From Tropical Darwin Beach to the Mountain of Uluru
The impressive sunsets on Darwin beach attract people in droves.
The vastness of Australia lures. And yet: where to begin? If you want to get to know Australia’s cultural identity off the beaten tourist track, it’s best to start in Darwin. The city of art, markets and fresh, multi-cultural cuisine is closer to Bali than to the rest of Australia, and this is well understood in terms of climate, art and cuisine. In the city you can lose yourself in the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in the indigenous history.
Mindil Beach Sunset Market is the perfect place to sample Malaysian Laksa or tropical juices and enjoy live music along the white sandy beaches. For hiking and swimming Nitmilk National Park invites.
Continue to Uluru. The first sight of the mountain on the horizon is guaranteed to be unforgotten. Depending on the time of day, the Uluru changes its color: during the afternoon it appears ocher-brown, broken by dark shadows. When the sun sets, it illuminates in orange, which turns into a series of deep reds before the color changes to charcoal. The reverse ceremony can be observed at dawn.
The Uluru is the unmistakable symbol in the heart of Australia.
The Uluru is easy to reach via a six-hour flight. Alternatively, the 22-hour drive through the Northern Territory can be tackled well with a few stops. Rangeman-led walks in the Uluru area provide expert insights into the fauna and flora, geology and cultural significance of Australia’s landmark. On the one-hour Mala Walk you will discover imposing examples of prehistoric rock art. If that’s not enough, choose the 10.5-kilometer Base Walk, which circles the rocks and passes caves, impressive paintings and sandstone formations.
Our tip: After a few relaxing culinary-cultural days in Darwin, it’s worth making a 5-day guided camping tour to Uluru. The trip should ideally include the best of Kings Canyon, Uluru, Devil’s Marbles, Mataranka Thermal Springs and Edith Falls on the journey from Darwin to Alice Springs.