Northern Territory travel - holidays - accommodation- tours - vacations |
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The Northern Territory is home to much of Australia's aboriginal culture. Historical sites, rock art painting and community life are to be found throughout most areas. Many areas are sacred sites and permits are required before entry. The state is largely untouched by modern development with countryside ranging from rugged, coastal wetlands to the dry, red desert centre. |
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Northern Territory travel involves long distances and roads are limited. Some popular attractions require a 4WD vehicle for access.
The wet season has a major influence on activities and the surrounding environment. Above the escarpment the land stretches away into the Tanami Desert in the west and Barkly Tableland in the east before its transition into the dry, red Simpson Desert in the south. This is the real Australian outback. Like most of Australia, the Northern Territory is big. To travel from Darwin to Alice Springs involves a journey of 2 days. The state is 1600 kilometres (1000 miles) north-south and 950 kilometres (600 miles) east-west. Those are straight line map distances, actual road distances are considerably further. The Top End, being tropical and humid, has only minor temperature variations between summer and winter. Of greater significance is the Wet Season and the Dry Season. The Wet is between November and April with temperatures averaging 33-35° C during the day dropping to an average of 23-25° C overnight. The Dry is between May and October with temperatures averaging 30-32° C during the day dropping to an average of 20-22° C overnight. Away from the coastal influence, the inland areas revert to four distinct seasons. Winter is June - August with maximum temperatures around 20-22° C during the day dropping to minimums of around 4-6° C overnight. Summer is December - February with maximum temperatures around 34-36° C during the day and 20-22° C overnight. Temperatures in the remote inland areas can
be more extreme. Summer daytime maximums can climb to 40-42° C with winter nights
dropping to 2-3° C. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology
provides detailed weather information.
Tour the
Kakadu wetlands - see aboriginal culture in Arnhem Land-
barramundi fishing - crocodile cruises - cruise the Arnhem Land coast- Note: Locations for NT tours can be seen on our Australian Tours page
A factor that may have an impact on your timing is the onset of the Wet Season or conversely, that may be the very reason for visiting this state. One factor to be considered in any trip in this state is that, unless you are flying, the popular inland destinations require extensive travel to get there and back. Tourists with a less than robust constitution or a preference for creature comforts may wish to take into account the summer heat in this region and opt for a winter visit. The Northern Territory tourist body is active in promoting its tourism industry and while plenty of good accommodation is available, it is recommended that advance bookings are made, especially during the school holiday periods.
The less adventurous visitor may wish to consider using tour organisations as this is a part of the world in which local knowledge can be important. Air services are available to Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers Rock). Local operators of light aircraft fly to some other small centres. Getting around may require some forward planning. Being somewhat of a frontier town with a small population, Darwin does not have a commuter bus or train service comparable to other state capitals, although there is a town bus service. All the national vehicle hire companies are represented in the major centres throughout the state. If you are flying in at Darwin to start your visit, consider picking up a Darwin hire car at the airport and save on shuttle costs. Some unsealed roads in remote areas will need 4 wheel drive vehicles, especially if travelling in the wet season. Campers are also available for travel on sealed roads. Tour operators provide itineraries that cover all popular sites. Driver information and maps are available from the offices of the regional tourist associations. Some typical road travel distances are:
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Darwin - Arnhem Land - Kakadu - Uluru - The Olgas - Kings Canyon - Katherine Gorge - Devil's Marbles |
| Top End | Never Never | Tableland | Red Centre |
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What
Will I Find ?
The northern end of the state, commonly
known as the Top End, is dominated by wetlands at the foot of an escarpment. The wet
season pours vast amounts of water over the escarpment which then spreads across the Kakadu National Park and 
