Outback & Northern Territory Holidays

Explore 2 regions

From the stark, dusty deserts of the Red Centre to the dramatic river gorges of the Top End, the Outback & Northern Territory offers a glimpse into Australia at its most wild.

Venture into the true heart of Australia on a trip to the Northern Territory. Here copper-red monoliths rise from untouched desert, waterfalls crash into pristine swimming holes and sand dunes tumble across wide, open stretches so vast their scale is hard to comprehend. There’s wildlife in abundance, from the crocodiles of Kakadu to the wallabies of the Cobourg Peninsula, and Aboriginal culture reigns supreme, with ancient rock art, indigenous festivals and local guides offering the chance to learn more about the people that have shaped the region throughout history.

In the south, you’ll find the Red Centre, where Alice Springs is the gateway the Western Macdonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon and the illustrious Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Further north lies Australia’s Top End – the home of the iconic Katherine River and its 13 gorges, as well as Kakadu, Darwin and the remote, unspoilt coastlines of Arnhem Land. Throughout, there’s a mystical magic that’s hard to place – a spiritual sense that lies in the eerie silence and the immense, empty spaces, deserted but the for the flora and fauna that call them home. It’s part of what makes the Outback so special – and a feeling you won’t quite understand until you experience it for yourself.

Want to make it happen? Talk to us and we’ll help create your bespoke adventure in this vast, otherworldly region.

Holidays in Outback & Northern Territory

Hotel

Uluru & The Red Centre
5 Star

Longitude 131°

Wake to uninterrupted views of Uluru at this luxury basecamp in Australia’s spiritual heart.

Hotel

Uluru & The Red Centre
4 Star

Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel

Boasts delightful gardens with Uluru views

Hotel

Darwin & the Top End
4 Star

Cicada Lodge, Katherine

An eco-luxe resort, rich with indigenous culture in Nitmiluk National Park.

Hotel

Darwin & the Top End
4 Star

Mantra on the Esplanade

Superb waterfront location

Hotel

Darwin & the Top End
4 Star

Mercure Alice Springs Resort

Riverside, close to the centre of Alice Springs

Hotel

Darwin & the Top End
3 Star

Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel

Crocodile-shaped hotel in Kakadu National Park

Hotel

Darwin & the Top End
4 Star

Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront

Superb waterfront location

Hotel

Uluru & The Red Centre
3.5 Star

Kings Canyon Resort

Sensitively-designed wilderness accommodation

Hotel

Uluru & The Red Centre
4.5 Star

Voyages Sails in the Desert

Striking architecture in premium hotel

A Night at Field of Light

In Outback & Northern Territory

Savour canapés and sparkling wine as the sun slowly sets over Uluru, with the sound of the didgeridoo setting the scene. Watch the coloured lights of 50,000 glass spheres illuminate the vast night sky while enjoying a three-course bushtucker-inspired buffet menu. Learn about the background and significance of the installation before following illuminated paths through the field.

Tali Wiru

In Outback & Northern Territory

Tali Wiru means ‘beautiful dune’ in the local Anangu language and this open-air restaurant offers an intimate dining experience under the starry Southern Desert sky. Enjoy breathtaking sunset views of Uluru and the domes of Kata Tjuta whilst dining on a four-course dinner of world-class cuisine, premium Australian wine and indigenous storytelling.

Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Spend an atmospheric evening dining beneath a sky full of lights. Wintjiri Wiru is a cultural experience at the Ayers Rock Resort. This immersive event begins on a platform for sunset with a cocktail with views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Once seated in the amphitheatre, guests are treated to a gourmet hamper celebrating native ingredients, paired perfectly with their choice of Australian wine or beer. As the sun sets and darkness falls, guests are treated to a spectacular display of drones, lights, traditional music, and Pitjantjatjara language, which come together to bring to life the Mala story under the desert sky. As the Anangu people are the custodians of the land, they hold the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru. To share this story with guests, drones, light, and sound create an immersive storytelling experience.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Sunrise and Breakfast at Kata Tjuta

