5 places to connect with country in the NT

Posted 2 November, 2020 Alexis Buxton-Collions

There’s a wild magic to the ancient landscapes of the red centre and top end. It’s what draws visitors back time and again.   For tens of thousands of years, these lands have been home to vibrant and continuously evolving cultures. Here are 5 experiences that’ll get you acquainted with the heart and soul of Australia as well as its traditional owners.  

1. Uluru

Uluru is one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks and is also a place of deep spiritual importance to the Anangu people. Their Tjukurpa, or law, explains both how Uluṟu was formed and how it should be cared for today. The ranger-led activities in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park are currently on hold, but you can still walk around the iconic sandstone monolith. As well as realising just how large it is (the full walk is slightly over 10km), you’ll have the opportunity to learn some of the stories that have been passed from generation to generation for millennia. For guests at Ayers Rock Resort, a range of free daytime activities delve into the food, art and traditions of Indigenous groups around Australia.    

2. Nitmiluk

Katherine Gorge has long been a vital resting place for the local Jawoyn people. They named the area Nitmiluk after the omnipresent “nit-nit-nit” of cicadas that are drawn to the lush environment. You’ll hear plenty of them as you travel up the Katherine River, between vertical walls of spectacular orange sandstone adorned with lush hanging gardens and ancient rock-art sites. At the other end of Nitmiluk National Park, a series of cascades fill an enormous waterhole surrounded by flaking paperbarks and pandanus palms. Day tours from Darwin will take you to both sides of Nitmiluk National Park. Cruise up the Katherine River, where you’ll learn about the traditional uses for local plants.    

3. Kakadu

Boasting more than 5000 recorded rock art sites, Kakadu has a collection to rival the world’s most prestigious galleries. The paintings depict wildlife (including some species that are now extinct in the area), humans and supernatural beings, all in incredible detail. Kakadu’s rock art acts as a continuous record of life in the region. Created tens of thousands of years ago, these images show how the environment changed after the last ice age, and more recent paintings show the arrival of Europeans. Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) and Ubirr are among the most celebrated (and accessible) sites. Tours from Darwin allow you to get up close to the most spectacular rock arts sites, hear about their significance and get up-close to local wildlife.