that I can. I joined adventure tours where the cost was lower compared to other tour offerings, but these kind of tours has requirements, you must be up for adventures. If you are not, then, either you spend fortunes to travel in most comfortable way possible. In the end, everybody can still visit Northern Territory and enjoy it no matter how different ways it is.

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25 Reasons Why You Must Visit Northern Territory

Visiting or exploring Northern Territory in Australia is one of the best thing to do if you are in this continent country down under. The said territory offers variety of national parks with distinct characters on its own. Though I haven’t seen all of national parks such as Kakadu which I initially planned to explore but failed because of some unforeseen reason but the other parks that I got a chance to see did not fail me to amaze me and I truly admired them. There are so many reasons why people visiting Australia should try to explore this part of the country.

Below are the list of reasons which all of them I got a chance to see, visit, explore and experience while touring around Northern Territory.

1. Camel Farm (Camel Australia)

This camel farm was not too far from Alice Spring, anyone who haven’t experience camel ride adventure, on this farm everyone will get the chance the camel ride challenge of a lifetime.

2. Erldunda

This place in Northern Territory is a homestead which is a great stopover station from a long drive either in Stuart Highway or Lasseter Highway. It offers accommodations, fuel refill and even shops in the middle of the remote desert.

3. Yulara

This is an isolated town where our group had spent overnight sleeping in a swag in an open camp site. A great outback experience for the night where you can enjoy stars before sleeping tight. This is also the town where most of the expensive accommodations located in Red Centre.

4. Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Uluru is an island mountain rock with sacred significance to Aboriginal People lives in the area. Also called Ayers Rocks is commonly uses as Australia’s Outback landmark. Try to do the base walk instead of climbing the rock as respect to aboriginals request.

5. Uluru Sunset Viewing Area

If you are not into walking at the base of Ayers Rock, then the Uluru Sunset Viewing area is for you which offers scenic view of Uluru from a distance. It gives the visitor a chance to take photos of the whole island mountain rock stands in the middle of remote wilderness.

6. Mount Conner Lookout (Mount Conner View With Sand Dunes and Lake Across)

Along Lasseter Highway there is Mount Conner Lookout to appreciate the scenic view of the Mount Conner itself. Then, across the lookout, there is sand dunes where anyone can play and the lake view to enjoy beside it.

7. Kata Tjuta Dune Viewing Area

This lookout area is positioned in a good location to see both Uluru and Kata Tjuta in different times of the day to appreciate these two natural wonders exist in Red Centre.

8. Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

Trekking “The Olgas” was one of a kind of journey that I had while at the Red Centre. Experiencing these amazing rock formations that grown like hills and mountains made me think how such things happened in this part of the world that made these rocks became wonderful on its own.

9. George Gill Range

Coming from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and using Lasseter Highway, the George Gill is a long mountain range which said to be purely sandstone but while we were on the road this mountain range offers scenic views to anyone who passed the road. The mountain range also used by tourism for scenic flight adventure.

10. Kings Creek Station

This is the station where we stayed for an overnight before we trek Kings Canyon. Anybody who plan to adventure in the outback, this station offers accommodations, camping, even basic supplies to survive in remote wilderness, food and tours.

11. Kings Canyon at Wattarka National Park

We had a trek within the Canyon Walk where we reached Cotterrils Lookout, crossed “Garden of Eden”, saw Rock Domes, Kings Creek and Lost City. We also experienced the Canyon Rim Walk with a breath-taking scenery to enjoy.

12. Alice Springs

It is a town in Northern Territory located almost at the center of Australia and said to have equidistant between Darwin and Adelaide. When I got a chance be in the city, I had few hours spent here which mostly because of my accommodation before the Red Centre adventure and before flying back to Melbourne. For me this town is an interesting one since the common job within the town are related to tourism, I am wondering how such small community able to survive in the middle of the desert

13. Darwin and The Cav

I haven’t had a picture of tourist spot in Darwin because I only slept few hours in the city, as I was not really able to explore this city at the top end. But I will not forget the food that I tasted in “The Cav” (Cavenagh Hotel) where I stayed for an overnight before the overland adventure took place. The restaurant is famous for its steak menu and popular in Darwin which proven to be true.