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Experience the serene beauty of Kata Tjuta during the early morning hours. As the sun rises, witness the iconic Central Australian landmark's changing colours. Enjoy a picnic breakfast while taking in the magnificent view. Walking through Walpa Gorge, you will learn about the diverse environment and how the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. Take a moment to listen to the sound of the wind above and appreciate the scale of the rock walls surrounding you.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Uluru Sacred Sights & Sunset

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Spend an afternoon exploring Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, starting with a visit to the Cultural Centre, where you will have time to see the galleries and watch local Aboriginal artists at work. Afterwards, you’ll head to the base of Uluru, where your local guide will share the Aboriginal creation stories that give life to this giant formation. You’ll walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole, where your guide will interpret the meaning of the ancient rock art and sacred sites you’ll see along the way. Finally, travel to the Uluru sunset viewing area, where you can relax with sparkling wine as you witness a famous Uluru sunset. After the sunset, you’ll return to Ayers Rock Resort.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round\ • Group experience

Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Wake up early to visit Talinguru Nyakunytjaku, the Uluru sunrise viewing area. Witness the sun's first rays lighting the desert with hot tea or coffee. You’ll then visit the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta, enjoying panoramic views of the southern side of Kata Tjuta at a dune viewing platform before arriving at Walpa Gorge. Take time to explore the gorge and its unusual conglomerate rock formations. The 1.3km walking trail through Walpa Gorge follows the natural creek between two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round\ • Group experience

Uluru Trek

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

As you embark on a sunrise trek around Uluru's 12-kilometre base trail, you can immerse yourself in the culture, geology, and environment that define this remarkable monolith. Your guide will entertain you with the cultural stories and Aboriginal creation stories associated with this central Australian icon. During your journey, you’ll observe the sunrise, explore waterholes, and visit the rock art sites of the ancients while learning about Uluru's cultural significance to the Anangu people.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Uluru Tour and Sunset

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Join a guide on a small group tour vehicle to explore the significance of Uluru – the most profound and culturally important monolith in Australia. Get to know Uluru's culture, geology, and environment as you stroll through Mutitjulu Waterhole, explore the Mala Walk, and visit rock art sites. Your guide will explain the significance of Uluru to the Anangu people and the local aboriginal community. Afterwards, head to the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku viewing area to witness an uninterrupted sunset over Uluru with Kata Tjuta in the distance, sipping on chilled sparkling wine.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Uluru & Kata Tjuta

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Spend a full day getting to know Kata Tjuta and Uluru. Experience the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere of a spiritual place as the colours of the sunrise change over Kata Tjuta. Enjoy a delightful picnic breakfast, then walk through Walpa Gorge to learn about this diverse environment and how the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. Take some time to appreciate the sound of the wind high above and the vastness of the rock walls that surround you.

Later, you’ll join a guide and a small group to tour one of Australia's most profound and culturally significant monoliths, Uluru. Your journey will take you to the Mutitjulu Waterhole, followed by the Mala Walk and a visit to rock art sites. Your guide will share their knowledge of Uluru's importance to the Anangu people and the local Indigenous community.

• Departs daily • Operates year-round • Group experience

Kata Tjuta Sunrise & Valley of the Winds

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Join a guide on a journey to Kata Tjuta and learn about the area's geological history. Witness a sunrise over the domes of Kata Tjuta and Uluru in the distance while enjoying a light breakfast. Then, you’ll embark on the Valley of the Winds walk, starting at the Karu Lookout. Your guide will share the area's significance to the Anangu people and how they have used the natural landscape for thousands of years. Follow the rocky path down to the valley at the base of the massive domes, watching for local birds and wildlife. As you reach Karingana, look for incredible views over the plain and domes before returning to Ayers Rock Resort in time for lunch.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Uluru Morning Guided Base Walk

