Introduction
Northern Territory (NT) parks and reserves make ideal classrooms for a day trip or overnight camping.
Learning resources and nature notes
Teachers and students can discover the outdoors with downloadable resources including worksheets, activity sheets and colouring-in sheets about the NT's animals, fish, insects, plants and natural environment.
You will also find editions of the junior ranger review magazine.
You can also access past editions of the junior rangers review on the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security website.
For crocodile safety, read more about Be Crocwise learning materials and talks.
Amphibians
Amphibians are cold-blooded, smooth-skinned animals with backbones. Most live some of their life in water and some on land.
Frogs
You'll find frogs even in the hardest desert regions of the Northern Territory (NT). Learn about our local native species of frogs PDF (372.3 KB).
NT wetlands wouldn't be the same without frogs. Across Australia they are disappearing.
Read more about frogs in peril PDF (217.5 KB).
Cane toads
Australia does not have any native toads. Cane toads were brought to Queensland in 1935 and are a threat to native wildlife.
Read more about cane toads PDF (322.8 KB). You can also get the poster PDF (317.3 KB).
More information
Find out more about amphibians and reptiles PDF (134.7 KB).
Birds
Birds are warm-blooded, egg-laying animals with a backbone.
Bird tracks
It's hard to identify birds from their tracks because they all have similar feet.
Read how to identify bird tracks. PDF (359.9 KB)
Bowerbirds
In the NT, bowerbirds begin breeding in August and September, before this, the male has to build a great and attractive bower or shelter.
Read about bowerbirds. PDF (621.0 KB)
Bustards
The Australian bustard is also known as the kori bustard or the bush or plains turkey.
Read about bustards. PDF (325.6 KB)
Ducks
Read about ducks PDF (458.6 KB) that are common in the NT.
Finches
Finches are small birds with short, sharp beaks for cracking the seeds on which they feed.
Read about finches. PDF (464.4 KB)
Gouldian finches
You are not likely to forget the beauty of a gouldian finch. They are spectacularlycolourful birds but their population is in decline.
Read about gouldian finches. PDF (272.9 KB)
Honeyeaters
Honeyeaters are common in Australia, and are often loud, bold and aggressive towards other birds.
Read about honeyeaters. PDF (371.5 KB)
Ibis
Ibises are strange looking waterbirds found all over Australia. They have a caring nature and a reputation for being a nuisance.
Read about ibises. PDF (484.9 KB)
Magpie geese
Magpie geese are often found in large noisy flocks in wetlands.
Read about magpie geese. PDF (379.3 KB)
Magpie lark
The magpie lark may be Australia's most common and widespread bird.
Read about magpie larks. PDF (414.5 KB)
Nests
Bird nests come in all shapes and sizes.
Read about nests. PDF (513.1 KB)
Owls
As night falls across the NT nocturnal owls emerge to hunt.
Read about owls. PDF (912.2 KB)
Pied imperial pigeon
The pied imperial pigeon is native to the NT.
Read about pied imperial pigeons. PDF (301.8 KB)
Rainbow bee-eaters
Rainbow bee-eaters are colourful birds known for their graceful flight, twisting and turning in the air catching insects.
Read about rainbow bee-eaters. PDF (357.5 KB)
Useful bird books
Read a summary of useful bird books. PDF (119.5 KB)
Australian birds
Keep up to date with Australian bird news, articles and information by going to the Birdlife Australia website.
Birds in backyards
Read about a research, education and conservation programs on birds that live where people live by going to the Birds in Backyards website.
Birdata
Read about Birdlife Australia birdata and the atlas of Australian birds at the Birdata website.
Fish
Fish live and breathe under water. Fish are cold-blooded animals with a backbone that have scales, gills, fins and a streamlined body.
Archer fish
Archer fish are named for their remarkable hunting ability.
In Australia there are four species, three in the Top End.
Read about archer fish. PDF (224.2 KB)
Barramundi
Barramundi are famous for fighting hard when hooked on a fishing line.
They can grow very large, weighing over 40kg.
