Australia's Northern Territory (NT) is home to diverse landscapes, ancient culture and colorful characters. Perhaps when you think of the Australian outback the first image of a colorful character that comes to mind is Crocodile Dundee. If so, then the 303 Bar at the Adelaide River Inn is one of the must visit places along the route to the "Top End". There you can pose with "Charlie the Buffalo" from the 1986 movie Crocodile Dundee. Charlie died in 2000 but not before being made famous by Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) who hypnotized the buffalo to the ground. Paul Hogan also played Crocodile Dundee in two later movies. These movies included a sequel Crocodile Dundee II (1988) and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001).
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| Charlie the Buffalo, 303 Bar © Spaswinefood |
The original movie was inspired by the story of Rodney William Ansell who made headlines around the world in 1977. Ansell survived for 56 days in a remote part of the Northern Territory. Despite Ansell's survival in the remote Australian bush however, he was later killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers in 1999.
Katherine to Adelaide River
From Katherine we took the Stuart Highway northwards to Darwin. When we reached Pine Creek we took the western loop because we planned to do the eastern loop on return south.
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Pine Creek Exit © Spaswinefood
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| Two Routes to Adelaide River, Northern Territory © Spaswinefood |
67 km later we arrived in Adelaide River, via the scenic route of course. Adelaide River is 122 km SE of Darwin. Adelaide River is where 30,000 soldiers were stationed during WWII. It is also where you will find the preserved remains of Charlie the Buffalo from the movie Crocodile Dundee.
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| Adelaide River, Northern Territory © Spaswinefood |
The roadside signs in Australia always made for interesting reading. The series of signs welcoming us to the Top End was no exception.
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| Top End, Northern Territory © Spaswinefood |
303 Bar, Adelaide River Inn
Yes, we made a stop at the 303 Bar, Adelaide River Inn to visit Charlie.
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| Adelaide River Inn © Spaswinefood |
Real Crocodile Dundee type characters still do frequent the bar on occasion, along with tourists traveling the Stuart Highway.
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| Memorabilia, 303 Bar © Spaswinefood |
The bar is where you will discover memorabilia, stories on some the locals, plus announcements on upcoming events.
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| Tributes, 303 Bar © Spaswinefood |
It is the perfect bar to order a drink on a hot day, of which there are many such days in the Northern Territory.
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| 303 Bar, Adelaide River © Spaswinefood |
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| 303 Bar, Adelaide River Inn © Spaswinefood |
Travelers stop for pint of beer. If you prefer a glass of wine I am sure it is available.
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| Time for a Beer, 303 Bar © Spaswinefood |
These days everyone like to pose with Charlie or take a selfie. While you are there do not forget to checkout the facts about Charlie.
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Posing with Charlie © Spaswinefood
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| Charlie's Fact File © Spaswinefood |
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Over the years the 303 bar has been the place where Top End tales of murder, movie stars, and unexploded ordnance have been told. There is even a tale about how the bar got its name. No, I do not plan on repeating any of these tales. You will have to check them out yourself.
The Adelaide River Inn provides accommodations and is also home to the Digger's Bistro.
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| Digger's Bistro, Adelaide River Inn © Spaswinefood |
Of course you can reserve a space in the Knitters/Knutters Circle.
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| Knitters/Knutters Circle, Outside 303 Bar © Spaswinefood |
Seeing the Banyan trees at the Adelaide River Inn was a great reminder that we were in the tropics.
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| Banyan Tree, Adelaide River © Spaswinefood |
After checking out the 303 Bar we were off to Batchelor and then onto the Litchfield National Park. We explored the Litchfield National Park before heading north to Darwin.
The 303 Bar was our first introduction NT pub life. Later, as we journeyed south to Central Australia we would visit other NT colorful bars. Clearly, there is so much to do and see in Australia’s Northern Territory. I invite you to join me in my travels in Australia and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
June 2015
Adelaide River, Northern Territory
Australia
© Spaswinefood
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Charlie the Buffalo © Spaswinefood
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Is there another 303 bar? The one I remember had 303 spelt out in .303 shells above the bar.
ReplyDeleteNot that I know about.
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