Exploring Northern Australia Territory in 2023
Exploring Northern Australia Territory in 2023
The Northern Australia Territory is the third-largest Australian federal division, and the 11th-largest country subdivision in the world. It is sparsely populated, with a population of only 246,500 the majority of whom live in the capital city of Darwin.
Table of Contents
Australian Northern Territory Map
Informations
Temperature: Being in the Southern hemisphere, winter takes from June to August while summer, from December to February. Summer is probably the part of the year when it’s least advisable to go there. September or October are perfect to visit Uluru/Ayers Rock
Language: Australian(english).
Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD) aprox. 1$= 1,3 AUD 1€=1,57 AUD
Food Prices:Meal in a cheap restaurant=15 USD, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=70 USD
You can find more information about the visa here.
Things to do
Kings Kanyon
Kings Canyon is part and main attraction of Watarrka National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory. It is located 245 kilometers as the crow flies southwest of Alice Springs in the Amadeus Basin and forms the westernmost part of the George Gill Range. Its imposing rock walls, some over 100 meters high, and its high biodiversity thanks to a year-round water-bearing billabong make it a popular tourist destination in the Red Center.
Nitmiluk National Park
Nitmiluk National Park is located in Australia’s Northern Territory, 244 km south-east of Darwin and 23 km north-east of Katherine, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Formerly known as Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park. The gorges and surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people, who are the guardians of Nitmiluk National Park. In the Jawoyn language, Nitmiluk means “place of the dreaming cicada”.
Alice Springs Desert Park
The Alice Springs Desert Park is an environmental education facility and wildlife park in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia.It is sited on 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres), with a core area of 52 hectares (128 acres). It is an institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.The park contains native animals and plants representative of Central Australian desert environments, and contributes to their conservation through research programs as well as through public education. It offers people the opportunity to experience the variety of the deserts of central Australia, exploring the relationships between the plants, animals and people.The area is culturally important to the local Arrernte people. Much of the work of the park is under the auspices of their apmereke-artweye (decision-makers) and kwertengerle (caretakers) – people once known as the park’s traditional owners
West MacDonnell National Park
The West MacDonnell National Park (English West MacDonnell National Park) covers an area of 2069 km² in the mountain range of the MacDonnell Ranges in the Australian Northern Territory west of the city of Alice Springs. It was founded in 1992 after the Northern Territory government bought 170,000 hectares of land from five cattle ranches that had been abandoned due to multiple avalanches. From Alice Springs the national park is connected by paved roads (Larapinta Drive and Namatjira Drive). From Uluṟu there is a slope that is only accessible with all-wheel drive.
Wangi Falls
The Wangi Falls is a segmented waterfall on the Wangi Creek located within the Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia.The waterfall descends from an elevation of 84 metres (276 ft) above sea level via a series of segmented tiers that range in height between 41–52 metres.Accessed by sealed road, the falls are found near the western boundary of the park, approximately 80 kilometres south of Darwin.The plunge pool at the base of the falls is a popular swimming spot, however is often closed following significant rainfall due to sightings of crocodiles in the area
Crocosaurus Cove
Crocosaurus Cove Aquarium is a zoo (founded 15 July 2008) located in Darwin, Australia which has the world’s largest display of Australian reptiles. The attraction is also home to the “Cage of Death” where participants can come face to face with huge man-eating saltwater crocodiles.The aquarium is located in a three-storey building set on 5,000 m2.Doug Gamble and Mick Burns, two businessmen from Darwin, conceived the idea for the aquarium and built the AU$32 million attraction. The aquarium was built on vacant, unused land and boasts housing 200 crocodiles as well as fish, snakes, lizards and other reptiles. The attraction features an acrylic underwater viewing tunnel, viewing domes and its signature ‘Cage of Death’ experience.
Berry Springs Waterhole
Berry Springs is one of the most beautiful parks to cool off and relax in close to Darwin.It has great shaded picnic and barbeque areas close to clear swimming pools surrounded by trees and aquatic life.Native flowers in the park bloom from March to April.Walkers and bird watchers should take the monsoon forest and woodlands walk, through the Top End habitats.The park also has remnants of its World War II history, when more than 100,000 armed forces personnel were based in the area.Berry Springs is an easy day trip from Darwin and can be combined with a visit to the nearby Territory Wildlife Park.
