Noonamah is 44 kilometres from Darwin city and is to be found along the Stuart Highway.

The town developed during World War II as a result of the RAAF building an army field depot to service the number of airstrips that has been built in the area. The location was ideal, as there were existing roads and a railway line in place to Noonamah, and only the basic army settlement structures needed to be built. However, The settlement was also seen as a prime target for the Japanese, and an air raid by enemy bombers one night managed to destroy a great deal of the area.

Today, Noonamah offers basic tourist facilities - a hotel with a beer garden and entertainment, a restaurant, a general store, fuel and a post office.



One of the major features here is the crocodile farm. The farm is a leisurely drive some forty kilometres south of Darwin on the Stuart Highway. You will get to see crocodiles being fed, safely from behind a wire mesh fence - after all you don't want to be their dessert!

There are an amazing 8000 crocodiles at the farm, and one of them, Goliath, at 5.2 meters, is the largest crocodile on display in the Northern Territory. Many of the animals have been relocated to the farm from some of Darwin's local rivers and waterways where they have posed a threat to human life or have generally been a nuisance. It is these crocodiles that have created the nucleus from which the farm has grown.

Eggs which are laid are removed from the nest and artificially incubated. When hatched, they are transferred to a nursery area where they are carefully monitored in a controlled environment. Then, from the nursery they progress through the different stages of the farm.

Farm raised crocodile meat is prepared for the visitor's taste buds in the form of crocodile burgers, crumbed legs and croquettes. There is also a selection of crocodile leather products available at the gift shop.

A guided tour of the tourist facility takes place on the hour every day, when an experienced guide will inform you of how it all began, sharing with you information and facts about the various animals you will see. It is a responsibility the farm has taken on, in making people aware of the dangers of crocodiles and how we can safely learn to live with them in the Northern Territory.

At 2 pm every day the 'big feed' takes place and a guided tour takes place immediately after this.

At noon on the weekend and on public holidays, there is an extra feeding session.

'The twilight tour and BBQ tea' is also an offer the farm makes to visitors. It takes place from 6.30 pm to 9 pm. and bookings are essential. The farm is forty kilometres out of Darwin on the Stuart Highway, tel. (089) 88 1491.

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