AUSTRALIA: Into the wild

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Australia is one of those travel destinations that offer more of the natural world's unspoiled wonders compared to others. May this news article bring out that traveller's desire in you to go and venture out!


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Into the wild

Australia's Northern Territory is an adventure wonderland for the anti-spa traveller

by Nellie Huang
traveller@mediacorp.com.sg

BUSH-walking in Australia's back country, in true Crocodile Dundee style, had always been on my bucket list. I was drawn to the country's wilderness, to the idea of traipsing through its scrubland and climbing its rocky terrain, discovering pockets of Aboriginal rock art along the way.

When budget airline JetStar introduced direct flights from Singapore to Darwin, I snagged tickets immediately. Four-and-a-half hours after boarding the plane, my partner and I arrived in Northern Territory's capital, hungry for an adventure.


Day 1

Our guide Alicia welcomed us in a 4x4 packed with all the necessities for a three-day hiking trip in Kakadu National Park, 120km from Darwin.

Covering more than 19,000 sq km, Kakadu is Australia's largest national park, famed for the sprawling Arnhem Land Escarpment, sweeping landscapes and over 5,000 Aboriginal art sites, not to mention thousands of plant species, birds and freshwater crocodiles.

The tour started off easy. Our first stop was Adelaide River, where from a boat, we watched a croc expert lure the massive reptiles into leaping sky high from the murky waters.

Then, it was off to Ubirr Rock. According to Alicia, this is the best Aboriginal rock art site in Kakadu, with most of the paintings dating back two millennia.

The half-hour climb up the rocky slope to the top of Ubirr Rock gave us a spectacular 360-degree view of the lush floodplains and the rocky plateau of Arnhem Land Escarpment in the distance. Alicia pointed out that a scene from the movie Crocodile Dundee was filmed right at this spot.


Day 2

After a peaceful night, we awoke to the sight of a wild horse loitering outside our tent at Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park. It marked the start of a journey into an Edenesque landscape.

Gubara is a 6km-walk past sandstone cliffs and thick bushes to shady forest pools and small cascades. Taking the "Castle" route, we clambered up boulders to reach a lookout point that offered a view of the rainforest below.

Nestled within it was the paradise of Wallaby Falls. There, freshwater pools had waterbeds laced with tree branches and roots, giving them a land-before-time feel.

We had the entire place to ourselves. As if that was not enough to evoke Eden, there was nook called Garden Of Eden behind Wallaby Falls. We floated in the pools, a delicious respite from the heat of the day, then slept soundly in our two-men tent under a blanket of stars.

Day 3

En route to our final hike in the southern end of Kakadu, we drove by towers of termite mounds. Some reached heights of 5m - amazing considering they were created by such tiny creatures.

Geared for our 13km-trek, we pushed through thick spear grass, crossing a flimsy hanging bridge and increasingly steeper slopes to get to a constellation of obscure waterfalls. At Motor Car Creek, water surged from a height of 25m, tumbling into a magnificently clear rock pool.

Despite coming here during the wet season, we had not experienced a single day of rain. We had been lucky, as Alicia pointed out, but we already knew that, having seen Kakadu at its lush best.

Tips

Getting there: Jetstar flies to Darwin from Singapore for about $500. Other airlines include Qantas, British Airways and Singapore Airlines.


When to go: There are two main seasons in Kakadu: Dry (April to October) and wet (November to March). Both seasons offer different landscapes and plant life, although the dry season means there is less water in the falls while the wet season might mean flooded roads. The best time to visit is during the transitional periods (April, May, September and October) when temperatures are not extreme, and the crowds are thinner.

Tours:

- We went on a tour by Wilderness Adventures (www.wildernessadventures.com.au). Prices depend on the season. During the wet season, a two-day tour costs A$350 ($453); three-day, A$495. Dry season rates are A$415 and A$525, respectively.

- Adventure Tours Australia (www.adventuretours.com.au) is reputed for quality service. Tours range from a day trip to a 24-day overland trip to Perth.

- Top End Explorer Tours (www.kakadutours.net.au) caters to travellers looking for comfort with its charter excursions.

- Kakadu Dreams (www.kakadudreams.com.au) is popular with backpackers.

