Kakadu
With its spectacular scenery and good roads, Tasmania is an island made for touring, especially by Motor home or campervan. From the red lichen encrusted coastlines of the East to the wilderness of the West, Tasmania has something to offer everyone: a fascinating history, breathtaking scenery, beautiful National Parks and (in the right season!) a pleasant climate. A self-drive holiday in a Motor home is the ideal way to explore this incredible island; there is a large choice of vehicles for hire, from a 4WD camper or a budget-priced campervan to a luxury Motor home.
Kakadu is an incredibly ecologically and biologically diverse area with many different landforms and habitats, including sandstone plateaus and escarpments, areas of savanna woodlands and open forest, rivers, billabongs, floodplains, mangroves and mudflats. Kakadu also supports an extraordinary diversity of wildlife with over 280 species of birds, 60 kinds of native mammals, 55 kinds of freshwater fish, thousands of insect species and 75 different kinds of reptile (more than you'll find in the whole of Europe) including goannas, frill-necked lizards, and of course the famous saltwater crocodile.
Today, tourists can find every manner of accommodation available. From luxurious lodges and fine dining, to charming bed and breakfasts or even out of the way campgrounds, there's something here for everybody, no matter what kind of holiday you might be planning. You are able to stay right in Freycinet National Park itself, at a lovely campsite or in the historic Freycinet Lodge. In addition there are many charming B&B's, hotels, self-catering villas and cottages all around the region, and the neighboring villages of Bicheno, Swansea and Coles Bay offer a variety of accommodations.
Many say that to visit the park in the wet season (December to March) is the best - the only time. In the wet, the park drowns in water, heat, humidity, bright tropical colors, nature in the raw - all the fundamental elements that make up Australia's unique natural world. Kakadu is a landscape of contrasts. Beneath waters dotted with delicate pink lotus flowers lurks the crocodile. Jagged peaks of towering escarpments hide pockets of lush rainforest. Roaring waterfalls thunder down rocky gorges to serene pools fringed with paper barks, Pandanus and Cycads. If you get up early and head off the beaten track a little - you'll be rewarded with vistas of remarkable color and significant wildlife. The immense natural beauty and cultural importance of Kakadu National Park make a trip into Kakadu an unforgettable experience.
The Kakadu Billabong has some excellent fishing available for the angler who is interested. While enjoying the luxuries that a Kakadu accommodation can provide, a day out on the water fishing could be the perfect compliment or counterpoint and day fishing is never bad, especially when there are many different species available to catch in the region. From mackerel to snapper to sharks to the popular and iconic Barramundi, day fishing out of the Kakadu Billabong is sure to be an adventure, complete with stories to tell for months and years later.
The Freycinet National Park, Tasmania's oldest National Park and home to the famous Wineglass Bay is accessible in a motor home or campervan. A climb over Mount Amos (11/2 to 2 hours return) will reward you with breathtaking views of Wineglass and Coles Bays. Further north there are more beautiful coastlines as you drive through Bicheno and north to St Helens; gateway to the Bay of Fires. The access roads to the chain of beaches that make up the Bay of Fires are mainly accessible by 2WD vehicles and there are even some un-powered camping sites just meters from the beach.
Kakadu is an incredibly ecologically and biologically diverse area with many different landforms and habitats, including sandstone plateaus and escarpments, areas of savanna woodlands and open forest, rivers, billabongs, floodplains, mangroves and mudflats. Kakadu also supports an extraordinary diversity of wildlife with over 280 species of birds, 60 kinds of native mammals, 55 kinds of freshwater fish, thousands of insect species and 75 different kinds of reptile (more than you'll find in the whole of Europe) including goannas, frill-necked lizards, and of course the famous saltwater crocodile.
Today, tourists can find every manner of accommodation available. From luxurious lodges and fine dining, to charming bed and breakfasts or even out of the way campgrounds, there's something here for everybody, no matter what kind of holiday you might be planning. You are able to stay right in Freycinet National Park itself, at a lovely campsite or in the historic Freycinet Lodge. In addition there are many charming B&B's, hotels, self-catering villas and cottages all around the region, and the neighboring villages of Bicheno, Swansea and Coles Bay offer a variety of accommodations.
Many say that to visit the park in the wet season (December to March) is the best - the only time. In the wet, the park drowns in water, heat, humidity, bright tropical colors, nature in the raw - all the fundamental elements that make up Australia's unique natural world. Kakadu is a landscape of contrasts. Beneath waters dotted with delicate pink lotus flowers lurks the crocodile. Jagged peaks of towering escarpments hide pockets of lush rainforest. Roaring waterfalls thunder down rocky gorges to serene pools fringed with paper barks, Pandanus and Cycads. If you get up early and head off the beaten track a little - you'll be rewarded with vistas of remarkable color and significant wildlife. The immense natural beauty and cultural importance of Kakadu National Park make a trip into Kakadu an unforgettable experience.
The Kakadu Billabong has some excellent fishing available for the angler who is interested. While enjoying the luxuries that a Kakadu accommodation can provide, a day out on the water fishing could be the perfect compliment or counterpoint and day fishing is never bad, especially when there are many different species available to catch in the region. From mackerel to snapper to sharks to the popular and iconic Barramundi, day fishing out of the Kakadu Billabong is sure to be an adventure, complete with stories to tell for months and years later.
The Freycinet National Park, Tasmania's oldest National Park and home to the famous Wineglass Bay is accessible in a motor home or campervan. A climb over Mount Amos (11/2 to 2 hours return) will reward you with breathtaking views of Wineglass and Coles Bays. Further north there are more beautiful coastlines as you drive through Bicheno and north to St Helens; gateway to the Bay of Fires. The access roads to the chain of beaches that make up the Bay of Fires are mainly accessible by 2WD vehicles and there are even some un-powered camping sites just meters from the beach.
About the Author:
Cray is travel writer. His articles and guides on Kakadu are awesome and unparalleled.