What to Do: Best Outdoor Activities in Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is known for its red landscape and rich culture of Aboriginal ancestry. This outback setting makes travelers around the world call it, “the real Australia.” Its secluded beauty, crimson lands, native culture, and calm waters is a must-see for campers and visitors. So, what are the best outdoor activities in the Northern Territory?

Best outdoor activities in Northern Territory

For adventure lovers, enjoy kayaking in the Katherine River, skydiving at Uluru, or four-wheel driving at MacDonnell Ranges. NT offers a plethora of outdoor experiences you can enjoy whilst camping in the region.

Sailing and cruising

Set sail and take winds from picturesque ports, billabongs, and waterscapes at NT’s attractive vistas – its pristine waters are considered as one of the perfect sailing destinations in the region. So, when you’re off camping, take a cruise on a catamaran, sailboat, or yacht on these waters.

Ask around and you can even explore the area through canoeing or kayaking.

1. Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk)
2. Darwin Harbour
3. Yellow Water Billabong at Kakadu National Park
4. Crab Claw Island
5. Corroboree Billabong
6. Tiwi Islands

Walking and hiking

NT is famous for its wilderness and red ochre sands. From Kakadu to Uluru, you have countless bushwalking opportunities ranging easy to intermediate hikes. If that’s too simple for you, NT’s national parks have epic week-long trails (some up to 20 days!) for adventure seekers.

What’s more, the trails lead to beautiful rocky chasms, Aboriginal stories, historical artworks, exotic wildlife, and lush vegetation.

1. Uluru Base Walk
2. Nanguluwur Rock Art Site at Kakadu National Park
3. MacDonnell Ranges Heavitree Gap
4. Larapinta Trail (20-day hiking)
5. Jatbula Trail at Nitmiluk National Park
6. Darwin Rail Trail
7. Bardedjilidji Wal
8. Barrk Sandstone Walk
9. Gurrandalng Walk
10. Judbarra Escarpment Walk and Judbarra Nawulbinbin Walk

Camel riding

Just like being in the Sahara Desert, enjoy a camel ride in NT with an expert cameleer as you travel the outback and see incredible backdrop of the red landscape. Take a camel tour from Uluru starting from the Ayers Rock Resort. Ride across the desert and learn more about the Aboriginal history of the region.

There are plenty of camel tours in NT that lets you ride across the desert during sunrise or sunsets.

1. Ayers Rock – Uluru
2. Pyndam Camel Tracks Alice Springs, White Gums
3. Camels Australia, Hugh

Four-wheel driving

The outback has a unique landscape making it a perfect destination holiday for 4WD campers. For 4WD enthusiasts, exploring NT’s vast desert lets you glimpse on gorges, rock art formations, mountain ranges, and waterscapes that formed part of the region’s history.

What’s more, you get to cross rivers, stop, and bush walks around the trails. You might discover old mining towns around too.

1. Litchfield National Park
2. Palm Valley
3. Central Arnhem Land
4. Simpson Desert
5. Kakadu Circuit
6. Tower Rock
7. Arltunga Historical Reserve
8. Old Andado Homestead
9. Finke River and Boggy Hole
10. Davenport Ranges

Scenic flights and hot air balloon

You can’t venture all of NT – that’s a fact. But taking it to the skies lets you have access to locations you can’t get into. Hovering over landscapes in hot air balloons, helicopters and charter planes let you enjoy a view like no other.

Get access across Uluru, Kakadu, and Katherine River. You’ll surely pass by dams, gorges, and red-colored cliffs of NT. Fly inland to Darwin and pass by ports and harbors. You can view the sunrise and sunset better when you’re in the clouds.

Where to find helicopter services:

Alice Springs Helicopters

Ayers Rock Helicopters

Kakadu Air Services

Katherine Aviation

Outback Floatplane Adventures

Places to go:

1. Alice Springs
2. Ayers Rock
3. Gulf Country
4. Mount Isa
5. Mt. Dare
6. Kaka Tjuta
7. King’s Canyon

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is about adventure and darting across rickety landscapes especially in the NT. Cycling in mountain trails opens doors to vistas too remote for campers to engage in. It’s also a new way to discover hidden gems within the region.

From rock formations to oasis-like vegetation, it can help make way through nature without the trap of being in a car or bus.

1. Gunn Point Mountain Bike
2. Tabletop Swamp to Lost City Litchfield National Park
3. Manton Dam Darwin Dam Loop
4. Cox Peninsula Loop
5. Mandorah N. T. Mountain Bike Beach Bomber Bush Trail
6. Mountain Bike Trail – BTN Lagoon Loop
7. Robin Falls to Adelaide River Town
8. Florence Falls Nth West Loop Litchfield National Park

Sail, walk, or drive in NT, get to experience the region’s beautiful offers and diverse Aboriginal heritage in what people call the real Australia. If you’re planning to camp in NT this weekend, live for adventure with these outdoor activities in its respective parks and recreational spaces.