Kakadu National Park

Burrunggui and Anbangbang Billabong, Kakadu National Park.

Anbangbang Billabong lies in the shadow of Burrunggui (Nourlangie Rock) within Kakadu National Park and is a good place to view a wide range of wildlife. Large numbers of waterfowl and wading birds inhabit the billabong and many wallabies can be found grazing around the water's edge.

Kakadu National Park is a living cultural landscape with exceptional natural and cultural values. Kakadu has been home to Aboriginal people for more than 50,000 years, and many of the park’s extensive rock art sites date back thousands of years. The largest national park in Australia and one of the largest in the world’s tropics, Kakadu preserves the greatest variety of ecosystems on the Australian continent including extensive areas of savanna woodlands, open forest, floodplains, mangroves, tidal mudflats, coastal areas and monsoon forests. The park also has a huge diversity of flora and is one of the least impacted areas of the northern part of the Australian continent. Its spectacular scenery includes landscapes of arresting beauty, with escarpments up to 330 metres high extending in a jagged and unbroken line for hundreds of kilometres.

Unesco: Kakadu National Park
Many thanks Marnie!
Date: Feb 20

Cobourg Peninsula

Cobourg Peninsula is located 163km north-east of Darwin and is protected within the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. It is the only site in Australia where leatherback turtles regularly come ashore to lay eggs. The southern coast of the peninsula is made up of mangrove and mudflat areas that support a large number of shorebirds or waders. The northern side has coral and rocky reefs, rocky cliffs, beaches, embayments and extensive coastal dune systems backed by lagoons.These areas support coral-dependent ecosystems, intertidal communities, coastal dolphins, sea turtles, crocodiles, seabirds and waterbirds. The terrestrial ecosystems are dominated by eucalyptus woodlands and ephemeral streams. There are also several freshwater lakes and swamps and monsoonal vine-thickets.

Thanks again Marnie!
Date: March 4

The Ochre Pits

Located 110km west of Alice Springs, the mineral Ochre Pits are a colourful outcrop of ochre on the banks of a sandy creek. Ochre occurs in a range of earthy colours ranging from white, yellow, orange, red and browns. It’s an important part of Aboriginal culture and is used in everyday life. It’s the raw material for paintings and ceremonial body decoration.

Many thanks for another wonderful card Marnie!
Date: Nov 22

Yulara

The township of Yulara is situated outside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, about a ten-minute drive from the entry station. Most of the town is made up of Ayers Rock Resort, an Aboriginal-owned enterprise that provides accommodation, restaurants and other essential services to people visiting the park. There are shops, several art galleries, conference facilities and a fantastic day spa. The resort offers a wide range of tours and activities for guests who don’t have their own transport. Yulara is also home to the National Indigenous Training Academy, which provides employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The workforce at Ayers Rock Resort is now more than 40% Indigenous employees.

Thanks again Marnie.
Date: Nov 24

Simpsons Gap

Another wonderful card of Simpsons Gap, a stunning gorge carved out of the West MacDonnell Ranges by Roe Creek, where water flows through a small gap in the range.

Thanks a lot Marnie!
Date: Nov 26

Kakadu

Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage listing renowned for both its cultural and natural values. Kakadu has been home to Aboriginal people for more than 50,000 years, and many of the park’s extensive rock art sites date back thousands of years. The largest national park in Australia and one of the largest in the world’s tropics, Kakadu preserves the greatest variety of ecosystems on the Australian continent including extensive areas of savanna woodlands, open forest, floodplains, mangroves, tidal mudflats, coastal areas and monsoon forests. The park also has a huge diversity of flora and is one of the least impacted areas of the northern part of the Australian continent. Its spectacular scenery includes landscapes of arresting beauty, with escarpments up to 330 metres high extending in a jagged and unbroken line for hundreds of kilometres.

Unesco: Kakadu National Park
RR: Australia & New Zealand x World RR
Date: Nov 22

Simpsons Gap

Simpsons Gap is one of the most prominent gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Located just 18 kilometres from Alice Springs, it features the towering cliffs of Simpsons Range, a permanent waterhole and opportunities to spot resident wildlife. At dawn and dusk you might see Black-footed Rock-wallabies along the walking track into the gap. Vegetation typical of the MacDonnell Ranges is found in the area, including large stands of Mulga and over 40 rare and relict plants. Known as Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte Aboriginal people, Simpsons Gap was the mythological home of a group of giant goanna ancestors. Several dreaming trails and stories cross at this important spiritual site.

Thanks a lot Marnie!
Date: Nov 6

Central Australia

The Red Centre is an extraordinary landscape of desert plains, weathered mountain ranges, rocky gorges and some of Aboriginal Australia's most sacred sites, including Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa. Clockwise from top left: Rainbow Valley's sandstone cliffs - Chambers Pillars, a 50 metre sandstone monolith in the desert - The Devils Marbles (Karlukarlu) - Uluru glows red against the darkening sky.

Thanks so much Marnie, hopefully I can visit one day!
Date: Nov 21

Mt Conner

Curtin Springs, a privately owned cattle station located deep in Australia's red centre, is home to Mount Conner, considered to be the third major formation in this area along with Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Thanks Marnie!
Date: Nov 15

Uluru

Made of sandstone, Uluru is often referred to as the heart of the ‘Red Centre’ and is one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks. At 348 metres high, Uluru is one of the world’s largest monoliths, towering over the surrounding landscape and some 550 million years old. For the local Aboriginal people, the Anangu, World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park holds a special cultural significance where earth and memories exist as one.

Unesco: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Thanks for another great card Marnie!
Date: Sept 10

Kings Canyon

Watarrka National Park, home to Kings Canyon, covers 710sq km and has been home to the Luritja and Arrente peoples for more than 20,000 years. The walls of Kings Canyon are over 100 metres high, with Kings Creek at the bottom. Part of the gorge is a sacred Aboriginal site and visitors are discouraged from leaving the walking tracks. According to geologists, the valley was formed more than 400 million years ago. It cuts through a layer of Mereenie Sandstone, which was deposited here 400 million years ago.

Many thanks Marnie!
Date: Sept 26

The Devils Marbles

The Devils Marbles are a sacred site known as Karlu Karlu in the language of the traditional owners the Warumungu people. Being one of the most widely recognised symbols of Australia’s outback, the Devils Marbles are also one of the most visited reserves/places in the Northern Territory. The Devils Marbles are large granitic boulders that form the exposed top layer of an extensive and mostly underground granite formation. They are of great cultural and spiritual significance to the Aboriginal traditional owners of the land, and the reserve protects one of the oldest religious sites in the world as well as the natural rock formations found there. Karlu Karlu is the local Aboriginal term for both the rock features and the surrounding area.

Thanks a lot Helen!
Tag: Offer Tag
Date: Aug 7