Floating down Northern Territory’s magical Daly River
Anne Sinclair, 68, was born in England but spent most of her youth in Darwin, Northern Territory. Now in a position to travel and explore the world, Anne looks forward to sharing her personal experience and encourages others to step out and have fun.
The Daly River is absolutely renowned for its large Barramundi and is one of the Top End’s most popular waterways, for recreational fishing and boating.
It is not too long after the wet season has directed the many feeder rivers to pour and flood into the Daly – that, this magic starts to happen. This Daly River has tidal influence which amazingly sees the introduction of both freshwater, and saltwater crocodiles.
For me, there can never be enough warning signs about the potential harm if these animals are not respected, in their natural habitat. You just need to be responsible and vigilant!
The ‘Barra Classic’ and the ‘Barra Nationals’ are two major fishing competitions held each year – encouraging competition fishing on the Daly River. Fishing Charters and Boat Hire are readily available at parks and resorts positioned on this riverbank. The area is also known for its scenic surrounds, and diverse wildlife. The bird life includes kingfishers, sea eagles, brahminy kite, whistling kite and all manner of ducks. Millions of migratory birds visit here each year. So picturesque - as the freshwater mangrove and paper bark trees stand side by side with Pandanus palms – growing on the river banks; as Pandanus like to populate in the damp soils.
Organised tours invite you to visit the Ngangikurrunggurr people – a small community famous for their weaving. The tours are available to visit Peppinmentari Art where you may shop for artefacts and souvenirs, and learn more of this traditional culture.
The wider area is referred to as the Douglas Daly Region. Some places of interest and beauty include the Butterfly Gorge Nature Park. These mineral pools are shaded by paperbark trees up to fifty metres tall. Robin Falls is another beauty! Just off the Stuart Highway near Adelaide River Township, the Falls are easily reached by a short walk through scenic bush surrounds. A wide variety of flora and fauna unique to the Top End and this Daly region, offers fantastic viewing – in support of Robin Falls cascading waters.
Copper was first discovered in the Daly River area in 1882/3, with mining going on periodically over the next twenty six years. The machinery relics are still at the site today. The machinery is indicative of the early mining technology of the late 19th century. This site also embraces the graves of four deceased mine employees, with a little of their story. There is an amazing mine cavity still facing the sky and sunlight, remnants of the Northern Territory’s first commercial copper mining enterprise; and a little care should be taken if you like to get some of those really close photo opportunities.
There are Hot Mineral Springs and their Caravan Parks dotted throughout this region. The Douglas Daly region, also has cool crevice and spring waterholes too - offering a chance for a refreshing swim, if cool water is what you might prefer.
There are Jesuit Ruins (recorded as being established in 1890’s {Peter Forrest – The Spirit of the Daly}) remains on the Daly River Mango Farm, which is located along the Daly River. This is one of the earliest examples of European settlement in the Top End. The ruins are accessed via a two kilometre scenic bush track. White settlement of the Daly dates back to the 1880’s.
The Mission Church is still used at the Nauiyu Aboriginal Community which began as a Catholic Mission in the mid 1950’s. Nauiyu Community have postal, eftpos, workshop and health clinic facilities. The town also includes a child care centre, community school and local airstrip.
The camping and accommodation facilities dotted along the Daly River banks are modern, clean, also quite varied; and most roads are sealed.
But, it all began much earlier. Peter Forrest – The Spirit of The Daly – writes of the beginnings of pastoral and mining settlement here. He submits that ‘ it is possible the first Europeans to pass near the Daly River region were Abel Tasman and his crew, who in 1644 sailed into or past Anson Bay during their voyage along the north coasts of Australia’.
John McDouall Stuart then made a successful crossing from south to north, in 1862. Stuart’s amazing contribution made it possible for South Australia to not only have the vision but compounded their knowledge for advancements in Australia, creating our history. Through continued discovery it was soon realised the lands supporting the Daly River, were lush and fertile – the transportation of goods via the Daly River however, was not considered as suitable.
While this amazing area of the Daly River has seen the copper mining industry come and go; cattle by pastoralists come and go; white and Chinese mining and farming activity come and go; floods come and go; tobacco farming come and go; peanuts farming come and go; worthy settlers have come and made their marks…one could wonder what form of challenges and enjoyment of barra fishing had taken place during this auspicious time.
The Daly a beautiful place, just oozing history. Just oozing barramundi fishing opportunity – you just have to make sure you have the right spot on the Daly River, the right day and time, the right bait or lures – and away you go! Bucket list material! Everything is in your favour….come and make your mark - fish the Daly River when next in the Top End. We will be expecting you…
Have you ever been to this beautiful part of the world?
Image credits: Anne Sinclair