Helpful Travel Information - Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has some of the most spectacular sights in the country - barren deserted outback, lush tropical rainforest, unique wildlife and, of course, the big three: Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kakadu and Katherine Gorge.

The Northern Territory is also the best place in Australia to learn about Aboriginal culture. Arnhem land (located on a peninsula on the Gulf of Carpentaria) is Australia's largest Aboriginal reservation and home to many of Australia's indigenous population whose traditional culture remains strong. A good way to see the reserves and sacred sites in the NT is through organised tours. If you plan to travel to these places independently be sure to gain permits from the appropriate land council or traditional areas first.

SAFARI PETE'S 'DON'T MISS' LIST

Visit the crocs:

Get up close and personal with some serious crocodiles. For a real thrill take a cruise on the Mary River to see the highest concentration of salt-water crocs (the nasty ones) in the southern hemisphere.

Mindil Beach Sunset Market:

Browse around the art and craft stalls and take in the sights and sounds of the eclectic markets and spectacular sunset. Held April to October each Thursday from sunset to 10pm.

Uluru at Sunrise:

Get up early, get to Uluru and watch the changing light on the magnificent 600 million year old rock. A moment you won't forget.

Aboriginal heritage:

The NT is the best place to learn about Aboriginal culture and see ancient rock art. Kakadu has over 5000 Aboriginal art site dating back 20 000 years.

SAFARI PETE'S QUICK FACTS

Size:

1 347 525 sq km

Telephone Area Code:

Time:

GMT plus 9.5 hours. The Northern Territory operates on Central Standard Time (CST).

Population:

199 900

Capital City:

Darwin is the Territory's capital and has a population of 70,250.

Climate:

The climate in the 'Top End' consists of two seasons - Wet and Dry. The Dry season is from May to November (when most travellers visit) while the Wet season runs from December to April. Whatever season you arrive in, the temperature will most likely be between 30ºC and 35ºC.

GETTING ABOUT

Getting to the Northern Territory

Train/Coach: You can reach Darwin by bus on three routes - the Western Australian route from Broome through Kununurra; the Queensland route through Mt Isa or straight up the Track from Alice Springs. McCafferty's terminal is located next door to the Darwin City YHA on Mitchell Street. Other options include catching the train from Sydney or Melbourne to Alice Springs or climbing aboard the historical GHAN railway from Adelaide. A good way to make the most of the long journey is to join a small backpacker travel group.
Plane: Darwin, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock have domestic airports and Darwin is also an International Airline stop. Lots of flights run between Darwin and Indonesia, as well as other spots in South-East Asia. The Darwin airport is only 6km from the city and is serviced by a shuttle bus. Darwin's YHA hostel offers a free shuttle service from the airport to the hostel upon reservation.

Getting around the Northern Territory

A great way to get off the beaten track and make the most of your time in the Northern Territory is to hire a car...though it is essential that you take all the proper precautions.

SAFARI PETE"S 'DRIVING IN NT' Tips

Speed limits:

Even though there are no speed limits outside populated areas in the NT, make sure you drive at a safe speed as the shoulders are not usually surfaced and you could end up with a broken windscreen. Also keep a keen eye out for animals.

Stick to day driving:

Stock often rest on the roads at night (because of the heat of the road) so be absolutely cautious driving at night - there is often no insurance if you run into animals.

Take lots of water:

High temperatures in the outback can cause dehydration, so make sure you take heaps of water - 20 litres minimum (particularly if you get caught out with a mechanical problem).

Be prepared:

Make sure your car is equipped with anything you might need if you're car breaks down (spare fanbelt, jack, tyre etc). Carry a map of the area, take extra fuel (taking care to plan ahead for fuel stops) and if you do break down - don't leave your vehicle!

Be aware of road-trains:

Road trains can be up to 50 metres long (and throw up heaps of dirt and stones) so make sure you give it plenty of room and if you're overtaking allow for at least 1 km of clear road ahead.

Safari Pete's Tip:

A good option to seeing the best of the Territory is to use a backpacker tour company. They are safe, good value and can take you to see places (particularly Aboriginal reserves and sacred areas) that you would otherwise need permission for, if you were to go it alone. Plus, the adventures are great fun! Check out Safari Pete's Northern Territory tours for more details.