Northern Territory Attractions

Located part way between Alice Springs and Uluru in Watarrka National Park is magnificent Kings Canyon, which boasts the deepest gorge in the Red Centre. Sandstone walls tower more than 100 meters above Kings Creek that meanders below, with sections of the gorge forming part of a sacred Aboriginal site to the Luritja people.

Perennial waterholes lie at the bottom of the canyon, while lush ferns and palm forests comprise the Garden of Eden in the upper part of the gorge. Above the canyon lies the Lost City plateau where red sandstone rocks have been weathered into what appears like ruined houses and streets. More than 600 different species of native plants and animals live within and around Kings Canyon, including zebra finch, peregrine falcon and black-breasted buzzard.

There are three different walks to select from at King Canyon, including the challenging 6-kilometer-long Kings Canyon Rim Walk that takes around 3-4 hours...

Situated in the heart of the Red Centre is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It includes one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock), as well as the dome-shaped rock formations of Kata Tjuta, or the Olgas, which lie around 40 kilometers away.

Uluru is a massive sandstone monolith that rises 348 meters in the middle of the surrounding desert. It’s of sacred importance to the traditional custodians of the land, the Anangu people, who believe the landscape was created by their ancestors at the very beginning of time. Head to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to learn more about the traditional law that guides the indigenous people here or take a dot painting workshop to discover how Aboriginal culture is expressed through art. You can also embark on a guided walk around the base of Uluru to learn more about the traditions and Dreamtime stories associated with the rock, although the indigenous custodians request that you don’t climb it...

Kakadu boasts beautiful gorges and waterfalls, including Jim Jim Falls, Gunlom Falls and Twin Falls, as well as spectacular wetlands such as the Yellow Water Billabong and the Mamukala Wetlands. It’s considered one of the best destinations in Australia for bird watching, with around 30 percent of the country’s species found here, as well as being home to large saltwater crocodiles in the East Alligator River and at Yellow Water...

Boasting an outstanding collection of aircraft that have played a role in the history of Australia is the Darwin Aviation Heritage Centre. It was established in 1976 when a group of aviation enthusiasts wanted to preserve relics following the destruction of Cyclone Tracy, with the current museum opening its doors to the public in 1990.

The Australian Aviation Heritage Centre is one of the most important aviation museums in Australia. It was built on the site where a fierce air combat took place during World War II when the Top End experienced more than 60 Japanese attacks. It is managed by members of the Aviation Historical Society and is today one of Darwin’s most popular attractions.

There’s an impressive range of Spitfires and Tiger Moth biplanes, most of which are in outstanding condition, as well as a Hovey Delta Bird, a de Havilland Dove and a Westland Wessex. The museum is not just about showcasing aircraft and aircraft engines but allowing the public to interact with them...

Located at East Point, the Defence of Darwin Experience provides an immersive look at the role the city played in World War II. Visual and multimedia displays offer first-hand accounts of the Bombing of Darwin, together with artifacts and objects that reflect the city’s tumultuous past.

The Defence of Darwin Experience is divided into numerous chronological sections, beginning with a look at Darwin as a “frontier town”. It then explains the build-up to war in the Northern Territory and the events that occurred following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The museum then launches into the “Bombing of Darwin” itself and the counter offensive that took place.

The “Bombing of Darwin” experience includes an 11-minute animation that depicts the Japanese bombing of the city on the 19th February 1942. High-quality sound adds to the atmosphere, offering a taste of what it must have been like for Darwin’s residents...

Set within Nitmiluk National Park, around 250 kilometers southeast of Darwin, Katherine Gorge is an undisputed highlight of visiting the Northern Territory. It borders Kakadu National Park and is of particular importance to the Jawoyn people who are the custodians of the land here. In their language, the name Nitmiluk translates as “place of the cicada dreaming”.

Katherine Gorge comprises thirteen different gorges (some up to 100 meters in depth) that have been carved by the Katherine River through the ancient sandstone of the southern Arnhem Land plateau. During the dry season, the river carries little water and the gorges become a series of pools separated by rocks and boulders. But during the wet season, the river surges dramatically, creating an impressive natural spectacle.

Nitmiluk National Park is home a diverse range of wildlife, including more than 160 species of birds such as endangered Gouldian finches and red-winged parrots, as well as stealthy, freshwater crocodiles...

Named after Frederick Henry Litchfield who was an early pioneer and explorer in the Northern Territory, Litchfield National Park is one of the most popular day trips from Darwin. It features waterfalls and springs along the Table Top Range escarpment, with tropical monsoon forests, giant termite mounds and natural swimming holes.

Litchfield National Park is easily explored with your own vehicle, with most attractions linked by a sealed road that is accessible by two-wheel drive cars. Florence Falls is a double-plunge waterhole with an idyllic swimming hole at the base, while Buley Rockhole includes a long series of cascading plunge pools. Wangi Falls is one of Litchfield’s most popular destinations, with swimming available here depending on water levels, while Tolmer Falls plunges dramatically over two high escarpments.

The Lost City is a formation of large sandstone columns near Tolmer Falls, while the ruins of the Blythe Homestead are heritage-listed as an example of early bush outstation architecture...

Set within the West MacDonnell Ranges just a short drive from Alice Springs, Simpsons Gap is one of the most prominent gaps in the region and the site of a permanent waterhole. Its rugged cliffs stand in striking contrast to the desert plains and dunes that surround the gap, with white-barked ghost gums and eucalyptus dotting the landscape.

Simpsons Gap is of spiritual importance to the Arrernte people who have inhabited the region for centuries. It is known to them as “Rungutjirpa” and is home to their giant goanna ancestors, as well as being a setting for numerous Dreamtime stories.

Simpsons Gap is home to large stands of Mulga vegetation, as well as a number of rare species from Outback Australia. Black-footed rock wallabies can often be seen along the walking trail that passes through the gap, together with charismatic thorny devil lizards. If you’re visiting after the rains, then numerous frog species can also be heard and spotted...

Situated to the north of Darwin’s city center on the edge of Fannie Bay is the ever-popular Mindil Beach Markets. It takes place every Thursday and Sunday evening during the dry months of April through to October and is particularly famed for its magnificent sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

The name “Mindil” is from the Larrakia indigenous Aboriginal word meaning “sweet nut grass” and was originally the name given to a swamp located behind Darwin’s CBD. The market was established in the late-1980s when some local entrepreneurs wanted to bring an Asian-style night market to Darwin and it was originally set up in the Darwin Mall, before being moved to the Mindil Beach Reserve.

The market consists of around 60 different food stalls selling everything from Thai to Greek and Indian dishes, as well as more than 100 local handicraft stalls. Shop for vintage fashions or handmade jewelry, as well as indigenous paintings and ceramics...

Located at Knuckey Lagoon, around 15 minutes’ drive from Darwin’s city center, Crocodylus Park was set up by renowned crocodile biologist Professor Grahame Webb. There are both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles of all ages on display, from 30 centimeter-long hatchlings to giant 5-meter specimens, as well as a number of American alligators.

It’s not only a great place to see crocodiles up close or even hold a baby crocodile but also learn about their behavior and biology. You can see daily crocodile feedings to witness their power and stealth, as well as witness a range of big cats (tigers, ocelots and white lions), monkeys, birds, turtles and snakes that also call the park home.

Crocodylus Park is owned and operated by Wildlife Management International to promote the sustainable tourism use of animals, as well as to conduct vital research into crocodiles and other species. It is also designed as an educational tool to give the public a better understanding of what is an often feared creature...