NT

= ** Northern Territory ** =

**Stuart Highway, National Highway 87 **

** Statistics: ** · ** Length: ** 2129 km (NT: 1202 km) · ** Northern Terminus: ** Carpentaria Highway (NR1) at Daly Waters · ** Southern Terminus: ** SA Border, 20 km south of Kulgera Roadhouse · ** Miscellaneous: ** Continues of NH1 (Stuart Highway) to Darwin and continues as NH-A87 in South Australia · ** Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: ** Kulgera Roadhouse, Erldunda, Stuarts Well Roadhouse, Alice Springs, Aileron Roadhouse, Ti Tree Roadhouse, Barrow Creek Roadhouse, Wycliffe Well Roadhouse, Wauchope, Tennant Creek, Three Ways Roadhouse, Renner Springs Roadhouse, Elliot, Dunmarra Roadhouse, Hi-Way Inn Roadhouse and Daly Waters. The Stuart Highway is one of NT's most important routes, linking Darwin, Alice Springs and the populated areas of South Australia, including Adelaide. Named for explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to cross Australia from South to North, and it generally follows his route. The Stuart Highway crosses the desert of Central Australia to savannah grasslands and tropical wetlands in the North.


 * Larrimah **Larrimah is a classic Northern Territory outback town located between Mataranka and Daly Waters. The town began as a staging site for 3,000 WWII servicemen in the 1940s and now the town is a service centre for the surrounding districts. It has a wonderful old pub, with a giant bar and a companionable Big Beer Bottle outside.

There's a museum at the old police station with displays about the North Australian railway and air transport during the war. Memorabilia and archive material includes photographs of nearby Gorrie airfield during the war.

Gorrie airfield was once one of the largest and busiest repair and maintenance bases in the Pacific during WWII with 2,000 stationed military personnel.

Things to do

· Museum - for memorabilia from WWII war experiences and the train line that once ran through here. Mahoney Street

· Larrimah Hotel - is full of interesting bits and pieces collected over the years. Also full of interesting characters.

Larrimah is 182 km south of Katherine along the Stuart Highway.

We will be staying at the Green Park Tourist Complex, Lot 40 Stuart Highway, Larrimah. This is not a Big4 Holiday Park.

 1. Head northwest on Stuart Hwy 385 km Adelaide River NT, Australia
 * Larrimah NT to Adelaide River 385 km (about 4 hours 33 mins) **

Adelaide River
Adelaide River is a small settlement found between Darwin and Katherine in the Northern Territory's Top End. It lies some 200 km north-east of Katherine.

It was the base for 30, 000 Australian and American soldiers during WWII and was also a railway siding for the North Australian Railway from Darwin to Pine Creek.

Just north of the town is a large WWII cemetery for 434 servicemen and 54 civilians, who were killed by air-raids in Darwin.

There are some historical sites and pleasant scenic locations for walking and fishing in the area. Things to do in and around Adelaide River include:

· Adelaide River Inn - home of Charlie the Buffalo, from the movie Crocodile Dundee

106 Stuart Hwy Adelaide River 0846 NT Phone: (08) 8976 7047

· Grove Hill Heritage and Museum - a residence built entirely from recycled materials during the depression. Open daily 6 am to 2 pm · Festival - Bush Race Meeting and Show, June · War Cemetery - with graves of WWII servicemen and civilians. · Mount Bundy Station - for fishing, walking and swimming, 3 km north · Robin Falls - off the Stuart Highway has pleasant 15 minute walk to view the falls · Snake Creek Armament Depot - historical military base. Entry requires permit from Northern Land Council as is on Aboriginal Lands  · Daly River - has good fishing, Aboriginal art and craft, flora and fauna festival each June/July, 114 km south-west.

