WHY THE NT IS YOUR NEXT INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION

Got itchy travel feet? You don’t have to go far for worldly wonders, different cuisines and getting lost in nature

STORY & IMAGES COURTESY OF TOURISM NT

A Northern Territory holiday has all this in spades. Flights are no more than three or four hours, and there’s no currency conversion or language barrier. The NT’s massive natural wonders, spectacular waterfalls, vast clear blue skies, star-filled nights, wondrous wildlife, larrikin locals, quirky experiences and culinary magic guarantee it’s different in every sense — and without the crowds, it will energise your soul.

Exploring the West MacDonnell Ranges

TAKE A HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE THAT RIVALS TURKEY’S CAPPADOCIA

Float across Australia’s Red Centre in a hot air balloon with Outback Ballooning, looking towards the MacDonnell Ranges. Majestically peaceful, your finale is light refreshments on thousands of years old silky red sands in Australia’s heartland.

Outback ballooning early in the morning

EXCHANGE ICELAND’S BLUE LAGOON FOR A SOAK IN THE TOP END’S OWN NATURAL THERMAL SPRINGS

Prefer emerald green and natural thermal turquoise waters to float away the hours? Forget Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. The palm-lined, spring-fed Mataranka Thermal Pool and nearby Bitter Springs (both located in Elsey National Park) are your heavenly solaces, where you can restore your equilibrium with surrounding birdsong.

Looking down at Mataranka Thermal Pool

SWIM IN OUTBACK WATERHOLES THAT ARE EASIER TO ACCESS THAN GRAND CANYON’S HAVASU FALLS

Throughout the Red Centre there are easily accessible, crowd-free and croc-free waterholes to splash around in. Hidden between towering red rock walls, around an hour’s drive from Alice Springs relax in the cool and refreshing waters of Ellery Creek Big Hole, Glen Helen Gorge, Ormiston Gorge and Redbank Gorge at the base of Mt Sonder. All have walking trails and camping nearby, and your only neighbours are beautiful birds, curious lizards and marsupials.

Swimming at Ellery Creek Big Hole

DO MORE IN HELICOPTERS AROUND THE NT THAN NEW ZEALAND’S MILFORD SOUND

Helicopter trips make short work of distances in the NT and allow access to some of the world’s most breathtaking slices of nature.

In Litchfield National Park, from Wangi Falls get a bird’s eye view of the tabletop escarpment region, land at some of the more remote surrounding waterholes, or privately toast a sensational sunset among the massive magnetic termite mounds.

Soar over Uluru, marvelling at this monolith’s sheer size and scale, the panoramic vistas and dramatic gorges at Kings Canyon, then land on Mount Conner savouring the peace and calm.

Take a heli-fishing tour to catch that elusive barramundi on a Top End isolated beach or waterway. Drink your way around the Top End on a Heli Pub Crawl to five unique and out-of-theway ‘pubs’ including Dundee Beach, Crab Claw Island and Goat Island on Adelaide River for a refreshing ale and substantial lunch. Fly over plains, lagoons and rivers spotting crocodiles basking in the sun, herds of buffalo, wild horses and myriads of birds along the way.

Heli Pub Crawl landing at Crab Claw Island

GET A GUARANTEED FACEOFF WITH NUMEROUS TOP END CROCODILES

Forget about looking for the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland, come and smile at the Top End’s crocodiles. While you can do this in Darwin, seeing them in their natural habitat is unforgettable. Learn about these prehistoric monsters on an Adelaide River cruise or take an Outback Floatplane half-day adventure. Land on a remote lagoon and join the flat-bottom cruise boat for a cooked breakfast or lunch while nature surrounds you. Jump aboard an airboat for a spin around the surrounding wetlands and say hello to several resident crocs before having the opportunity to do a cage swim in the waters beside the boat.

ONLY THE NORTHERN TERRITORY HAS THE WORLD’S OLDEST OUTDOOR ART GALLERIES

Nowhere else in the world will you find the impressive selection of ancient rock art sites that you’ll encounter throughout the Territory. Get back to nature and awaken your senses while viewing these magnificent, culturally significant, outdoor art galleries via a range of invigorating walks around Kakadu’s Ubirr and Nourlangie, Mt Borradaile in Arnhem Land and Uluru in the Red Centre.

