By the time you read this, we would be flying across the Indian Ocean down under, to the land of Koalas, Kangaroos and the wild Outback! Can’t wait to plunge into the adventures!
It’s been almost a decade since I last visited Australia, but the natural landscape and smell of wildlife were all too clear for me to forget what an amazing country it was. At the age of 18, backpacking across South-Eastern Australia, we slept in 16-hour bus journeys, stroked adorable Kangaroos that were jumping all over the place and even had my picture taken with a koala that felt more than a fur ball than an animal. I remember climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge (which really was no big deal) – and catching the stunning sunset, checking out the surfer dudes on Bondi Beach, and pigging out on fresh fish & chips along the Great Ocean Road.
This time round, we’re exploring the Northern Territory – I’ve been meaning to find out more on aboriginal history and culture, as well as experience the real Outback. People say that only here, can you get a genuine taste of the Outback adventures. Walking on the wild side, I’m sure this is what I’ve been looking for – wild thrills and unspoiled nature.
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions. Despite its large area — over 1,349,129 square kilometres (520,902 sq mi), making it the third largest Australian federal division — it is sparsely populated. The history of the Northern Territory began over 40,000 years ago when Indigenous Australians settled the region.
The capital city is Darwin. The population is not concentrated in coastal regions but rather along the Stuart Highway. The Northern Territory is also home to two spectacular natural rock formations, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), which are sacred to the local Aboriginal peoples and which have become major tourist attractions.
In the northern part of the territory lies Kakadu National Park, which features breathtaking wetlands and native wildlife. To the north of that lies the Arafura Sea, and to the east lies Arnhem Land, whose regional centre is Maningrida on the Liverpool River delta. There is an extensive series of river systems in the Northern Territory. These rivers include: Alligator River, Daly River, Finke River, McArthur River, Roper River, Todd River and Victoria River.
From Outback ballooning to trekking through the trails, there are so many ways to explore the Northern Territory. Swimming in clear waterholes, plunging into cascading waterfalls and cruising along the billabongs – these are all part of the entire NT package. Pretty enticing huh? Of course, NT boasts of wildlife – saltlake crocodiles, sea eagles and buffalos roaming the Kakadu National Park.
I’m all psyched up for this wild adventure down under – read on for more of my Aussie tales!
