Category: Northern Territory

Renner Springs sits in the golden heart of the Barkly Tablelands. Located 150 kilometres north of Tennant Creek along the Stuart Highway, Renner Springs was established when Dr Frederick Renner noticed an unusual flock of birds while working on the Overland Telegraph line in 1877. The historic Renner Springs Roadhouse has plenty of Northern Territory character and a friendly atmosphere. Being such a small community, the annual get-together known as the Renner Springs Races is held in Tennant Creek. The Roadhouse building is an old army hut relocated after World War II from the army’s staging camp at Banka Banka Station, 50 kilometres south. Banka Banka Station dates from 1885, and you can experience a little of its history by staying overnight in the bush camp located there.

Nestled near the spectacular Arnhem Land Escarpment in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, Jabiru was established as a mining town in the 1970s. Situated on a within Kakadu, it is the only Australian town set inside a national park, and is now the main service area within the Park, offering a range of accommodation and facilities. Jabiru is a great stepping-off point for excursions into Kakadu. The people of Jabiru take pride in their unique town and enjoy a relaxed and comfortable lifestyle. It has an Olympic size swimming pool, tennis courts and a challenging nine hole golf course.

Batchelor is best known as the gateway to magnificent Litchfield National Park. Situated 98 kilometres south of Darwin, just off the Stuart Highway (Explorer’s Way) and with a population of 358, Batchelor is an excellent base from which to explore Litchfield. Tourism became Batchelor’s key industry when Litchfield was declared a national park in 1986. The modern town is also home to a unique TAFE catering specifically to Aboriginal students. While in Batchelor, drop into the Coomalie Cultural Centre and peruse its presentation of indigenous arts and crafts from the Top End and Central Australia. The Batchelor Butterfly and Bird Farm is also well worth a visit. As well as showcasing a unique range of butterflies and birds in pleasant waterfall garden, the farm offers budget accommodation and has a licensed restaurant on site. Accommodation is also available at the Batchelor Caravillage and Banyan Caravan Park. The town was named after the South Australian Labour politician Egerton Lee Batchelor (1865-1911) who became Minister for the Northern Territory in 1911. Batchelor grew slowly, with brief spurts of mining activity until World War II when it was turned into an Allied air force. In the 1950s a prospector named Jack White discovered uranium deposits at nearby Rum Jungle. Legend has it that Rum Jungle earned its name after a rather raucous incident in 1871. A bullock-wagon load of rum became bogged near jungle in the East Finniss River prompting the fearless bullockies to settle in for one of the most notorious binges in Northern Territory history.

Melville Island is Australia’s second largest island after Tasmania. There is little infrastructure on the island, and is not open to the public for tourism, except on an organised tour. Separated from Bathurst Island by only two kilometres, Melville Island has a similar history. It was first sighted by Abel Tasman in 1644 on his way from Batavia. In 1818 the son of New South Wales Governor Philip Gidley King, Phillip Parker King explored the island (he named it after Viscount Melville) and was surprised to discover that the local Aboriginal people knew some Portuguese words. He deduced they had made contact with Portuguese sailors after a Portuguese ship had been wrecked nearby. Ownership of Melville Island was returned to the Tiwi people in 1978, and like Bathurst Island, it is run by the Tiwi Land Council. Milikapiti, Pirlangimpi and Paru are the main communities, which are serviced by schools, sports ovals, museums and art and craft galleries.

Threeways is a roadhouse located at the junction of the Stuart and Barkly Highways, 25 kilometres north of Tennant Creek. This a great place to take a break and unwind during a long journey, all while enjoying warm Northern Territory hospitality. A local point of interest is the Flynn Memorial. Reverend John Flynn pioneered the Royal Australian Flying Doctors Service. The memorial originally sat at the exact meeting spot of the Barkly and Stuart Highways, but the point has now been moved 250 metres south. The Threeways roadhouse offers restaurant meals, take away food, refreshments and fuel. It has a landscaped caravan park with barbecues, a swimming pool, and air-conditioned motel units and cabins.