Having completed the Tourism Australia Specialist course and qualified, I had no pre-conceived ideas of what to expect on my first trip Down Under in May 2002. We flew the long way round via Los Angeles and Auckland to Brisbane then up to Darwin, by the time we arrived I couldn’t tell the time of day let alone which day it was; quick transfer then a good nights sleep at the centrally located 3* Mirambeena Resort hotel and a morning around the pool and I was ready to start our adventure.

Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territories - it has the feel of a frontier town being the gateway to the Top End. Darwin has suffered over the years from the vagaries of the weather, the wet season from Nov to April has in the past brought devastating typhoons; a trip around the small graveyard in the centre of town is testimonial to this. It is a fact that Darwin is closer to Jakarta than it is to Canberra. Darwin has a wealth of Second World War history that is worth exploring.

The next day it was an early start to visit the Darwin Wildlife Park, 45 mins drive from the city, it's a fascinating introduction to Top End wildlife, allow a whole day to enjoy the park to the full. We drove on to overnight at Lake Bennett Wilderness Lodge. 90 kms south of Darwin, the lodge offers good accommodation and a chance to experience local wildlife with experienced rangers. We took a guided tour of the lake by canoe to get up close to nature, and cooled off with a dip in the clear waters of the lake to watch the setting sun cast its magical spell!

Next day we were back to Darwin to meet our driver/guide for the start of our 3 night camping trip to Kakadu, Katherine and Litchfield National Parks. As we drive south our first stop was on the Adelaide River for the world famous Jumping Croc Cruise; this is an experience not to be missed, to see these giants so close at hand. Then it was on to the tranquil Yellow Water Billabong with its abundance of wildlife, before leaving the highway and making our way through the outback to Ubirr Rock. Here we saw our first 'rock art' and our guide explained the meaning and intricacies of the work which you cannot fail to be amazed by. Then a steep climb to Ubirr Rock where you are treated to a 360 degree panoramic view of Kakadu National Park. The sheer size of the vista and the remoteness and lack of human intervention is truly awesome and well worth the climb. That night we were under canvas but by no means roughing it!

Next day we continued South to Katherine and took time out to visit the fascinating Katherine School of the Air, which started operating in 1966 and remains today the only access to schooling for the children of the outback. The school covers an area that is more than three times the size of the United Kingdom. We then made our way to Katherine Gorge, this is in fact a series of 13 gorges. You can take a boat trip, or hire a canoe, however numbers are strictly regulated in order to reduce the impact on the environment. The rich colours of the steep gorge walls and the river make this a stunning place to visit. That night we were back under canvas trying our hand at playing the Didgeridoo round the camp-fire and croc hunting by torchlight!
After a good nights sleep we turn north again and head for Lichfield National Park. Lichfield’s diverse landscape makes it unmissable, with the opportunity to swim safely in the rock pools at Florence Falls, Wangi. Learn how to tell the difference between Magnetic and Cathederal termite mounds!

That night around a huge campfire we had our last bush barbeque and lay in our star-gazing tent and marvelled at the night sky. After breakfast it was back to Darwin and the Saville Suites (now the Mantra on the Esplanade) where the washing machine goes into overdrive!

Darwin has something for everyone. For the shopper, the Mindil Beach Sunset market is a stunning location; for the romantic an evening cruise under sail from the harbour; for the art lover many indigenous art galleries and for the explorer the Tiwis and Arnhem Land beckon. For me the Top End is the real Australia, go see for yourself.