Australia immediately conjures images of the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, big-wave surfing, miles of Outback and a rather strange, and endearing, assortment of animals. While the country’s main cities offer charm, glamour, unique festivals, a well-preserved historical heritage, fabulous beaches and fun events, it’s also a land of immense contrast and captivating nature. The nation offers something for just about everyone – from water lovers, desert wanderers and canyon climbers, to arts and culture buffs, historians, and foodies. The country’s vast size makes it almost impossible to take it all in during a single visit, but you can pick and choose a perfect holiday according to your personal preferences.
Jabiru is a settlement situated within the boundaries of the Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory. Travellers to Kakadu make use of the town’s facilities that include a newsagent, post office, service station, medical centre, chemist and police station. Just five kilometres from the town is the Bowali Visitor Centre, which offers a wealth of information about the area and the local Mirarr people. Jabiru also offers easy access to several of the park’s other highlight attractions, including Lake Jabir, the Gunlom falls, the Mamukala Billabong wetland and the sacred Ubirr rocks.
Set halfway along Australia’s northern coast, Arnhem Land is a magnificent nature reserve famous for its Indigenous history. The reserve is home to the oldest surviving culture on earth; Aboriginal people have lived here for more than 60 000 years. Learn about the precious heritage by visiting the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre, filled with Yolngu and Aboriginal art; see a Yolŋu dance or Yidaki (didjeridu) performance, or take a rock-art tour. Characterised by paradisiacal beach-lined coast, untamed islands, abundant fish-filled rivers, and dense rainforest, the landscapes here are truly diverse, providing plenty of hiking, swimming, and climbing opportunities. The reserve is also a popular destination for animal lovers and photographers, who will be able to spot Timor ponies, wallabies, wild boars, buffalo, and an array of bird species.
Darwin is a tropical seaport in the Northern Territory of Australia that serves as a convenient access point to Katherine Gorge, Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park. The city is a melting pot of different cultures, with more than 50 nationalities represented here. With a strong Asian influence, you can expect a kaleidoscope of cuisines and a cultural blend of Thai, Sri Lankan, Japanese, Indian, Chinese and Malaysian. Darwin's city centre buzzes with a lively tourist vibe, while unique museums celebrate the city's past and galleries showcase the region's rich indigenous art. Sail to the intriguing Tiwi Islands, take a speedboat ride or go fishing in a tinny – the local version of a small boat.
The Kimberly enjoys a wondrous location in the northernmost region of Western Australia, sandwiched between a remarkably rugged coastline and hauntingly beautiful deserts. One of the world's last great wilderness areas, The Kimberley is unfathomably vast - encompassing an area approximately twice the size of the United Kingdom! Most of the region's inhabitants reside in small towns such as Kununurra and Wyndham in the east and Broome and Derby in the west. The area offers an unprecedented abundance of natural wonders, including sprawling spinifex plains dotted with palm-clad gorges, breathtaking waterfalls, towering mountain peaks and the incredible UNESCO world heritage Purnululu National Park, with its multitude of unusual dome-shaped sandstone formations. Highlights include numerous aboriginal paintings, some of which are believed to be around 50 000 years old; Broome's famous Cable Beach, where visitors can admire the sunset while riding camels; and the renowned Windjana Gorge National Park, brimming with incredible gorges featuring a host of perfectly preserved prehistoric fossils.
Resting in the rugged Kimberley region of Western Australia, about 110 kilometres west of Kununurra, El Questro Wilderness Park is a working cattle station offering visitors the chance to explore almost a million acres of untamed Australian outback. This impressive expanse of wilderness is characterised by dramatic cliffs, mighty river systems, swimming holes, thermal springs, and deep gorges, many of which feature lush pockets of tropical rainforest and spectacular waterfalls. Discover this vast, ancient land in a variety of ways, from scenic flights to adventurous walks, exhilarating four-wheel-drive tours or relaxing cruises along its waterways. Visitors can look forward to spotting a variety of flora and fauna including fresh water crocodiles and over 100 species of bird.
