The Wild Landscapes of the Top End

The Top End of Australia is an amazing place to photograph beautiful landscapes and exotic wildlife. Most visitors to the Top End are surprised by how vastly different it is from the arid Red Centre, which also lies in the Northern Territory. With grasslands, floodplains and even patches of rainforest, this tropical region is home to flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. Here are some of the best spots for photography enthusiasts to visit in the Top End.

KAKADU 

For nature lovers, there’s no place quite like Kakadu. It is Australia's largest national park and spans over 20,000 sq.km. With terrains ranging from wetlands to rainforests and stone country, Kakadu has a bit of everything to experience and photograph. 

The park is the site of some of the oldest and largest collections of petroglyphs (ancient rock art) in the world through which you can discover the rich culture and history of the region. Kakadu National Park is also a great place to photograph goannas, wallabies and endangered birds like the rainbow pitta. A popular activity in the park is a cruise along the Yellow Water Billabong, where you can see crocodiles, brumbies (feral horses), water buffalos and rare birds. 

LITCHFIELD NP

At a short distance from Darwin lie dramatic landscapes filled with extraordinary waterfalls and plunge pools. One of the lesser known spots, Litchfield National Park is a hidden gem in the Northern Territory. 

An abundance of cascading waterfalls and creeks make this park an excellent spot for nature photographers. Explore stunning water features like the Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, and Buley Rockhole, set in between monsoonal vines. Enjoy panoramic views of Tjaetaba Falls and watch waters rush through Greenant Creek Rapids. 

Litchfield isn’t just waterfalls and plunge pools though. The park also contains an almost other-worldly scene of towering mounds made by magnetic termites. These mounds run several metres high, and are a testimony to nature’s wonders.

ARNHEM LAND

Stray off the beaten track at Arnhem land, a place of unspoilt landscapes with traditions going back tens of thousands of years. Bordering the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria, the region boasts of beautiful coastlines and remote beaches. Most of the population here consists of Aboriginal Australians, who take care of the land in accordance with local traditions. Visiting Arnhem Land therefore requires a permit. 

Arnhem Land is famously the home of the didgeridoo, which was created by the Indigenous people of the region. The instrument is depicted in some of the rock art found in the area. Rock art galleries are another unique feature of the region, and showcase ancient artwork depicting sacred beings in an X-Ray style. 

With diverse vistas, Arnhem land offers the opportunity to not only experience ancient cultures, but also photograph forests, coasts, and caves. To take part in the Arnhem Land Photography Workshop, book your spot today!