The Northern Territories Survival Guide

You know you're in the outback when what is described as a good bitumen road is in fact a single lane of tarmac with a yard or two of red dirt either side. When a car comes the other way, you plant two wheels in the dirt and hope for the best. When a road train comes the other way, you plant as much of your vehicle as you can in the dirt, say a couple of Hail Marys and pray for your sins to be forgiven. Those road trains don't budge for anyone.

It's a great drive as long as you're happy cruising through miles and miles of nothing. Games such as "Spot the Tree" and "How Long Till The Next Bend" help pass the time. We tried "Count the Roadkill" for a while but realised soon we'd need a calculator to keep up.

Oncoming Weather: Hurricane sent a from Monsoon between Mount Isa and Tennant Creek

Many of the cattle properties that adjoin the highways of the NT are unfenced. That means these mobile Beef Burgers go everywhere they wish. If that means the grass is greener on the other side of the road then so be it. Beef Burgers don't have headlights. There are also Camel Burgers, Donkey Burgers, Horse Burgers and Kangaroo Burgers. They are unlicensed and have no insurance!

The other thing not to do is go swimming in one of the rivers of the Top End in your hire car or van. If the vehicle belongs to someone else then you have a major dent coming in your credit card. Crossing floodways, creeks or rivers is risky at the best of times.

 

From: TNT Travellers Magazine Australia No. 65

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