The NT is the heart of Australia, physically and spiritually.
Uluru is possibly Australia’s most recognisable landmark, but what can be forgotten is its size – the rock is 348 metres high and the full walk around the base (highly recommended) is 9.4 kilometres. What you won’t forget if you visit is the sheer awesomeness and almost hypnotic lure.
The rest of the Red Centre, including the domes of Kata Tjuta and the West and East MacDonnell Ranges, can also take weeks of your time to truly soak in and explore the unique landscape – the good news is there are a series of great walking tracks to do just that. The Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta (7.4 km, 4 hours) is one of Australia’s best day walks and the Larapinta Trail stretches 223km from the Alice Springs telegraph station to the distinct peak of Mount Sonder. The trail is broken into 12 sections and some of the best bits can be done as day walks or short overnighters – we recommend camping in Ormiston Gorge.
At the other end of the state – the Top End – is the immense and iconic Kakadu National Park. Covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu is World Heritage-listed to protect its outstanding natural and cultural values – more than half the park is Aboriginal land and it is a great place to see ancient rock art and connect with the oldest living culture on the planet.
South of Kakadu is the stunning gorge of Nitmiluk National Park.
We have dipped our toes in the NT waters so far. This page provides a taste of what the state has to offer, come back soon to find more detailed track notes and trip information – and more great photos!