Itineraries and Guides

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With so much to do and see in the Northern Territory and so much territory to cover (geddit?) we have created a number of starter itineraries and guides to help you get the most out of your holiday.

 

To make the itineraries and guides most useful we have divided the NT into the Top End and Red Centre and travellers into couples, families and budget non-campers.

 

You know you are a budget non-camper if you like the adventure, hate the idea of sleeping on the ground and not having a clean shower and don’t have loads of cash to throw at a holiday.

 

The Top End includes Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands.

 

The Red Centre includes Alice Springs, the West Macdonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon and Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Itineraries for couples travelling in the Northern Territory

How to explore Kakadu in 7 or 14 days.

The Top End for Couples Itinerary takes you on an epic seven or 14 days journey through Kakadu’s heart-stopping sights and places like Cooinda Lodge, Yellow River, Jim Jim Falls and Gunlom Pool. If you have an additional seven days, head on to Katherine via the cooling pools of Berry Springs and out to the Indigenous jewel in the crown Arnhem Land.

 

On our Red Centre for Couples Itinerary, the great pilgrimage between Alice Springs and Uluru, you start at either end. Follow one of Australia’s greatest drives, the Red Centre Way, as you take in Kings Canyon and the West Macdonnell Ranges.

Itineraries for families travelling in the Northern Territory

Haasts Bluff, West of Alice Springs

Taking the kids to the NT will fill their heads with sights, sounds and experiences they will truly love you for (even though they probably won’t admit it).

 

Our Red Centre for Families Itinerary takes in the outback pioneering history of Alice Springs, the station life of Glen Helen, majesty of Kings Canyon and the spiritual oasis that is Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

 

Taking the family to the Top End, there is loads of waterhole fun at Litchfield National Park and Mataranka, the history of Darwin, the breathtaking gorges of Katherine before heading to the mystical Kakadu.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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Guides for budget non-campers travelling in the Northern Territory

To enjoy this great rugged landscape doesn’t mean you have to rough it or spend a fortune. There is a middle road where you don’t have to camp and endure creepy crawlies or dirt and sand penetrating every nook and cranny or take out a second mortgage for the pleasure of a Territory adventure.

 

Just for you, we have created the budget non-camping traveller’s guides to the Territory. Check out the Red Centre in comfort on a budget and The non-campers guide to the Top End guides to get your affordable adventure started.

 

Now, there are no excuses.

 

If you are looking for more designed routes across the Territory, check out the Northernterritory.com itinerary itinerary page.

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Quentin Long is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Australian Traveller Media. Quentin is a sought-after travel media commentator. He is Australia’s most trusted source for travel news and insights, having held weekly radio segments across the country since 2006, and regularly appearing on Channel 9’s Today and A Current Affair programs from 2010. Don't ask him his favourite travel experience as that's like asking him to choose a favourite child. However he does say that Garma Festival is the one travel experience that changed him the most.
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It’s official! The Northern Territory’s best restaurant is in Uluṟu.

    By Emily Murphy
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    Australia’s most iconic rock now rocks the food scene.

    You already know Uluṟu as one of the world’s greatest natural wonders – but did you know it’s also home to the Northern Territory’s best dining?

    At the 2025 Hospitality NT Gold Plate Awards, Tali Wiṟu, the signature open-air dining experience at Ayers Rock Resort, was crowned Restaurant of the Year. The win cements Uluṟu as not only a bucket-list destination for awe-inspiring landscapes but also for world-class food.

    A fine-dining experience under the stars

    A table of people dining at Tali Wiṟu in Uluṟu

    Tali Wiru has a Chef’s Hat. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)

    Meaning “beautiful dune” in the local Aṉangu language, Tali Wiṟu offers diners an unforgettable four-course banquet beneath the desert sky. Think native flavours like wattleseed, quandong, and desert lime woven into contemporary dishes, paired with premium Australian wines and uninterrupted views of Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa glowing at sunset.

    It’s a recipe that has already earned Tali Wiṟu a coveted Chef’s Hat from the Australian Good Food Guide – making it the highest-rated restaurant in the Northern Territory and the only open-air restaurant in Australia to hold such an honour.

    More than one win for Uluṟu

    Dining at Arnguli Grill & Restaurant in Uluṟu

    Arnguli Grill & Restaurant won the Best Hotel Restaurant. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)

    The resort didn’t stop there. Its Arnguli Grill & Restaurant, located at Desert Gardens Hotel, also took home the award for Best Hotel Restaurant, impressing judges with refined dishes that showcase premium Australian steak and native ingredients in an elegant yet relaxed setting.

    A taste of Country

    Tali Wiṟu in Uluṟu chef plating entrees

    The culinary philosophy is to champion bush foods and pay respect to Anangu culture. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)

    For both restaurants, the accolades recognise more than just flawless cooking – they’re also a celebration of connection to Country. Central to Ayers Rock Resort’s culinary philosophy is championing bush foods and paying respect to Aṉangu culture. Native ingredients like lemon myrtle, kangaroo and desert lime feature heavily on the menus, offering travellers a true taste of the Red Centre.

    Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia CEO Matt Cameron-Smith said the wins highlight their dedication to delivering world-class dining experiences.

    “These awards are a testament to the passion and creativity of our culinary teams, and to the unique cultural and natural setting that inspires everything we do,” he said.