If waterholes, waterfalls, hiking, fishing, camping and cold beers are some of the things you enjoy doing, then a visit to the NT could be right up your alley. Our 4 week Northern Territory road trip itinerary has a little bit of something for everyone.
Holidaying in the Northern Territory feels a little bit like what I imagine it’d be like to holiday in the wild west. The speed limit along the one and only highway is 130 kilometres per hour and there are distances of hundreds of kilometres with nothing more than a roadhouse or 2. The temperatures frequently soar over 35 degrees celsius and almost everything there can kill you, and to be blatant, quite often it wants to. Yes, I'm talking about the prehistoric lizards that inhabit almost every body of water you'll come across.
Also worth noting is that this route is ALL accessible by a 2WD. Whilst having a 4WD definitely opens up the areas you can see in the NT, there is still a hell of a lot to see in a regular car. We'll also mention side trips and places to add if you're in a 4WD - because as usual, there are some epic things to see off the beaten track.
Holidaying in the Northern Territory feels a little bit like what I imagine it’d be like to holiday in the wild west. The speed limit along the one and only highway is 130 kilometres per hour and there are distances of hundreds of kilometres with nothing more than a roadhouse or 2. The temperatures frequently soar over 35 degrees celsius and almost everything there can kill you, and to be blatant, quite often it wants to. Yes, I'm talking about the prehistoric lizards that inhabit almost every body of water you'll come across.
Also worth noting is that this route is ALL accessible by a 2WD. Whilst having a 4WD definitely opens up the areas you can see in the NT, there is still a hell of a lot to see in a regular car. We'll also mention side trips and places to add if you're in a 4WD - because as usual, there are some epic things to see off the beaten track.
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Itinerary overview
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4 Week Northern Territory Itinerary
Darwin
| What to Do: In the city
Where to Stay:
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Litchfield National Park
If you're into chasing waterfalls then Litchfield NP is the spot for you!
Don't forget to check out the NT National Park Website to check what areas of the park are open before heading out for your fun.
Don't forget to check out the NT National Park Website to check what areas of the park are open before heading out for your fun.
What to Do:
Where to Stay:
- Hike in to Walker Creek and camp beside your very own private pool.
We chose site #3 as it had a huge pool and mini waterfall! - Swim at Wangi Falls
- Swim at Florence Falls
- Check out the Magnetic Termite Mounds (smart little buggers those termites are!)
- Surprise Creek Falls 4WD ACCESS ONLY
Where to Stay:
- Walker Creek Campground ($3.30 per adult)
- Wangi Falls ($6.60 per adult)
- Florence Falls ($6.60 per adult)
- Surprise Creek Falls ($3.30 per adult) 4WD ACCESS ONLY
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Kakadu National Park
First things first, check out the Kakadu National Park Website. This should give you information on what areas are open and closed, as well as access to maps that will help you plan out your time there. It's a large park with long drives between sites so it's worth having a game plan of what you want to do and see before you arrive!
| What to Do:
Where to Stay:
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Edith Falls (Leliyn - Nitmiluk National Park)
What to Do:
Where to Stay:
- Swim across the large pool to the waterfall
- Hike to the upper pools (2.6km round trip)
- Hike to Sweetwater pool (9km round trip)
Where to Stay:
- Leliyn Campground ($12 per adult)
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Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge
What to Do:
Where to Stay:
Also whilst in the area stop in to the Katherine Hot springs!
- Hike - there is a large network of trails here. Pat's lookout is short and has an incredible view.
- Mountain Bike ride the new trail network
- Canoe through the various gorges
- Camp - Plenty of hike (or canoe) in sites!
- Jatbula Trail (a 5 or 6 day hike from Katherine Gorge to Edith Falls)
- We were meant to do the hike in late August but the trail was closed due to catastrophic fire danger. We're heard that it's awesome, so we're pretty bummed we missed it this time.
Where to Stay:
- Nitmiluk Gorge Caravan Park ($23 per person unpowered) - Quite expensive, however handy to access the gorge, walking trails, tours etc.
Also whilst in the area stop in to the Katherine Hot springs!
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Mataranka
What to Do:
- Bitter Springs - a crystal clear, warm, slowly flowing river. Jump in in one spot, float down in the current and pop out down the other end.
- Mataranka thermal springs
- Bitter Springs Campground ($30 unpowered site)
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Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles)
What to Do:
- Hike - a variety of lengths available.
