Six things to do in Australia’s Northern Territory

NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia – I am strolling along Mindil Beach in the northern Australian city of Darwin when the sky begins to blush. The gilded sea beckons, rippling gently, and in this 30 deg C heat, it is hard to resist the urge to dive in. 

A few people are dipping their toes in the shallows, but the crowds, for the most part, stay safely planted on shore. The chances of meeting a certain reptilian resident in these waters are low, they know, but not zero. 

There is a joke in these parts of Australia that goes like this: How do you know if a water body is safe for swimming? If you look down and see tiles on the floor. 

This region is not called Australia’s crocodile capital for nothing. The Northern Territory (NT) is home to the world’s largest crocodile population – around 100,000 as at 2017, according to the NT government’s website. 

Throughout my trip in June, I encounter this fearsome predator in many forms, first alive and kicking at Darwin’s Crocosaurus Cove, then later as food. I get my first taste of crocodile meat aboard luxury train The Ghan, which turns it into pan-fried dumplings. 

But the territory is far more than its shock-value predators. It is breathtaking sunsets, crisp and clear air, a speckled night sky, majestic red mountains and the peace of an endless desert. 

Here are six things to do in the Northern Territory on your next trip Down Under. 

Take a sunset dinner cruise

Perhaps the most luxurious way to experience the sunset in Darwin is on a dinner cruise, with a four-course dinner at A$189 (S$170) a person, built around local seasonal ingredients. 

At 5.15pm, the Cape Adieu, a 70-tonne vessel that carries up to 60 guests, noses out into the harbour, with bite-sized appetisers distributed across the deck. 

Then comes the entree of prawns, oysters and ceviche, followed by the main course – grilled barramundi with saltbush potato mash, or scotch fillet with seasonal greens. 

It is timed to coincide with the main event: Streaks of pink, purple and red race across the sky as the sun dips beneath the horizon, and guests crowd the bow of the ship so that they can capture the perfect shot. 

A pandan panna cotta wraps up the night on a sweet note as the ship glides back towards the glittering harbour, docking at Stokes Hill Wharf by 8pm. 

Ride luxury train The Ghan

To get from Darwin to the Red Centre (another term for Central Australia), you could endure the routine unpleasantness of air travel (Alice Springs is a two-hour flight away) or steel yourself for a 15-hour road trip. 

Alternatively, hop onto The Ghan and turn your journey into the highlight. The luxury train cuts through the heart of Australia, running from Darwin to Adelaide (from A$3,590 a person) over four days and three nights, and vice versa (a three-day, two-night journey from Adelaide to Darwin starts at A$2,290). Shorter routes are available, from Adelaide to Alice Springs (from A$1,590 a person for two days and one night), and from Alice Springs to Darwin (from A$1,590 for two days and one night).

On my overnight journey from Darwin to Alice Springs, I get a taste of life in the Gold Premium cabin, stylishly furnished with a cream sofa and wood panelling. Equipped with an en-suite shower and toilet, it comfortably sleeps two – as long as one of you is willing to take the top bunk. 

As the train makes its leisurely way towards central Australia, kick back with a glass of champagne or socialise with other passengers in the lounge, where refills of Australian wine are readily available throughout the day. 

Each stop presents a new experience. Near the town of Katherine, for instance, I venture into the Cutta Cutta Caves, home to dramatic stalactites, as well as rare bats and birds. 

In Alice Springs, guests can learn more about the town’s history, visit Alice Springs Desert Park, hike through the region’s dramatic natural formations or explore the landscape by e-bike. Most tours are included in the train fare, though some upgrades, like the A$1,599 Ultimate Uluru Experience, come at an additional cost. 

While you enjoy a beef fillet or grilled barramundi over dinner, the train’s friendly staff turn down your room. I return at day’s end to a neatly made bed and a nightcap of Baileys Irish Cream.

Swim or take a hike

Alice Springs, the geographical heart of Australia, beats red. To the west of the town lie the West MacDonnell Ranges, which fan out dramatically across the desert.

The ranges feature picturesque chasms and gorges that can be accessed through a variety of walks, from the 223km Larapinta Trail to shorter 15-minute paths.

