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Of all the places in Australia, the Northern Territory interested me most. I spent a week there during my 2020 world trip, starting in Alice Springs with a three-day camping tour to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, then flying north to Darwin to see Kakadu. I came from New Zealand (Christchurch -> Brisbane -> Alice Springs), didn’t spend much time in Melbourne (Not interested at all, I think that australian cities are pointless). Then, I flew onward to Indonesia.

Itinerary done quick

🇦🇺 The Northern Territory

Day 1: Alice Springs

Alice Springs airport is about 15 kilometres from town. I thought the shuttle was ridiculously expensive, so I hitchhiked. It took a while to find someone willing to stop; walking that far with the 40°C heat and the millions of flies (Plus a large backpack) wasn’t much of an alternative, tbh.

Alright, once in town, you can visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum and walk up Anzac Hill to see Alice Springs and the mountains around it. I was too lazy to visit the museum, as I’m bored of them, but I went up the hill to gaze upon the city and the surrounding desert, it’s quite a nice viewpoint, you get to stretch your legs and adapt to the heat.

Then, you will spot the next spot we aim for: The Telegraph Station. You might also spot the Stuart Town Gaol, the casinos and some kangaroos while walking along the center. You have to go through and take the time for a walk there, if you do have the time. Not that interesting, but part of the city.

So, the Telegraph Station It is farther north along the Todd River, it takes a bit of time to walk, assure you have plenty of water, especially if going during summer where afternoon temps goes often well above 40°C.

Be careful at night, the natives wake up and they are experts at stone throwing and knifing. There is a private mercenary corps from eastern europe defending the city, especially around the casinos. Farther out becomes dangerous. Fetal alcohol syndrome is common place, be wary, be careful.

If you didn’t book any tour, or rented any car/camper van, now is the time to do so. Uluru and other attractions in the desert are hundreds of km away (Uluru is 460 km away from town!)

Note, I went from Alice Springs, but technically, there is an airport in Yulara, much closer. But back then it was crazy expensive and flight were not common. If you arrive in Yulara, you can ignore this Alice Springs portion and enjoy the attractions over two days instead of 3 or have a return to Alice Springs to go onwards.

Days 2 and 3: Kata Tjuta and Uluru

I booked a three-day camping tour from Alice Springs, with pickup in town.

Our guide was David, the best guide I ever had (But I can’t remember the company, sadly, it might not even exist know), he had so many stories, so much knowledge, a crazy life before working as a guide in australia (Dude was a bus driver in India, he played music in the evenings… I paid the equivalent of 300€ for the three days, now it’s closer to 600€. Good times.

Anyway, Uluru is around 450 kilometres away, so much of the first day was spent driving. We stopped at a camel/ostrich farm along the way and that was it. What a long day! It started early (don’t have the time), stopped at the farm for breakfast at 7:30, ended up in Uluru at 15:30.

We walked at Kata Tjuta, watched the sunset at Uluru, then had dinner at the campsite. That was my first night sleeping in a swag.

I cannot find the exact tour I booked in 2020. This three-day Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon camping tour (affiliate link) has an Alice Springs-to-Alice Springs option and follows the same route.

The next day, you have to wake up early. It’s time to get to know Ayer’s rock / Uluru. And see the sunrise, it’s much better than the sunset, believe me I did both!

The walk around Uluru is around 10 kilometres for the full circuit. Doesn’t seems like it, but with the heat, it’s a lot. I found it much more interesting up close: you see the caves, the markings and waterholes, see more life (Wildlife, tourists, natives…)

It will take two or three hours to see everything. Then a hour for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, to get to know even more.

After that we went to the Olgas, saw wild horses on the way, then to a camping for sleeping; It was a long drive to the camp. Lot of driving around as you see.

That night, a spider bit me while I was sleeping in the swag. I ended up with a red lump the size of a golf ball around my elbow. That was scary, to say the least. Be careful folks.

Day 4: Kings Canyon

The last day of the tour was for the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. The steep climb at the start is the hardest part, after that, you walk between sandstone domes and along the canyon, with a detour down to the Garden of Eden.