- Enjoy the unique scenery
- Karlu Karlu Campground ($3.30 per adult)
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Alice Springs
What to Do:
Where to Stay:
- Check out Megafauna Central to see fossils and history from the Miocene era
- Hike or Mountain bike the many kilometres of trails around the Old Telegraph Station
- Browse the local art galleries
- Get a beer and pizza at Alice Springs Brewing Co
- Enjoy vegan french toast and good coffee at the café, House of Tallulah
- Head to the West & East MacDonnell Ranges for epic gorges, swimming holes and hikes
- Swim laps at the aquatic centre
Where to Stay:
- Gap View Hotel ($20 for an unpowered site is about as cheap as it gets in Alice, and bonus, there's a pool)
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West McDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja)
What to Do:
Where to Stay:
To read in depth about the West Macs, Kings Canyon & Uluru area check out our one week Uluru to Alice itinerary here from our trip in 2017.
- Simpsons Gap
- Standley Chasm (we haven’t been here)
- Swim and hike at Ellery Creek Big Hole
- Swim and hike at Ormiston Gorge
- Swim and hike at Redbank Gorge
- Mount Sonder Hike (16k return)
- Hike the Larapinta trail over a couple of weeks (it's 223km in length) or do parts of it!
Where to Stay:
- Ellery Creek Big Hole ($3.30 per person)
- Ormiston Gorge ($6.60 per person, showers)
- Redbank Gorge ($3.30 per person)
To read in depth about the West Macs, Kings Canyon & Uluru area check out our one week Uluru to Alice itinerary here from our trip in 2017.
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East MacDonnell Ranges
Although visited much less than the West Macs, the East Macs gorgeous landscape is not to be skipped. In a 2WD you can get to Trephina Gorge where you’ll have the choice of 3 beautiful campgrounds right where the hikes set off from. The road keeps on going and there is more to see however it becomes unsealed and potentially 4WD only from a little after the gorge.
What to Do:
Where to Stay:
- Emily Gap
- Jessie Gap
- Trephina Gorge
- Ridgetop Hike – 9km from Trephina Gorge to John Hayes Rock Hole
- Check out Australia's oldest and tallest Ghost Gum
- John Hayes Rock Hole 4WD ACCESS ONLY
Where to Stay:
- Trephina Gorge ($3.30 per person)
- John Hayes Rock Hole ($3.30 per person) 4WD ACCESS ONLY
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Kings Canyon
| One of the most stunning places we've visited in the NT. Kings Canyon is truly breathtaking and, dare we say it, perhaps more beautiful to visit than Uluru? To read in depth about the West Macs, Kings Canyon & Uluru area check out our one week Uluru to Alice itinerary here from our trip in 2017. What to Do:
Where to Stay:
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Uluru & Kata Tjuta
Two very special places right in the middle of our country. Kata Tjuta was definitely an NT highlight for us.
Click HERE for our in depth post about hiking and exploring Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park from our trip in 2017.
Click HERE for our in depth post about hiking and exploring Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park from our trip in 2017.
What to Do:
Uluru
Kata Tjuta
Where to Stay:
Uluru
- Sunrise & Sunset Viewing Areas
- Bus Sunset & Dune Walk (Beautiful Sunrise of both Uluru and distant Kata Tjuta)
- Talinguru Nyakunytjaku
- Car Sunset (Imaginatively named)
- Hikes
- Base Walk (or Run!)
- Mala Walk
- Lungkata Walk
- Kuniya Walk
- Liru Walk
- Cultural Centre
Kata Tjuta
- Sunrise & Sunset Viewing Areas
- Dune Viewing
- Sunset Viewing (also a great lunch spot!)
- Hikes
- Valley Of The Winds
- Walpa Gorge
Where to Stay:
- Ayers Rock Resort ($57 for 2 adults in a van, even if unpowered. Tent site is $46.50)
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NOTE: We travelled throughout mid August to mid September and it was very hot! We would recommend coming earlier in the dry season to have temperatures that are more likely to allow you to hike and get out and about during the middle of the day if you like being active. There is also more water in all the waterfalls and pools earlier in the season too!
Enjoy, in our opinion, the Territory really is the wildest place in Australia.
Enjoy, in our opinion, the Territory really is the wildest place in Australia.
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