Rock star Top End travel tips

Award-winning songwriter Ben Evolent (Josh Tarca) lives up to his namesake. The Northern Territory folk/reggae/blues artist fills his songs with a healthy dose of raw emotion, relatable truths, loveable melodies and lively hooks. Here are the Darwinite’s Top End tips…

Where are your favourite hangout spots in the NT?

Living in the northern suburbs, I frequent Casuarina Beach, Dripstone Cliffs and take the beautiful ride down the foreshore. There are so many beautiful spots to pull up and watch the ocean, storms or a sun setting.

Casuarina Coastal Reserve sunset clouds Darwin — Casuarina Coastal Reserve

Casuarina Coastal Reserve in Darwin sunset over sea — Casuarina Coastal Reserve

Where do you recommend for the best live music?

There are a diverse range of music venues in Darwin but some of my favourites to play and spectate are; The Railway Club and The Chippo for catching touring bands of all genres, Happy Yess for the live fresh and local Darwin music scene and on a cheeky Sunday with the setting sun Cafe de la Plage. But that is to only name a few.

Ben Evolent infront of graffiti wall in Darwin — Ben Evolent (Josh Tarca)

Cafe de la Plage in Darwin — Café de la Plage, Darwin

How has the NT influenced your music?

I’ve had the chance to see a lot in the Top End of the NT as both a tour guide in Kakadu and a music teacher out on the Tiwi and Goulburn Islands. The changing landscapes, cultures, people, weather and various circumstances one finds himself in, collectively have formed the roots of my song writing. It’s hard not to be shaped by the NT.

Ben Evolent performing for friends on the Tiwi Islands Clearwater Island Lodge — Ben Evolent (Josh Tarca) performing for friends at Clearwater Island Lodge, Tiwi Islands

Ben Evolent performing at Darwin festival — Ben Evolent (Josh Tarca) performing in Darwin

What are the top 3 things you’d recommend every traveller do when they come to the NT?

1. Kakadu – is a must with its extensive wildlife, years of continued culture and epic rock art and its six distinctive landscapes.

2. NT field guide – get the NT field guide app and get out and about and see what you can find. From the George Brown Botanic Gardens in Darwin to Umbrawarra Gorge and beyond. Wildlife in the Territory is so diverse and it’s always good to know what you’re looking at.

3. Swimming – the waterholes are the way to go. Litchfield National Park, Berry Springs and Edith Falls just to name a few. Best to grab a snorkel and see what you can find.

Spectacular view of rugged cliffs seen at Kakadu National Park while on a scenic flight — Take a scenic flight in Kakadu National Park.

Ben Evolent performing in Darwin — Ben Evolent (Josh Tarca) performing in Darwin

Woman floating at Florence Falls Litchfield National Park — Florence Falls, Litchfield National Park.

Keep exploring

Location Scouts: Nature’s Way

Many tourists have looked out across the Northern Territory’s awe-inspiring landscapes and joked: “I wouldn’t be surprised if a dinosaur suddenly appeared on the horizon”.

Top End Aboriginal culture experiences

Become fully immersed in the world’s oldest living culture in the Top End. Explore Litchfield National Park with an Aboriginal guide who grew up with the park as her backyard. Admire ancient rock art in Kakadu, camp on the Tiwi Islands or cruise through Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge.

Top 10 places to photograph in the Top End

Canon Ambassador and photographer Katie Goldie journals her favourite places to shoot in the Top End after a week travelling around the Top End.

Top End: Best Aboriginal cultural festivals

The Aboriginal experiences on Country and the vibrant forms of artistic expression are constantly evolving in the Northern Territory. There are so many different cultural events to engage with while learning more about the diverse Aboriginal cultures on Northern Territory’s Top End.