The Barkly Tableland
From the Heartbreak Hotel at Cape Craford, the trip can start south.
Barkly Tableland is a plateau, that extends across the North Eastern Northern Territory into Queensland. Cattle raising is the chief industry and some of the worlds largest cattle ranches are located in this area. The Barkly Tableland enjoys a Savanna type climate. Barkly Tableland is described as a vast land of cattle stations and bush to the east of the Stuart Highway that bisects the Northern Territory from north to south.
The road leads you through blacksoil country with only very few vegetation. Cattle is the most seen wildlife. But sometimes some Emus may cross your way.

Ruins, waterpumps and some Sturt's Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum) can be seen along the road. This flower was proclaimed floral emblem of the Northern Territory by the Commonwealth Government.

During the day on the bitumen roads there are often seen some Gilbert's Water dragons (Lophognatus gilberti), during the night Legless Lizards (Delma tincta) and Spiny Tailed Geckoes (Diplodactylus ciliaris) are roaming around.
Turning some rocks beside the roads, you might come across another species of Legless Lizards (Delma tincta).
Also lots of Earless Dragons (Tympanocryptis cephalus) are seen on those rocks.
Between the Spinifex bushes you can have a look for other reptile species. You may find the
Centralian Blue Tongue (Tiliqua multifasciata) and Ridge-Tailed Monitors (Varanus acanthurus).
If you are more interested in snakes, just have a look around just after sunset. Sometimes you can spot a Black-Headed Python (Aspidites melanocephala), crawling across the bitumen. Also some venomous snakes are around. Pseudonaja nuchalis (left) and Pseudonaja ingrami (right).
During daytime several Sand Monitors
(Varanus gouldii flavirufus) are around.


The Barkly Homested is a perfect spot in the middle of the Barkly Tableland,
where you can take some cold drinks
and good food.
If you are lucky, you can spot a
Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus)
crossing the road.
In the more remote areas, where the black soil is dominant,
Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps, left, Pogona henrylawsoni, right) are roaming around.
The highlight on the Barkly Tableland was the spotting of some Spencer's Monitors (Varanus spenceri) above.
We also saw some very huge Argus Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes) below.
One was feeding on a road-killed Mulga Snake (Pseudechis australis)
But most of the time, when you are travelling along the Barkly Tableland, you will see cattle and from time to time some kangaroos.
If there are some trees around, there is a possibility to spot a Black-Headed Monitor (Varanus tristis tristis), and when you are looking around, you might get observed by an Argus Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes).