Basic information about Notrhern Territory

Population:	245 980
People per square km:	0.15
Cows per square km:	1.3
Longest river:	Victoria River – 560km
Longest Road:	Stuart Hwy ~ 2000km
Most famous pub:	Daily Waters Pub
Highest Waterfall:	Jim Jim falls
Local Beer:	NT Draught
Biggest Towns:	Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs

Northern Territory is the last frontier if you consider remoteness, harsh environment, and spectacular landscapes. Northern Territory has lots to offer for everyone: vast desert tracks, tropical woodlands, spectacular fishing spots, a paradise for birdwatchers, amazing walks, and 4WD tracks.

This Northern Territory travel guide lists all interesting places that are worth visiting.

Darwin and Around

Darwin Average Temperatures and Rainfall

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Now	Dec
32	31	32	33	32	31	30	31	33	33	33	33	Max Temp
25	25	25	24	22	20	19	21	23	25	25	25	Min Temp
430	350	320	100	20	1	1	6	16	75	140	250	Rain mm
21	20	19	9	2	1	1	1	2	7	12	16	Rain Days

The best time to visit Darwin and its surroundings is during the dry season, from May to October. There is beautiful weather, lower humidity, and minimal or no rain. It’s a perfect time to enjoy sightseeing.

From October to December, you can experience a ‘build-up’. It is a hot and humid time that is perfect if you plan to relax in the pool.

The wet season comes right after and can extend to April. If you come at this time of the year, expect hot and humid weather and afternoon storms. That’s also the time when cyclones are formed.

You can wear summer clothes all year round, but some restaurants expect minimal casual outfits, which means in Darwin: shirt and thongs.

By air – daily flights arrive from domestic and international destinations. If you come by plane, you can hire a vehicle in Darwin.
By car – Barkly Highway, Savannah Way or Plenty Highway if you arrive from Queensland; Great Northern Highway and Victoria Highway or Great Central Road if you come from Western Australia; Stuart Highway if you come from Victoria or South Australia.
By train – Pick The Ghan, a legendary outback train that regularly runs between Darwin and Adelaide.
By boat – Darwin is the only city port in Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Travel Guide - Darwin

Darwin is full of a tropical vibe and colonial feel. It also has a fascinating coastline and wonderful sunsets over the Timor Sea. Darwin is full of aboriginal heritage and multicultural diversity. It is also a great base for exploring the best attractions of the Northern Territory.

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Must see attractions in Darwin

Visit Crocosaurus Cove to experience a close encounter with these dangerous reptiles
Visit Crocodylus Park and see crocodile Farm
Shop for pearls at Darwin Smith Street Mall
Visit Darwin Museum and Art Gallery of the NT – meet Sweetheart and learn more about cyclones.
Take a dip in the Darwin Waterfront Lagoon.
Eat amazing food and buy art and craft at Mindil Beach Sunset Market
Stroll along the Esplanade during high tide and hand-feed hungry fish at Aquascene.
Discover Darwin old town and Botanical Gardens
Visit and learn about WWII Oil Storage Tunnels
Head to Indo Pacific Marine if you want to know more about living coral and other sea creatures.
Go on a Darwin Harbour sunset dinner cruise.
Learn about the early years of the town by visiting Pioneer’s Cemetery
Fannie Bay Gaol is a beautifully located old prison with lots of dark stories to tell

Accommodation

Darwin has a wide range of accommodation on offer. You can choose marina apartments, tropical tourist parks, small hotels in a quiet neighbourhood, or backpacker houses in the middle of the city.

Hotels

Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront, 7 Kitchener Dr, Darwin

Mantra on the Esplanade, 88 The Esplanade, Darwin

Darwin City Hotel, 59 Smith Street, Darwin CBD

Tourist Parks

Darwin Freespirit Resort, 901 Stuart Highway, Holtze

Oasis Tourist Park, 20 Morgan Rd, Virginia NT 8034

BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park, 170 Whitewood Road, Howard Springs

Litchfield Tourist Park, 705 Litchfield Park Road, Finniss Valley

Hostels

Darwin Hostel, 88 Mitchell Street, Darwin CBD

The Cozy Hostel, 4 Harriet Place, Darwin CBD

Youth Shack Backpackers, 69 Mitchell Street, Darwin CBD

Book your stay in Darwin

Top Events in Darwin

June

July

Aug

Sept

Darwin Triple Crown Supercars

Royal Darwin Show

Darwin Festival

Darwin Street Art Festival

Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta

There are also many wildlife adventures around Darwin. You could watch massive saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat of Adelaide River and view the wetlands with their abundant wildlife and admire thousand of colourful birds.

9 must see attractions Around Darwin

Explore Litchfield National Park
Visit Crab Claw Island Resort
Have a dip at Berry Springs Nature Park
Look trough the Window on the Wetlands
Admire Fogg Dam and hundreds of beautiful birds
Discover Corroboree Billabong on the boat cruise
Go on Crocodile watching Adelaide river cruise
Spend a day at Tiwi Islands
Don’t forget to visit Territory Wildlife Park

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park Average Temperatures and Rainfall

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Now	Dec
34	33	33	35	33	32	32	34	36	38	37	35	Max Temp
25	24	24	24	22	19	18	19	21	24	25	25	Min Temp
350	330	320	70	10	1	3	4	9	30	160	210	Rain mm
20	20	20	7	2	0	0	0	1	3	12	16	Rain Days

World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is one of a kind. Coastal rivers and billabongs are home to thousands of birds and flood plains that carry a wet season frenzy.