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Begin your day early with a trip to Uluru's base for breakfast. Your driver and guide will accompany you as you embark on the Uluru base walk at sunrise, starting at Kuniya Piti. On this sacred site, you'll hear the Tjukurpa story of the Mala Men and the local Aboriginal people's beliefs and laws. You'll continue anticlockwise around Uluru to the Mala Walk, one of the most significant habitation areas for the local Aboriginal people over thousands of years. The Mala Walk includes a visit to Kantju Gorge, where, after rainfall, water cascades over the side of Uluru and falls some 90 meters. After a brief break, you'll continue to the Lungkata Walk, where your guide will tell you the Tjukurpa story of the cheeky Blue Tongue Lizard. The next stop is the Mutitjulu Waterhole, once an essential water source for the Anangu people. Your guide will highlight the landscape's natural features and Aboriginal rock paintings and share more traditional stories about this special place. Finally, you'll walk back to Kuniya Piti, where your walk began, and board your air-conditioned coach for the short trip back to Ayers Rock Resort.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round\ • Group experience

Desert Awakenings in Uluru

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Experience the peace and stillness of the early morning desert under a canopy of stars. Witness the incredible transformation of colours and life as the sun rises and the desert comes to life, with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as an incredible backdrop. Accompanied by an expert guide, Desert Awakenings is a specially designed tour introducing you to this fantastic region's natural and cultural landscapes. As you watch the distant domes of Kata Tjuta come into view, you'll enjoy a delicious Aussie breakfast of bacon and egg rolls, along with tea, coffee, and homemade treats.

After breakfast, your guide will explain the region's natural history. As the daylight reveals animal tracks in the sand, you’ll gain insight into what activity occurred during the night. Once the sun is up, there’s a guided tour at the base of Uluru. The first stop is Kuniya, where you will take a short walk to the Mutitjulu waterhole. Visiting here will help you appreciate its cathedral-like proportions and why it is a powerful and spiritual place for Anangu, local Aboriginal people. Your guide will explain some of the rock paintings as told by the Anangu people. The next stop is the Cultural Centre, a vibrant and engaging learning place where Anangu's local lore is explained in detail.

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday departures • Operates year-round • Group experience

West MacDonnell Ranges

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

Tjoritja West MacDonnell Ranges is a kaleidoscope ancient landscape that extends for 100 miles from Alice Springs. Witness the shades of purple, maroon and orange as you travel through the outback, hearing about the region’s history and geology. Visit John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve where the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service is laid to rest, before heading out on a couple of walks: one at the natural opening in the red rock, Simpsons Gap, where you may spot a black-footed rock wallaby; and the other at Stanley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye, a narrow slot canyon that’s been shaped by rain and flood waters that is of huge cultural importance to (and owned by) the Arrernte community.

• Daily departures from Alice Springs
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Entry to the national park requires a NT Parks Pass which is not included in the excursion.

A Town Like Alice with Alice Springs Desert Park

In Outback & Northern Territory Uluru & The Red Centre

This full-day tour is an excellent introduction to the cultural hub of Australia’s Red Centre, Alice Springs (known as Mparntwe in Arrernte). Prior to your tour of town, there’ll be time to visit Alice Springs Desert Park, where you can learn about the arid landscapes that surround Alice Springs, the region’s native wildlife and the Aboriginal survival in these harsh environments. After lunch, it’s time to start the guide part of the tour; you’ll be led by a passionate and knowledgeable guide who’ll explain how a simple waterhole beside a telegraph station became such an important Northern Territory town in the 21st Century.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Get to know Outback & Northern Territory and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital Capital of Northern Territory: Darwin

TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT +9½ hours; the Northern Territory does not observe daylight savings time so is 8½ hours ahead of British Summer Time.

CURRENCY

Australian Dollar

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

Darwin: 23 hours (not including stopover time)

RELIGION

Majority Christian

LANGUAGE

Australia has no official language but the majority of people speak English as their first language. Approximately 250 indigenous Australia languages are spoken.