As you follow the shallow river towards Simpsons Gap, keep an eye out for the elusive black-footed rock wallaby, typically visible at dusk or dawn. Or get to know Standley Chasm and its surrounding flora and fauna through the eyes of an Aboriginal guide. 

Spectacular sights can also be found closer to Darwin. Litchfield National Park, for instance, is a two-hour drive from NT’s capital and is popular among local residents for its stunning waterfalls and crystal-clear pools. 

Consider booking a tour to experience the land from the perspective of a local individual. Tess Atie, a Marrathiyel woman who grew up in the area, knows the landscape like the back of her hand. 

Together with her husband Greg Balding, Atie runs the company Northern Territory Indigenous Tours, ferrying visitors in an air-conditioned van to local landmarks such as Tolmer Falls, educating them on the history of the Aboriginal people and pointing out sites of cultural and personal significance along the way. Prices start at A$496 an adult and A$248 a child. 

Make art in nature

There are times when the camera simply does not do justice to the landscape before you. If you wish to capture what you see by hand but are not sure where to begin, Anna Dakin, a British artist who has been leading tours in Central Australia since 2018, is just the person to guide you. 

Her watercolour painting classes take place at Simpsons Gap at sunset – the time of day when the rocks blaze with vibrant colour and birds begin their evening song from the tops of the river’s red gum trees. 

As we unfurl our blankets, she shows us how to condense the sprawling landscape within a frame with the help of a viewfinder. A few exercises – sketching the scene before you without looking at the paper, for instance – help participants loosen up and get their creative juices flowing.

Classes cost A$175 a person and are suitable for both beginners and seasoned artists. 

Go gallery-hopping

Despite being home to only around 35,000 people, Alice Springs is a thriving cultural centre. Art galleries are scattered across the town – they dot its main street and are embedded even within the industrial district. In fact, it is said to have the most art galleries per capita of any town in Australia. 

Dakin’s company, Art Tours of Australia, also conducts a half-day tour (A$85 a person) of the art centres and galleries in Alice Springs. The tour starts with a briefing about Aboriginal art, covering its history and cultural significance. Visitors are then driven to four to eight art centres, depending on availability and time. 

Potential stops include Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, which showcases watercolour paintings in the style of famed Arrernte artist Albert Namatjira, and Tjanpi Desert Weavers, a social enterprise selling fibre sculptures made by Aboriginal women artists. 

Aboriginal art thrives in Darwin too. The works of artists like Daisy Barney and Barbara Puruntatameri are proudly displayed at Outstation Gallery, which works closely with art centres in the Northern Territory to ethically source Aboriginal art. 

Over at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the finalist works of the 2026 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards are exhibited, and will remain on display until Jan 24, 2027.  

The 64 pieces reflect themes of inter-generational storytelling, cultural continuity, connections to country and the enduring impact of colonisation. Entry is free. 

Meet creatures of the night

No trip to the Northern Territory is complete without paying a visit to its smallest, furriest residents. Alice Springs Desert Park conducts nocturnal tours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, priced at A$42 an adult and A$21 a child (aged five to 16). 

Step into a predator-proof enclosure after sunset and strap on a head torch. A guide illuminates the rocky path with a red torch that catches in its glow animals like the mala (or rufous hare-wallaby) and echidnas, as they nibble on plants and dig for food and shelter.

Keep a safe distance and enjoy the tour, which lasts approximately an hour. And watch out for the occasional bandicoot skittering across the path – even, perhaps, across your shoes. 

Travel tips

Airlines like Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qantas fly from Singapore non-stop to Darwin in 4½ to five hours. A return ticket in August starts at around $500, according to checks by The Straits Times in July.

Hotels like the Courtyard by Marriott Darwin (from A$113 a night for a Standard Queen room) and DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin (from A$146 a night for a King Guest room) offer a plush, comfortable night’s sleep in the regional capital, with spacious rooms and easy access to beaches and restaurants. 

If you are heading to the Red Centre, stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs (from A$147 a night for a King Deluxe room), a well-appointed property on the other side of the Todd River from the city centre.