The park is also a spawning ground for barramundi – Northern Territory best-known fish that gives an amazing fight when caught. Kakadu National Park is also a home for Yolngu people that lived in the area for over 40 000 years. Yolngu people are well known for their arts and crafts.

9 must see attractions in Kakadu National Park

Be at sunset at Ubirr lookout.
Walk around Australia’s most outstanding Aboriginal art site at Nourlangie Rock.
Have a dip at Gunlom infinity pools
Don’t miss a Yellow Waters cruise
Discover amazing water holes at Koolpin Gorge
Walk to the tallest in Kakadu waterfalls – Jim Jim Falls
Watch birds at Mamukala wetlands
Appreciate the beauty of Twin Falls
Take a scenic flight over Kakadu

Northern Territory Travel Guide - Kakadu National Park

Arnhem Land

Arnhem Land is located in the north-eastern corner of the Northern Territory. Cahill crossings separate it from Kakadu National Park.

Aboriginal Yolngu people are the traditional owners of Arnhem Land. The Yolngu people are famous for their arts and crafts and their skill at playing the didgeridoo. Visiting this unspoiled wilderness is a must if you love true wilderness and aboriginal culture. Visitors must apply for a permit before entering.

5 must see attractions in Arnhem Land

Northern Territory Travel Guide - Arnhem Land

Visit Injalak Arts and Craft Gallery
Admire aboriginal open art galleries
Explore ruins of Victoria Settlement at Cobourg Peninsula
Fish for barramundi
Learn to play the didgeridoo

Fishing in Northern Territory

Top End is one of the best places to go fishing. Every year hundreds of people come to fish for barramundi and reef fish like giant trevally, Spanish mackerel, rainbow trout, and many more.

A good time for offshore fishing is between October and December. At that time, the conditions are calmest. Between May and September weather is great with the south-easterly wind. It is a season for Spanish mackerel, golden trevally, and tuna. It is also a great time to fish for barramundi.

Wet season (January to April) could be challenging but also rewarding. At this time, barra is usually found in mangroves and estuaries. Ocean fishing in the wet season depends greatly on weather conditions. At this time of the year, monsoonal storms are often, and fishing offshore should be avoided.

If you feel lucky, a serious Million Dollar Fish competition is happening annually. Catch barramundi with a $1 million tag or 100 others carrying a $10 000 tag to get richer fast.

Best places to go fishing:

Darwin Harbour
Corroboree Billabong
HeliFishing
Bluewater charters
Dundee Beach
King Ash Bay

Katherine and around

Katherine Average Temperatures and Rainfall

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Now	Dec
35	34	35	34	32	30	30	33	35	38	38	37	Max Temp
24	24	23	20	17	14	13	16	20	24	25	24	Min Temp
240	215	160	30	6	2	1	1	6	30	90	200	Rain mm
15	15	10	2	1	0	0	0	1	3	8	12	Rain Days

Drive around 300 km south from Darwin to reach a place where the tropics meet outback – the town of Katherine. The main attraction here is definitely Katherine Gorge, but the area has definitely many more great things to offer.

Northern Territory Travel Guide - Katherine

What to do around Katherine

Explore Nitmiluk National Park
Take a Katherine Gorge boat cruise
Swim at Katherine Hot Springs
Enjoy the cultural experience at Top Didi
Have a dip at Mataranka Hot Springs
Discover Cutta Cutta Caves
Visit Edith Falls
Eat lunch at Daily Waters Pub

Top Events around Katherine

Apr

May

Aug

Fishing Competition at Timber Creek

Never Never Festival at Mataranka

Katherine Cup

Rodeo at Mataranka

The Red Centre

Red Centre Average Temperatures and Rainfall

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Now	Dec
36	35	33	28	23	20	20	23	27	31	34	35	Max Temp
21	21	17	13	8	5	4	6	10	15	18	20	Min Temp
40	40	30	20	29	15	15	10	10	20	30	40	Rain mm
5	5	3	2	3	3	3	2	2	5	6	6	Rain Days

Alice Springs is the most famous outback town in Australia. Situated between East and West MacDonell ranges it is a town full of character and reach of pioneer history. Alice Springs is a great spot to discover nearby attractions as well. Here even rust-coloured dirt looks amazing!

How to get to Red Centre

By air – Fly to Ayers Rock Airport in Yulara (463 km away from Alice) or Alice Springs airport. You can hire a car or find an organised tour.
By car – If you hit the road, Stuart Hwy will take you here from Darwin or Port Augusta from the south.
By train. The Ghan legendary outback train regularly runs between Darwin and Adelaide.

Northern Territory Travel Guide - Red Centre

Northern Territory Travel Guide - Alice Springs

What to do around Alice Springs

Go on Kings Canyon rim walk
Walk around Kata Tjuta
Explore Uluru and go for a camel tour
Devils Marbles (Kurlu Kurlu)
Discover East & West MacDonnell Ranges
Visit Old Telegraph Station
Admire stunning Henbury Crater

The Red Centre has spectacular landforms, blue skies, and deserts. You can feel the monumental sense of the scale of Uluru, Kata Tjuta, or Kings Canyon.

Visit Devils Marbles to admire the most iconic outback destination, where massive orange boulders sit atop each other defying gravity.

The Aboriginal story tells they are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent. There is also an amazing story told by the Arjanngu people where Uluru and Kata Tjuta were laid down during Tjukurpa – creation time.