Kakadu > About NT > Nature

Flora

Nature is the one of Northern Territory’s greatest assets and the region is home to some of Australia's most extraordinary plants and wildlife.

The Northern Territory has a diverse climate, ranging from tropical monsoon to desert, which supports an intriguing range of more than 4000 native plant species. There are the grasslands and shrubs of the deserts, and the eucalypts of the north. Woodlands and scrublands dominated by Acacia species (including mulga, gidgee and lancewood) are found across the NT. Among these vast landscapes, there are smaller areas of rainforest, mangroves, heathlands, swamps and paperbark forests. In Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park there are more than 416 species of native plants. An intimate knowledge of the diverse range of flora and fauna is vital to support life in the remote areas and Aboriginal people have sourced food and medicines from the landscape for more than 30.000 years.

Fauna

The Northern Territory supports a wide diversity of native animals including birds, insects, reptiles, marsupials and mammals. Six out of the seven species of marine turtles found in the world are found in Territory waters. They are the Green, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Leatherback, Flat Back and Loggerhead turtles and all six are listed as threatened. But crocodiles are undoubtedly the most fascinating animal in the Northern Territory. There is almost a one to one ratio of crocs to humans in the north, so you’re sure to come across them in Territory waterways.

In addition to the native animals, the region supports a large number of exotic animals, including horses, donkeys and camels, as well as aquatic and marine animals. Cobourg Marine Park, on the Cobourg Peninsula in Arnhem Land, has 250 recorded fish species alone.

National Parks and Nature Reserves

The Northern Territory has two World Heritage-listed National Parks: Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. There are a further 22 national parks in the region, including Nitmiluk National Park (home to Katherine Gorge), Litchfield National Park, West MacDonnell National Park and Gregory National Park.

In addition to 24 national parks, the Northern Territory has 73 nature reserves, conservation areas, historical reserves and nature parks. These include Berry Springs Nature Reserve, Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve, Tennant Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve and Territory Wildlife Park.