Self-drive tours are feasible. Roads in Kakadu National Park are easy to navigate. For 4x4 and 4WD campervan rentals, check out www.australia4wheeldriverentals.com. Prices start from A$50 a day.
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From TODAYOnline.com; see the source article below:
TODAYonline | Travel | Into the wild

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Kakadu for kids

Turn the June holidays into an Outback adventure, discover the wild side of Australia's Northern Territory

Mark Malby, traveller@newstoday.com.sg

With school holidays fast approaching, many parents may be scratching their heads right now, wondering where to go. Depending on the size and age of your posse, there will be the usual destinations: The grandparents in Malacca, kid-friendly resorts in Bintan or Phuket, and for the more flush, perhaps Disneyland in Hong Kong, Tokyo, or Anaheim. It's the "safe" and mostly familiar destinations that grab the lion's share, but if you're up for something more offbeat, step off the well-worn track.

Australia's Tropical North

A Jabiru stork at sunset

What's a family vacation without a little adventure, and Australia's northern Outback offers it in droves. From man-eating crocodiles to 20,000 year old rock art to termite mounds 6m tall, the vast green stretches of Kakadu are the extreme opposite of any theme park.

As the gateway to this wilderness, Darwin itself is a surprisingly family-friendly place. No rough-housing frontier town is this — but a pleasant, mid-sized Australian city with an easy charm and a surprising array of attractions. Even within the city limits, you'll still come across exotica such as chortling cockatoos, night-time possums, and — in the wet season — the odd crocodile in a swimming pool.

One must-see, especially for the kids, is Aquascene, where once a day masses of hungry fish ride in from sea on the incoming tide. Spectators toss bread and wade into the churning waters for a spectacle that's part Underwater World and part feeding frenzy. Nearby Doctor's Gully also offers a primeval forest home to a squawking colony of fruit bats.

For a more intense feeding experience, catch the live crocodile shows at Crocodylus Park. "Salties", as they're fondly called, are among the world's most ferocious predators — a fact that's sure not to be lost on the kids. At the Darwin Museum, they can gawk over the stuffed remains of 'Sweetheart' (a 5.4 m crocodile), who gained fame during life by trying to eat the motors off local fishing boats.

In addition to wildlife, beaches, lawn bowling, and sailing, Darwin boasts a lively arts scene. There are local theatre productions, and the memorable Darwin Deckchair Cinema offers a chance to watch movies under the stars. With the kids asleep, mum and dad can even slip off to the MGM Grand Casino, or one of the many local pubs and clubs.

Kakadu National Park

Join an adventure tour in Kakadu and try to spot a kookabura.

No trip to Darwin is complete without a visit to Kakadu National Park. With young kids, a day-trip might suffice. But the best way to explore the park's highlights is over a few leisurely days, either staying at park lodges or — for the more intrepid — camping.

Wilderness camping is not for the uninitiated, however. One excellent option is a guided camping tour through one of the 'adventure companies' based in Darwin. Not only will you see the best of Kakadu at economical prices, it will give your children the chance to wake up in a tent, swim in waterfalls, tend campfires and sample some exotic local fare. Kangaroo, crocodile, or camel steaks, anyone?

Slipping south of Darwin, one of the first features you'll notice are nature's highrises — the giant Cathedral termite mounds which can soar three times human height. This is just the beginning of Kakadu's striking landscapes, which range from the tablelands of Nawurlandja Lookout to the 200m waterfall of Jim Jim Falls.

Even in the dry season, there's plenty of water around — and the rivers and billabongs make focal points for the park's wildlife. Birds abound — so bring some binoculars and an Aussie bird book, and compete with your children on who can sight the most. It's also worth visiting the Aboriginal rock paintings at Nourlangie, which are far older than the pyramids.

The advantage of staying in the park is that you get to see Kakadu at all times of day. A sunset Yellow Water Walk, for instance offers some spectacular wildlife views — including the strangely prehistoric Jabiru stork. If it's crocodiles you're looking for, then try an afternoon's boating on the Adelaide River. You're almost guaranteed to see a few of the deceptively sluggish reptiles on the shore. Remember not to let your kids trail their hands in the water!

With wildlife and adventures, chances are, a trip to Darwin and Kakadu will linger in your children's memories more than another beach vacation or meeting Mickey Mouse.

From TODAY, Traveller – Thursday, 28-May-2009

OK, ok, below articles does include some of the dangers in the wild of Australia. They are included, and they serve their purpose to warn anybody who dares venture in to the unknown. So parents, never lose sight of your kids. And kids, never go astray, and just stay by your parents' side. Don't play with the unknown of the wild...

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