Boutique hotels in Top End

Bamurru Plains

Style
Glam safari

Setting
Croc-filled bush

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Top End Overview

Australia

Countryside: Wetlands and wildlife
Country life: Sunsets, storms and saltwater fishing

The Top End region of Australia’s Northern Territory is renowned for its tropical weather, rich indigenous culture, national parks and fantastic, laid-back lifestyle.

Home to an eclectic mix of cultures whose outdoor lifestyle is complemented by brilliant sunsets, fantastic fishing and a colourful calendar of outdoor events, the region encompasses everything from the tropical, multi-cultural state capital Darwin to the World Heritage-listed Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Despite much of this area being extremely remote, it is still easily accessible.

Typically Top End

The World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is the largest in Australia at almost 200,000 square kilometres. Famed internationally for its natural and cultural wonders, it is home to several Aboriginal rock-art sites and plenty of saltwater crocodiles. The character of Mick Dundee in the film Crocodile Dundee was based on a real-life hunter who lived in the area.

Local knowledge

Taxis: Call 131008 (no international or area code necessary), and a taxi will come to you.
Tipping culture: Tipping is optional – and certainly isn’t expected. However, it is customary to tip waiters 10 per cent of the bill if you’re pleased with the service.
Siesta and Fiesta: Other than in Darwin or Katherine, where shops are generally open from 9am to 6pm, there’s not much that requires opening and closing.
Packing tips: Make sure you bring tropical-strength insect repellent and a sunhat.
Recommended reads: Though books about the Northern Territory are few and far between – mainly because so few people actually live there – there are plenty of novels that evoke the Outback experience. Louis de Bernières’ Red Dog is a collection of stories about an itinerant canine that criss-crosses the Australian Bush; Dirt Music by Tim Winton is a gripping tale of passion and revenge in the country’s arid interior; Xavier Herbert’s epic Poor Fellow My Country is a state-of-the-nation novel about European and indigenous cultures meeting in 1930s and 1940s Northern Australia.
Cuisine: With Indonesia and Malaysia just a couple of hours’ flying time over the horizon, and a hugely multi-cultural population, it’s hardly surprising that the Top End takes much of its culinary inspiration from Asia. Large market gardens in the region produce a steady stream of mangos, pineapples, paw paws and other tropical fruit, which are often teamed with seafood – barramundi, mud crab, etc – from some of the country’s best fishing grounds. Crocodile is also a popular delicacy, and there are farms throughout the Top End that breed these snappy creatures for their sought-after skins and meat. It tastes a lot like chicken, apparently…
Currency: Australian dollar (A$).
Time zone: GMT +9.5.
Dialling codes: Australia country code: +61; Northern Territory: (0)8.
Do go/don't go: There are basically two seasons in the Top End, the wet and the dry. If you want to see spectacular waterfalls, lightning storms and monsoon rains then head to the Top End between November and April. Be aware, though, that many roads are closed during this time and most touring is done by boat or plane. The dry season – between May and October – is far less humid. It’s the best time to visit if you want to see wildlife, as the area’s animals gravitate towards a few billabongs in search of scarce water supplies.

Don't go home without

… some aboriginal art, and a handbag or belt made from crocodile skin. Make sure your croc-skin product comes with a certificate to say where it came from, though; you'll need it to get through customs in most countries.

Top End Hotels

€ £ $

Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and romantic boutique hotels in Top End

Bamurru Plains

Top End, Australia

Style: Glam safari
Setting: Croc-filled bush

Situated in Australia’s Top End, in a wildlife-teeming area that’s home to the southern hemisphere’s highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles, Bamurru Plains is an upmarket safari lodge with real style.

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Boutique hotels in Top End

Bamurru Plains

Style
Glam safari

Setting
Croc-filled bush

View hotel details

Top End Activities

Highlights the best Top End has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.

