Three hours drive east of Darwin is the famed, World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park - a spectacular collection of woodlands, forests, the majestic Arnhem Land escarpment, Waterways and floodplains, all home to an incredible array of wildlife.

It is Australia's largest national park, but it isn't just the size that astounds visitors - it is the sense of something very old and grand. Creation of the 500 km escarpment began 2,000 million years ago, when layers of sandstone built up a plateau to later be carved into an escarpment and scoured by gorges. Today those gorges are brimming with rainforests, washed by waterfalls.

Over thousands of years, Aboriginal people have left behind some extraordinary galleries of Aboriginal art, with rock sites dating back 25,000 years. More than 1,000 sites have been recorded.

One thousand species of flora, 30 mammals, 75 reptiles, 1500 butterflies and moths, 50 freshwater fish and 25 species of frog have been discovered in Kakadu. During the lush green season Kakadu's flora puts on its most brilliant face. Between December and March visitors will see plants respond to the monsoonal showers with riotous growth.

Base walk of Uluru (9.8km / 3-4hrs full circuit)

This track goes around Uluru. It is an excellent alternative to the Climb. The walk is quiet and you are unlikely to encounter large groups of people in most areas. Walk in a clockwise direction. It takes in the Mala and Mutitjulu walks along the way.

Location

By Road: Travel 443km along the Stuart and Lasseter Highways, south west of Alice Springs, Northern Territory.

Further Information

Tourism webpage:   https://northernterritory.com/

https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit

Phone: (08) 8999 4555

email Parks: parkmanagement.pwcnt@nt.gov.au