The Northern Territory is like nowhere else on Earth. At the Top End of the Territory in Aboriginal Arnhem Land, you will find the Garig Gunak Barlu (Gurig) National Park on the Cobourg Peninsula, a tropical paradise of swaying palms, fragrant frangipani and tepid waters which look so inviting, however the rivers are alive with fat barramundi and huge salt water crocodiles, the ocean, full of man eating sharks and huge salt water crocodiles as well as many other dangerous critters, swim only in the pool!

Much of the land is desert, and much of it has yet to be walked on by any man. Some areas are  remote and inaccessible, yet many great treasures have been discovered. 

Kakadu National Park is one of the Territories major attractions. About 3 hours travelling time from Darwin, (Via the Arnhem Highway), Kakadu is filled with many natural wonders, from Aboriginal rock art, vast wetlands teeming with life. Nitmiluk contains the famous Katherine Gorge and Litchfield the Tabletop Range, with it's cascading waterfalls.

Driving south on the Stuart Highway you get to the Red Centre and Alice Springs (1480km), where you find a very different world. The famed heart of Australia and Uluru, (Ayers Rock) the symbol of the Outback and the "Red Centre". Uluru is now becoming better known as spiritual centre of the ageless Aboriginal ‘Dreamtime’.

Alice Springs with a population of some 30,000, is a lively town and is the hub of this surreal desert landscape filled with giant monoliths, meteorite craters, canyons, chasms, sacred sites, lost cities and palm-fringed gardens 2030 km from Sydney.

Red Centre highlights are Uluru (pictured right), the MacDonnell Ranges (including the Larapinta Trail), Kings Canyon, and The Olga's (Kata Tjuta) which are considered to be more geographically interesting than Uluru. North of Alice Springs is the old mining town of Tennant Creek, and a geographical curiosity - the balancing Devil’s Marbles.

Alice Springs rainfall is ~280 mm with daytime temperatures of 36C in January and a minimum of 4C in July

South from the Red Centre is to drive through South Australia to Adelaide (1570km) through the opal town Coober Pedy or, take one of the world’s great rail journeys, ‘The Ghan’, which was named after the Afghan camel drivers of antiquity.

Visiting the Northern Territory can be a deeply moving experience rather than just a holiday. The burning desert landscapes can be severe, however the sheer grandeur and beauty make them inspiring. Listening to the primitive sound of a didgeridoo, and sampling local wild foods are all part of the unique Outback Experience.

Note that travellers are required to be prepared with sufficient fuel, water and food as well as emergency provisions and first aid. Satellite phones can be hired and vehicles venturing off main roads must be four wheel drive.