The Top End

The northwest reaches of Oz (from the rocky red ranges of the Kimberley in Western Australia to the northern 3rd of the Northern Territory) encompass what Aussies eloquently dub “the Top End.” This is Crocodile Dundee territory, a remote, vast, semi-desert region where men are heroes and the cattle probably outnumber the people. In this book, we have concentrated on the Northern Territory section of the “Top End,” with the Kimberley included in the Western Australia chapter. Near the tropical city of Darwin, the territory’s capital, is Kakadu
National Park, where you can cruise past crocodiles on inland billabongs, bird-watch, and visit ancient Aboriginal rock-art sites. Closer to Darwin is Litchfield National Park, where you can take a dip in fern-fringed swimming holes surrounded by red cliffs— stuff straight from Eden. You can cruise the waterways of Katherine Gorge, a few hours’ drive south of Darwin, or explore them by canoe. Near Katherine you can learn to make your own didgeridoo, and canoe rarely explored, croc-infested inland rivers.