Read more about barramundi. PDF (302.4 KB)
You can also go to the barramundi page for more information.
Finke goby
Finke goby are only found in the Finke River system in the southern part of the NT.
Read more about finke goby. PDF (238.4 KB)
Native fish Australia
Go to the Native Fish Australia website for information about fish species.
Other fish in the NT
See a list of fish that can be caught in coastal waters.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates are all animals that do not have a backbone.
Ant-lions
Cone-shaped pits are commonly seen in sandy soil throughout the NT. These traps are made by an unusual predator called the ant-lion.
Read about ant-lions. PDF (410.3 KB)
Cockroaches
Not all cockroaches are pests, there are native ones too.
Read about cockroaches. PDF (332.5 KB)
Grasshoppers
Australia has hundreds of different species of grasshoppers that come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
Read about grasshoppers. PDF (414.6 KB)
Green ants
Green ants are common in the trees of northern Australia.
This aggressive insect is one of natures most skillful builders.
Read about green ants. PDF (402.6 KB)
Hermit crabs
Hermit crabs are unusual because they use sea snail shells for their homes - the ultimate recyclers.
Read about hermit crabs. PDF (414.4 KB)
Mouse spiders
At least two species of mouse spiders are found in the NT and they can grow to the size of a 50 cent coin.
Read about mouse spiders. PDF (404.9 KB)
Termites
Sometimes condemned as pests, termites are hard workers that are vital to the Australian bush.
Read more about:
More about invertebrates
Read information about invertebrate books PDF (148.3 KB) and spiders.
Mammals
Mammals are animals that have a backbone and a well-developed brain protected by a skull.
They have a four-chambered heart that pumps warm blood around the body.
All have hair or fur and four limbs which may be adapted for swimming or flying.
Almost all of them start life inside their mothers, are born alive and drink milk from their mother's bodies.
There are exceptions - three types of mammals called monotremes that lay eggs instead of having live babies.
Agile wallaby
The agile wallaby is the Top End's most common wallaby.
Read about agile wallabies. PDF (310.3 KB)
Bats
There are more than 35 species of bats in the NT.
Read about bats. PDF (472.4 KB)
Burrowing bettong
Burrowing bettongs were once common animals in the dry parts of Australia but they have mostly disappeared.
Read about burrowing bettongs. PDF (327.7 KB)
Central rock rat
The central rock rat is an extremely rare rodent. It was thought to be extinct until 1997 when a population was found in the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Read about the central rock rat. PDF (691.3 KB)
Dingo
The dingo has a very good sense of smell and hearing, combined with superb night vision make the dingo a great hunter.
Read about the dingo. PDF (332.5 KB)
Flying foxes
The largest species of bat in the NT is the flying fox.
Read about the flying fox. PDF (401.2 KB)
Hare-wallaby (mala)
The rufous hare-wallaby or mala was once common throughout the spinifex plains and sand dunes of Central and Western Australia but it is on the edge of extinction.
Read about the hare-wallaby PDF (404.6 KB) and how to save the mala. PDF (631.5 KB)
Kangaroos and wallabies
Find out more about marsupials such as kangaroos and wallabies.
Read about kangaroos and wallabies. PDF (430.1 KB)
Possums
Possums are common in southern cities and in some spots around the NT.
Read about possums. PDF (545.7 KB)
Quolls
Two of Australia's four species of quoll used to be found in the NT, but now the Western quoll and the Northern quoll are very rare.
Read about quolls. PDF (410.7 KB)
Water mouse
It was over 100 years ago that scientists first found a water mouse in the NT.
Read about the water mouse. PDF (435.9 KB)
More about mammals
See a list of books to find out more about mammals. PDF (151.1 KB)
Reptiles
Reptiles are any air breathing, dry, scaly-skinned animal with a backbone that relies on its surroundings for warmth.
They are often called cold-blooded.
Bandy bandy
Bandy bandys are fascinating black and white banded snakes that live in most parts of Australia.
Read about bandy bandys PDF (507.8 KB) and snakes in the NT.
