This was published 6 years ago
Family holiday in the Northern Territory: Why every Australian (young and old) really needs a holiday in the Top End
By Sally Webb
Sunset from Ubirr overlooking the Nardab floodplain in Kakadu National Park.Credit: Alamy
The hand prints on the rock in front of me are almost ghostly, the pale palms and fingers defined by a spray of deep red ochre on stone. There are various explanations for the presence of these hand prints that are tens of thousands of years old.
My favourite is that they are the signatures of people who had a special association with the place. They might have been a significant visitor, or someone who had returned home after hunting or initiation activities. We'll never know for sure. What we do know is that they are evidence of connection and reconnection over millennia of the traditional owners with their land.
We are exploring the astounding rock paintings at Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris, a private camp on sacred country not far from Kakadu. The extent and quality of this exceptionally well-preserved rock art, some of which is thought to be about 50,000 years old, is unrivalled anywhere in the world.
Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk National Park.Credit: NT Tourism
We see many different hand prints, both stencilled and painted, some decorated with dots and cross hatching, others with outlined "frames". We also see simple stick figures with boomerangs and spears, animals and birds, people, contact era objects and mythical beings.
The significance of the rock art, and our ability to get up close and personal with it, is not lost on me. During the same trip we also see what are regarded as Kakadu's finest rock paintings at Ubirr. They are impressive but not a patch on what we see at Davidson's. At Kakadu we are behind barriers, sharing the moment with scores of other tourists. Here we have it to ourselves.
BACKYARD BLITZ
Termite Mounds, Litchfield National Park.Credit: NT Tourism
The impetus for this Top End family adventure was for our children, Archie, 12, and Lulu, 10, to learn more about Australia's ancient culture. They've been fortunate to have travelled widely internationally, but they've experienced relatively little in the way of indigenous history and culture in our backyard. Redressing that imbalance was long overdue.
We're following a relatively well-worn tourist path from Darwin to Kakadu, Katherine, Nitmiluk National Park and Litchfield National Park, with a two-day foray into Arnhem Land. Northern Territory Tourism promotes the route (minus Arnhem Land) as Nature's Way, a road trip that's ideal to do over a week or 10 days, although you could spend much longer. And while you don't need a 4WD vehicle, having off-road access allows you to explore some of the more remote sites and most spectacular waterholes, particularly in Kakadu.
For Davidson's however, a 4WD vehicle is essential, unless you fly in. Indeed we're forced to rearrange our plans when we discover that we have to cross the tidal East Alligator River, at Cahills Crossing, at 7am. Miss low tide and we'll not only lose a day's exploration at Davidson's but we could become a saltwater crocodile's breakfast. In the height of the wet season, this crossing is impassable for months.
Rock paintings at Davidson's Major Art site.Credit: Sally Webb
I'm slightly nervous as we ford the river through half a metre of fast-flowing water especially when we see the upturned chassis of a 4WD that got swept away and lodged in rocks only metres downstream.
INTO THE WILDERNESS
Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris at Mount Borradaile is unique. The exclusively leased 700-square-kilometre wilderness is nestled against the Arnhem Land escarpment, its rugged ranges fringed by billabongs, flood plains, paper bark swamps and monsoonal rainforests. Its valleys and caves have been occupied for more than 50,000 years and offer magnificent galleries of rock art as well as occupation and burial sites.
Learn about indigenous culture and customs at Top Didj Cultural Experience and Art Gallery, Katherine.Credit: NT Tourism
Davidson's was set up by the late Max Davidson, who sadly died just two weeks before our visit. With the blessing of the senior traditional owner Charlie Mangulda, Davidson and his wife Philippa set up the camp and airstrip in the late 1980s, when the land was registered as an Aboriginal sacred site.
Our days are divided into morning and afternoon safaris led by our knowledgeable and passionate guide Locky, punctuated by lunch at the camp. Each excursion takes us to different caves and escarpments, with the rock paintings in each location even more astounding than the ones before.
On our first morning we walk along alongside a creek and through a pandanus covered gorge ending up at a cave painted with a huge Rainbow Serpent. Measuring more than six metres in length this is an extraordinary artwork, the largest known Rainbow Serpent painting in Australia. Its importance to local people is indicated by the fact that nothing has been painted over the top of it since it was created roughly 1500 years ago.
Gunlom Falls in the Northern Territory.Credit: NT Tourism
This was a ceremonial site, Locky tells us, as the cave has none of the usual signs of habitation such as grinding holes, smoke stains and shell middens. Indeed it was likely a place for initiation, and an adjacent cave, covered in hand prints, was probably where the young men awaited their fate.
