The Northern Territory is unlike any place on earth. It’s not a place you visit just to take a look around. From breathing in the fresh air as the sun rises over the West MacDonnell Ranges, to tasting fresh mud crab caught that day, hearing stories over 60,000 years old, seeing breathtaking horizons from the top of a Kakadu escarpment or experiencing history at an Aboriginal art gallery, the Territory is a place to immerse yourself and be free.
BEST PLACES TO GO IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
Darwin
Welcome to the Northern Territory's unhurried capital, Darwin. With balmy nights, colourful characters and outdoor adventures, find everything from Asian food markets and crocodile encounters to open-air movies and sunset cruises. Treat your taste buds in Darwin Indulge your sense of fun and adventure in this tropical city with mouth-watering outdoor sunset markets, waterfront dining, bush-tucker inspired menus, fresh seafood – and a Darwin favourite – Laska. walking tour with Darwin Gourmet Tours uncovers the history of the Top End’s culinary influences while tasting dishes featuring locally sourced ingredients. Don’t forget the iconic Mindil Beach Sunset Market to enjoy a market-stall dinner on the beach while catching a spectacular tropical sunset. Search and Stay has the best holiday accommodation in Darwin and surrounds.
Arnhem Land
Bordered by Kakadu National Park, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria, Arnhem Land is a vast, unspoiled wilderness area of more than 97,000 square kilometres. Rich in Aboriginal culture, Arnhem Land offers unique Indigenous experiences, rock art and some of the best fishing in the world.
Katherine
Katherine, located just over three hours from Darwin, may be best known as the gateway to Nitmiluk National Park, but there's plenty more to discover after you've floated down Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge including a range of springs and falls.
The Red Centre
Rich in both culture and beauty, the Red Centre is often considered the spiritual centre of the country. Experience Aboriginal culture, desert adventures and the changing colours of Uluru, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and West MacDonnell Ranges. The Red Centre is an extraordinary landscape of desert plains, weathered mountain ranges, rocky gorges and some of Australia's most sacred Aboriginal sites. Alice Springs – known to locals as simply "Alice" – is a great base for exploring famed sites such as Uluru, its sister rock formation Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges and their iconic Larapinta Trail. Just outside Alice Springs, animal lovers can also settle in for a cuddle with Australia’s national animal at the Kangaroo Sanctuary.
Tiwi Islands
100 kilometres north of Darwin, the Tiwi Islands are an off-the-beaten-track destination for intrepid travelers. The two main islands are Bathurst and Melville, which sit alongside nine smaller, uninhabited islands.
Kakadu
As Australia's biggest national park, Kakadu offers more wetlands, waterfalls, billabongs and escarpments than you can count. Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu National Park is renowned for its cultural significance and stunning natural beauty with incredible wildlife and over 5,000 Aboriginal rock art sites. Take in the view in Kakadu With the UNESCO World Heritage-listed national park as your playground, the options are endless, and so are the views. Swim under cascading waterfalls, walk through a pristine wilderness brimming with wildlife, or take a river cruise and spot the world's largest reptile, the Saltwater Crocodile.
Litchfield National Park
When in Darwin, join in on the local’s favourite day trip and head to the Litchfield National Park about an hour’s drive away. Plunge into crystal clear waterholes beneath the magnificent spring fed waterfalls of Florence and Wangi, or soak in the gentle three-tiered cascade shaded by rainforest at Buley Rockhole. Let your worries fade away as you soak under a refreshing waterfall in the stunning Litchfield National Park. The plethora of thundering falls and cool plunge pools will entice you to stay awhile and breathe in the serenity of the surrounding monsoon forest
.
Wherever you are in the Northern Territory, Search and Stay has the best holiday accommodation and short-term rentals. For more information northernterritory.com
Credit: Tourism Australia. www.Australia.com @australia