Northern Territory Travel Guide
Northern Territory accommodation, Northern Territory activities and attractions, Northern Territory maps, transportation to and around Northern Territory - the ALL NEW Jasons Northern Territory Destination Travel Guide is your complete visitor guide for Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory is a place of contrasts – from the steamy tropics of the north to its vast arid desert heart, this is a part of Australia that is both friendly and a little frightening. Every year, over one-and-a-half million visitors come to experience the Northern Territory's unique natural and cultural features, including the untamed wilderness of
Arnhem Land and the World Heritage-listed
Kakadu National Park. Nearly half of the Northern Territory's population lives within a 40km radius of the state capital,
Darwin. One of Australia's most modern cities, tropical Darwin makes a great base for exploring the
surrounding region. Head out of town along the Stuart Highway, and you'll discover the smaller frontier towns with their special brand of hospitality.
The Northern Territory’s history is an ongoing story of struggle and triumph – from the abandoned settlements of the mid-1800s and extensive bombing by the Japanese during World War II to devastation by three major cyclones. Today, the Northern Territory sustains itself with mining, beef cattle, pearl farming, fishing, crocodile farming and tourism. The
Northern Territory has a rich Aboriginal cultural heritage – some 50 percent of the area is Aboriginal land, and a
quarter of the population can identify with Aboriginal heritage. You'll discover some of Australia's most significant Aboriginal sites here, protected by 29 national parks. The Northern Territory's extraordinary remoteness can make it a lonely place if you are travelling independently, so make sure you carry spare water and know where your next fuel stop is at all times.
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Population
203,000
Capital City
Darwin
Area of State
1,349,130sq km
Climate
The Top End of the Northern Territory has two distinct seasons – the 'wet' (November to April), with high humidity and spectacular thunder storms, and the cooler 'dry' (May to October) when the weather is perfect for being outdoors. Average yearly temperatures range from 19ºC to 34ºC. The Red Centre has desert summers and winters with low humidity and average yearly temperatures ranging from 2ºC and 36ºC.
Time Zone
Australian Central Standard Time - the Northern Territory does not have daylight saving.
State Emblems
Animal: Red Kangaroo
Floral: Sturt Desert Rose
Major Attractions
Litchfield National Park, Mary River Wetlands, Kakadu National Park, Arnhem Land, Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Olgas (Kata Tjuta), Katherine Gorge, Kings Canyon, Devil’s Marbles and the MacDonnell Ranges.