Do Australia | Northern Territory, outback to top-end

NORTHERN TERRITORY
THE TOP END AND THE RED CENTRE

Northern Territory is famous for it's vast, remote, savagely beautiful and mostly untouched areas. The geography is with it's red earth and long distances between populated areas the closest to the popular image of the Great Australian Outback.

The Northern Territory is referred to in two distinct areas; the Top End (north) and the Centre (south). The Top End has a dramatic coastline, large areas of tropical woodlands, rugged escarpment country, deep gorges and rivers, pockets of lush rainforest, billabongs, and vast wetlands.

The top end is very much centred on Darwin, and the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and the Arnhem land just East of Darwin. Aboriginal people are known to have lived here for at least 40,000 years.

The southern part of the Northern Territory is centred on the town of Alice Springs, which is almost at the geographical centre of Australia and the starting point of many of the Red Centre's unique and natural wonders, including Ayers Rock and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

DARWIN
Darwin is the territory's principal port as well as its largest city, it is also the smallest mainland capital. Darwin is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney, and closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so it's no surprise that it looks outward to Asia as much as it looks inland to the rest of Australia. This proximity and familiarity with Australia's northern neighbours is reflected in a relaxed, cosmopolitan, tropical atmosphere.

Uluru National Park, South-west of Alice Springs, was established as Ayers Rock/Mount Olga National Park in 1958 and renamed Uluru National Park in 1977. 1985 the land was officially returned to its traditional owners, the region's Aborigines, who then leased the area to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. In 1987 the park was placed on the World Heritage List.

The park has two main geological features—the monolith Uluru, previously called Ayers Rock, and a grouping of rock domes known as Kata Tjuta, or the Olgas. Uluru National Park draws about 650,000 visitors a year. The park has about 360 species of plants and 20 species of native mammals.

Uluru - The worlds largest monolith. A real challenge to climb in 40 degrees heat. Make sure you bring enough drinking water.
Click here to read more about Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Climate and weather
Rainfall in the Northern Territory varies from an average 1,570mm a year in the far north to less than 150mm in the south. In the north the monsoon creates a wet period lasting from November to April, when the coast line also is subject to tropical cyclones and a dry period lasting May to October.
Darwin has several times been severely damaged by cyclones and in 1974 cyclone Tracey's rampage resulted in the death of 66 people.

Darwin temperature remains almost constant throughout the year whilst Alice Springs has a wide range of temperatures between summer and winter.

Alice Springs has a wide range of temperatures between summer and winter. The daily average maximum in January is 36.6 deg C and the average minimum 22.2 deg C, but in July the average maximum is 19.3 deg C and the minimum 4.5 deg C.

When is the best time to go?

The Northern Territory is a year-round destination. It is a popular spot for many tourists and back-packs are a common sight on the streets in Darwin. A factor 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 local 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.

Prepare for travel. Get your travel guide here:

Didn't find what you are looking for?