The minibus left early so we could get to see the sunrise, then we hiked all the way up (The hardest part) and spent around 3 hours in the canyon.

After the walk, we drove back to Alice Springs, 5 more hours of driving.

Then I got to visit Alice Springs a bit more, mostly shopping and resting for my last evening.

Resting up is important especially after close to 18 hours of driving over three days.

My honest review, 6 years later. A lot of driving, not that many things to be seen. It was around 3 hours of touristic attractions each day, not much more than that. But actually it was much more than that. The roads, spotting the wildlife, the stories, the food we made during camp, the camping we did with all the setup, the music, the pool (yes we had some pool time for the first night!). The journey was part of Uluru, flying in and out same day would not have been this fun. Renting a campervan would mean the same amount of adventures, for sure.

Day 5: Darwin

Take a flight from Alice Springs to Darwin, only around two hours. I recommend doing it here, as Alice Springs doesn’t yield that much more things to do. I flew in the morning, as most flights leave at that time.

So, for the afternoon, I recommend a walk along Smith Street and down to the waterfront, where you can go to the wave lagoon and the WWII Oil Storage Tunnels. Darwin ain’t that fun, but if you have time, see the Crocosaurus Cove, It’s a great way to kill the time! Honestly, that should fill the whole afternoon, the city is quite large afterall.

Day 6: Kakadu National Park (Day 1)

My day trip to Kakadu was cancelled because of heavy rain. I stayed in Darwin and visited the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens and Crocosaurus Cove instead. Since it’s an itinerary, I’m going with what I was supposed to do.

For Kakadu, rent a car or book a tour from Darwin. The drive to Jabiru takes roughly three hours.

Stop at Mamukala Wetlands for the bird hide, then head to Ubirr for the rock paintings. Walk up to the lookout above them for the view over the Nadab floodplain. Spend the night around Jabiru or Cooinda.

Flooding can close the road to Ubirr; check the park’s access report before setting off.

And for what I did instead:

For the museum, take bus 6 from the Darwin interchange on Harry Chan Avenue, Bay F, and get off at Bullocky Point. The gardens are nearby, you can walk it. And walk even more and you can get to the Crocosaurus Cove, back in the centre, on Mitchell Street. Any order is fine obviously.

Day 7: Kakadu National Park (Day 2)

From Cooinda, take a Yellow Water cruise to see the wetlands, birds and crocodiles. The nearby Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre has exhibits on Aboriginal life in Kakadu. You can find both in the Yellow Water area.

Then visit the rock paintings at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) before driving back to Darwin. Allow around three hours for the return, plus stops.

I spent this day in Charles Darwin National Park instead. You can see the termites mounds, see the old bunkers and get a day in the nature, it’s a miniature, worse Kakadu. Take bus 5 towards Casuarina from Harry Chan Avenue, Bay E, to Coonawarra Road after Menmuir Street (stop 186). Walk along Coonawarra Road and Bowen Road, then cross Tiger Brennan Drive to the park entrance. The bus runs on weekdays, except public holidays (checked October 2026).

If you have more days

West MacDonnell Ranges

Add a day from Alice Springs for Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge.

You will need a car or a tour to get between them. This West MacDonnell Ranges day tour (affiliate link) includes transport from Alice Springs; I haven’t tried it.

One more day in Darwin: Charles Darwin National Park

Charles Darwin National Park has old WWII bunkers, walking and mountain-bike trails, mangroves and a lookout over Darwin.

The park entrance is off Tiger Brennan Drive, opposite Bowen Road in Winnellie, around 5,5 kilometres from the centre. You can cycle or drive there; the bus directions are under Day 7.

Litchfield National Park

Add a day from Darwin for the waterfalls, swimming holes and termite mounds.

This full-day Litchfield tour from Darwin (affiliate link) includes the return transport.

Nitmiluk and Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge, in Nitmiluk National Park, and Edith Falls can be visited on a long day trip from Darwin: around 14 hours on most organised trips. If you have time, spend a night in Katherine instead.