The Top End of Australia gives me a feeling like nowhere else. The dirt is an earthy red, the air is warm, the culture is rich and the landscape is full of magic. Breathtaking. I met with with NT Tourism, Stephanie (@thetravelkid.nz) and Lucy (@_lucyinthesky) in Darwin to celebrate Bruce Munro’s new exhibit and Darwin’s beautiful surroundings. You might have heard about the famous award winning exhibition, Field of Light in Uluru. If not, you can search #Uluru or #FieldofLight on Instagram and it will come up no doubt.
The best part of the Northern Territory is you are provided with the best of ALL worlds. If you are a foodie, nature lover or you just want to sit back and relax – the Top End has it all.
THIS WAS OUR ITINERARY:
DAY ONE: Darwin Harbour Cruises
We spent our first night in Darwin on the harbour with Darwin Harbour Cruises. Before we headed off on the cruise, we were welcomed by the Larrakia dancers. It was so special to be welcomed by the indigenous people to their land. The Larrakia people are the traditional owners of the lands and waters in Darwin.
On the cruise, I met some amazing fellow content creators, photographers and influencers. It was so nice to be surrounded with like-minded people who I’ve also been following for awhile!
I must say, Darwin Harbour Cruises did not disappoint! They catered for everyone with some veggie, meat and seafood dishes and they were delish! On top of all that we were spoiled with the most magical sunset! Thank you Darwin Harbour Cruises for our private charter on the harbour.
DAY TWO: Litchfield National Park & Tropical Light Exhibition
After a quick breakfast at our hotel, we headed off to Litchfield National Park. I live for waterfalls and I’ve been dying to see this national park for such a long time. Our first stop was at NT air to explore the national park via heli! This was my first time going on a helicopter and it was doors off. I’ve been wanting to go on a heli for some time now and it was incredible! I would recommend this to anyone, even if you’re scared of heights like myself. It was such an awesome experience to see the rugged landscapes from above.
ps. drones are not prohibited in the national park so for all my fellow drone pilots, heli is the best way to see the land from above. It’s also an epic experience so it’s a win-win.
what to bring: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera, small backpack, swimmers, water bottle, bug spray.
Above I have a photo of the magnetic termite mounds. These are so impressive! They sit about two meters high and they are actually built in a specific way by these little engineers. They are called magnetic termite mounds because they are built pointing north-south and backs east-west. They do this because it minimises their exposure to the sun so the termites stay cool inside. Crazy hey!
Sandy Creek ~ This was my favourite spot in the park. Our pilot parked right next to the waterfall and we had a few hours to soak in the serenity. The best way to get to this spot is by heli. I had to pinch myself, it’s not everyday you get to take a helicopter to a waterfall. It’s also super rare now a-days to experience places like this with no-one else around. It was quiet, the water was fresh and the beauty was alive. If you want to experience this, you can book with NT air.
The heli ride was just the beginning! Once we got back to our car, we drove to Buley Rockhole. This was the perfect place to wind down after such a high (literally). We set up a picnic made by the lovely Pony and Sid right near a waterfall. They treated us to a fresh salad, zucchini loaf and brownie.
After our picnic at Buley, we drove straight to Florence Falls! It actually worked out perfectly because there were so many stairs to get to the bottom (160 to be exact) to walk off our lunch. It is totally worth it because what you get at the bottom is unreal!
** If you don’t feel like taking the stairs there is an alternative way it just takes a bit longer.
When we got back to our hotel from Litchfield, we went out for dinner and met some amazing people from the media. We got to hear Bruce speak about his work, which was super inspiring. After our dinner we walked around and saw his exhibit. During this time, I was enjoying the moment and soaked in the art and his history that he had shared with us. This exhibit will be held during Darwin’s Tropical Summer (1 November – 30 April) I highly recommend you go check it out for yourself.
Tropical Light
DAY Three: Exploring Darwin on foot
The next day we woke up early and went to the Parap Markets for breakfast. I love a good local market! They had so much fruit, veg, food trucks and aboriginal art! Fun fact – did you know lassi is a big breakfast thing in Darwin? They had so many lassi options! I went for an aรงai bowl for breakfast but Steph got the lassi and she said it was amazing!
Once we finished up at the markets, we wandered around the streets of Darwin to see all the street art done by the locals. You must download the app ‘DARWIN STREET ART FESTIVAL’ It literally makes the art come alive. It is so neat!
and then our tummies started to rumble and we went to lunch at Hot Tamales. Wowza! This place is an award winning Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar! I can definitely see why. I felt like I was in Mexico! The food and cocktails here are soo delish and the location is prime. We sat on the verandah where you can enjoy the view of the waterfront with a nice breeze. I highly recommend the nachos and queso fries!
If you are in need of accommodation in Darwin, I recommend you stay at Mindil Beach Resort. You can spend your afternoon in the pool with views of the ocean. Conveniently enough, there is a bar with a full menu of refreshing cocktails to choose from (mocktails are available)! Perfect way to wind down in the Darwin sun.
There is also a casino attached to the resort if that floats your boat!
DAY Four: Botanical Gardens & Crocasaruas Cave
Our last morning spent in Darwin we went to the botanical gardens. We had breakfast at Evas Botanical Gardens Cafe and then wandered around the gardens. There was this amazing flame tree (Poinciana) that only blooms certain times of the year. It was stunning! Once we finished exploring the gardens, we went somewhere that I’ve been dying to go to!
Crocosaurus Cove! #cageofdeath
Have you ever wanted to swim next to a crocodile? Well, Crocosaurus Cove if your best chance to do it! If seeing these dinosaurs in the wild isn’t your thing, you can head to the cove and check them out. Don’t worry, I asked the animal behaviourist a million questions on how these animals are treated and what their procedures are. They love these guys (and girls) and treat them like their own babies.
If you don’t feel like going into the tank, they have so many other things for you to do and get involved in. You can hold a baby crocodile, meet the reptiles, fish feeding, croc feeding and much more. Go check them out, they’re located in the heart of Darwin city!
I then headed back to Brisbane which is a short 4 hour flight. I will definitely be returning because there is so much more beauty to see! Thanks for having me Tourism NT!
until next time!
