We have refrained from all Crocodile Dundee references in all previous Australia blogs, but now we’ve earned it. The Top End is where much of the movie was shot and where we wrapped up our 20 days in Oz. dGoing from the iconic Kakadu National Park to Gunlom Falls (with its “crocodile-free swimming”), and even the outback bar where Charlie the hypnotized water buffalo has been immortalized, it was quite the tour. We didn’t come to the region to pay homage this 1980s flick, but are thrilled we got to experience the incredible scenery and wildlife that inspired this cult classic.
Continuing our three-day excursion with Adventure Tours, we delved deeper into Kakadu National Park and arrived to one of the most scenic Crocodile Dundee locations, Gunlom Falls. Hiking alongside the 200-foot cascade (intro pic), we reached the natural infinity pools, basked in the same baths as manly Mick, and enjoyed the stunning views across this diverse outback landscape (six different environments to be exact: monsoonal vine forest, open woodland, flood plains and rivers, mangroves and mudflats, southern lowlands and ridgeline.)
Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park was our most southerly and possibly most spectacular point in our Northern Territory tour. Formed by the Katherine River flowing from Arnhem Land to the Timor Sea, this 23 million-year-old natural marvel is made of towering red rock walls, with just enough room for a couple of boats to pass through. We sailed between the 230-foot high pass taking in a bit of history and plenty of scenery.
Crocodile Dundee
The Northern Territory has its share of deadly to delicate animals. They have over 100,000 crocodiles, three of the world’s top ten deadliest snakes, 300+ types of birds species, and countless unidentifiable critters worthy of a safari. We spotted a water monitor, wallaroos, frill neck lizards, and Charlie the Water Buffalo at the Adelaide River Inn Pub.
We culminated our adventure through the outback with a burger barbie at Barmundi Gorge (the hat definitely took my BBQ skills up a notch). Adventure Tours invited us on this excursion as their guest, but at a $435 dollars for a three day all-inclusive outback safari, this is something we’d recommend even to a shoe-string backpacker. There’s just no way to cover that type of rugged ground and get the knowledge that their guides provided on your own.
We returned to the city of Darwin which was wild in its own right. People from more than 50 countries make up the 110,000 population and a vibrant aboriginal culture gives this tropical metropolis its own rhythm. We stayed with a friend of a friend and she introduced us to the favorite Darwinian ritual: The Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Every Thursday and Sunday the town brings their picnic blankets, food carts, crafts, and arguably the best didgeridoo show around. (Listen to this guy eMDee speed-play four didgeridoos at once!)
Darwin is closer to Indonesia than Sydney, so the great forces of Southeast Asia put us back on a plane to the islands. But don’t worry, we’re not leaving without a “You Know You’re in Australia When”…stay tuned!
MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND SLIDESHOW
The outback looks amazing and more lush and mountainous than I thought. I’ve always wanted to go to Australia but this is giving me that extra nudge. Thanks!
Liz, that’s what makes the Top End backpack so special it has a more tropical climate plus the wildlife of the arid outback and unreal rock formations. Best of all worlds!
Beautiful photos and awesome post – being Australian myself I think I’ve jumped so quickly to see the rest of the world that I’ve neglected to travel my own country first, sadly haven’t yet been up to the Northern Territory past Alice Springs.
Have just married an American however and he loves everything to do with nature and wildlife – with Steve Irwin and Paul Hogan as his heroes he’s itching to get to Darwin and places like Kakadoo. So thanks for this – you’ve inspired me to kick my butt into gear and get traveling around my own country!
Thanks so much Megan! So glad we could provide a little inspiration! You will have such Aussie pride when you show this gorgeous swath of Oz to your man, trust us! Kakadu is unreal!
Hey, I saw your post on the Travel Blogged facebook group. This blog is amazing, I’d never heard of you guys’ story before but it’s just so cool. I’m really looking forward to seeing your posts about Ireland, there is so much more to it than Dublin and Galway (and I’m glad you guys had such a great time there). Did you guys make it to England or Wales?
I’m new to the blogging world so there isn’t much on my blog yet but I have a 10 week trip planned for the summer so if you want to follow the blog then here’s the link https://chtravel00.wordpress.com/ and here’s the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/beanabroadtravelblog.
Thanks a lot and keep up the good work, reading this is brilliant revision procrastination!
Such an amazing part of my own country I’ve never seen (one day)!
Can’t wait to read you future posts
Completely amazing. As an Aussie, we hope you like our next post “You know you’re in Australia when…” Think it will give you a few laughs 🙂
Wow! What an amazing place! I have always been freaked out by the amount of dangerous animals that call Australia home but I try not to think about it. Texas is known for its rattle snakes, too, but I hope that doesn’t keep people from visiting. They aren’t everywhere and I hope that is the same in Australia!!
If you can handle Texas, you can handle Australia 😉 We didn’t have any real brushes with death there, more just cool sightings like water monitors, crocodiles from a distance and sharks just a few yards away…but we were scuba diving so that makes it safe, right? lol Hope you get to Australia Natalie!
Lol!! Would love to see beautiful Australia though I’m pretty sure we’ll stay more than a few yards away from
Animals that might eat us!! Lol!!
Your photos are absolutely breathtaking…I feel like I am there! Such fresh air and clean water!
Glad we could bring you with us, Eva!
Australia’s largest National Park. It’s pretty sweet. Especially, if you’re into your Birdlife and crocodiles
Totally agree! We love all sorts of animals…and the landscapes there were just so wild and different than any we’d seen before.