Photos from the Real AUSTRALIA

The Top End of the Northern Territory

The "Top End of Down Under" is the northern part of the Northern Territory of Australia, a lush tropical land with rivers, wetlands, waterfalls. Darwin is the logical starting point, with its impressive harbour, that can be crossed by ferry to Mandorah, otherwise a 130 km drive around it, passing, among others, Belyuen Aboriginal community (formerly Delissaville).

Driving south from Darwin the road leads past Adelaide River, an important place during the Second World War and the site of a War cemetery. Continuing, the turn off west leads to Berry Springs and the Territory Wildlife Park, where visitors can enjoy and experience the various habitats of the Top End and get close to its wildlife. A small train can take you around to the different habitats. Continuing this road leads to Batchelor, Litchfield National Park and finishes at Mandorah.

Turning east on the Arnhem Highway the former rice growing project at Humpty Doo is reached and Fogg Dam, that was constructed for that scheme, is now a paradise for the water birds that can be easily observed here. Further on there are the wetlands, on the way to Kakadu National Park. Huge termite mounds known as "Magnetic Ant Hills" stand sentinel everywhere in the landscape; these are called this way as they seem to be orientated in a north-south direction, because of the way the termites react to the position of the sun during the day.

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