Discover the wonders of Kakadu National Park in the NT, including pristine wetlands, in Australia’s largest national park. Photos: Supplied.
Selecting a destination between Western Australia (WA) and the Northern Territory (NT) depends on the type of holiday experiences you seek. Travel should ensure high availability in locations, accommodation, attractions, products and services for everyone.
If diverse landscapes, including stunning beaches, vibrant marine life and a mix of city and wilderness, are what you want, then WA is likely the better choice. NT is your best option if you want to immerse yourself in the Australian outback, experience Aboriginal culture deeply and see more than iconic landmarks, including Uluru.
Why not discover Kakadu National Park’s pristine wetlands? This is where ancient stone country escarpment reveals crystal waters, waterfalls, lush monsoon forests, floodplain wetlands brimming with exotic wildlife, and sacred rock art. This park, which spans nearly 20,000 square kilometres and boasts two UNESCO World Heritage listings, is celebrated for its rich cultural and natural treasures.
With more than 5000 Aboriginal rock art sites, the Bininj/Mungguy people, who have called Kakadu home for some 65,000 years, are ready to share their ancient culture and insights into the region’s dramatic seasons.
Explore Kakadu’s pristine wetlands and encounter the region’s rich First Nations traditions on the new Wetland Cultural Tour, a collaboration between Kakadu Tourism and Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp.
Led by Bininj guides on a three-hour journey through Home Billabong and Axel Waterway, the tour includes demonstrations of hunting techniques, bush tucker prepared with native ingredients, and sunset canapes featuring local flavours. The experience also includes a guided wetland walk and insights into the deep connection between the Bininj people and their ancestral lands. Located three hours’ drive east of Darwin/Garramilla within Kakadu National Park, the tour operates during the wet season (from now until the end of May).
You can build your own schedule, download sample ones or personalise your trip-planning with a custom itinerary builder from Kakadu Tourism.
Guided-hiking group The Hike Collective will launch two new walk adventures in WA in April: The Rottnest Journey and The Karijini Journey.
Uncover the stunning beauty and rich cultural heritage of Rottnest Island/Wadjemup and Karijini in WA.
From April, two new adventures will be launched by the Perth-based hiking adventure tour company The Hike Collective: The Rottnest Journey and The Karijini Journey.
The Rottnest Journey is a transformative three-day hiking adventure. This all-inclusive expedition invites you to explore the island’s breathtaking coastal trails, including the iconic Wadjemup Bidi network.
As a result of the new partnership between Karijini Eco Retreat and The Hike Collective comes the launch of The Karijini Journey to unearth the iconic landscapes of Karijini National Park.
Combining sustainable tourism with expert outdoor adventure, it lets hikers experience the park’s breathtaking gorges, waterfalls and starry skies. Skilled guides will lead curated itineraries, sharing the region’s cultural and environmental significance in collaboration with the Traditional Owners of the land.
The best time to visit Karijini is between April and October. However, there’s a cautionary note: the days will still be warm, while the nights may be quite cool. The waterholes can be very cold, so be careful jumping in if you’re feeling hot after a hike!
The largest network of mountain bike trails has opened in Wellington National Park near the town of Collie, a two-hour drive from Perth.
WA’s largest network of mountain bike trails has officially opened following the completion of 47 km of tracks in Wellington National Park, near the town of Collie, a two-hour drive from Perth/Boorloo.
Riders now have almost 100 km of national park trails to explore in Collie’s Wambenger Trails network, all featuring imposing granite outcrops, lush vegetation, and steep and varied natural features.
The newly expanded trails cater to experienced and competition riders, complementing the previously completed beginner trails near Wellington Dam. A new bike hire outlet has opened in the park to support the trails, with a range of tour options also available.
Wellington National Park has mountain bike trails and shared-use trails, including the Wambenger Trails and the Jabitj Trail. The network includes short and overnight walk, cycle and drive experiences in the Collie region.
The icon for this network is the wambenger, a little-known Australian carnivorous marsupial listed as a threatened species and restricted to the south-west forests. This brush-tailed dynamo is active under the cover of darkness and spends most of its time in the tree canopy.
Consider your skills and experience before choosing a trail as this network is a combination of dedicated mountain bike trails and established shared-use trails that provide views of the river and dam. It offers riders a variety of experiences, from rolling cross-country rides to sensational fast-flow descents and challenging technical features.
It’s an energetic test that should meet anyone’s adventurous spirit!
