Top End & Gulf Atlas & Guide – Hema Maps (1st Edition)

The ultimate guide to exploring Australia’s far north – from the tropical coastlines to the red earth of the Gulf and beyond.

The Top End & Gulf Atlas & Guide, Hema’s first dedicated publication for this remarkable region, is a richly detailed, full-colour 232-page spiral-bound atlas that brings together road atlas navigation, 4WD touring insight, and local cultural knowledge. Whether you’re heading from Darwin to Nhulunbuy or traversing Limmen National Park, this guide is designed to take you far off the beaten track with total confidence.

Meticulously researched by Hema’s Map Patrol field team and authored by seasoned travel writer Chris Whitelaw, the guide delves into the natural and human histories of this vast part of Australia while offering turn-by-turn information on 4WD adventures, camping, outback services, and Indigenous culture.

🧭 Regional Coverage

This atlas explores a region that is equal parts remote, beautiful, and deeply significant. It includes:

• Darwin and surrounds

• Kakadu, Litchfield, and Nitmiluk National Parks

• Arnhem Land and the Cobourg Peninsula (with permit information and access notes)

• Tiwi Islands

• Limmen, Gregory (Judbarra), and Keep River National Parks

• Barkly Tableland and the Gulf Country of Queensland

• Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park and surrounds

The Top End is tropical, wild, and steeped in Indigenous culture. The Gulf is remote, often inaccessible in the wet season, and home to some of Australia’s most stunning hidden gems. This guide shows you how to access, enjoy, and respect both.

🚙 4WD Adventure Features

Five key 4WD adventure tracks are featured with detailed route notes and track conditions, including:

1. Cobourg Peninsula (West Arnhem Land)

2. Hardies & Wildman River

3. Judbarra / Gregory National Park

4. Limmen National Park

5. Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park

For each track, you’ll find:

• Vehicle suitability (2WD/4WD)

• Track difficulty ratings

• Elevation profiles

• Distance markers and estimated driving times

• Campsites, fuel stops, rest areas, and supplies

• Permit requirements, contacts, and safety warnings

• Local landmarks, waterfalls, lookouts, and rock art sites

Each route includes overview maps, local information, and traveller tips based on Hema’s GPS-logged data and field notes.

📘 Guidebook & Atlas Features

• 232 full-colour pages, richly illustrated with photos, maps, and regional descriptions

• Author: Chris Whitelaw – known for his deep knowledge of Indigenous history and regional storytelling

• 24 inset maps of key areas, towns, and parks

• 8 overview maps for 4WD route planning and navigation

• 2 key regional locator maps inside front cover and atlas section

• Visitor information: accredited centres and services listed by region

• Aboriginal culture highlights, language group references, and heritage site information

• Wildlife and conservation area overviews

Whether you're a first-time outback explorer or a seasoned remote-area traveller, this book equips you with essential context, safety info, and route planning.

🖨️ Specifications

• Edition: 1st

• Publication Date: October 2024

• Format: Spiral-bound (clear cover)

• Page Size: 297 mm x 215 mm (A4 landscape)

• Binding: Wire spiral along long edge

• Weight: 955 grams

• Scale of Main Maps: 1:1,250,000

• Publisher: Hema Maps

• Printed in: Australia

🎯 Who Is This For?

• 4WD and overland travellers seeking routes across remote Northern Australia

• Grey nomads and caravanners looking for adventure with services and access notes

• Nature lovers and photographers heading to the Territory’s most photogenic landscapes

• Cultural travellers wanting to learn more about Aboriginal land, lore, and language

• Educators, tour operators, and regional planners who need visual, contextual insight into this under-explored region

✅ Why Choose This Guide?

• Combines a traditional road atlas with rich editorial content

• Backed by Hema’s extensive GPS and field research

• Offers both macro regional overviews and detailed local tracks

• Readable, portable, and made for real-world travel use

• Supports cultural awareness and respectful travel in Indigenous lands

Explore further. Travel smarter. Respect deeper.
The Top End & Gulf Atlas & Guide by Hema isn’t just a navigation tool — it’s a journey into the cultural, ecological, and geographical heart of Australia’s far north. Whether you’re travelling the Savannah Way or heading out to the edge of Arnhem Land, this is your all-in-one field guide for the adventure of a lifetime.

The Top End & Gulf Hema Map 7th edition is the complimentary map to the guide.