While in Adelaide River, we’ll be staying at the Adelaide River Inn Caravan Park, 106 Stuart Highway, Adelaide River. This is not a Big4 Holiday Park. **Adelaide River NT to Howard Springs Holiday Park, Darwin ****91.1 km (about 1 hour 16 mins)** 1. Head northwest on Stuart Hwy toward Coach Rd 88.5 km 2. Turn right at Howard Springs Rd 850 m 3. Take the 2nd right onto Whitewood Rd 1.7 km Destination will be on the right  170 Whitewood Rd, Howard Springs NT. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">1. Head east on Whitewood Rd toward Smyth Rd 3.9 km 2. Turn right at Hicks Rd 5.8 km 3. Turn right at Girraween Rd 34 m 4. Take the 1st left onto Anglesey Rd 3.4 km 5. Turn left at Pioneer Dr 800 m Humpty Doo NT, Australia
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">170 Whitewood Rd, Howard Springs NT to Humpty Doo 14.0 km (about 25 mins) **

<span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 30pt; text-align: center;">Humpty Doo <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Humpty Doo is located in the rural area surrounding Darwin, approximately 40 kilometres from the centre of town. It is one of the oldest areas of Darwin with many large properties and farms and serves as a service centre for the rural district.

· Boxing Croc - The Australian obsession with 'big' tourist attractions finds one of its most hilarious manifestations in 'The Boxing Croc' on the Arnhem Highway.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> · Natural Wonders - Enjoy Bird Watching in the Fogg Dam conservation Reserve or check out the freshwater billabongs at Mary River National Park.

· Didgeridoo Hut & Urrdudu (Emu) Farm - Aboriginal owned. Artists work on site. Didgeridoos, fine Art, Weaving, Carvings. Close to Darwin, Kakadu & Litchfield National Parks. Photo of artist and Dreaming stories provided. The emu farm provides some hands on action.

· Graeme Gow's Reptile Farm - The farm is known for it's impressive collection of Australian snakes and lizards.

Humpty Doo Hotel is located on the Arnhem Hwy on the way to Kakadu National Park, 34km South of Darwin.

Darwin

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Darwin surprises most people because they’re not expecting a bustling, modern capital city of 105,730 people, sitting on one of Australia’s prettiest harbours. Darwin has everything you imagine a capital city should have.

For visitors looking for authentic Aboriginal artwork, Darwin has an extensive selection of galleries and shops.

The weather is tropical – always warm, sometimes humid and with lots of sunshine. You’ll find plenty of attractions for your entertainment. Darwin boasts nightclubs, theatres, a casino and a smorgasbord of restaurants. For those who love to shop Darwin has several large shopping centres and fabulous multicultural markets.

Whether you’re interested in discovering more about the natural environment, Aboriginal culture or the pioneering history of Darwin, you can see it all at the various attractions and national parks scattered throughout the region.

Darwin is the starting point for your holiday to the Top End and the gateway to a range of attractions within easy driving distance. The east offers the waterfalls, wetlands, and wildlife of Australia's own Kakadu National Park including the untravelled beauty of Arnhem Land and, the sailing and game fishing playgrounds of the Gove Peninsula. With all this, Darwin has something for everyone.

While visiting Darwin, we will book a powered site at the Howard Springs Holiday Park, 170 Whitewood Road, Darwin. Affiliated with the Big4 Holiday Parks chain and charging a maximum of $32.00 per night, Howard Springs is perfectly located to visit Kakadu, Litchfield National Park and the last of the “Big Attractions”...the Big Boxing Croc in Humpty Doo. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">1. Head west on Whitewood Rd toward Westall Rd 1.7 km 2. Turn left at Howard Springs Rd 850 m 3. Turn right at the 2nd cross street onto Stuart Hwy 12.7 km 4. Turn right at Berrimah Rd 100 m 5. Continue onto Vanderlin Dr 2.5 km 6. Turn left at McMillans Rd 4.7 km 7. Slight left at Marrara Dr 250 m 8. Turn right at Abala Rd 500 m 9. Turn left at Henry Wrigley Dr 1.1 km Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, Australia
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">170 Whitewood Rd, Howard Springs NT to Darwin Airport 24.5 km (about 35 mins) **

Here we will leave our “Beloved Bus” and board a flight for our return to Melbourne.

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