The Top End refers to the northern areas of the Northern Territory. Essentially it is the vast peninsula at the top and middle of the continent which includes Darwin, the state capitol of the Northern Territory, Kakadu National Park, Arnhem Land, the coastal islands and much more. Darwin can be accessed by domestic and international flights, making it a great staging point to explore the region. Some of the most wondrous and famous landmarks Australia has to offer are all here in the Top End.
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The tropical north of Australia is huge and The Top End's geographic area is no exception coming in at around 400,000 sq km. Various rivers and their plains form a multitude of diverse habitats from rugged mountains and gorges to mangrove estuaries and wetlands, open eucalypt woodland and dense spectacular rainforest. Truly a nature lovers paradise; masses of flora and fauna abound in the untouched wilderness.
The Top End experiences a wet season in the Australian summer and some of the 4WD tracks can become impassable during this time. If you decide to self drive make sure you do your research and come prepared. The Top End is crocodile country so follow the signed directions, be careful where and when you swim and follow some simple rules such as never leave food or fish waste near the water and never get water from the creek in the same place twice. Don't be discouraged though tourists are seldom eaten, despite what movies like 'Rogue' and "Crocodile Dundee' would have you believe.
With World Heritage listed National Parks, rich in Aboriginal culture and rock art that has been practiced for untold eons and containing some of the most amazing animals in the world, any trip Down Under isn't complete without seeing the Top End.
Check out the WW II War Cemetary and Adelaide River Heritage Railway Museum while your using the township as a gateway to Litchfield National Park, though most visit to cruise the river and see what has made Adelaide River a famous landmark, jumping crocodiles.
Ranked the best attraction in Darwin, the Defence of Darwin Experience located within the Darwin Military Museum Precinct offers visitors an ‘immersive, interactive, multimedia experience’ that elucidates Darwin and the Northern Territory’s role in the confict of World War II.
As a result of eons of erosion into the sandstone plateau of the Table Top Range in Litchfield National Park, there are several beautiful falls to check out, the double plunge Florence Falls being one of the most popular to take a refreshing swim in as they are easliy accessable.
The World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park is a whopping 19,804 km2 (7,646 sq mi), which is about half the size of Switzerland. The park contains a multitude of diverse and vibrant habitats, from estuaries, rivers, woodlands and wetlands to rugged gorges and rocky escarpments.
In Nitmiluk National Park which borders Kakadu, the Katherine River meanders through the town of Katherine to join the Daly River. In one of the most beautiful places in Australia, 13 majestic gorges combine to make Katherine Gorge a must see when visiting the Top End of Australia.
