Out and about in Australia’s Northern Territory

Read on for our top tips for visiting Australia’s Northern Territory, including when to go and what to see and do while you’re there.

What and where is Australia’s Northern Territory?

The Northern Territory covers a vast area of northern and central Australia, from Darwin in the Top End to Uluru in the Red Centre. And while every state in Australia boasts great swathes of ancient, untouched land (sometimes the size of a small country) NT has more than its share. If you want to experience real ‘outback’ Australia this is the place to come, from hearing ancient stories around flickering campfires to exploring sacred sites or perhaps tasting real Aussie bushtucker like kangaroo, wild watermelon or – not for the fainthearted – a witchetty grub.

When’s the best time to go?

Australia spans two climate zones and – being south of the equator – it has opposite seasons to ours in the UK. So heading to Oz in the British winter can reward you with warm sunshine and high temperatures - a tempting prospect when it’s grey and cold at home. If you don’t like it too hot or humid, aim to be in Northern Territory between May and October. You’ll find slightly cooler temperatures in the Red Centre and remember there is a rainy season in the tropical far north from December to April each year. You might feel unlucky to be caught under a cloudburst at Uluru, but the sight of countless silvery waterfalls cascading down its sides, and its flat top shrouded in cloud, is one you won’t easily forget.

What are the Northern Territory’s must-see sights?

From Darwin on the north coast to Alice Springs in the centre, the Northern Territory offers some of Australia’s most iconic and extraordinary sights and experiences. No visit to NT (arguably no visit to Australia) would be complete without seeing Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, in the Red Centre. Although Uluru is spellbinding at any time of day, it is best viewed at sun rise or sun set, as the red sandstone shifts through colours from terracotta red to dusky pinks, deep purples and inky black.

Other must-sees include Kakadu National Park, the state capital Darwin, Nitmiluk National Park and Alice Springs, capital of the Red Centre and gateway to treasures including Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

… and must-do experiences?

Hearing Dreamtime stories told in the shade of a ghost gum tree, catching sight of a saltwater croc in Kakadu National Park, walking through Bruce Munro’s Field of Light at Uluru… the Northern Territory exudes true Aussie spirit and brings out the adventurer in us all. Why not experience it for yourself on one of our Australia tours?

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