Australie | Northern Territory | het rode hart
The Northern Territory: kilometre after kilometre of burnt red earth, dotted with hotspots such as Kings Canyon and Uluru - the world's largest monolith. The north is greener, with national parks such as Kakadu and Litchfield. Katherine Gorge has 13 gorges and Edith comprises of a whole series of waterfalls. The masses have yet to discover Cobourg Marine Park.
Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of Australia. More than 600 different types of plants grow here and the park is inhabited by a hundred bird species and sixty different types of reptiles. The ancient sandstone walls of the gorge have been polished by the elements and form a 100-metre-high plateau. You can follow the 7-kilometre Kings Canyon Walk across this plateau at your own speed. After a tough steep climb, the trail takes you along the edge of the gorge, where you can savour the fantastic views. The lush oasis within the gorge itself is called the Garden of Eden and is an absolutely unforgettable experience.
At Uluru, the world's most famous monolith, every coast is as equally far away. Sunrise is something not to be missed at Uluru: the top half of Uluru turns red first, then the red blaze slowly lowers and the colour changes from pink to earth brown. The footpath around the rock is nine kilometres in length and takes you along many sacred Aboriginal sites. Katatjuta, also known as the Olgas, is 50 kilometres to the west and consists of 36 rocks that are no less than 500 metres high. Like Uluru, Katatjuta also continually changes colour: from grey to red, and then to purple.
A greater contrast with the red heart is unimaginable: Kakadu National Park at Darwin is a lush green paradise full of crocodiles and brightly coloured birds. Here you can admire the prehistoric rock drawings of kangaroos and crocodiles. Litchfield National Park on the other hand offers very different interesting sights and Blyth Homestead gives you a good impression of the harsh circumstances in which the pioneers lived. Bamboo Creek gives you an idea about the arduous lives of the tin mine workers and The Lost City consists of free-standing sandstone blocks and pillars that are reminiscent of the ruins of a lost civilisation. There are three waterfalls for nature fans - Wangi, Tolmer and Florence - and various walking trails, such as the Tabletop Track, which can either be done in full (several days) or in part. The fascinating magnetic termite mounds are also very interesting to see.
Katherine Gorge in the expansive Nitmiluk National Park consists of no less than 30 gorges. You can canoe around the gorge, but walking is a great (dry!) alternative. To get to Edith Falls you need to take a 60-kilometre detour, but the extra drive will be more than worthwhile. Edith comprises of an entire series of waterfalls, in the lowest of which you can stretch out and bathe.
The Cobourg Peninsula is quite some way from the frequently visited Kakadu National Park and only accessible by plane. From the air you get a good impression of the area's expansiveness and the isolation of the Northern Territory's northern corner. Cobourg Marine Park is part of Gurig National Park and the landscape is extremely varied, with grass-covered dunes, mangroves, sections of rainforest, swamps and a rich sea life. The masses have fortunately yet to discover this park.
A visit to Mount Borradaile en route to the Cobourg Peninsula is extremely worthwhile. Mount Borradaile is an area of unspoilt nature in the north-west of Arnhem that has many swamps and greenery. Here you can visit the 50,000-year-old Aboriginal rock paintings under the supervision of a tour guide. These paintings give you an idea about the religious convictions and the historic happenings of the oldest culture in the world.