Kakadu National Park
The Kakadu-National Park is located 171 kilometers from the state of Darwin in the southern Northern Territory. It is located in the area of 19.804 square kilometers and is about 200 kilometers north to the south and about 100 kilometers west to west. The Kakadu National Park is home to some of the most natural and cultural heritage sites in the UNESCO World Heritage List as well as the World Heritage Site. The park has one of the most beautiful and unique specimens in the world.
Darwin
Darwin is the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory and a former frontier outpost. It’s also a gateway to massive Kakadu National Park. Its popular waterfront area has several beaches and green areas like Bicentennial Park. Also near the water is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, displaying Southeast Asian and Pacific art, plus a pearling lugger and other seafaring vessels.
Uluru/Ayers Rock
The Uluru / Ayers Rock, is an island mountain in the central Australian desert, which rises approx. 350 m above its surrounding area. Because of its spiritual relevance for the dreamtime stories, it is considered a sacred mountain by the locales Aborigines, the Anangu. Because it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year as one of Australia’s most famous landmarks, there is a conflict of interest between Anangu and tourists in which the Aborigines enforced a ban on climbing the mountain from October 26, 2019. The indigenous name Uluru was used exclusively by Aborigines until the 1990s. The English name Ayers Rock was common among Australians of European descent and outside Australia.
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Australian Northern Territory offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Australian Northern Territory hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.com, Trip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation in the Australian Northern Territory.
Top hotels we recommend in Darwin: Quality Hotel Darwin Airport , Youth Shack Backpackers Darwin, Frontier Hotel Darwin, H on Smith Hotel.
Traditional food
- barramundi is native to the oceans around northern Australia. It’s a versatile fish that is often served fried, baked, or grilled
- With sweet, rich flesh, the Northern Territory’s mud crabs are a distinctive dining experience.
- Often compared to chicken, crocodile meat can be quite chewy when prepared incorrectly. In the Territory, you’ll find it served crumbed, on skewers, or in a burger.
- Meat Pie – The combination of beef, gravy, and pastry may seem basic but it holds a special place in Australia’s heart, more beloved than any hamburger or hotdog.
- Many restaurants in the Northern Territory serve kangaroo in various ways.
- Darwin’s most iconic dish is laksa, a spicy noodle soup that is a staple of Peranakan cuisine and which combines Chinese, Indonesian, and Malaysian influences.
- Quandong – a wild peach or desert peach and is used to make tart jams, chutneys, and pies.
- Kakadu Plum – This small green fruit can be eaten raw or in jams, with a taste similar to a sour pear.
- Devonshire Tea
Restaurants
Best Asian restaurants in Darwin – LITTLE MISS KOREA, SMITH STREET MALL, CHOW, HANUMAN, THE NOODLE HOUSE, ELLA – BY MINOLI.
Casual dining in Darwin – HOT TAMALE, CRUSTACEANS ON THE WHARF, THE OYSTER BAR
Best Greek restaurants in Darwin – YOTS
Best upmarket restaurants in Darwin – PEE WEE’S AT THE POINT, CHAR, WHARF 1, PEPPERBERRY
Saving Tips
- There is a risk of mosquito and tick-borne diseases like Ross River virus and West Nile virus.
- Northern Territory is croc country. Avoid swimming in lakes, pools, estuaries, or tidal rivers.
- Wildfires spring up in the summer.
- Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a valid visa is required for entry
- Long trousers, hats, socks, and hiking boots are a must when walking in the bush or Outback. Carry sun cream and a two-liter reusable water bottle, too.
- Most visitors come in the dry season, between May and October when the weather is cooler and there’s more access to area attractions.
If you do not go by car and need to know more informations about the tours, things to see and do, we recommend this two companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!
Viator and Get Your Guide : the best activities in town!
When you think about your dream vacation, you also need to plan your budget! This is why we found the perfect partner – Check24 ! We traveled with a lot of companies and they are the best if you need comfort, luxury but also fair prices! And this is very important! You can now travel and really enjoy your vacation, when you know that you can live your travel dream by paying a fair price.
