Backpacking Australia (Northern Territory)The Northern Territory is an unbeatable destination for the more intrepid backpacker. It can be everything that the East Coast isn’t – wild, isolated, unchartered, desolate and – well – a bit scary! If you want to really see Australia however, and say that you’ve been to the true outback, then you need to commit some time to the Northern Territory. This said: it’s not all desolate landscapes. Darwin is a great city, and there are plenty of activities: from camping at a cattle station, to canoeing down white water rapids. And if you really are committed then you’ll find yourself hiring a 4x4 and spending some time getting properly back to nature in the vastness of the ‘red centre’ – where nothing’s changed in millennia and the nearest petrol station could be 500 miles...
Where is and what’s there?The Northern Territory is – unsurprisingly – on the northern side of Australia, and is bordered to the east by Queensland, and to the west be West Australia. It is a big state – you could fit France, Germany and Spain in with room to spare.You may have only heard of two destinations in the Northern Territory: Darwin and Ayres Rock. Darwin is at the tropical ‘top end’, and Ayres Rock is at the heart of the Red Centre. There is much more to the region than these two destinations however. The Northern Territory is home to 52 national parks and conservation reserves, and the territory is also home to Australia largest Aboriginal population. There are numerous Aboriginal communities throughout the territory, and there are plenty of opportunities to investigate and learn more. The climateDarwin and the “Top End” (as it is known) of the Northern Territory are tropical, with three seasons: dry from May to September; mid (becoming increasingly humid) from September to December, and wet from December to April. This said, the wet season can be the best time to visit – less humid and with stunning spring-like scenes.Once you leave the Top End and head down into the centre of the Northern Territory the climate changes significantly, and the region experiences four seasons as per other parts of the country. In terms of temperature difference, however, the seasonal differences can be much more extreme than elsewhere: summer daytimes can be very very hot, and winter nights can be very very cold (think frost). Try and go between seasons if you can, although you may find that everyone else has the same idea. Getting thereDarwin is a surprisingly busy and well connected airport. It is the closet airport to Asia so, if you haven’t booked in advance, always worth checking for cheap flights from the main Asian airports as – depending on the season – this can be a great place to start your Australian backpacking travels (and you can arrive at the East or West coast with tales to tell!). It is also possible to fly to Ayers Rock from Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Cairns (if you’re wondering why there are so many people there!).Getting aroundIf you elect to go backpacking around the Northern Territory, then you are guaranteed an exciting and rewarding trip. If you drive then you’ll need to heed the advice around being very well prepared as you can easily find yourself a long way from assistance. This said, if you stick to the main roads it is perfectly doable and a life affirming experience. If you’re feeling adventurous then you could hire a 4x4 and take on one of the themed tracks that get right to the heart of the territory. In reality - driving is the Northern Territory experience, so enjoy it!The Ghan train is also an option and runs all the way from Darwin, through Alice Springs, down to Adelaide on the south coast. A considerable engineering feat, you can literally cross a continent on the Ghan. The Darwin leg was only completed in 2004, and getting the Ghan to Alice Springs is a great option (and fairly cheap if you don’t want a sleeper cabin!). Things to doWetlands. Visit the wetlands at the Top End. More Africa than Australia, you can expect to see water buffalo, wild boar and crocodiles. Plus hundreds of different species of birds that inhabit the rainforests and some of the best fishing in the world (just watch the crocs!).Darwin. An unpretentious and affable city. Head to the beach markets, the botanic gardens, or Crocodylus Park. A great place to prepare for (or recover from!) your Northern Territiory adventure. Visit Aboriginal communities. Most of the Aboriginal population live in the Northern Territory, many live in communities throughout the red centre. There are generally art centres, shops and museum’s that enable you to understand more about the true Australians (and to give something back). Ayers Rock. Unfortunately a bit too much of a ‘must do’ nowadays. Your chances of sharing a tranquil moment as you watch the sun rise are slim – unless you brave it out of season (or embrace the tourist culture and take on a balloon ride!). Still a staggering site and a special place, however... 4x4 Trails. There are 5 main routes which cross through the Northern Territory: Explorer’s Way, Nature’s Way, Red Centre Way, Overlander’s Way and Savannah Way. They all offer something different and there are places to park up at night time, and recognised sites to see. A great way to really experience the unique landscapes, either as part of a tour or through renting a 4x4 yourself. Barramundi fishing. One of the great sport fish, you can pit your wits against Barramundi year round – although timing your trip around the ‘run-off’ when flood waters are receding is reckoned to give you your best chance. The Northern Territory is the true Australian state. If you really want to say that you’ve been outback and seen a billabong (and probably a few crocodiles too) then spend some time here and lose yourself (hopefully not literally) in the Red Centre. Return from Backpacking Australia (Northern Territory) to Backpacking World
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