It may surprise you that, upon completion of 2.5 months of travel throughout Australia, the first Bucket List post I’m writing is about that very same continent.
But Australia is HUGE, and I wasn’t able to see everything in my lengthy stay. So I left one big section of the country for a future return trip.
Here’s a glimpse at the areas I visited during my recent travels:
…and here’s where I’d like to return someday:
While I’ve already explored the highlights around Perth, I’m told the drive from Perth to Broome to Darwin (A to B to C on the map above) is a stunning and under-appreciated area of the country. As noted, it’s over 4,000 km (or 2,500 miles) and would take 44 hours to drive straight through. I think 3-4 weeks would be a great length of time to traverse this part of Australia.
If you’re wondering what there is to see in these destinations, I’ve done some Google Images digging. Let’s start with Broome…
BROOME, AUSTRALIA
The desert marches right up to the ocean in Broome. I love the mixing of red rock and white sand.
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This is Cable Beach, the highlight of Broome.
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Camel riding is a popular sunset activity on Cable Beach.
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And many people kayak at nearby Turtle Bay.
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Willie Creek Pearl Farm is about 40 km outside of town.
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And Broome is the gateway to the Kimberley region — a giant area teeming with wildlife, exposed cliffs, and waterfalls. Doesn’t this photo make you want to jump in a riverboat and mosey on downstream for an afternoon (or a week)?
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This last highlight of Broome is my favorite — and I’d have to plan my visit accordingly around the moon cycle. This is called the “Staircase to the Moon,” a phenomenon that happens when the full moon reflects in the exposed mudflats at low tide, creating a staircase effect in the sand.
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DARWIN, AUSTRALIA
Onward to Darwin!
There are three national parks in the area that I’d like to visit: Litchfield, Kakadu, and Nitmiluk.
Let’s start with Kakadu National Park, perhaps the best known of these three.
The photo below is Jim Jim Falls. Isn’t it photogenic?! I am dying to go here.
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Here’s another scenic waterfall from one of the Yurmikmik bush walks:
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And the Devil’s Marbles:
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Here’s a shot from Litchfield National Park:
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Frill-necked lizards have been known to slither around these parts… I’ve seen my fair share of land iguanas and marine iguanas in the Galapagos, but this frill-necked variety is something all-together different.
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Speaking of animal encounters, I would get SUCH a thrill out of this — cage diving with crocs. This photo is from Crocosaurus Cove: Cage of Death.
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And last but not least, allow me to introduce you to Nitmiluk National Park. The highlights here are Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls.
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Here are some scenes from the Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park:
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Whew. Pretty sweet photos, right? I now have an excuse to return to this corner of the world. Well, in addition to revisiting my WWOOF family in Tasmania!
