Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and is normally referred to as the "TOP END". Its temperature does not vary much during the year with the temperature in January an average maximum of 31.8 C and the minimum 20.5C, while in July the average maximum is 30.3 and minimum 19.3C. Darwin is an excellent base from which to explore the Northern Territory with completely natural environments. To the east of Darwin is Arnham Land and the Kakadu National Park, while to the west is the Western Australian border and to the south is Alice Springs.
Kakadu National Park covers some 20,000 square kilometers of woodland and forest and is one of Australia's most spectacular and beautiful National Parks and it also includes the Arnhem Land escarpment. The area is filled with Aboriginal rock art along with waterfalls and huge wildlife-filled flood plains. It is the traditional home of the Gagudju people and examples of their rock art (dating back as far as 25,000 years) can be viewed in the 120 known galleries found close to the escarpment. This area is known as the "never, never" by local people who claim that once visited you will never, never want to leave.
The Nitmiluk National Park is also one of the most beautiful of all the National Parks in the region because of the delicate rain-forest which grows in the gorges. The Katherine Canyon has a tunnel-like cathedral leads to Butterfly Gorge for obvious reasons. The Hanging gardens where rock springs and shade have encouraged the growth of delicate ferns and swallows'caves where tiny martins line the roof with mud nests.
Mataranka is another perfect spot where a crystal clear thermal pool can be found fringed with palms. Cutta Cutta Caves south of Katherine is an underground system of caverns stretching for 700 meters. Victoria River features the impressive sandstone Stokes Ranges, with its rock formations and superb fishing.