When you think travel, think Orbitz ! They are one of the leading U.S. online travel websites, offering a full range of travel products and services. They got everything from flights, hotels, and car rentals to cruises, travel insurance, and destination services from suppliers worldwide.
Whe have even more good news! We have the best partners from around the world and you can find your dream vacation right here! We are sure that you will find everything you need – Just check our partners websites and find your dream vacation!
There’s no feeling in the world like connecting with new places, people and experiences through travel. From the iconic to the unexpected, get those “pinch me” moments through a series of Trafalgar highlights others may never know about, or have access to.
shopping
Souvenirs in Alice Springs & Surrounds – The Red Centre is full of spots where you can pick up a memento of your time here. If you’re feeling brave, you might even take a class and learn how to create some of the incredible art and craft from the artisans themselves.
Tennant Creek is a little town on the Stuart Highway but the art and culture centre within it is brimming with beautiful mementos.
In the town of Katherine itself, Mimi Aboriginal Art and Crafts is 100% Aboriginal owned art centre putting profits back into remote communities.
Arnhem Land is known for its incredible landscapes, rich culture and unique and rare wildlife. But it’s also home to extraordinary artists found in art centres across the region.
The most varied shopping in the Northern Territory is in Darwin. While it has the Aboriginal art and artefacts of the rest of the Territory, it’s also where to get beautiful pearls, world-class crocodile leather accessories and real bush tucker in the heart of the city.
Getting Around
You can pick an easy option and hire a vehicle at Darwin airport for a short sojourn around the city, venturing no farther than Litchfield National Park; you can head into Kakadu National Park for a week of waterhole hopping; you can embrace the Red Centre by discovering the stunning landscapes around Alice Springs; or go all out on an NT odyssey from Darwin to Uluru, taking your time to really see all this territory has to offer, along the Explorer’s Way. If you do leave the city behind, be mindful that the NT is big and remote, so be prepared. Carry extra fuel and plenty of water, and ensure your vehicle is up to scratch for plenty of kilometres on sometimes bumpy, challenging tracks.
There’s plenty to explore in a regular car or campervan, as well as in all-terrain 4WDs. Hire companies operate across the Northern Territory, so if you fly into Alice Springs or Darwin, arrange to collect a vehicle at the airport then hit the road. Well-maintained, sealed highways provide the most direct routes between the Northern Territory from cities in South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.
Auto Europe Car Rental,provides the clients with the best rates & service in the industry!They offer travelers the best rates at 20,000 pickup locations in over 180 countries worldwide.The Auto Europe Advantage:Free Cancellation Up to 48 Hours Before Pickup,Best Rate Guarantee,24/7 Service Hotline from Pickup to Dropoff.Enjoy now a 30% discount
Getting to Northern Australia Territory
Domestic and international flights are serviced from a range of destinations across Australia, Europe, the US and nearby Asia. Drive up the Stuart Highway from South Australia, or across from Queensland. The Ghan rail journey from Adelaide takes around 21 hours to Alice Springs.
Daily flights operate between Uluru, Alice Springs and Darwin. Smaller flights are run by Airnorth between the regional centres. Make it your own with a self-drive experience. You can hire vehicles in Darwin, Uluru and Alice Springs. Local transport options include taxis, airport shuttle, bicycle hire and bus networks.
There are a few ways to travel between the Top End and the Red Centre, but a flight will be your best choice if you are short of time.The Northern Territory has three airports, but international flights only land in Darwin.Darwin- Direct flights from Bali (2.5hrs), Singapore (5hrs) and Manila (5hrs), Dili (80mins)
Qatar Airways is one of the biggest company in the world with unprecedented expansion, flying to over 160 destinations. Enjoy now a 30% discount by booking your flight with us!
If you have not found your desired flight, or you simply want more flight options to find the best and cheapest, we will help you with the best flight plans, where you will definitely find what you are looking for. With just one click you will find the flight to a wonderful destination!
LEVEL8 is an NYC-born brand for luggage and bag. We exist to bring a leisure and exquisite way of traveling, with suitcases that honored the art of personal presentation and style. For more information on LEVEL8 Luggage collection, visit :
