Best Weekend Breaks in the NT | Australian Traveller

Epic adventures in the Northern Territory don’t have to be restricted to the bucket list. Some of its most stunning destinations, like Nitmiluk National Park, are perfect short break material. Here, the best weekends away in the NT for your hit list.

Kakadu National Park

There’s nothing quite like cruising through the wetlands of Kakadu on a Yellow Water Billabong cruise, swimming in a plunge pool at the top of Gunlom Falls or gliding over the Mary River floodplains on an airboat at Bamurru Plains to soothe the soul.

And there’s nothing like marvelling at age-old rock art like that found at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) and Ubirr. Even just a few days in this surprisingly accessible national park – three hours’ drive east of Darwin – will leave you feeling recharged long after you’ve returned to your everyday life.

Spend a few days in the surprisingly accessible Kakadu National Park, NT.

Corroboree Billabong

At once calm and full of life, to hang out on a billabong for a few days is to truly be a guest of the animal kingdom.

Stop short of Kakadu on the way from Darwin at the paperbark-fringed and lily-pad layered Corroboree Billabong, home to saltwater crocs and all manner of fish and birds including magpie geese, owls and black cockatoos.

The birdlife at Corroboree Billabong. (Image: Tourism NT)

Hire a houseboat – complete with showers, barbecues, double suites, bunks for the kids and more – through Corroboree Houseboats to spend a deeply tranquil few days going with the flow on the Mary River.

Cruising Corroboree Billabong. (Image: Tourism NT/Corroboree Wetland Cruises)

Litchfield National Park

Those who want to escape the Darwin heat drive south for 60 minutes to the refreshing spring-fed waterfalls and shady canopy of Litchfield National Park – one of the NT’s best-kept secrets.

Surround yourself by its monsoonal vine forests and soak up those health-giving ions of its many waterfalls and crystal-clear swimming holes: don’t miss Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole.

Contrast this with some of the most enormous cathedral termite mounds you’ll find in the Top End and the series of large sandstone outcrops known as the Lost City for their uncanny evocation of an ancient civilisation (accessible via 4WD).

Darwin

Tee yourself up for a cultural weekender in Darwin, which could incorporate any and all of the following: a city tour of vivid street art; a culinary trip around the world at the city’s famed food markets; a crash course in modern Territory history at spots like the Darwin Military Museum and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT); an immersion in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (6–8 August) and, until June 27, a tour of MAGNT’s Fresh: Connecting new & old art, which provides a rare opportunity to engage with treasures from the museum’s extensive Aboriginal, Australian and Southeast Asian art collection.

Artwork: Baluka Maymuru, Gon Wapitja, 2018., Telstra Collection, MAGNT Collection. — MAGNT’s Fresh: collecting new and old art. (Image: Mark Sherwood/Artwork: Baluka Maymuru, Gon Wapitja, 2018)

Tiwi Islands

The Tiwi Islands are a 20-minute scenic flight from Darwin but, well known for their vivid Indigenous culture of arts and craft, love of Aussie rules and rainbow-coloured beaches, present an altogether different proposition.

On Bathurst, one of the two main islands alongside Melville, Tiwi Island Retreat is a paradise island escape with a Tiwi twist that’s all about escaping the crowds and immersing yourself in its art and cultural tours, world-renowned fishing, outback adventures or simply just relaxing by the pool.

Groote Eylandt

Or whisk yourself away to Arnhem Land’s Groote Eylandt, a 1.5-hour flight from Darwin and home to the Anindilyakwa people, whose language is thought to be one of the most ancient in Australia.

Groote Eylandt Lodge is a top fishing retreat with plenty to keep you occupied besides – not least a pandanus-fringed pool and those famous Top End sunsets. The lodge runs cultural tours in partnership with the island’s Traditional Owners, which take in a historic mission church, ancient cave paintings, a market garden and more.