BILLABONGS, BARRA AND BUSH LOLLIES
Locky pitches our safaris to appeal to the whole family. I could look at rock paintings all day, but my son Archie, 12, is more excited by finding "bush lolly shops" in the form of live green ants, which he plucks off trees and bushes and eats for a citrussy hit.
Rock painting at Mt Borradaile.Credit: Sally Webb
My husband Simon goes crazy with the telephoto lens snapping brolga, jabiru, jacanas, sea eagles, snake-necked darters, bee-eaters, magpie geese and myriad other birds as well as sunsets better than any we've ever seen. We don't need the long lens for the crocs.
On one billabong boat trip we pull up at a rock shelf to alight, only to find a three-metre salty in the way. On our final evening Locky combines our sunset billabong cruise with a spot of unsuccessful barramundi fishing for which the camp is renowned.
For me the rock art is the highlight. The so-called Contact Gallery has relatively recent paintings of Macassan canoes, pearl luggers and masted sailing ships and drawings touched up with Reckitts blue, probably stolen from the washhouses of nearby missions in the early 20th century.
Katherine Gorge at sunset.Credit: NT Tourism
The Major Art site, which lives up to its name, was an inhabited shelter and boasts multiple grinding stones, spear tips, and even human bones wedged into a rock crevice. The paintings are astonishing, built up over time in multiple layers, with an abundance of hand stencils as well as mythical beings, figures with abnormally exaggerated genitals, animals such as magpie geese and crocodiles, and contact-era illustrations of rifles and pistols.
ROCK OF AGES
Spectacular scenery, extraordinary wildlife, walking trails, gorges, waterfalls and waterholes are among Kakadu's many drawcards. It's a place that deserves to be explored slowly, where camping gives you the best chance to experience its riches and enjoy nature in its purest form.
Injalak Hill, Arnhem Land.Credit: NT Tourism
The children love the educational and interactive displays at each of the park's cultural centres, and Lulu, 10, is quick to join in when she finds local women painting with other children in the shady grounds at Bowali, the main cultural centre at the northern end of the park near Jabiru. The centre rests on land owned by the Mirrar clan and is named after a local creek.
Water is the lifeblood of Kakadu, whether it's isolated waterfalls and the swimming holes they spill into or billabongs and wetlands rich in flora and fauna. The largest of these is Yellow Water Billabong at Cooinda, roughly in the centre of the park, which is part of the South Alligator River system and accessed via Yellow Water Cruises. It's not a cheap exercise – a two-hour cruise will set a family of four back $304 – but worth it for the abundant birdlife as well as the abundant saltwater crocs.
Kakadu's waterholes are the biggest hit with our junior travellers, especially in the dry season heat, and any complaints about a lengthy uphill walk, climb or scramble to reach them are instantly quashed by diving into the crystal clear water. The "infinity pool" at Gunlom is a treat but our favourite is Maguk, or Barramundi Gorge, where we swim in the vast plunge pool before climbing further still to the top of the waterfall where we're rewarded, after more rock scrambling, with higher pools and gorges to swim through.
Wangi Falls, Litchfield National Park.Credit: NT Tourism
Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls are arguably the most famous waterfalls to visit but our car rental company won't let us take our 4WD there as the road and its water crossings are deemed too dangerous and rough.
While the rock art at Kakadu – predominantly at Nourlangie and Ubirr - doesn't compare to what we've seen at Davidson's it is still significant. At Ubirr we join a free (and crowded) guided talk by one of the park rangers, which interprets the images we're seeing as well as the flora surrounding us, but we break away from the group as we're keen to experience some of these paintings in relative solitude. A painting of a thylacine is a favourite. Tasmanian tigers were extinct from this part of mainland Australia 2000 years ago, which gives some indication of the age of the painting and others nearby.
Ubirr is as famous for its sunset views as it is for its rock art. When we climb to the rock plateau for sunset we see the Nadab floodplain before us alight, one of many winter burn-offs we witness during our trip. A score of whistling kites is circling above, looking for rodents and reptiles escaping the smouldering earth and flames. We're also treated to a concert. A choir and a handful of strings players from Santa Sabina College in Sydney are performing a small repertoire by Australian composers as part of their tour of the Northern Territory. The conductor looks familiar, and I realise it's Karen Carey, who gained fame in a 2011 documentary, Mrs Carey's Concert, about the music department at another Sydney girl's school, MLC. Their singing and playing is as magical as the view.
FULL IMMERSION
I've long been a fan of cultural immersion through hands-on activities and our time in Katherine delivers it in spades.
