How to Travel the NT Solo: A Comprehensive Guide

There’s no better place to contemplate life than against the stunning blue skies and spirited red dunes of the Northern Territory. But is it safe to travel through Australia’s outback on your own? We think so. Here’s how it’s done.

Owing to some straight-up facts, the Northern Territory can appear intimidating for solo travellers. For starters, it has a whopping footprint of 1.4 million square-kilometres and only about 250,000 residents, making its total population smaller than that of Wollongong in NSW. What’s more, key destinations here are far-flung: both Darwin and Alice Springs are a minimum three-hour drive away from some of the Territory’s more iconic townships and national parks.

But while the NT is indeed massive and sparsely populated, these traits provide equally compelling reasons to visit – especially for solo travellers (of all ages) with a passion for rugged landscapes, cultural depth, and outback-style affability.

Darwin-harbour — Aerial view over Darwin Harbour.

Is Darwin safe for solo female travellers?

Yes indeed. Designed around outdoor living, Darwin is a piece of cake for solo travellers, with a couple of small exceptions. Due to its size – it boasts a population of about 120,000 – the city lacks the public transport infrastructure available in major metropolitan areas, so you might find car hire useful here. That said, the bus network is easy to navigate and covers most the city.

Darwin nightlife for solo female travellers

The other factor to consider is that the CBD – especially around Mitchell Street – can prove a little raucous after 9pm. Stick to more low-key areas at this time. For those staying in the city, the Darwin Waterfront precinct is especially safe and tranquil, as is the nearby Deckchair Cinema where open-air movies play amid towering palm trees.

Up for bars and clubs? Try Melbourne-style offerings Lola’s Pergola in Cullen Bay, Babylon in Austin Lane and The Trader Winnellie Road in Winnellie. For a breezy, more rustic atmosphere, head down to the Darwin Ski Club near Mindil Beach. Two of the more pumping nightclubs are Discovery and the LGBTQI+-friendly Throb, both in the CBD. With the exception of Discovery, which targets the under-35 crowd, these clubs and bars will suit everyone over the age of 18.

Probably the best outdoor cinema in Australia, the Deckchair Cinema on Darwin Waterfront.

Darwin accommodation for solo female travellers

Meet other travellers by staying at a hostel such as Darwin YHA or Chillis Backpackers . When I first moved to Darwin, I stayed at a hostel for almost a month, and made life-long friends here – as well as a couple of travel buddies, including an 80-year-old woman who gave me excellent tips for things to do in the city. Hostels really do put you face to face with some of the most interesting fellow explorers.

If meeting people isn’t high on the agenda, head to hotels and apartments based in the CBD and Waterfront area, such as the Vibe Hotel and Darwin Waterfront Luxury Suites. Other excellent accommodation options for solo travellers include the H on Smith Hotel, Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel and – if you want to spoil yourself – Mindil Beach Casino Resort, where you can swim up to your room and order Pimm’s and lemonade from a swim-up bar (replete with underwater stools).

Set on Mindil beach, probably the most glamorous accommodation in Darwin, Mindil Beach Casino Resort.

Things to do in Darwin for solo female travellers

For stellar Darwin day-time activities, head to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, take a sunset harbour cruise, visit Fannie Bay Gaol, and – a Darwin must – wander through Mindil Beach Sunset Market , Parap Markets, or Nightcliff Markets for a local laksa (Malaysian-style soup), paired with a tropical fruit smoothie.

Mindil Beach Market — Enjoy the night markets at Mindil Beach.

Things to do around Darwin for solo female travellers

A visit to the Top End is incomplete without venturing past Darwin to its surrounding national parks and nature reserves. For solo travellers, natural swimming holes at Berry Springs Nature Reserve and Litchfield National Park are an easy day-trip away – best explored independently with a car. Make sure to stop in at local mango farm Crazy Acres for a tropical-flavoured ice-cream, and at Territory Wildlife Park for a beautiful, bushy encounter with Top End fauna.

As it’s further away and the distances between sites are ample, Kakadu is better discovered on a tour. Excellent solo travel tour operators include Lord’s and Davidson’s Safaris, as well as World Expeditions.

Wangi Falls Litchfield — Visit Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park.

Is Alice Springs safe for female solo travellers?

Another yes. Toting, arguably, the prettiest name of all Australian townships, Alice is a small town with a big personality.

Eating and drinking as a solo traveller in Alice Springs

Alice Springs is full to the brim with fantastic cafes where you can disappear behind a book, a plate of smashed avo, and an excellent coffee. Think: Page 27, Bean Tree Cafe at Olive Pink Botanical Gardens, The Coffee Horse and The Goods.

