get an array of all categories with details in Magento

new_gist_file.php

<?php
$categories = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->getCollection()
->addAttributeToSelect('id')
->addAttributeToSelect('name')
->addAttributeToSelect('url_key')
->addAttributeToSelect('url')
->addAttributeToFilter('level',2)
->addAttributeToSelect('is_active');

foreach ($categories as $category)
{
    if ($category->getIsActive()) { // Only pull Active categories
        $entity_id = $category->getId();
        $name = $category->getName();
        $url_key = $category->getUrlKey();
        $url_path = $category->getUrl();
    }
}

//OR

$category = Mage::getModel('catalog/category');
$tree = $category->getTreeModel();
$tree->load();
$ids = $tree->getCollection()->getAllIds();
if ($ids){
    foreach ($ids as $id){
        $cat = Mage::getModel('catalog/category');
        $cat->load($id);

        $entity_id = $cat->getId();
        $name = $cat->getName();
        $url_key = $cat->getUrlKey();
        $url_path = $cat->getUrlPath();
    }
}
?>