14. Strauss Airfield

Along Stuart Highway in Noonamah, Northern Territory, Strauss Airfield is situated just beside the highway. The historical airfield was built in 1942 during World War II. Only remnants can be found in the site as reminders of the airfield and its story since it was decommissioned after the war in 1945.

15. Batchelor Town

Batcher Town is a small town to see in Batchelor Road. The town keeps and maintain the Replica of Karlstejn Castle at Havlik Park which named after Bernie Havlik whom made the huge rock into castle. Batchelor town is considered as the gateway to Litchfield National Park.

16. Banyan Tree Caravan Park

Banyan Tree Caravan Park offers accommodations and has shop or store for a quick break or snack before doing the adventures in Litchfield National Park.

17. Cathedral Termite (Nasutitermes Triodiae) Mounds

Everyone driving near or within Litchfield National Park will witness lots of termite mounds around the area. But two of gigantic termite mounts can be found here and called as Cathedral Termite Mounds

18. Magnetic Termite or Compass Termite (Amitermes Meridionalis) Mounds

Another termite mound that will amaze visitors is a cemetery look-alike termite mounds called Magnetic Termite Mounds where the termites able to create a perfectly flat mound upward.

19. Florence Falls (Karrimura)

Florence Falls is said to be a spiritual place in a sense that it is exclusive to individual no matter you are near or far from people.

20. Tolmer Falls

Tomer Falls is a spectacular falls within Litchfield National Park with high distant and deep plunge pool.

21. Litchfield Cafe

Litchfield Cafe was the place where a cold buffet lunch is being offered but need to check if advance booking is a must. This restaurant is famous of their mango cheesecake desert.

22. Wangi Falls

Wangi Falls is the most popular pool to visitors and the most accessible falls within Litchfield National Park.

23. Edith Falls (Leliyn Falls)

Edith Falls or Leliyn Falls is a series of cascading waterfalls and pools on the Edith River in Nitmiluk National Park. With limited time in the waterfall, everyone can enjoy either in the base pool or main pool and the upper pool. For more adventurous one, a day trek to Sweetwater pool is a great one.

24. Katherine Gorge

A quick hike to Baruwei Lookout offers stunning scenery of Nitmiluk National Park with Katherine River.

25. Judbarra (Gregory) National Park

A site rich of aboriginal cultures which depicts in the arts found along the escarpment walls in Judbarra National Park.

The above 25 reasons are my list and there are more reasons aside from above, to think that I haven’t visited the World Heritage Site Kakadu National Park. If I were you, I will plan to explore this part of Australia and you will not disappoint because you will enjoy the top end.

Top 5 National Parks of Northern Territory Visited

For the two times that I had a chance to visit Northern Territory in Australia, I got a chance to visit and experience some of its best national parks. I knew for myself that I haven’t seen all the national parks that Northern Territory has to offer but if I will have another chance to come back, I definitely plan to visit the other parks. But for now, I had visited five national parks and I described in the post my experiences as my reasons how I rate them. I truly recommend all of them to visit and other parks to be found at top end of Australia.

Top 1 – Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon)

My most favorite national park that I visited in Northen Territory is Watarrka National Park where Kings Canyon in Australia is located. The main reason why I like it the most is because it is a canyon. I really like canyon. And the best about this one was the chance to trek within the canyon where we took Canyon Rim Walk track. Following the track gave us the chance to reached Cotterrils Lookout, to cross Garden of Eden, to see Rock Domes, Kings Creek and Lost City where all of it can be found within Kings Canyon. I consider it wonders of our world.

Top 2 – Uluru (Ayers Rock) – Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) National Park

Uluru or Ayers Rock was the main reason I planned to join my first adventure in the outback of Australia. Uluru itself is the most popular symbol used for the outback of the country down under. And I had a chance to experience the walk for Lungkata Trail that goes around at the base of the sacred mountain rock for Anangu Aboriginal People. And we experienced rain which very seldom to happen at the Red Centre.

Then, the next day was another fulfilling experience where the group trekked the “Valley of the Winds” trail within “The Olgas” or Kata-Tjuta where we reached two lookouts called Karu Lookout and Karingana Lookout that gives different views of “The Olgas”.