Worth getting out of bed for

Top End itinerary: More…
Viewpoint: The only way to really see this ruggedly beautiful and largely uninhabited landscape is from the air. Kakadu Air (www.kakaduair.com.au) and North Australian Helicopters (www.northaustralianhelicopters.com.au) offer scenic tours.
Arts and culture: The Top End’s cultural centre is indisputably Darwin. There’s a great collection of Aboriginal art at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (www.magnt.nt.gov.au), where there’s also a powerful exhibition on Cyclone Tracy, which devastated the city on Christmas Eve 1974. The East Point Military Museum (+61 (0)8 8981 9702) provides a sobering reminder of Darwin’s World War II history, when Japanese bombs rained down on the city.
Something for nothing: Take part in the daily fish-feeding frenzy that takes place in Doctor’s Gully at the end of Darwin Esplanade. Hundreds of fish swarm into the cove at high tide to be met by adults and excitable children with armfuls of bread. You’ll have them eating out of your hand – literally. Times are published in the Northern Territory News.
Shopping: The Top End is the best place in Australia to pick up some affordable aboriginal art, either directly from the artist in the markets or from one of the numerous galleries that can be found in and around Darwin city centre. The world’s best South Sea pearls are farmed in the region. Pick some up from Paspaley Pearls (+61 (0)8 8982 5555), on the corner of Bennett Street and the Mall in Darwin. It’s also acceptable to buy a didgeridoo from here – you are in their original home, after all. Just don’t go mad once you get back to the UK and team it with one from Camden Market.
Daytripper: Take a scenic flight to the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park in the adjacent Kimberley region, where you’ll fly over the 45,000 hectares of orange- and black-striped beehive-like mounds that make up the famous Bungle Bungle range.
Best beach: Casuarina Beach, just minutes from Darwin’s city centre, is the best of the glorious white-sand beaches close to the state capital. Prudes beware, though; it does have a ‘clothes optional’ section. Swimming in the sea during the humid tropical summer can be dangerous – keep an eye out for deadly box jellyfish, and take note of any warning signs.
Perfect picnic: If you’re visiting the Top End during the dry season, pick up supplies from Darwin’s Mindil Beach Sunset Market, then head out to either Berry Springs or Annaburroo Billabong, both near the Mary River, for a day of lazy lounging and crocodile-free swimming.
Walks: Litchfield National Park, just 100 kilometres south of Darwin, has spectacular spring-fed waterfalls that cascade down rocky cliffs into crocodile-free swimming holes. There are plenty of clearly marked walking trails that leave from the car parks, including one that takes walkers through a series of unusual rock towers known as the Lost City.
Children: Crocosaurus Cove (www.crocosauruscove.com) in the centre of Darwin houses some of the biggest captive saltwater crocodiles in the world. Brave children will love the Cage of Death, a Perspex box that is lowered into a croc-swarming tank. It may be perfectly safe, but it still provides a serious adrenaline rush.
Activities: The aforementioned Mindil Beach Sunset Market in Darwin is a must if you’re visiting the region during the dry season. Held on Thursday and Sunday evenings, it draws a huge crowd who come for the cosmopolitan cuisine, free entertainment and fabulous sunsets. Sample food from more than 30 nations, and pick up everything from Aboriginal art and crafts to kangaroo-skin belts. Round off your evening at the harbourside Deckchair Cinema (www.deckchaircinema.com), where you can watch stars both on the screen and in the sky.
And...: Warning signs are displayed at the edge of waterways if they are known to be inhabited by crocodiles. You may not see the snap-happy reptiles, but they are sure to be watching you – so NEVER get into water unless you are absolutely sure it’s safe.

Diary

June Join Darwin's Greek community for two days of dancing, music, food and wine down at the city’s Bicentennial Park. July The Darwin Fringe Festival (which begins in June and continues for several weeks) celebrates the unique culture of the Top End with concerts, exhibitions and parties. August Held annually in Arnhemland. the Garma Festival (+61 (0)8 8941 2900) is one of Australia’s most significant events. It focuses on the country’s indigenous cultures, and is a great opportunity to learn about and engage in the heritage and traditions of Australia’s original inhabitants.

Boutique hotels in Top End

Bamurru Plains

Style
Glam safari

Setting
Croc-filled bush

View hotel details

Top End
Eating, drinking and dancing

We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Top End.

Cafés

(+61 (0)8 8981 6729)

Roma Bar

A real local hangout down a Darwin sidestreet, Roma is a great spot for breakfast. Place your order at the counter, then secure one of the tables outside in the shade, from which you can sit and watch the locals going about their business.

9–11 Cavenagh Street, Darwin

No phone

Stokes Hill Wharf

There are numerous takeaway outlets in this Darwin precinct, which sell everything from crocodile burgers to freshly shucked oysters. Find a table at the water’s edge to enjoy your purchases and, after dinner, you can throw your scraps into the sea and watch the feeding frenzy below. It’s a laid back vibe with lovely views out over the water and back towards the city.

Restaurants

(+61 (0)8 8981 4544)

Char

This restaurant may not win any Michelin stars, but it is in a lovely setting on Darwin’s esplanade and the steaks are reliably excellent.

Corner of the Esplanade and Knuckey Street, Darwin

(+61 (0)8 8941 3500)

Hanuman

One of the best restaurants in Darwin, Hanuman is a dark and mysterious space decorated with exotic Asian artworks and furnishings. The Asian-inspired food is delicious, and it has a fabulous wine list.

Holiday Inn Esplanade, 93 Mitchell Street, Darwin

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