Northern Territory

Northern Territory: official travel guide to Australia's Northern Territory

The northernterritory.com site serves as the official tourism portal for the Northern Territory (NT), a vast region of Australia stretching from the tropical Top End to the desert of the Red Centre. The platform organises its content into three main areas: places to go, things to do, and plan your trip. Its purpose is to serve as a practical guide and inspiration for those who want to explore this part of the country.

Destinations and regions covered

The portal devotes specific sections to the main areas of the Territory. These include Darwin, the tropical capital; Alice Springs, the usual starting point for exploring the Outback; Uluru/Ayers Rock, in Australia's spiritual heart; Kakadu National Park; Litchfield National Park; Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park; Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park; Arnhem Land, with Nhulunbuy/Gove as the gateway to Aboriginal communities; and Tennant Creek and the Barkly Region. Areas such as the Outback, beaches, waterfalls and waterholes are also covered, with listings by region (Darwin, Alice Springs, Uluru, Kakadu, Katherine, Arnhem Land and Tennant Creek & Barkly).

Featured experiences and activities

The website groups experiences by traveller type and interest. It documents Aboriginal cultural experiences, food and drink, festivals and events, outdoor activities, nature and wildlife, history and heritage, fishing, luxury experiences, camping and glamping, road trips, family activities, romance, backpacking, accessible travel and sustainable travel. It also offers recommendation lists such as the top 10 things to do in the Northern Territory, in Darwin, Alice Springs, Uluru, Kakadu, Katherine, Arnhem Land and Tennant Creek, as well as a selection of 10 immersive art experiences in the Red Centre.

National parks and natural heritage

The Northern Territory has two national parks declared World Heritage sites and more than fifty national parks, nature reserves, conservation areas and marine parks. The portal mentions places such as Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, home to the NT's first Dark Sky Sanctuary, and the waterfalls and waterholes of Nitmiluk, Litchfield and Ormiston Gorge, among others. Hiking, wildlife watching and camping are presented as a central part of the experience in these environments.

Events and festivals calendar

The events section features an annual calendar with specific dates. These include the Tatts Finke Desert Race (a two-day off-road race for bikes, cars and buggies between Alice Springs and the community of Aputula/Finke), the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land (a gathering of Yolngu clans with art, music, dance and ceremony), season 12 of the Million Dollar Fish (a fishing competition in the Darwin region), the Darwin Fringe Festival, the Darwin International Laksa Festival, the Darwin Festival, Desert Mob in Alice Springs and the total solar eclipse expected on 22 July 2028, visible from various locations in the NT.

Trip planning

The portal brings together practical tools for organising a visit: information on accommodation, guided tours, hire and transport, deals and offers, getting here and around, weather and seasons, passes and permits, visitor information centres, safety information, itineraries, articles and maps. It also includes an NT holiday quiz to help guide trip choices according to destination, activities, type of companions, time of year and length of stay. A distinction is made between the dry season (May to October) and the tropical summer (November to April).

Cultural and seasonal focus

The platform places emphasis on Aboriginal culture, with experiences spanning more than 60,000 years of tradition, and on the September to April season as a less crowded time with its own attractions. The content is presented in English and offers the option to switch to a USA version.