Top 3 – Judbarra (Gregory) National Park

I love this national park because of the trekking we did following the Nawilbinbin Trail that goes up to the base escarpment walls where we found lots of aboriginal arts drawn in the rock shelters and cliff. We had a great scenery of the valley as well while ascending and descending the trail.

Top 4 – Nitmiluk National Park

Nitmiluk National Park consist of stunning gorges. And some of the great waterfalls can be found here because of the rivers connected to other rivers that made wonderful falls within the park. We had a chance to swim in Edith Falls (Leliyn for Aboriginals) and witness the amazing Katherine Gorge through trekking to Baruwei Lookout.

Top 5 – Litchfield National Park

This park offers a lot of things during my day tour and I knew for a fact that what I had seen are not the only things to see and there are still more but a day was not enough to see it all. But even it was just one day, I discovered two nature wonders that involve termites. First was about Cathedral Termite Mounds and second was Magnetic Termite Mounds. Then, the park also offers wonderful waterfalls that so great to swim even sometimes park rangers caught some crocs.

Nitmiluk National Park : Sandstone Country Full of Stunning Gorges

It was Day 1 of the 9-Days adventure tour that I joined and I felt excited while waiting for my tour that will pick me up in the hotel that I stayed the night before. I was still early on the scheduled time after I checked-out in the hotel.

The Cavenagh Hotel

And when there was a huge 4WD vehicle stopped at the front of the hotel, I knew that it was my tour but still I waited for the tour guide to get-off the vehicle and waited if he will asked for my name. And that was what happened. He asked if I was the person he is looking for and I responded to him that I was that person. Then, he checked my luggage and asking if that was my only luggage and I confirmed that it was. Then, he introduced himself and his named was Scotty. The look of him was rugged tour guide which definitely fit for adventure tour. He was wearing the typical tour guide uniform that I usually saw in Australia which was colored khaki polo and short.

Then I hopped inside the vehicle and there I found another joiner of the tour. The greetings happened after. The next thing happened was picking up all the tourist that will join the tour and this happened until all of us 20 were complete and all of the seat has been occupied.

Before totally leaving the city, we stopped by in the gas station to fill-up our tank as our preparation for our long journey in remote places called Kimberly Region which located mostly in Western Australia.

Then we hit the road towards our first destination for our first day of adventure. But few minutes that we were on the road, our tour guide introduced himself again to the whole group while he was driving and then he instructed us to play games so that all of us inside the vehicle which still strangers to each other that time and will be together for the next nine days, he said to us to introduce ourselves to the next person in our seat. And then after five minutes, we have to change our designated seats and repeat the same thing, it happened until almost all of us know each other our first names, the country we came from and what we do for the living. It was a fun activity while inside the 4WD vehicle.

Edith Falls (Leliyn Falls)

After few hours that we were on the road, we reached the first destination based on the itinerary plan for that day which located in Katherine Region. It was Edith Falls or Leliyn for the Jawoyn people (Australian aboriginals in the park) that can be found within Nitmiluk National Park.

Everybody prepared themselves for a swimming since its falls that we were targeting to enjoy. I was a bit of nervous because I was not really good in swimming specially if it’s very deep water. From the parking lot of the falls, we took Leliyn Trail towards Upper Pool. But before we move straight to the Upper Pool, we stopped a bit in Leliyn Lookout to see the base pool which accessible few meters from the parking and very popular to all visitors.

At Leliyn Lookout

Edith Falls base pool or main pool from Leliyn Lookout

After seeing the view of the base pool or lower pool of Edith Falls, we continued our walk towards the Upper Pool, a pool where our group spent hours to enjoy the falls itself and had our first swimming adventure in a natural pool coming from the water falls of Edith River.

When we reached the pool, all of us prepared to get wet in the pool. My group went straight in the hole, but because it was deep, I was not able to come with them. I soaked myself with the water but, I felt that the rock was a bit of slippery. Because of that I stayed just beside the rocks, steadied myself to be in balance and just soaking myself. My group looked at me and calling my name and I told them I was not good in swimming. Then my group move to the other where Edith falls is. And I just stayed where I was. Then, Scotty approached me and asked me to join them at the other side of the pool and I told him, I was not really good in swimming. Therefore, he helped me while I was trying myself to move at the side of the rock. I was able to join the group at the other side and everyone was helping me and assisting me. When I was stable myself and was able to sit with the group, I had a bit of fun even I was not able to be under the falls since that part of the pool was very deep for me to take. We stayed in that part of the pool for a while. While others in the group keep going back and forth enjoying swimming to and from the falls.

