Outback & Northern Territory Holidays

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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