Crocodiles
Saltwater crocodiles are dangerous animals that live in Top End waters.
They are known as ambush predators because the often sneak up and surprise their prey.
Read about crocodiles PDF (935.8 KB) and how to stay safe in areas where crocodiles live.
Dragons
The word dragon makes people think of fire-breathing monsters, but the NT dragons are a fairly harmless bunch.
Read about NT dragons. PDF (353.5 KB)
Frilled lizards
The frilled lizard is the largest of Australia's dragons.
It makes a spectacular display in an attempt to look bigger, more ferocious and fearsome.
Read about the frilled lizard. PDF (1.1 MB)
More about amphibians and reptiles
Find out about books that will tell you more about amphibians and reptiles. PDF (156.9 KB)
Plants
Plants are living things and cannot move by themselves.
They include trees, flowers, herbs, ferns and mosses.
They usually contain chlorophyll and can photosynthesise.
Wattle
Acacia species or wattles usually need the smoke or heat from a fire to germinate their seeds.
Read about wattles PDF (433.4 KB).
Cycads
Cycads are the oldest living group of seed producing plants in the world and were around long before the dinosaurs.
Read about cycads PDF (494.6 KB).
You can also go to the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney website to read a database developed from the world list of cycads with a page for every known cycad.
Long grasses
During the wet season, tall stands of green grass grow in the tropical woodlands of Northern Australia.
Read about grass PDF (379.4 KB).
Mistletoe
Mistletoes are parasitic plants that grow on the branches or other trees and shrubs.
Read about mistletoe PDF (411.1 KB).
Monsoon forests
Unlike Queensland, the NT doesn't have large areas of moist rainforest that receive rain all year round, but patches of monsoon forest are scattered across the Top End.
Read about monsoon forest PDF (834.3 KB).
Native cherry
The broad-leaved native cherry of the Top End begins its life as a parasite.
Read about native cherry PDF (554.1 KB).
Pandanus
Pandanus look like palm trees, are a well-known symbol of the NT, and have many uses.
Read about pandanus PDF (679.6 KB).
River red gums
Gum trees are an Australian symbol and the most widespread gum is the river red gum, growing in all states except Tasmania.
Read about river red gum PDF (493.3 KB).
Witchetty bush
The witchetty bush lives in arid Central Australia and has some great adaptations for conserving water and living in the desert.
Read about witchetty bush PDF (590.5 KB).
Mangroves
Mangroves are trees that live in coastal areas that are covered by the tide every day.
Find information on mangroves and an education on mangroves PDF (4.8 MB).
The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
Find out more about plants of all kinds on display at the gardens.
Australia National Botanic Gardens
The Australian National Botanic Gardens website has botanical resources and information on current research.
Useful plant books
See a list of books PDF (154.8 KB) that will tell you more about the amazing world of plants.
Discover the outdoors
You can discover the outdoors with these worksheets, activity sheets and colouring-in sheets.
Build a nest box
Read about building a nest box PDF (904.1 KB) in your backyard for a native animal.
Grow plants without seeds
Some native plants can be grown without seeds, PDF (251.5 KB) so find out which ones and have a go at growing them.
Seeing in stereo
Did you know that humans have stereo vision PDF (423.9 KB)? Learn more about how your eyes and other animal eyes work with this simple experiment.
Tie knots
Learn how to tie all sorts of knots PDF (368.1 KB), an important skill when you're out in the bush.
Birdwatching
Learn about the wide world of birdwatching. PDF (308.4 KB)
Portable homes
Learn which shells PDF (564.4 KB) belong to which animals and how they are made.
