Holidays to the Northern Territory

You can begin your Outback adventure in iconic Alice Springs, with direct flights from Darwin and other major Australian cities. The town is famous for its amazing vistas and sunsets, strong aboriginal culture with plenty of cultural events and its relative proximity to Uluru, or Ayers Rock. 

With a wide variety of lodging, there is plenty to do in Alice itself. You can visit Aboriginal art galleries, explore the desert astride a camel, swim in a waterhole, visit the famous Royal Flying Doctor Service Centre, or taking a sunrise hot air balloon trip. 

Alice Springs to Uluru is a scenic five-hour drive by car, where you can expect to see far more than simply endless desert plains. Uluru deserves at least three days – this will give you enough time to see the magical rock at different times of day, when its colour changes.

Uluru is undoubtedly the icon of the 'NT' and from your base at Ayers Rock Resort you can explore the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in your own vehicle or on numerous organised excursions. For an unforgettable experience book A Night At Field of Light, an under the stars, outback dining experience in the shadow of Ayers Rock followed by entry to the magical Field of Light art installation.

With the highest Aboriginal population in Australia, the Northern Territory is the best place in which to immerse yourself in this fascinating culture, with a plethora of art galleries and museums throughout the territory. 

Go on a specialised territory art trail to learn more, eat bush tucker – including the infamous witchetty grubs – or even travel by boat just 2.5 hours north of Darwin to visit the Tiwi Islands. With such a varied topography including desert, savannah woodlands, sandstone plateaus, wetlands, and mangrove and monsoon forests home to over 400 species of birds, it’s a rich and diverse land. On the water, you can try kayaking through towering gorges, sail through mangroves to spot dugongs, river dolphins or take a cruise to spot salt-water crocs. 

Another iconic way to see the Northern Territory is to jump aboard The Ghan to embark upon one of the world's greatest railway journeys. Departing from Darwin, travel coast to coast through the fiery red centre, experiencing Australia at its dramatic best.

Those who love an adventure will adore their Northern Territory holiday.

Darwin has a very different feel from other Australian cities. Its history and heritage are captivating, with a strong South Asian element reflected in a vibrant food culture and outdoor markets such as the Mindil Beach Sunset food markets. 

Darwin is flanked by two incredible national parks, just a short drive away. Litchfield has an abundance of spring-fed water pools and waterfalls. Mary River is further away, 150 kilometres east of Darwin, with rivers and billabongs that offer a variety of cruises for wildlife spotting. 

Further east, only three hours from Darwin, is Kakadu National Park, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site listed for both natural and cultural values. The Bininj/Mungguy people have called Kakadu home for some 65,000 years, and the area is filled with 5,000 Aboriginal rock art sites. Here, you can learn about this ancient culture and the region’s dramatic seasons.

There are two distinct climatic zones in the Northern Territory – the tropical Top End’ which has wet and dry seasons, and the semi-arid Red Centre which has a drier desert like climate. The wet season is from November to March, when you can expect occasional monsoon rains, higher humidity and peak temperatures of at 33°C. But many locals say ‘the wet’ is their favourite season with waterfalls in full flow and abundant wildlife. While some roads can occasionally become impassable during your Northern Territory trip at this time, you can always take a scenic flight to see the country at its greenest – you’ll spot thundering waterfalls and stunning sunsets.

April to October is known as ‘the dry.’ Temperatures remain around 33°C, but with no humidity. It’s sunnier too and Darwin has a packed calendar of events during this period. Further south in the Red Centre, winter (June-August) temperatures may reach 20°C during the day, with temperatures falling to a few degrees at night. September to November averages 25°C. 

December to February is the hottest period in the Centre maxing out at 35°C. March to May is widely regarded as the best time to be in Alice Springs, when the days are warm and evenings cool.