Posts Tagged ‘uluru ayers rock’

The Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is situated in the central north region of Australia. 

The Northern Territory covers around 1.35 million square kilometers which is 20% of the country of Australia and has a population of approximately 250,000 people which is only 1% of the Entire Population of Australia.

The Northern Territory is classified as having three areas known as The Top End, Middle, and Red Centre.

The Top End is coastal where you’ll find the capital of Darwin, the Middle is mainly the Tanami Desert and the Red Centre the Simpson Desert.

The Red center is named because of the soil in the area being predominantly Red. There are Large Rock formation in this area such as Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Olgas well known for the beautiful Sunsets and Sunrise with the rocks glowing of red. 

Darwin was named after Charles Darwin who was an early scientist pioneer.

 

The first settlers to Darwin came from South Australia in 1869 and was under South Australian control. It wasn’t until 1911 that the Territory was transferred to the Commonwealth and then in 1978  the Northern Territory gained it’s independence however much of the legislation governing the Northern Territory still comes from the Commonwealth Goverment of Australia.

Darwin is known as a multicultural city and also the “Gateway to Asia” 

 Kakudu National Park  is in the North of the Territory to the east of Darwin.  The park is a Commonwealth Reserve and covers nearly 20,000 square kilometers and includes the traditional land of several Aboriginal Tribes.

Kakadu National Park is a one of the very few places that is a World  Heritage area. The Park has 683,000 Hectares of wetlands and home to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, mammals, fresh water fish and different plants. One of our famous reptiles being the Crocodile.

Kakadu is tropical, monsoon climate with two seasons, wet and dry and range in temperature from 10 degrees in the cool nights to 40 degrees in the summer and very high humidity.

Further to the east of Kakuda is Arnhemland. A large Aboriginal Reserve in eastern top end of the Northern Territory. Arnhemland is Aboriginal land and the majority of the land is not accessible to travelers. To visit any areas in Arnhemland you need to have a permit.

Traveling south from Darwin on the Stuart Highway to Alice Springs some 1,500 kilometres you’ll pass through the townships of

• Pine Creek
• Katherine
•  Daly Waters
•  Tennant Creek
•  Barrow Creek and on to Alice Springs. The Stuart Highway passes through Tanami Desert so keep an eye out for Desert Animals such as Kangaroo, Emu, Camels and Dingos. 

Katherine 

North East of Katherine is Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park.

Katherine Gorge is actually 13 gorges carved form sandstone over billions of years by the Katherine River. The Gorge is made up of rugged landscapes and magnificent waterfalls home too much of Australia’s fauna and flora.

The Katherine Gorge stretches for 30 kilometres and can be explored by boat, canoe or helicopter. 

Tennant Creek 

The Tennant Creek region is home to what we call “Devils Marbles.” A spectacular area of thousand of large red boulders strewn across the valley and also large red boulders precariously doing a balancing act on top of each other. Tennant Creek is also the T Junction for the roadway to Queensland that boarders the Northern Territory to the east. 

Alice Springs

Alice Springs is the hub of the Red Centre with so much to see and do.

Boarding the Simpson Desert to the east. Tourism is high on the agenda of the Travel Agents in this area with the main attraction being Uluru (Ayers Rock), Macdonnell National Park and Kings Canyon. This bussing outback town in the center of our country.

 

 

 

Alice Springs with its vibrant landscapes and a heritage rich in culture is only a two hour Flight from most Australian Cities. There are approximately 24,000 Inhabitants in Alice Springs with an 80% majority being Australian Aboriginal. 

Take a tour from Alice Springs to the immediate west to the township of Hermansburg and west to Macdonnell Ranges and Macdonnell National Park. Macdonnell National Park covers most of the Macdonnell Ranges and is home to the famous Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira.

Macdonnell National Prk is known for bush walking through the many Chasms and Gorges and to be able to stop along the way and take a dip in one of the many Waterholes such as

• Ellery Creek Big Hole
•  Ormiston Gorge 
• Redbank Gorge. Reflect on the ancient rock formations and unique scenery.

Macdonnell National Park is home to the Black Footed Rock Wallaby. 

Uluru  Ayers Rock

Uluru is some 460 kilometres south west of Alice Springs.

Taking a tour to Uluru from Alice Springs is a must.

Uluru is situated in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park in the south of the Red Centre. Uluru is considered one of the Natural Wonders of the World and is a Large Magnetic Mound.

It is one of Australia’s most Recognizable Natural Icons.

Uluru previously known as Ayers Rock had a name change when the land was granted back to the Australian Aboriginal and is the most Significant Landmark for the Australian Culture Aboriginal .

The Olgas is another rock formation that is in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. Not as big as Uluru but equally as spectacular. 

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon can be found to the south west of Alice Springs and is situated in the Watarrka National Park. Kings Canyon is a huge 270 metres high and a walk around the canyon can take up to three hours but well worth the effort with its spectacular views and rock pools of the Garden of Eden and the magnificent views of the rock formations known as Lost City.

 

http://www.vimeo.com/3331206

If you are unable to walk or your time is precious then jump on one of the many flights that leave from Kings Creek Station. 

When visiting the Northern Territory don’t go without your camera. So much to film and keep for memories into the future.