Bird colouring-in sheets
All of the following are colouring-in sheets you can use to learn more about birds in the NT:
- Australian ringneck PDF (245.6 KB)
- blue-faced honeyeater PDF (290.2 KB)
- crimson chat PDF (360.1 KB)
- emu PDF (313.8 KB)
- galah PDF (233.9 KB)
- Gouldian finch PDF (333.2 KB)
- magpie goose PDF (262.5 KB)
- mistletoe bird PDF (291.2 KB)
- rainbow bee-eater PDF (178.9 KB)
- rainbow lorikeet PDF (107.8 KB)
- red-backed kingfisher PDF (175.5 KB)
- red-winged parrot PDF (209.9 KB)
- wedge-tailed eagle PDF (206.7 KB)
- white-winged fairy wren PDF (399.3 KB)
Foreign invaders
Foreign invaders are introduced animals or plants that have established in the wild in Australia.
They can alter nature, causing harm to native animals and plants.
Cabomba
Cabomba caroliniana is one of Australia's worst waterborne weeds.
If it becomes established in Top End waterways, it will have a large negative impact.
Read about cabomba PDF (361.4 KB).
Learn more about cabomba and what is being done to control it.
Cane toads
Australia does not have any native toads. In 1935, cane toads were brought from overseas to Queensland.
Read about cane toads PDF (322.8 KB).
Learn more about what you can do to help control cane toads.
Pigs
Feral pigs are some of the NT's most unwanted guests.
Read about pigs PDF (623.5 KB).
You can also find out about feral pigs in the NT.
Read more
Find information about feral animals, weeds and other pests in the NT.
School talks and trips
Parks community engagement officers can give nature-based talks at your school or join you on your school trip to a park or reserve.
To request a booking, fill in a school activity request form PDF (162.8 KB) and return it by email or mail to a community engagement officer near you.
An officer will contact you to discuss your request.
To book a free talk on crocodile safety, read Be Crocwise learning materials and talks.
Learning in parks
Your school group can use an NT park as an outdoor classroom for a day excursion or overnight camp.
All of the parks listed below have camping facilities for school and university groups.
For more information contact the ranger station at the park.
Territory Wildlife Park
Camp Woollybutt provides schools and community groups with a learning environment where students immerse themselves in natural habitats and interact with living creatures.
Located near the Main Station, Camp Woollybutt offers a ablution block with hot showers, a bush tucker garden and a large lawn camp ground with fire pit.
To find out more and to book, go to the Territory Wildlife Park website.
Trephina Gorge National Park
Schools, youth groups and other community organisations can use the Gorge campground in Trephina Gorge National Park.
The campground is not for exclusive use by groups, but is suitable for larger groups.
To check availability and make a booking, go to park bookings.
Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park
Schools, youth groups and other community organisations can use the Simpsons Gap school campground in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park near Alice Springs.
To find out more, get the Simpsons Gap school campground information sheet PDF (835.9 KB).
To check availability and make a booking, go to park bookings.
Ormiston Gorge has a separate campground suitable for larger groups. To book, contact the kiosk on 0421 389 567.
Litchfield National Park
School groups can use the environmental education camp at Litchfield National Park near Darwin.
To find out more, get the environmental campground information sheet PDF (852.2 KB).
To check availability and make a booking, go to park bookings.
Nitmiluk National Park
Schools, youth groups and other community organisations can use the Nitmiluk commercial campground in Nitmiluk National Park near Katherine.
To find out more, go to the Nitmuluk Tours website.
Alice Springs Telegraph Station
Alice on the Line is a heritage education program for primary aged students in the NT. This program is located at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
Overnight stays in the Heritage Precinct as part of the program require a permit and are preferred on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
For more information about this program, email communityengagementpw@nt.gov.au or call the Alice Springs Telegraph Station on 08 8951 1013 and request a copy of the teachers' handbook.
Excursion guides
Use these guides to plan your next school trip.
Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park
Excursion guide - Ormiston Gorge - Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park PDF (6.7 MB)
Excursion guide - Ormiston Gorge - Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park DOCX (5.9 MB)
Excursion guide - Simpsons Gap - Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park PDF (6.3 MB)
Excursion guide - Simpsons Gap - Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park DOCX (5.4 MB)
Excursion guide - Simpsons Gap bike path - Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park PDF (3.0 MB)
Excursion guide - Simpsons Gap bike path - Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park DOCX (2.8 MB)