Northern Territory Overview

The Northern Territory (NT) looms large in the heart of both the Australian continent and the adventurous traveler. The region’s size belies its extreme lack of population: accounting for a sixth of the continent’s land mass, the NT only contains 1% of its population. Over half of these intrepid “Territorians” crowd into the capital city of Darwin, located on the territory’s northern coast.

From the lush and tropical Top End, where cyclones and floods are of constant concern, to the Red Centre’s dusty desert expanses, where a drop of rain has everyone talking, the Northern Territory stretches into the country’s most extreme regions. Still, the weather isn’t nearly as dramatic as the landscapes over which it looms. It is no surprise that people often say the land rules the people in these parts; according to Aboriginal legend, Earth was sculpted by rainbow serpents, monsters, and blue-tongued lizards.

Traveling through the NT is becoming easier as the infrastructure improves. Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks in the Top End and Uluru and Watarrka in the Red Centre are accessible once the vast distances between them are overcome. Still, a trek across the Northern Territory is a foreboding prospect, even with the arrival of sealed roads, cell phones, road-crisis hotlines, and regular supply transfers. Far-flung ancient sites remind visitors that the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land have been at home here for millennia.

Boat past 150m high Jim Jim Falls, through croc territory, to a white-sand beach, complete with emerald plunge pool in Kakadu National Park .
Cower beneath Uluru (formerly referred to as Ayers Rock), a symbol of Oz’s natural beauty to which all else is compared .
Experience Darwin’s creative side at Mindil Beach Market; crafts, culture, and delicious food emerge in festive form to greet the Top End twilight .
Rock Out at the 7m in diameter granite Devil’s Marbles, one of nature’s most unusual rock formations .

Transportation

The Northern Territory’s vast expanses make transportation a big concern. Darwin, Alice Springs, and Yulara are most-commonly reached by air. Trains are also an option; The Ghan (☎ 13 21 47; www ...more

Practical Information

Tourist Office: Tourism Top End, 6 Bennett St. (☎ 08 8980 6000). Open M-F 8:30am-5:30pm, Sa-Su 9am-3pm. The main office of the Parks & Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory (☎ 08 8999 4518 ...more