What’s hot and happening in Australia’s Outback Northern Territory- Top End Special

New visitor charges reintroduced at Kakadu Dual World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park will be re-introducing entry charges for visitors from April 2010 which will enable the park to maintain its high standards of conservation. The abolition of the £12.50 (AU$25) fee, in 2004, has meant that the Northern Territory government has had to give the park £2,000,000 (AU$ 4,000,000) in order to run the park and look after the pristine wilderness, hence its re-introduction. The park covers 4,894,000 acres and has an abundance of spectacular wildlife Kakadu is not only listed as a site of natural beauty on the World Heritage list but also as a cultural site of interest. For over 40,000 years Aboriginal people have lived on the land making Kakadu the site of one of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures with rock paintings testifying this existence. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/ Darwin spices up its Top End accommodation offering Spice (www.escapeforabreak.com/site/spice/) is a brand NEW five-star apartment which opened in October in the Northern Territory’s laid back capital, Darwin. The fully self-contained apartment has two bedrooms and full sized living area and kitchen, and is perfect for a couple seeking complete indulgence. With the luxurious banana bed (complete with real banana plants), the accommodation offers something a little more to leisure and business travellers looking for a luxury Top End experience. With its city centre location (less than one minute’s walk from the heart of Darwin) and high-end finish including private undercover parking, flatscreen TV, iPod dock, air conditioning and ultra fast internet connection the apartment is the newest addition to the Escape for a Break properties which include the award winning Moonshadow Villas. Rates start from £125 (AU$249) per apartment night. The apartment is bookable through Territory Discoveries (www.territorydiscoveries.com). A helping holiday hand in Arnhem Land The Arnhem Land Marine Rescue Project invites people to holiday in the Northern Territory on one of Australia’s most beautiful but undiscovered coastlines and make a difference to the region’s delicate eco-systems. Organised by World Expeditions, the seven-day tours, which depart on the 4th and 15th September in 2010, introduce guests to the Yolngu Aboriginal rangers, a local Indigenous community, and their marine conservation work. Much of their work which visitors will participate in involves collecting and cataloguing fishing nets and other debris that washes up on the otherwise pristine coastline. Volunteers have a direct impact on the wildlife by working alongside local indigenous people in the area. The wildlife would otherwise die or get harmed by the waste - occasionally turtles will need freeing from the old nets that have drifted miles and miles from South East Asia. Prices start from £1,320 per person. http://www.worldexpeditions.com/uk/index.php?section=trips&id=58736 The eye of the storm focuses on the Top End Darwin is a laid back city where relaxation is top of most holidaymaking agendas. However travellers visiting during the transitional period between the ‘build-up’ and wet season (Nov – Jan) will see a very dramatic Darwin! Experiencing on average 81 storm days a year Darwin is arguably the storm capital of Australia. Last year a single thunderstorm over Darwin produced an incredible 1,634 flashes! Thunderstorms normally occur every two days during this period and the sights are spectacular. Lightening, impressive cloud formations and theatrical colours come together to perform an opera of the skies. The most notorious and predictable storm system to roll in from the ocean is Hector. A trip to one of Darwin’s many beaches will ensure that visitors can see Hector and the sheer scale as he reaches 72,000 feet. For a holiday with a cracking difference why not become a storm chaser for the day from the safety of one of Darwin’s great accommodation options or for the brave venture down to Darwin Harbour for a front row seat when the storms roll in! For plenty of tour options and accommodation offers visit http://www.territorydiscoveries.com/experiences/tropical-summer/ Snap-up a croc-themed trip to Australia’s Northern Territory in 2010 With crocodile diving, amphibious crocodile-themed harbour and city tours in Darwin, crocodile river cruises and even a crocodile-shaped hotel – it’s no wonder that the NT is Australia’s crocodile capital! The two main varieties of crocodiles found in the Territory are the timid Freshwater and the aggressive Saltwater crocodiles known as Freshies and Salties respectively. It is estimated that there are actually more crocodiles than people in the NT and with an average of 20 crocodiles found every kilometre, the Mary River has the highest density. Most rivers throughout the NT have an average of five crocs every kilometre! • At Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin (www.crocosauruscove.com) plucky visitors can dive, with the protection of a perspex cage, into the depths of a giant Saltie’s lair by themselves or with an equally brave friend or partner. • Duckabout Tours www.duckabout.com.au launched a new tour of the NT’s capital; Darwin. ‘Ride the Croc’ is a great opportunity to see Darwin from both land and sea in the amphibious vehicle that is painted like a giant crocodile! • The Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise www.jumpingcrocodile.com.au runs daily croc watching/spotting cruises from their base on the Adelaide River (65 kilometres from Darwin). Trained experts feed the crocs from the boat ensuring a very close-up experience! • The Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn is situated in the heart of dual World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park. The great green crocodile shaped hotel looms out of the undergrowth, but there’s of course no danger – in fact there’s even swimming pool inside for guests to enjoy a croc-free dip! http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/jabgg Not to be missed Top End events in 2010: • 20th – 21st March 2010: The annual Tiwi Islands Football Art Sale – combining two of the Islands’ favourite pastimes the two day celebration always concludes with the Tiwi Islands Football Grand Final. It’s a massive family gathering on Bathurst Island, a 30 minute flight from Darwin, where visitors have an opportunity to buy arts and crafts from the local community and watch the match. The normal requirement for a visitor permit is waived for this period. • 30th – 31st May 2010: Merrepen Arts Festival – at Nauiyu, on the mighty Daly River the weekend celebration includes a concert on the Saturday and a large art auction on the Sunday. Founded in 1986 by the Nauiyu Nambiyu (Daly River) Community the festival is a showcase of indigenous work and creation which is situated south of Darwin. • 11th – 14th June 2010: Barunga Festival – combining arts, dance and music this indigenous festival celebrates the heritage, dreamtime stories and skills that have been passed down from generation to generation. www.barungafestival.com.au *ENDS* For more information and photography contact Suzanne Holiday or Tryph Greenwood on T: +44 207 839 2140 or tourismntmedia@keenepa.co.uk and visit www.australiasoutback.com. NOTES TO EDITORS 1. Australia’s Northern Territory is a leading nature and culture destination where Australia’s Outback meets the tropics and is home to Australia’s most dramatic, beautiful and varied scenery including the awe-inspiring red centre icons of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon as well as the Top End adventure and wildlife destinations of Katherine Gorge and Kakadu National Park. 2. Darwin International Airport is an international gateway to Australia offering connections to Singapore, which is just over four hours away. 3. The peak visitor time is during the dry season, from May to September, but the Tropical Summer from October to April brings spectacular lightning shows and lush growth. 4. www.australiasoutback.com is an essential resource for travellers planning a trip to the Northern Territory.

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