People looking at rock art at Ubirr

SATISFY YOUR SOUL WITH A SAFARI STAY IN THE NT INSTEAD OF AFRICA

Extend your natural wilderness experience without compromising comfort in real beds. The NT has several stunning African-style safari camp options including the secluded Top End Safari Camp (created and designed by Matt Wright, of Outback Wrangler fame) near Finniss River with gourmet meals, beverages and outback adventures on offer.

Hide out in Hideaway luxury cabins in Litchfield National Park; get treated like royalty at five-star Cicada Lodge at Nitmiluk Gorge or relax and recharge at Bamurru Plains luxury tented bungalows on the Mary River floodplains, west of Kakadu National Park.

At Watarrka National Park, home to Kings Canyon, wake up to peaceful crested bellbirds singing and take in jaw-dropping desert views at Kings Canyon Resort or Kings Creek Station Dreamtime Escarpment — a working cattle and camel station set amongst desert oaks.

Glamping at Kings Canyon Resort

SWAP THE CROWDS ON HAWAII’S WAIKIKI BEACH FOR TURTLES AND EAST ARNHEM LAND’S ABORIGINAL CULTURE

Share the vast white sands with local turtles, enjoy fishing and learn Yolngu Aboriginal culture at the eco-friendly beachfront resort, Banu Banu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island in East Arnhem Land, a vast area filled with remote and rugged coastlines, and white sandy beaches. This area can be accessed from Darwin by flight or by taking the Central Arnhem Road via the turnoff 50 km south of Katherine.

Tropical paradise at Banu Banu

EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE BEST OUTDOOR DINING IN THE WORLD

Move over Europe, the Northern Territory’s culinary creations will tantalise your taste buds and satisfy your wildest cravings. Choose sophisticated white-tablecloth fine dining under a million stars overlooking Uluru and Kata Tjuta at Sounds of Silence or Tali Wiru; cruise along the ancient gorge of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge on the Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise or get back to bush with Bob Taylor with RT Tours in the Red Centre. All are guaranteed to be memorable epicurean experiences.

TASTE YOUR WAY THROUGH ALL OF ASIA’S FAVOURITE FOODS AT DARWIN MARKETS

Given the geographical location, it’s not surprising that you’ll find a proud selection of aromatic Asian delights and markets on offer around here.

While Parap Markets on a Saturday morning are the local favourite (Mary’s Laksa is practically a Darwin institution), Mindil Beach Sunset Markets are unmissable. It’s the perfect way to end a dry season Thursday or Sunday between April and October. With endless local handicraft and food stalls, it’s always challenging to choose. Enjoy your dinner on the beach as you watch another amazing day disappear in an array of burnt oranges, reds, blues and purples while being serenaded by local musicians.

Mindil Beach Sunset Markets

DON’T MISS

Beanies, beer cans and black metal. Territorians love a good festival! Here's our pick of some of the Northern Territory's quirkier events, all held during dry season, the most popular time to visit.

ULURU CAMEL CUP – MAY

All class and no grass – Uluru Camel Cup is like the Melbourne Cup, with some extra humps thrown in. Enjoy all the racing action and fashion you’d expect from a trackside event, against a stunning desert backdrop in the Red Centre.

ALICE SPRINGS BEANIE FESTIVAL – JUNE

Beanies, berets, and toques – they’re all here at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival. Yep, it’s a whole festival dedicated to knitted headwear in the middle of the Australian desert. From the flamboyant to the fashion forward, you’re bound to find a one-of-a-kind piece to keep you warm this winter.

HENLEY-ON-TODD REGATTA – AUGUST

No water? No problem! Hosted on a dry riverbed, the Henley-on-Todd Regatta is as close as you’ll get to a seaside escapade in the desert. Join a team and man a bottomless ship with your legs, in Flintstones style.

DARWIN LIONS BEER CAN REGATTA – SEPTEMBER

The Beer Can Regatta is the event that combines recycling and building boats in a spectacular way. Build a ‘tinny’ from tin-cans and set sail on an epic maiden voyage from Darwin’s Mindil Beach. When you’re ready to dock, grab a feed next door at the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets.

Wangi Falls flowing

MAIN IMAGE: Couple hiking the Kings Canyon