Northern Territory, Australia

Northern Territory Overview

Northern Territory, an almost entirely tropical region apart from the 250Km or so south of Alice Springs, extends northwards for 1500Km from its border with South Australia to 'The Top End' and 800Km west from the Queensland border to Western Australia.

The territory has perfectly straight borders with three Australian states with the Timor Sea bordering the intricate coastline to its north. Like The Australian Capital Territory (A.C.T), this is Federal Territory, not a State with its own State Laws and Government. However, in most regards it is dealt with by the Commonwealth Government as if it were another state.

The Northern Territory is often perceived as being entirely arid and desert like which although true for much of the interior, contrasts with the fertile wetlands at the' Top End' which includes Darwin, Jabiru and Katherine.

The south is often referred to as the 'Red Centre' because of its red 'martian like' appearance typified by the Alice Springs and Ayers Rock (Uluru) region.

Uluru

Ayres Rock or Uluru as it is officially named is perhaps the most famous icon in the Territory if not Australia. Uluru is one of Australia's most famous landmarks and is the country's most visited site.

The mysterious red monolith is the weathered peak of a buried mountain range and rises some 430 metres from the desert and has a perimeter of about 9km (5.5 miles). The red colour of Uluru is due to iron minerals in the surface rocks oxidising with the air.

For more information on Uluru please visit our Aryes Rock pages.

For somewhere to stay please see accommodation at Uluru .

Darwin

Darwin is the Capital of The Northern Territory is which is the most northerly city in Australia and the only tropical capital in the country.

Darwin is a fusion of both Australian and Asian influences and food there is rapidly earning a reputation for being innovative as well as delicious.

The city is a popular tourist destination and quite unlike any other city you will ever visit. The memory tends to stay with people long after they leave.

The city is a magnet for tourism and has a good selection of holiday accommodation.

Jabiru

Jabiru is 150 miles east of Darwin on the Arnem Highway and is located within the famous World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park. The town of Jabiru blends in with the natural environment as harmoniously as possible.

An example of this is the Gagudju Crocodile Hotel which has been shaped to look something like the predatory animal, which is an important symbol for the local Aboriginal people. Jabiru is a small town and its economy is based primarily on the nearby mining industry and the growing numbers of tourists.