After spending time with Upper Pool, the group decided to end our adventure with Edith Falls. I just wore my shoes and then we trekked back to our vehicle.

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Edith Falls in Upper Pool

Upper Pool

Looking towards the ground

Katherine Gorge

Before we ended our first day adventure, we drove towards Katherine Gorge which at least an hour drive from Edith Falls. When we reached the parking lot, Scotty, our tour guide, told us just to follow the trail and we will not get lost. We had a bit of trekking to reach Baruwei Lookout. Even the hike was a bit of assault, when we reach the lookout, a wonderful scenery greeted us. We saw how vast the national park is and how amazing the Katherine River down below which said to be croc-filled waters. We spent time taking photos from the lookout and then we decided to return to the parking lot as it begins to get dark.

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Accommodation

We stayed in a tent village for the night and because the season was almost over, only our group seems to be the visitor in the tent village and some in the group had a chance to have one permanent tent and I am one them who got a chance to slept by myself. I didn’t knew the name of the accommodation where the tent village belong but based on our tour guide, its one of his favorite accommodation because the caretaker of the tent village was one of his favorites.

After we reached the tent village, the group helped to prepare our dinner that night and that night made me remembered my experience in my 3 days adventure tours in Red Centre where our guide was really good in food and menus. And it seems Scotty was the same. And I thought that knowing how to cook is one of the qualifications to become an adventure tour guide.

It rained a bit that night, that’s why after the dinner and cleaning up dishes, everybody immediately chose the tents we have to take. It was a strange night for me. Because the tent village that night was unpowered tents. Meaning, it was totally dark in our surroundings. The funny things was everything will be heard like, individual steps or even the cricket sounds. After I took a bath that night, I returned to my tent and had a good rest.

Until then the next day adventure.

Transportation : Nitmiluk, NT – Narrated Cruising Boat

Transportation (Post#12) : Nitmiluk, NT – Narrated Boat Tour

One of the things to enjoy within Nitmiluk National Park is cruising in a boat along Katherine River learning historical facts of different gorges around the park. In our group, we trekked towards Baruwei Lookout to witness the fascinating scenery of Katherine Gorge. The boat here was captured cruising Katherine River from the lookout. These photos are part of Day 1 (Darwin to the Katherine Region) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.

Transportation : Nitmiluk, NT – ARB 4×4 Vehicle

Transportation (Post#11) : Nitmiluk, NT – ARB 4×4 Vehicle

In this photo, the background scenery is awesome looking towards the ground of the park, but at the side of this snapshot was the ARB 4X4 vehicle. Honestly, I love this kind of jeep or wagon because of its ability to go further even with rough road or dirt tracks. The photo is part of Day 1 (Darwin to the Katherine Region) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.

Picture Frame : Edith (Leliyn) Falls

Picture Frame (Post#8) : Edith (Leliyn) Falls

As part of the adventure tour where it always involve trekking and hiking, our group went to the Upper Pools of Edith Falls via Leliyn Trail which used to be the same trail to take to reach Sweetwater Pool, the farthest pool that can enjoy where Edith Falls flows into but need the whole day time to reach it. Edith Falls or Leliyn Falls for Jawoyn people, is a cascading falls which offers different pools that adventurer can enjoy. Edith Falls is also connected to Katherine Gorge which are all within Nitmiluk National Park. These photos are part of Day 1 (Darwin to the Katherine Region) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.

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View At My Window : Edith (Leliyn) Falls Lower Pool

View At My Window (Post#33) : Edith (Leliyn) Falls Lower Pool

Visiting Edith Falls (or Leliyn Falls for Jawoyn People – one of the aboriginals taking care of the park) to enjoy natural pool for swimming adventure, even you don’t like trekking to reach the Upper Pool, the falls also has Lower Pool or Base Pool which just few steps from parking area. The said pool is just one of the holes that the waterfalls is offering. These photos are part of Day 1 (Darwin to the Katherine Region) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.