RV ESCAPES
Crab Claw Island is an authentic Top End escape.
From above, we spotted crocodiles basking along the shoreline, turtles cruising through the shallows and sharks patrolling the clear water below. Watching water spill from the reef on the falling tide was a reminder that some of the Top End ' s most spectacular sights can only truly be appreciated from the air.
Back on the ground, the food deserves special mention. The menu is well considered, and everything I sampled was packed with flavour, but the standout was undoubtedly the Malaysian seafood curry. Rich, fragrant and deeply satisfying, it was the kind of meal that lingers in memory long after the trip itself.
Crab Claw Island is not a destination that demands a packed itinerary. It is a place to disconnect, spend time outdoors and experience a slice of the Northern Territory that remains refreshingly unchanged.
MARY RIVER NATIONAL PARK: HARDIES TRACK
For travellers keen to swap swimming holes and sightseeing for a genuine taste of Top End fourwheel-driving, Hardies Track in Mary River National Park is well worth pointing the bonnet towards.
Accessed just 5km west of Mary River on the Arnhem Highway, the track is only open during the dry season and offers a rewarding mix of challenging terrain and classic floodplain scenery.
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