Where is the Outback and Northern Territory?
The Northern Territory sprawls across the centre of the country, reaching up to the north coast and bordering Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. Darwin International Airport is the biggest and busiest transport hub, while Alice Springs also has its own airport. For Uluru, you can fly direct to Ayers Rock Connellan Airport, located just a few miles north of the national park in the small town of Yulara.

Darwin
The capital of the Northern Territory, Darwin combines all the charm of a small town with the lures of a big city, then adds in a whole melting pot of cultures; it’s closer to Bali than Bondi, and Southeast Asian influences can be felt across the city. Head to Midnil Beach Sunset Market for fragrant bowls of laksa and Vietnamese summer rolls sold beside quintessentially Aussie barramundi burgers, then check out the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory to browse its impressive Aboriginal art collection. Also well worth a wander is the waterfront, where you’ll find a slew of restaurants and bars alongside a wave pool, lagoon and beach – ideal for soaking up the city’s tropical climes.

The Top End
Australia’s Top End has gained legendary status for good reason, with the Unesco-listed Kakadu National Park the largest of its kind in Australia, sprawling 7,500 square miles. Head to the now renowned sites of Ubirr and Nourlangie to see their Aboriginal rock art, or hop on a boat to explore the Yellow Water Wetlands, a lush billabong home to a third of Australia’s bird species. A few hours west you’ll find Litchfield National Park, known for its cascading waterfalls and crystal-clear swimming holes, while south lies Nitmiluk National Park, home of the Katherine Gorge. Here rapids carve their way through a series of 13 sandstone gorges, while freshwater crocs lurch on the banks in true Crocodile Dundee style.

Alice Springs
The gateway to the Red Centre, Alice Springs is the Outback at its most quintessential. Visit the old Telegraph Station, built in the 1870s to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide, and browse the home of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, whose museum offers a fascinating glimpse into their 24-hour emergency work. Climb to the top of Anzac Hill for sweeping views, and stop by Alice Springs Desert Park to see some of central Australia’s rarest wildlife. There’s an impressive art scene here, too; swing by the Araluen Arts Centre to explore indigenous art from the Central Desert region, or visit the Aboriginal-owned Papunya Tjupi Arts organisation to browse works by leading contemporary painters.

Red Rock icons
There’s nothing quite like glimpsing Uluru, the largest sandstone monolith in the world, rising from a stretch of burgundy red sand – especially magical at sunset, when the sky blazes peach and violet above. Close by, the giant Kata Tjuta domes rise up in huge, ochre blobs like something from another planet. Together they form Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, an expanse of desert that’s been a sacred place for the Anangu people for more than 30,000 years. Pair explorations here with a visit to Kings Canyon, located a three-hour drive north and known for its dramatic sandstone formations, and strike out on the Rim Walk for panoramic views over the surrounding, otherworldly copper dunes.

West MacDonnell Ranges
Just west of Alice Springs, this collection of scenic gorges, rivers and deep, dramatic chasms is a dream for hikers, with a myriad of trails to explore if you’re looking to strike out. It’s also a refuge for birds and other wildlife, including the rare peregrine falcon, and there’s a number of idyllic watering holes to swim in – among them Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge, both flanked by towering red rocks. The colourful, marble-like Ochre Pits have been used as a quarry by local Aboriginal people for thousands of years, so there’s ample history to explore here, too.

Aboriginal culture
The Northern Territory is one of the best places to head if you’re interested in learning about Aboriginal culture. Indigenous rock art sites are found across the region, from Kakadu and Arnhem Land to Uluru and Watarrka National Park, telling Dreamtime stories from millennia past. Many tours here are led by Aboriginal guides, and there’s a plethora of festivals to get involved in, providing a glimpse into the cultures and traditions that have been an intrinsic part of the region’s identity for more than 50,000 years.

Outback & Northern Territory Weather

Best time to go

May - Oct

January

28°c

February

27°c

March

27°c

April

28°c

May

27°c

June

25°c

July

25°c

August

26°c

September

28°c

October

29°c

November

29°c

December

28°c

Outback & Northern Territory Weather by Month

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