What are the best things to do in the Northern Territory?

The best things to do in the Northern Territory, including the Uluru Base Walk, crocodile cruises, Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu and scenic flights over Kings Canyon.

Detailed answer: The Northern Territory represents Australia at its most wild and rugged. Despite a tiny population, the area of the Northern Territory is vast. It’s a place of big rocks, big national parks, towering escarpments and ancient Aboriginal rock art.

The Northern Territory generally splits into two sections – the tropical Top End around capital Darwin, and the Red Centre. Alice Springs is the hub for the latter. Between these two areas is a whole lot of nothing, sprinkled with the occasional attraction worth seeing.

The Northern Territory’s highlights are surprisingly accessible. A balance has been struck in the major national parks between preserving the landscapes and ecosystems, and allowing visitors to explore them. But the experience never feels sterilised.

Australia Travel Questions has dozens of attractions and activities in the Northern Territory covered. Several of these are in Darwin – and the best things to do in Darwin are covered on a separate page.

The best things to do in the Northern Territory outside of Darwin, however, are collated here. This is an incomplete list, and will be added to as the site grows. But it should act as a good taste of the attractions and activities Australia’s Northern Territory has to offer.

Things to do in the Northern Territory: Top End

String together national parks on a Top End driving route.

Take a floatplane tour to Sweets Lagoon.

Fly from Darwin to Groote Eylandt for a Gulf of Carpentaria fishing charter.

Get close to nature in the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park.

Take the Tiwi Islands ferry to Bathurst Island for a cultural tour.

See massive crocodiles on a Corroboree Billabong cruise.

Visit Kakadu – the biggest national park in Australia.

Find out why Kakadu is World Heritage-listed.

Climb Ubirr for sensational views of the East Alligator River floodplain.

Stay in a crocodile-shaped hotel.

Discover ancient Aboriginal rock art at the Anbangbang rock art gallery.

Take a scenic flight over the mighty Jim Jim Falls.

See crocodiles and paperbark trees on a Yellow Water cruise in Kakadu National Park.

Go birdwatching at the Mamukala Wetlands.

Drive your 4WD across the notoriously dangerous Cahills Crossing into Arnhem Land.

See giant termite mounds and stunning waterfalls in Litchfield National Park.

Walk the Tabletop Track in Litchfield National Park.

Go camping in Litchfield National Park.

Near Katherine, explore Katherine Gorge in a canoe.

Walk the Jatbula Trail in the Nitmiluk National Park.

Enjoy a swim at the Katherine Hot Springs in Katherine.

Have a beer or seven in the Daly Waters Pub.

Enjoy the swimming holes while camping at Lorella Springs Wilderness Park near Borroloola.

Things to do in the Northern Territory: Red Centre

Discover why Australian camels are so valuable on a camel tour in Alice Springs.

Help bottle-feed kangaroos at the Alice Springs Kangaroo Sanctuary.

Self-drive the Red Centre after renting a car in Alice Springs.

Walk the Larapinta Trail from Alice Springs, stopping for a swim at Ellery Creek Big Hole.

Go on an Indigenous cultural tour at Standley Chasm.

Visit Mount Conner, aka the ‘fake Uluru’, on the drive from Alice Springs to Uluru.

Get up early for the Uluru Base Walk. No, you can’t climb Uluru any more.

Take a dot painting workshop at Uluru.

Skip the tour buses by hiring a car at Uluru.

Marvel at the sheer size of Uluru while enjoying the Sounds of Silence dinner from a dune top.

Take in sunrise and sunset at Uluru.

Go on a Segway tour around Uluru.

Take a scenic helicopter flight at Uluru.

Go for a camel ride at Uluru.

Do the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata-Tjuta.

Tackle the Kings Canyon Rim Walk in Watarrka National Park.

Take a scenic flight over Kings Canyon.

Things to do in the Northern Territory: Somewhere in-between

Possibly see aliens at the Wycliffe Well roadhouse.

Watch the sun rise over the Devil’s Marbles.

Stop for fuel and bewilderment at the bizarre Stuart Highway roadhouses.