Now that we had finally made it all the way to Jabiru, in Kakadu National Park, our first stop was the Bowali Visitor Centre to get our visitors passes.
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| Anton at the visitor centre |
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| Our passes, visitors guide and holiday planner |
The first thing you need to know about the Northern Territory, is that the weather here is so varied and extreme that it doesn't fit into normal divisions.
There are not 4 seasons (winter, autumn, spring and summer), or even 2 seasons (wet and dry), but actually 6 seasons!
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| The 6 seasons of the Northern Territory |
The 6 seasons are:
Gunumeleng - Pre-Monsoon Storm Season - Gunumeleng, from mid-October to late December, may in fact last from a few weeks to several months.
Gudjewg - Monsoon Season - Gudjewg, from January to March, can be described as the 'true' wet season.
Banggereng - Knock 'em down storm Season - Banggerreng, in April, is the season when the rain clouds have dispersed and clear skies prevail.
Yegge - Cooler but still humid Season - Yegge, from May to mid-June, is relatively cool with low humidity.
Wurrgeng - Cold Weather Season - Wurrgeng, from mid-June to mid-August, is the 'cold weather' time; humidity is low.
Gurrung - Hot Dry Weather - Gurrung, from mid-August to mid-October, is hot and dry.
We went during the "Cold" Wurrgeng Season.
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| Me helpfully pointing out which season we are in, to noone in particular |
The second thing that you need to know, is that "Cold" is a relative term. In Northern Territory, cold means daytime temperatures of around 30-33°C and night-time temperatures are around 17°C. And just when you thought that Capetonians had no concept of what cold weather really means.
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| Weather Warning issued 7 July 2015 |
For example, this weather warning was issued just after we left Australia, for the extreme cold weather. Why? Because the temperature dropped to below 30°C.
The third thing that you need to know is more applicable to the whole of Australia, rather than just the Northern Territory - and that is there incessant habit of speaking in abbreviated words and slang.
Here is a handy table for you:
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aggro
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aggressive
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arvo
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afternoon
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Aussie
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Australia
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barbie
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barbecue
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bickie
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biscuit
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blowie
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blowfly
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Brissie
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Brisbane
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budgie
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budgerigar
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Bundy
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Bundaberg, QLD
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cardie
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cardigan
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chewie
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chewing gum
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Chrissy
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Christmas
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ciggie
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cigarette
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cockie
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cockatoo
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cockie
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cockroach
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coldie
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cold beer
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comfy
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comfortable
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compo
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workers'
compensation
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conchie
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conscientious
objector
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cossie
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swimming costume
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cuppa
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cup of tea
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deli
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delicatessen
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dero
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derelict person,
vagrant
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footy
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football
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garbo
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garbage collector
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hollies
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holidays
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hottie
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hot water bottle
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journo
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journalism
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kindy
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kindergarten
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lippie
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lipstick
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maggie
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magpie
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mossie
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mosquito
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mushie
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mushroom
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on ya
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good on you
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pokie
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poker machine
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pollie
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politician
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postie
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postman
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preggers
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pregnant
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pressie
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present
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rego
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registration (of a vehicle)
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rellie
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relative
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sammie
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sandwich
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sickie
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sick leave
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sunnies
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sunglasses
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swaggie
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swagman
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Tassie
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Tasmania
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umpie
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umpire
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wellies
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wellington boots, gumboots
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The fourth thing, that you need to know about the Northern Territory, is that everything wants to kill you. Spiders, snakes, bugs, box jellyfish and, of course, crocodiles.
And that, in a nutshell, is everything that you need to know about Northern Territory and Australia.
Here are a few additional things: The people are super friendly, the food portions are huge and there are loads of free facilities to use everywhere. Also, it is entirely possible to live off the things that they throw away: from cars left abandoned on the side of the road, to fully functional furniture left at the dump, etc.
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| Nitnit at the visitor centre |
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