Page 27 Cafe — Page 27 is loved by locals for its all day brekky and pumpin’ tunes.

Alice Springs also has a grungy, gritty edge, and this is a boon if you’re into music and performance. Epilogue Lounge, for instance, hosts rotating events (such as ‘Afro Calypso Tropical Disco’, hip-hop night, and music fan meet-ups) on Friday and Saturday nights. Similarly, for a bar experience you’ll never forget – and in a sense, one that can only take place in a destination as quirky as the NT – head to Monte’s Lounge, a circus-themed pizza restaurant-cum-bar in the town centre.

Alice Springs accommodation for solo travellers

Again, hostels are a great way to meet people. I met the love of my life at Alice’s Secret Travellers Inn, for instance. Other great hostels include Alice Lodge Backpackers and Alice Springs YHA. For a more upmarket option, book in at Vatu Sanctuary , a small collective of art-filled villas. This enclave shares a common pool and backyard area.

Things to do in Alice Springs for solo female travellers

When away from your stay, venture to Alice Springs Desert Park – the sister park to the Territory Wildlife Park – and hire a bike to explore the bushland area surrounding Alice Telegraph Station. After a bit more adventure still? Take a serene, Red Centre balloon flight with Outback Ballooning, or a camel tour with Pyndan Camel Tracks. If you’ve got a sensitive or bony bum, wear padded pants for the latter.

Soar above the majestic MacDonnell Ranges on a hot-air balloon.

Alice Springs at night safe for female solo travellers

Again, for solo travellers, the only factor to be alert to is that Alice Springs is a funnel destination for various nearby communities and, at night-time, the resulting motley mix can express itself through rowdiness. This occurs mostly close to Todd Street Mall and around the Todd River banks. What this means for you: it’s best to be vigilant after dark, and where possible, travel in pairs.

Things to do around Alice Springs for solo female travellers

The majestic, purple-hued MacDonnell Ranges lies west of Alice Springs. Hire a car and explore Standley’s Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge, or travel out here with an Indigenous guide from RT Tours Australia (another solo travel-friendly tour operator). Travel deeper into the Red Centre on a SEIT Tour that explores Uluru. And, if you have extra time, wander over to Watarrka National Park to witness the fascinating ecology and dramatic cliffs and rock formations at King’s Canyon. Base yourself at King’s Canyon Resort here and choose from guided or unguided activities such as the Rim Walk and scenic flights.

For more information visit Tourism Northern Territory .

Summer transforms the Northern Territory into a lush paradise of colour and life, as a visit during the ‘low-season’ reveals secrets the locals willingly share.

Waterlilies bloom, floodplains are alive with birdlife, waterfalls are gushing, and everywhere the green is dazzling. Summer in the Top End and the Red Centre is a kaleidoscope of unexpected wonders that delight and surprise visitors. Of course, the locals know only too well that the Northern Territory low season is often the best time to see and experience this amazing part of Australia.

Here are some of the reasons why savvy travellers – avoiding the crowds – are discovering a new dimension to the Territory. Remember that you’ll need a Parks Pass to visit national parks.

1. Take a dip in the Florence Falls waterhole

Wander through savanna woodland and monsoon forest to discover the perfect place to cool off – the waterhole at the base of spectacular Florence Falls in the magnificent Litchfield National Park , just 90 minutes’ drive from Darwin. The falls flow year-round but are most spectacular during the summer. Camping is available nearby but bookings are essential and must be made online before you visit.

Surrounded by lush forest, a woman cools off in Florence Falls, just one of many incredible things to do in the Northern Territory. — Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls. (Image: Joshua Griffin)

2. Wind down at Buley Rock Hole

Another popular local swimming spot in Litchfield National Park is Buley Rock Hole , open year-round. This is a great place to wind down after exploring everything the park has to offer, including towering termite mounds. Wade through the rock pools, soak up the scenic bush or just lie back and relax as the cool water rolls over you.

Buley Rockhole, Litchfield National Park — Let the cool water wash over you. (Image: Tourism Australia)

3. Tour the Tiwi Islands

The Tiwi Islands , a scenic 80km flight from Darwin across the narrow Clarence and Dundas Straits, reveal a different side to the Territory, with their own distinctive culture. Take a day tour with Tiwi by Design to visit Bathurst Island and learn about creation stories, the Mission days, World War II history and the islanders’ obsession with AFL!

