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Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is often referred to as the last frontier. With only 1% of the population living in nearly 20% of the country's area, it is famous for its wide open spaces and outback landscapes. The Stuart Highway's 1500km of bitumen connects Alice Springs in the Centre with Darwin on the north coast. As you travel up or down the highway you'll notice the contrast between the Centre's aridness and the humid, tropical wetness of the Top End in the monsoon season. In the Territory there are unique landscapes such as the Central Australian Desert, the rugged MacDonnell Ranges and the most iconic natural landmark of Australia, Uluru / Ayers Rock. In the Top End the wetlands and escarpments of Kakadu National Park, a treasure of wildlife and Aboriginal rock painting, can be found. Australia's Outback Northern Territory is also renowned for its friendly laidback lifestyle and colourful characters. The type you'll meet at one of the legendary outback pubs, cattle stations or country towns.

Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and arguably Australia's most cosmopolitan city. This lively and modern coastal city of less than 100,000 people welcomes visitors with unpretentious friendliness, and is nestled in a tropical landscape. Darwin is the ideal gateway to explore many national parks, like Litchfield, Kakadu or Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge). Darwin is charming and besides the art galleries there is a variety of caf's and restaurants. There is a number of events including the Beer Can Regatta, where only boats constructed from beer cans are allowed to compete.

Alice Springs is probably the best known town in the Northern Territory and is the heart of Central Australia. Framed by the MacDonnell Ranges, The Alice offers proof of Australia's history one of the first telegraph stations can be visited, a base of the Royal Flying Doctors Service and many other landmarks provide a glimpse of how different Outback life was and still is today. Though surrounded by desert, Alice is popular with visitors because of it's relative closeness to some of the country's most spectacular natural attractions including Uluru / Ayers Rock, the Olgas and Kings Canyon.