At first I'm sceptical about the Top Didj Cultural Experience just outside town, where a tin-shed gallery sells art from across the territory as well as boomerangs made in Indonesia, as tame baby wallabies hop around the grounds. But when local Dalabon man Manuel starts talking about growing up in his country, about his language and family, about how he didn't see a white fella till he was about eight, we're instantly mesmerised.
He plays the didgeridoo, shows us how to make fire from rubbing two sticks together, and explains how to paint in the local Dalabon style. It seems cheesy – did we pay to learn colour by numbers? – but when we concentrate on creating our chosen totems using ochres and reeds, it's like meditation. Kangaroo hunting using a woomera and a spear turns a fun afternoon into the "best day ever" for the children.
It isn't over. For dinner we head to Marksie's Stockman's Camp Tucker Night, next door. Geoff Marks is an outback larrikin who has a way with words and can cook. Over two decades he's spent extensive time with the local indigenous people and learned many of their culinary customs.
While he spins his yarns we enjoy beef and crocodile sausage rolls with bush tomato and desert quandong sauce, wild barramundi with lemon myrtle and rainforest spice, and camel sausage with mountain pepper seasoning. Beef is roasted with native pepperberry, bluebush and saltbush, roast potatoes are cooked with aniseed myrtle and peas are infused with native mint.
We wake early the next morning and head to Katherine's principal attraction, Nitmiluk National Park and its extraordinary gorge. Thousands of flying foxes are settling down for the day as we walk down to the boat ramp, where we help ourselves to tea and muffins while we wait to board. The dawn cruise is the one to do; you're the only boat on the water so you have the gorge all to yourself.
Our guide, Jamie, is the best indigenous tourism worker we meet on the whole trip, and his interpretations of the geography, flora and fauna are superb. It's a perfect example of what Australia needs more of – traditional owners sharing their country in an informative and knowledgeable way – and the standard that everyone should be working to achieve.
ROAD WARRIORS
With a speed limit of 130 kilometres an hour you can drive from Katherine to Litchfield National Park in just over two hours. Travelling at a more leisurely pace, Edith Falls and the historic mining town of Pine Creek are good detours. Litchfield is a delight with some stunning waterfalls, scenic lookouts and plunge pools.
Only an hour from Darwin, with sealed roads throughout, Litchfield is easily accessible to everyone, even in the wet, which is both a blessing and a curse.
After the wild majesty of Kakadu, and even wilder Arnhem Land, it feels like a bit of an anti-climax to visit Wangi Falls and have to share the waterhole with hundreds of others. Indeed my advice to anyone doing this route would be to visit Litchfield first so you build towards the wildness of Kakadu.
TOUCHING COUNTRY
At the cave at Davidson's the hand prints talk to us of tradition and timelessness. The children are fascinated, holding their own hands up over the ancient stencils to compare size and shape. I wonder how much they will remember, how many of the details they will retain, and if they understand how privileged they are to have seen them.
The answer comes a couple of weeks later, when Archie is asked to write a poem about his holidays in an English class at school, and crafts exquisite words about ochres and sacred spirits, and paintings done layer over layer over time.
Like the traditional owners, albeit briefly, we have touched this timeless country and it has left its indelible imprint on us.
TRIP NOTES
MORE
VISIT
Top Didj Cultural Experience costs $75 an adult, $47 for children, see topdidj.com
Marksie's Stockmans Camp Tucker Night costs $75/$35 per adult/child, reservations essential, see marksiescamptucker.com.au
Nitmiluk Gorge Dawn Cruise costs $94/$48 per adult/child.
FLY
Virgin and Qantas have direct flights to Darwin from Sydney and Melbourne as well as flights via Adelaide and Brisbane. See virginaustralia.com or qantas.com
STAY
Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris costs $750/$600 adults/children per person per night including accommodation, all meals and safari activities but excluding flights, soft drinks and alcohol. Davidson's organises permits for travel into Arnhem Land for guests. See arnhemland-safaris.com
Mercure Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru, Kakadu, has family rooms from $319 a night. The restaurant serves good meals and has a nice wine list. See accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-9616-mercure-kakadu-crocodile-hotel
Flash Camp at Cooinda Lodge, Kakadu is a fabulous way to have a bit of the Kakadu camping experience, with an extra bit of comfort. Spacious teepee-like tents are set up in a special area in the campground from June to September, and include a table and chairs, electric light and comfortable king-sized mattresses with linen on pallet bases. Guests have full access to campground facilities and pools. Doubles $149 per tent per night. The Cooinda Lodge campground has powered sites from $46. The Barra Bistro at Cooinda does terrific pub-style meals including arguably the best burger in the territory.
