Wildlife of Australia's Northern Territory

The Northern Territory, known affectionately as ‘the Top End’, holds within its wide range of habitats a truly staggering abundance of wildlife. This spectrum of habitats stretches from the capital, Darwin, fringed with mangroves and rainforest and set against a backdrop of the sparkling waters of the Timor and Arafura Seas, east to the steep escarpments, jagged gorges and tranquil billabongs of Kakadu, then south to the red desert outback of the heartland. It is believed that Australia’s first inhabitants entered the continent through this bountiful land and the Northern Territory contains some of the continent’s oldest evidence of occupation. The rock walls of Kakadu, for example, are decorated with 20,000-year-old rock art, including the X-ray paintings of local wildlife, as well as more recent depictions of the arrival of the Europeans.

We commence with a flight to Darwin via Singapore, where a colourful array of species awaits us, amongst them such specialities as the stunning Red-headed Honeyeater, Rainbow Pitta, Azure Kingfisher and Rose-crowned Fruit-dove. Travelling south, we begin our explorations with a 2-night stay in Litchfield National Park. Here, a sandstone plateau in the centre of the park supports a rich woodland flora and patches of monsoon rainforest which thrive in the deep, narrow gorges created over thousands of years by waterfalls that cascade from, and carve into, the plateau during the rainy season. The park also holds intriguing ‘magnetic’ termite mounds, a range of historical sites, some bizarre weathered sandstone pillars and a good range of wildlife including Antilopine Wallaroo, Agile Wallaby, Sugar Glider, Northern Brushtail Possum, both black and Little Red Flying Foxes, Dingo and abundant birdlife.

Further south lies Pine Creek and, as we journey towards it through open woodland and stony hills, we will keep our eyes open for the rare and attractive Hooded Parrot which nests in termite mounds. Pine Creek was founded in 1870 during the installation of the overland telegraph line from Adelaide to Darwin. Gold was then discovered in 1871, and echoes of the gold rush days are still evident. Today, however, Pine Creek is best known for its birdlife, as the town is located at the junction of temperate and tropical zones and a wide range of species may be found here.

Next, we base ourselves for two nights in the town of Katherine. From here we will explore the 300,000-hectare Katherine Gorge (or Nitmiluk) National Park, where we will take a cruise on the wide and sparkling waters of the Katherine River which lie within this ancient and spectacular sandstone gorge. On the overhanging rock walls, that hold mysterious galleries of Aboriginal art, we will look for rock wallabies, whilst Johnston River Crocodiles may sometimes be seen basking on the sandy river banks.

Kakadu, a World Heritage Site and one of the largest national parks in the world, contains a wealth of scenery and wildlife, including many endangered species, plus one of the world’s greatest concentrations of prehistoric rock art. So ancient is the landscape in this part of the world that rocks such as those in the vicinity of the Alligator River, being around 2,000 million years old, would have witnessed the beginnings of life on Earth! It is, however, the sheer abundance of waterbirds — watched by immense Saltwater Crocodiles and overhead raptors — on which we will focus primarily as we visit the park’s vast floodplains and take a wildlife cruise on the Yellow Water billabong. The most spectacular landform here is the massive Arnhem Land escarpment. This rises dramatically from the plains and contains stunning waterfalls, gorges and pristine rock pools which may best be enjoyed by taking an optional — locally organised — scenic flight over the escarpment. ‘Top End’ endemic birds of this area include Banded Fruit-dove, Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, White-lined Honeyeater, Sandstone Shrike-thrush, White-throated Grasswren and Silver-crowned Friarbird. We may also catch sight of a marsupial or two, perhaps an Agile or Antilopine Wallaby.

Making our way back to Fogg Dam and other nearby wetland oases, a final dazzling selection of waterbirds awaits us before our holiday ends back in Darwin. From here, a holiday extension is thoroughly recommended within Australia, or for those wishing to enjoy an extended break in Australasia, the dates of this holiday tie in nicely with our 'New Zealand's Natural History' group departure for a back-to-back tour.