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NORTHERN TERRITORY
The
Northern Territory is a dramatic, timeless place of vast horizons, rainforests
and water holes, red sand and spinifex grass plains. From Kakadu to Uluru
or Ayers Rock as it's more commonly known, it's a land of icons, filled
with real Outback characters and Aboriginal heritage. But you'll never
ever know if you never ever go.
What to See
'The Top End' is centred on the modern cosmopolitan city of Darwin, the perfect base from which to discover surrounding national parks, wildlife attractions and Aboriginal settlements.
Kakadu
National Park is justifiably famous for its lily-clad wetlands, extensive
birdlife, Aboriginal rock-art sites, rainforest and waterfalls. Smaller,
but just as spectacular, is Litchfield National Park an oasis of
rainforest and natural waterholes perfect for swimming. A boat cruise
on the waters of Katherine Gorge is a magical experience.
The 'Red Centre' is a land of majestic desert Outback, marked by cloudless skies, red earth, mysterious monoliths, and ancient mountain ranges. The rippling forms of the age-old MacDonnell Ranges, visible from the famous Outback town of Alice Springs, hide idyllic water holes, walking trails and picnic spots, while Kings Canyon's red sandstone walls plunge 330 feet into water holes below.
Another must is Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the home of Uluru/Ayers Rock and the Olgas. Uluru at sunset, when it changes in colour from fiery orange, through pinks, reds and deep violet is awesome. Many people swear that The Olgas, mountainous red domes which bulge out of the flat plains, are just as impressive.
Activities & Adventures
Get close to the animals - The Top End is
teeming with creatures great and small, from tiny rainbow fish and 22-foot-long
saltwater crocodiles in the waterholes, to millions of birds who live
around their 
edges.
Inland you'll spot a range of native animals and birds, including red
kangaroos, giant lizards, wedge-tailed eagles and emus. And there are
several wildlife sanctuaries where you can get close up to the beasties.
So don't forget your camera!
Meet the Aborigines - You can pick up Aboriginal paintings and artefacts in many places in the Northern Territory, and get to meet Australia's original inhabitant too. In Kakadu alone there are more than 5,000 Aboriginal ancient art sites, while cultural tours run by indigenous people operate in both the Top End and Red Centre.
Outback adventures - Fancy riding a camel around Uluru? No worries, mate. Fishing for giant barramundi in the rivers of the Top End? You can do that too. And then there's camping under the stars, exotic cruises, and multi-day overland Outback tours. No wonder people want to come back time and time again.Unique Experience
Drive
the Mereenie Loop Road which links Alice Springs with Ayers Rock
via the spectacular MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon. Hire a canoe at
Katherine Gorge and go searching for crocodiles. Take a plane to
the Tiwi Islands, 80 kilometres north of Darwin to meet Aborigines,
who having lived separated from the mainland for thousands of years and
have developed a quite different culture.
Time To Go
Winter, or the Dry Season, is roughly from late April to the end of October. In The Top End temperatures average 30°C or 86°F and most days the sky is cloudless. In the Red Centre it's cooler, and quite cold at night.The Wet Season, which usually runs from November to April, is hot and humid, but temperatures still average 30°C or 86°F. Heavy rain falls most days, but only for an hour or so, usually in the late afternoon or at night. At that time of year in Central Australia temperatures can reach around 38°C or 100°F during the day, cooling to around 21°C or 70°F at night.