Population: 202 800
Total Area: 1 346 200 km2 (17.5% of Australia)
Major Airports: Darwin, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock
Transport: There are few places in the world as vast and remote as the Northern Territory. Yet touring the vast area is surprisingly easy, with all-weather sealed roads reaching most of the better-known tourist attractions. Coaches and tour companies also provide easy access to popular destinations.
Acknowledged as one of Australia's most amazing travel experiences, the Adelaide to Darwin Ghan train service is an epic 2,979-kilometre journey. The Northern Territory portion of the trip, from Alice Springs to Darwin, allows travellers to embark and disembark at Katherine or Darwin, and passengers can also take their own vehicles on the train.
When To Go: The Territory's tropical north (which includes the Darwin, Kakadu and Katherine regions) starts the year with heavy rain, which brings the landscape to life. Towards mid-year, the humidity levels drop and the days are warm and sunny and nights are cool. The end of the year is pre-monsoonal season, the rain is on its way again and humidity levels rise.
Central Australia (which includes the Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Uluru regions) is semi-arid and experiences Australia's four typical seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring. The monsoon rains do not extend this far south so the weather is quite different to the Top End in that there is no tropical rainy season.
Hi Explorer's,
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” MARK TWAIN
Across Australia it is an absolutely beautiful time of year to explore and enjoy the simple pleasures. Most importantly, it doesn't have to be expensive. Go for a bushwalk, take the family camping in a State forest, learn a new skill or just sit by the beach!
We are always keen to introduce you to some new and amazing experiences. Our job is to make it easy and fun for you to get an added buzz out of life. Here's some of our newest experiences:
- Barista Basics Course
- Learn to Surf in Noosa
- Hot Air Ballooning in Perth
- Best of Barossa Wine Tour
- Scenic Wine Country Flight
Our Members' favourites are featured under the What's Hot section on the homepage and throughout the website. Remember, life's more than a 4 week annual holiday, so get your partner or a group of friends and find something fun and inspriational to do this week. Stop putting it off!
Many of our customers have asked what Gift Vouchers are the most popular. The truth is our Lifestyle Vouchers are a better option for flexibility (any Go Explore product can be bought with them), while our Experience Vouchers are best if you have a good idea of what your recipient would like.
So whether you live in Australia or another amazing country, come and explore our site and get out there! Of course, if you can't quite find what you are looking for just give us a call or send us an email and we'll do everything we can to help.
And remember, our Explorer's Club members receive a 10% refund on nearly everything they buy - including group bookings. If you haven't joined yet then now is a great time to start earning your refund.
Take care, have fun, and remember: Explore Discover and Evolve!
Angus
The Northern Territory is seen as one Australia’s wild frontiers, and it is the expectation of adventure that draws visitors every year from around the globe. The Territory is an enormous wedge of dramatic landscape which hosts a diverse profusion of uniquely Australian wildlife. The journey from the southern border to the northern tip winds through a gradually unfolding landscape. It begins in the vibrant red desert of Central Australia, passes through grassy savannah plains and ends abruptly at the palm-fringed shores of the Timor Sea in Darwin.
The Territory is made up of six main destinations and their surrounds: Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Uluru. Each destination has its own appeal and offers a unique range of experiences for travellers.
Darwin, the Territory's capital city, is renowned for its world-class fishing, relaxed outdoor lifestyle and bustling markets that bring together cultures and cuisines from all over the world. It’s also the getaway to the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park.
Alice Springs is the heart of Central Australia. Travellers can ride a camel to dinner or see the sun rise over the MacDonnell Ranges from a hot air balloon. Alicve is also the getaway to some of Australia’s most famous icons: Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock and the Olgas) and Kings Canyon.
The Northern Territory’s way of life is tied closely to the land. Aboriginal people, whose fascinating culture remains strong, make up one third of the population. Territorians are regarded as friendly, easy going and down to earth.