Northern Territory family-friendly travel guide

The Northern Territory doesn’t experience ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ like the rest of the country, but instead has two distinct climate zones: the tropical Top End, which has two seasons, and semi-arid Central Australia, which has four.

In the Top End, the dry season (June to August) encompasses the coolest and driest months of the year and is generally considered the best time to visit. With swimming holes cooling and humidity settling to 60%, this region is certainly at its most welcoming at this time. The wet season, from November to April, is characterised by higher humidity and monsoonal rains and storms.

Australia’s Red Centre is prone to extremes, with hot summer days and cold winter nights – sometimes to sub-zero temperatures. In summer (December to February), average temperatures range between 20 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius. In winter (June to August), the average temperature range is from three to 20 degrees Celsius. Temperatures can drop below zero degrees Celsius overnight in winter and it can get very cold in the desert.

Darwin International Airport is the primary airport in the Northern Territory. If you are heading to the Red Centre, however, you can fly to Alice Springs Airport. 

Buses service Alice Springs, although it is generally easier to travel by a private or rental car. You can find timetabling information here.

Public buses in Darwin are run by Buslink and Territory Transit with most services operating seven days a week, including public holidays. You can find timetabling information here. 

With the culinary influence of the more than 50 nationalities which make up the Northern Territory’s population, diners are treated to a wide array of flavourful journeys.

Ditch the dining room for an open-air market or dinner under the stars. In Darwin, take a stroll along Stokes Hill Wharf where you can sample the best fish and chips in town with a harbour view.

In the Red Centre, for a dining experience with a difference, take a camel to breakfast or dinner. Or really treat yourself with an exhilarating hot air balloon ride at dawn above the desert landscape followed by a bush barbecue breakfast.

The Northern Territory is host to an array of vibrant markets, galleries and little boutiques selling an array of crafts, gifts and souvenirs. For a truly unique keepsake, nab an Aboriginal print, a South Sea Pearl or some crocodile leather accessories.

Be sure to take the kids to the world-famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, where there’s hundreds of local craft stalls, food from everywhere in the world and entertainers to keep the little ones amused for hours. A smoothie on the beach at sunset is the perfect end to a market visit.

Tipping is appreciated, but not expected in Australia.

In warmer months, the Northern Territory can be extremely warm and humid. Pack light layers, mosquito repellent and sunscreen.

Usually simple friendliness is equated with good manners. Shake hands firmly with men or women when meeting for the first time, making eye contact.

However, if visiting an Aboriginal community this can be seen as intimidating. In this case, a gentle shake and minimal eye contact is standard. The best advice is to allow the community to set the tone or standard, and respond in kind.

Mains voltage in Australia is 230V AC, 50Hz. Use a three-pin adaptor (different to British three-pin adaptors).

No special immunisations or vaccinations are required to visit Australia unless you have come from, or have visited, a yellow fever infected country within six days of your arrival. However, regulations and medical advice can change at short notice, so check with your doctor and the Australian Department of Health before you leave home.

By and large, the Northern Territory is considered a safe destination, although cyclones and extreme weather conditions are a consideration when planning your travel.

First up, of course, is the world-famous and iconic Uluru. No trip to the Northern Territory is complete without an Instagram sunrise or sunset photo of this magnificent red rock surrounded by the changing colours of the vast outback skies.

Just a few kilometres away from Uluru is its lesser known companion, Kata Tjuta, or more colloquially known as The Olgas. The ‘Valley of the Winds’ walk is a beautiful track that leads you through the various rock, gorges and lookout points.

Kakadu National Park is Australia’s largest national park covering over 20000 square kilometres. This remote and incredibly vast landscape needs a few days minimum to explore, and be sure not to miss these gorgeous waterfalls. At Jim Jim Falls have a splash in the photogenic plunge pool; book a boat cruise through the gorge at Twin Falls; and get that perfect holiday shot on the edge of the infinity pool at Gunlom Falls.

Found 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek, the Devils Marbles (or Karlu Karlu) are a cluster of large granite boulders teetering precariously on top of one another… appearing to defy gravity!