If you're camping in Kakadu there are several large campsites and many smaller isolated campsites with basic facilities. Trade the convenience of a powered site with full facilities and pools for the tranquillity of nature in bush campgrounds. See parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/stay/camping
In Katherine Knotts Crossing is a campground filled with tropical plants as well as motel-like suites. Family suite from $145. www. See knottscrossing.com.au
Batchelor is the closest township to Litchfield National Park. The Batchelor Holiday Park has well equipped two-bedroom cabins for $261 as well as camping and caravan sites. See batchelorholidaypark.com.au. While in Batchelor be sure to visit the Batchelor Butterfly Farm, which also has a quirky restaurant serving delicious food. See butterflyfarm.net.au
FIVE ROAD TRIP TIPS FOR THE TOP END
HIT THE ROAD
You don't need to have a 4WD vehicle to follow the route we took (excluding Arnhem Land) but having off-road access is a bonus. If you are camping, choose a 4WD with caravan or camper trailer over a campervan or RV. The latter are huge and cumbersome and you won't be able to reach many of the most intriguing and appealing locations in Kakadu.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Remember to stock up on food supplies in major towns, such as Darwin and Katherine. The small townships and settlements within the national parks have limited supplies.
COOL IT
Even if you're not camping consider travelling the Top End with an Esky in order to keep drinks cool, and make sure you have plenty of water available at all times.
PARK LIFE
Litchfield National is not as wild as Kakadu National Park. Most roads are surfaced so it's easy to explore in a 2WD, and walks to many of the major lookouts and landmarks are accessible for wheelchairs and prams.
HIRE POWER
Most car rental companies place Kakadu exclusion zones on their 4WD vehicles. Check the fine print on your contract or discuss with the operator beforehand.
FIVE THINGS TO DO IN DARWIN
ON THE WATERFRONT
The Darwin Waterfront has a fake wave pool and an enclosed harbour where you can swim safely in filtered seawater, and bounce around on the Big Buoy inflatable waterpark. Young children will love the new adventure playground on the Esplanade.
ART STARTER
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) at Bullocky Point, overlooking the Arafura Sea, is home to significant traditional and contemporary indigenous art. See magnt.net.au
BATTLE LINES
The Military Museum at East Point has a range of exhibits relating to the Northern Territory's World War II history, including the fascinating Defence of Darwin display. It brings the bombing of Darwin in 1942 alive through interactive multimedia displays. See magnt.net.au
PLANE FASCINATING
The Darwin Aviation Museum has an extensive display of aircraft, engines and aviation memorabilia including the Japanese plane that crash-landed on Melville Island during the bombing of Darwin raid. See darwinaviationmuseum.com.au
TO MARKET, TO MARKET
Visit the markets at Mindil Beach held every Thursday and Sunday at sunset with more than 300 stalls from food and drink to artisan crafts. See mindil.com.au
FIVE MORE PLACES FOR ADVENTUROUS FAMILY HOLIDAYS IN AUSTRALIA
The Kimberley, Western Australia
Boasting dramatic gorges, rugged ranges and spectacular waterfalls The Kimberley is as wild as it is wonderful. El Questro Wilderness Park, a former cattle station in the East Kimberley now devoted to tourism, is an ideal base for exploration of this untamed land. See elquestro.com.au
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania
Walking the Overland Track carrying a 20kg backpack may not be for everyone (nor every family) but as an immersive nature experience in the alpine landscape of Tasmania it's hard to beat. See discovertasmania.com.au/about/national-parks-and-wilderness/cradle-mountain-lake-st-clair-national-park
Dinosaur Route, Queensland
The outback loop from Longreach to Winton, Richmond and Hughendon in Central Queensland is known as the Dinosaur Route. The fossilised remains of massive plant-eating sauropods and carnivorous theropods are among the drawcards. For dinosaur-mad children, visiting the museums and fossicking in paleontological sites followed by a counter meal in an outback pub is a holiday made in heaven. See australiasdinosaurtrail.com
Cape Tribulation, Queensland
There's nowhere else in Australia quite like the Daintree, where the rainforest meets the reef, and the wildlife – including cassowaries and crocs – is exotic. The Kuku Yalanji indigenous experience at Mossman Gorge adds to the experience with a traditional smoking ceremony, a guided gorge walk and a visit to a sacred site. See cape-trib.com
Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Kit up the family with hiking boots and go bush in the rugged Flinders Ranges, a landscape dating back 540 million years, with granite peaks, myriad bushwalking trails and plenty of opportunities for birdwatching. Full immersion nature. See southaustralia.com/places-to-go/flinders-ranges-and-outback
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