Take a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of Tiwi Design’s screen-printing workshop and pick up a great souvenir in the form of art. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi designs and a wide range of work including carvings, paintings, pottery, printmaking, bark paintings and tunga (bark baskets).

A creative moment shared inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing space. — Take a peek inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing studio. (Image: Tourism NT)

4. Dine in Darwin

Foodies are spoilt for choice in multi-cultural Darwin. Try Sri Lankan flavours at Ella by Minoli, where Masterchef contestant Minoli De Silva creates delectable dishes, or head to Charlie’s of Darwin for gin-tasting, cocktails and more. Bowls of fragrant laksa, excellent coffee, fresh vegetables and authentic crafts are all part of a weekend visit to Darwin’s Parap Markets , Rapid Creek Markets and the Nightcliff Markets .

Prefer to catch your own dinner? Book a Top End fishing charter to bag a barramundi – and from October register for the annual Million Dollar Fish competition. Hooking one of the tagged barra released each year in waterways across the Territory could win you up to $1 million.

A bowl of Laksa. — Eat your way through multicultural Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT)

5. Up close with Uluṟu

The magnificent monolith Uluṟu is even more magical when the summer rains fall. When it rains on The Rock, the locals come out to watch – consider yourself lucky if that happens when you visit. Waterfalls cascading off the sides of Uluṟu is a sight that relatively few tourists see.

There’s so much to do at Uluṟu, from guided walks to learn the stories of the Aṉangu people and the ancient landscape they live in to scenic flights for a bird’s-eye view or a leisurely walk around the base of Uluṟu. Book ahead to spend the evening wandering through the Field of Light installation by Bruce Munro.

A closer look at Uluru and uncover its ancient stories, sacred sites, and striking natural beauty – one of the most iconic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Discover the details that make Uluṟu truly sacred. (Image: Tourism NT)

6. Drive the Red Centre Way

From Alice Springs, take an epic road trip along the Red Centre Way, taking in Uluru and Watarrka National Park, home to the magnificent Kings Canyon. Allow at least a week to drive through the red heart of Australia by 4WD, a little longer on the sealed road by 2WD vehicle, travelling through ochre deserts, palm-lined valleys and dramatic gorges. Stop off at waterholes for a refreshing dip along the way.

Kings Canyon offers hiking options for all levels of fitness, from the three-hour Rim Walk atop soaring sandstone walls to the gentler Kings Creek Walk. Either way, you’ll have breathtaking views.

SEIT Outback Australia is a small group touring specialist offering exciting, adventurous, exclusive and specialised iconic, pioneering and cultural touring in the Red Centre of Australia, giving you the time to learn, absorb and relax in the heart of Australia.<br /><br />This innovative tour company focuses on providing clients with the ultimate interpretive touring experiences with a range of products and customised touring itineraries for small groups and bespoke private charters.<br /><br />The company bases its philosophies from the key words of Spirit, Emotion, Intellect and Task (SEIT). — Drive through Australia’s heart. (Image: Outback Australia Tours)

7. Take a walk at Kata Tjuṯa

Head out early to tackle the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuṯa . This natural wonder, also known as The Olgas, is a labyrinth of soaring ochre domes that glow golden at sunrise and sunset (the walk may be closed during the middle of the day as temperatures rise).

Walking trails range from easy to longer, more difficult tracks. At the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area, take in the panoramic view of the domes. The longest of the trails is the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7.4km circuit that winds between the domes and through creek beds. It’s moderately difficult and steep in places, but offers stunning views – and occasional encounters with kangaroos.

The Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuta is one of the most awe-inspiring things to do in the Northern Territory, especially at sunrise when the domes glow golden. — Step into the golden light of Kata Tjuṯa. (Image: Tourism NT)

8. Explore Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges

Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park lies 135km west of Alice Springs, with many fascinating natural features to beguile visitors. The ‘West Macs’ formations include chasms, gorges and waterholes – take your swimsuit for a dip at Ormiston Gorge waterhole, open year-round. The Ormiston Pound Walk is a three to four-hour circuit that leaves from the visitor centre and loops back along the gorge via the main waterhole. Other places of interest in the park include Simpsons Gap , Standley Chasm , Ellery Creek Big Hole and Glen Helen .

Soaking in the serenity of Ormiston Gorge, these two travellers enjoy one of the most scenic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Take the plunge at Ormiston Gorge waterhole. (Image: Joshua Griffin Litchfield)

Start planning the NT road trip of a lifetime at northernterritory.com

Your guide to solo travel in the NT