Across the road from the lodge, Anindilyakwa Arts is a hub of creativity where you can ethically purchase authentic Aboriginal art, design and fashion.

Anindilyakwa Arts, Groote Eylandt. (Image: Sean Fennessey))

Alice Springs

Fly to the Red Centre for a long weekend of quirky and cosmopolitan outback spirit with easy access to desert wildernesses the likes of Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park, with its cool scenic gorges dotted with refreshing swimming holes and plants that are relics from a bygone age of tropical forests.

Visit the geologically spectacular quartzite gorge Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) – a sacred Dreaming site for Arrente women – at noon, when the sun illuminates the vertical shaft.

Or time your visit for another light spectacular: Parrtjima, which goes from strength to strength each year, or for one of Alice’s many other festivals such as the Alice Springs Beanie Festival (25–28 June).

Palm Valley and Hermannsburg

Located within Finke Gorge National Park, Palm Valley is an oasis of rare plant species, including red cabbage palms, set within a maze of sandstone amphitheatres and gorges.

It’s this rust, red and green landscape that inspired painter Albert Namatjira, who was born in the Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission, 30 minutes’ drive away. Visit the Hermannsburg Historic Precinct to learn its stories, have tea and scones in Kata Anga Tea Rooms, and learn about its artistic legacy that still thrives today.

Explore the restored town’s heritage-listed buildings, shaded by red river gums and date palms, and see work by local artists and the acclaimed Hermannsburg Potters.

Visit on a day trip from Alice Springs or on tour with AAT Kings, or opt to camp overnight nearby at Ntaria Caravan Park or in Palm Valley itself.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Believe it or not, Uluru makes for a pretty perfect long weekend. In three days you can absorb the magic, serenity and power of Uluru and Kata Tjuta and understand their significance to Anangu, dedicating full days to exploring each by foot, camel and even by air.

And with time left over to soak in those famous sunrises and sunsets, have dune-top dinner under the stars (Ayers Rock Resort’s Tali Wiru), and take in a good dose of art: whether that’s Anangu-owned art centre Maruku Arts or Bruce Munro’s Field of Light.

Field of Light at Uluru. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Kings Canyon

Part of Watarrka National Park, it’s a 3.5-hour drive from both Alice Springs and Uluru to Kings Canyon, an ancient canyon forged in layers of sandstone and shale that soars 270 metres above sea level and plummets in places to the lush Garden of Eden.

Watarrka National Park, NT. (Image: Tourism NT/Matt Glastonbury)

Pop-up bar at Kings Creek Resort. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Challenge yourself on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk then retreat to your glampsite at Kings Canyon Resort (where you can’t miss a session at the Sunset Viewing Platform complete with pop-up bar).

Spend a few days visiting the real-life Central Australian locations that inspired the new film everyone is talking about, and discover why Alice Springs is such an important part of Australian culture.

In the credits of the new Australian film Kangaroo , the first name under ‘cast’ should read ‘The Northern Territory ’. Not only is Alice Springs (and the surrounding landscape) integral to the movie itself, but the spiritual heart of Australia and its local Indigenous owners also inform the look and feel of every frame, explains Producer Trisha Morton-Thomas of Brindle Films, who also plays Charlie’s grandmother Gwennie.

“By setting Kangaroo in Alice Springs (Mparntwe), the film embraces how visible Aboriginal people are here, and the living Aboriginal culture that is woven through this community,” she explains.

still from kangarro film — See *Kangaroo*, then visit the real-life filming locations.

And while shooting in such a sacred part of the Northern Territory required extra planning, it was something the cast and crew were highly invested in.

“There are incredibly significant sacred sites and places of deep cultural stories in the area, that at times are very gender-specific, which we’ve kept out of the production,” she explains. “Even if overhead drone footage captures a sacred site that isn’t meant to be seen by other people outside of that clan, we’ve made sure to omit it from the film.”

