Going overseas can get a little awkward. People find out you’re from Oz, get all excited + ask if you’ve been to all the places that they’ve either been to, or are interested in visiting. You haven’t, which is something hard to explain or justify when you’re travelling the rest of the world before your very own backyard.
The Northern Territory can easily fall onto that list – Byron has been on life rotation but never have we seen Uluru in its IRL glory, which is relatively cooked considering how much beauty and history the NT possesses throughout.
Below: all the reasons why you should be venturing to the NT for your next vaycay, + the essential travel info from getting around to where to get the zzz’s.
HOW THE HECK DO YOU GET THERE?
Photo: Flickr / Tony Bowden.
The common perception is that the Northern Territory is real far away. And sure, it might be, but it’s very accessible and 10/10 worth the trek.
Depending on where you live, you can get to the NT by plane into Darwin Airport, Alice Springs Airport or Uluru Airport, in a camper van, car or 4WD (highly recommended for the scenic routes alone), via train on The Ghan from Adelaide, or bus if you’re coming from SA, WA or QLD.
WHERE DO YOU GET THE SWEET SHUT-EYE?
Photo: Supplied.
Well, you have a few options to get the best of the best from the NT on a budget.
If you’ve chosen a campervan to get around the NT well congratulations, you’ve made a swell choice. Your transport can double up as accommodation too, just make sure you limit yourself to truck stops and camping grounds. It will still be cheaper / easier in the long run, and you can always pack a tent for nights you wanna mix things up.
Darwin + surrounds:
Melaleuca on Mitchell from $27 p/n. More info here.
Youthshack from $26 p/n. More info here.
Uluru + surrounds:
Ayers Rock YHA from $34.20 p/n. More info here.
Katherine + surrounds:
Palm Court Budget Motel & Backpackers from $27 p/n. More info here.
Darwin + surrounds:
Litchfield Safari Park from $15 p/n. More info here.
Mary River Wilderness Retreat from $27 p/n. More info here.
Shady Campground Mary River from $3.30 p/n. More info here.
Katherine + surrounds
Bitter Springs Cabins and Camping from $25 p/n. More info here.
Lorella Springs Wilderness Park from $10. More info here.
WHAT’S THE BEST STUFF TO DO N’ SEE?
Litchfield National Park
Photo: Flickr / Alan Lam.
100km southwest of Darwin, Litchfield National Park is a massive goer for tourists with over 260K of us flocking their every year. Florence Falls, above, is a hotspot to dip your feet into. Keep your eyes big for the big termite mounds on the drive there. You can even stay the night with camping options close by, one of which is incl. in the list above.
Photo: Instagram / @cleocohen.
Kakadu National Park is a three-hour drive from Darwin and 11/10 #worthit. Whether you wanna hit up the natural infinity above, called Gunlom, or want to check Jim Jim Falls, Maguk, Yellow Water Wetlands or Aboriginal art (Nourlangie Rock Art site + Ubirr Rock), this place has it all. If you can get a 4WD do it, because some of the destinations require some trusty assistance.
Mitchell Street
Photo: Specialdays.com.au.
Darwin is known for its backpacker party lifestyle, more specifically Mitchell Street. After a day out soaking up the sun, down a frothy or five with mates old and new because drinking weather is all year-round in the NT.
“Every bar is different – every bar is good during the day for everyone for lunch etc, but Monsoons is more the party bar, Wisdom is more live music and Tap Bar is just a chilled bar to chat. And Shenanigans is the Irish pub.” – Adam Lyons.
Jumping Croc Tour
If you fork out for one tour on your trip make it this one. Basically you get on a big boat out on Adelaide River where the crocs come up right next to you to get meat. Dw, you’ll be safe.
Photo: Australiaforeveryone.com.
“They have heaps of little stores and food, & killer sunsets!” – Brooke Donovan.
Field of Light is a different way to see Aboriginal landmark Uluru at night. The installation by international artist Bruce Munro includes 50K solar-powered glass spheres blooming with light after the sun sets and it’s bloody beaut. It’s on until December 31, 2020 and prices start from $39. More info here.
At the northern end of Elsey National Park (106km north of Katherine) is the naturally beautiful Bitter Springs, a spring-fed thermal pool lined with cabbage palms.
Southern Rockhole
An 8km hiking track will get you here, and heck, if this was waiting for me after every exercising session I’d be bloody fit, I tells ya.
For more on all things NT, get around #NTAustralia on the ‘gram.
See you in the NT. 😉
