Our National Parks - All you need to know
Have you ever visited a National Park around the Top End only to find out that you missed something while you were there?
Or have you heard about a National Park but aren't sure exactly where or what it has to offer. They don't call them National Parks for nothing, so go on, get out and explore their unique attraction!
Darwin Region
Berry Springs Nature Park
Ever used your goggles??
If you swim with goggles you can see many small native fish and other aquatic life that live in the clear pools.
Butterfly Gorge Nature Park
A little climbing and swimming leads to one of the most beautiful and peaceful gorges in the Northern Territory.
Casuarina Coastal Reserve
This Reserve includes 8kms of sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and shady casuarina trees.
Channel Point Coastal Reserve
This isolated Reserve is fringed by warm shallow seas, mangrove forests with their hind beaches. You can see the Peron Islands from the lookout at the camping area.
Charles Darwin National Park
This Park protects one of Australia's most significant wetlands. It is recognised as a nationally significant wetland because it is large, (48 sq. km) and diverse. Thirty-six of the N.T.'s 51 mangrove species occur in its convoluted system of inlets, islands and bays.
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve
Fogg Dam is a remnant of early attempts to produce rice on the Adelaide River flood plains. If successful, the project would have been one of the largest farming developments in the world and a granary for Asia.
Holmes Jungle Nature Park
Holmes Jungle Nature Park protects one of the few remaining areas of monsoon forest in the Darwin area. Large numbers of birds, mammals and reptiles breed and seek refuge in the monsoon forest, with the dense vegetation offering protection from the heat and predators.
Litchfield National Park
Litchfield National Park is just an hour-and-a-half drive from Darwin and features a myriad of diverse environments including rugged sandstone escarpments, perennial spring-fed streams, monsoon rainforest, magnetic termite mounds, waterfalls and historic ruins. If you haven't been here, you must - it's as simple as that!
Manton Dam Recreation Area
Manton Dam, built in 1942, was Darwin's first reliable water supply. Today, although its water is still used in emergencies, the Dam is a popular recreation area. This is a great place to spend a day, swimming, picnicking, fishing, BYO canoeing and water/jet skiing.
Douglas Hot Springs
The picturesque Douglas River, rejuvenating thermal springs, and abundant riverine wildlife are some of the wonderful features which keep locals and their rellies coming back year after year to this great Top End Park.
Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park
Rocky pools and small sandy beaches provide beautiful swimming spots, early to mid-Dry Season only. The creek stops flowing late in the Dry Season. An easy 1km walk leads into the Gorge, but if you want to go further along the creek you will have to swim and rock-hop. There are magnificent views from the cliff-tops. You need to contact Parks and Wildlife for rock climbing and abseiling permits.
Katherine Region
Barranyi (North Island) National Park
The island has numerous long white sandy beaches suitable for walking and beach-combing. The island's interesting mix of sea and land based birds makes it an ideal place for birdwatching. The waters around Barranyi National Park are excellent for fishing, whether you're after reef or pelagic varieties. If the weather is rough it is possible to fish from the rocks.
Caranbirini Conservation Reserve
Explore our own Bungle Bungles!!
The Reserve protects a number of habitats including sandstone escarpment, a semi-permanent waterhole with surrounding riverine vegetation and areas of open woodland. Surrounding the waterhole are interesting sandstone spires, known as "lost city" formations. These formations rise to 25 metres in height and provide a vivid contrast in colour and shape to the surrounding countryside.
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park
Caves near Katherine??
The Cutta Cutta Caves are the second biggest attraction for Katherine and definitely worth a visit. There is early explorer history, traditional Jawoyn history and WWII history all within the same location...!
Elsey National Park
The Rainbow Springs and Thermal Pool sector of the Park is a major attraction for visitors. The spring water rising from underground at 30.5 million litres per day and at a temperature of 34 degrees Celsius is then contained in a relaxing swimming pool surrounded by a palm forest.
Flora River Nature Park
Here, you can watch new limestone formations, tufa, grow
as the river cascades over barriers. Tufa forms where calcium carbonate has precipitated from solution in the water onto rock bars and plant and animal debris. Oxygenation of the water as it tumbles over the rocks causes the calcium carbonate to precipitate, covering and fossilising debris. There are many ‘new' fossils in the tufa, including snail and mollusc remains.
Gregory National Park
Gregory's Tree is an Aboriginal sacred site and a registered heritage site where you can enjoy views of the Victoria River while reading and listening to accounts of the early explorers. A boardwalk surrounds the magnificent boab where Augustus Gregory marked the arrival and departure dates of his North Australia Expedition from the
base camp situated here.
Keep River National Park
The Miriwoong and Gajirrabeng people have lived in this area for thousands of years. Scattered throughout the Park
are sites containing evidence of their occupation. You can visit an interesting structure on Ginger's Hill, and see paintings at Langgerrbi (Nigli Gap) at Jarnem. Jinumum has paintings and other traces of the Miriwoong people's long occupation.
Limmen National Park
The Park is very isolated. Much of the area is rugged with spectacular weathered sandstone formations and intervening alluvial valleys. While the Park has significant opportunities for recreation and conservation, access can be difficult. This has contributed to the isolated and wild character of the area.
Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park
Nitmiluk National Park is one of the most impressive National Park's in the Top End. With an array of activities available within the park, be sure to allocate plenty of time or repeat visits to ensure you've experienced all there is to offer.