If Kangaroo piqued your interest in a Central Australian holiday, we don’t blame you. Read on to discover eight places featured in the movie that you can visit in real life – and get planning. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and a hat.

1. Alice Springs/ Mparntwe

artist at Many Hands Art Centre — Visit the galleries of Alice Springs, like Many Hands Art Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr/ Many Hands Art Centre)

The red and dusty streets of the film’s fictional town of Silvergum were filmed on the outskirts of Alice Springs. And, while the art gallery featured in the film is fictional, Alice Springs is a hub of creativity. See the work of local artists at the Araluen Art Centre , Yubu Napa Art Gallery , Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and the famous Tjanpi Desert Weavers .

2. The Kangaroo Sanctuary & Kangaroo Rescue Centre

The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs, the inspiration for the Kangaroo move — Visit the movie’s inspiration at Kangaroo Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism NT/ Kangaroo Sanctuary)

Kangaroo was inspired by the journey of Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, who founded the now world-renowned Kangaroo Sanctuary based in Alice Springs. For lead actor, Aussie Ryan Corr, the animals were central to the movie, alongside the landscapes.

“The animals in this story were a real calling point for me,” he explains. “What this story tries to tell us about the connection between humans and animals is beautiful.”

To gain a real insight into the fauna and flora of the Red Centre, you can visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary on a sunset tour, where you might even get the chance to hold a baby kangaroo.

3. Ormiston Gorge

woman walking along the edge of Ormiston Gorge near alice springs — Take a dip in Ormiston Gorge. (Image: Tourism NT/ @domandjesso)

The film captures the raw beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges, known in the Arrernte language as Tjoritja. This national park is rich in Indigenous culture and stark geological wonders.

Only a 15-minute drive from Alice Springs, Tjoritja offers visitors the chance to camp, hike and swim among ancient landscapes (most attractions are less than a three-hour drive away).

Ormiston Gorge , a cooling oasis in among the red desert sands, is one of the most popular destinations, no doubt because of the permanent swimming hole and towering red cliffs. From here, visitors can also embark on the beautiful Ormiston Pound Walk and the shorter – more accessible – Ghost Gum Walk. Bring your bathers – it’s safe for swimming.

4. Standley Chasm

woman walking through Standley Chasm near alice springs — Wander through Standley Chasm. (Image: Tourism NT)

The 1.2-kilometre walk to nearby Standley Chasm will be a highlight for any visitor as the imposing 40 metre-high chasm walls project strength and ancient wisdom.

Visit at midday to experience the path illumined by the midday sun. Not only will you fill your camera roll with vibrant red images of the gorge and its intoxicating shadows, but you can also camp nearby in a powered or unpowered site so you can watch the brilliance of the desert stars fill the night sky after dusk.

5. Simpsons Gap

three people walking on path through simpsons gap near alice springs — Walk the trails of Simpson’s Gap. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr)

Closer to Alice Springs, the photogenic Simpsons Gap is the perfect place to spot the endangered Black-footed Rock wallaby near the permanent watering hole. While swimming isn’t permitted, soaking up the sun and views certainly is.

Explore the area’s numerous walking trails, appreciate the soaring cliffs on either side of the ‘gap’ and pick out the shooting locations of Kangaroo in the area.

6. Ellery Creek Big Hole

aerial of Ellery Creek Big Hole near alice springs — Dive into Ellery Creek Big Hole. (Image: Tourism NT/ Tourism Australia)

When it comes to classic Northern Territory landscapes, you can’t go past Ellery Creek Big Hole/ Udepata : tall gum trees sidling up to a refreshing watering hole (fed by the West MacDonnell Ranges and surrounded by rugged red cliffs.

Swim in the cooling waters, hike the cliff tops, watch for birds and even stargaze as you camp here overnight. It’s locations like this that attracted the film’s director Kate Woods to the project.

“It humbles you to be in this environment: it’s so beautiful, so old and so vast,” she explains. “I was thrilled to get a chance to … shoot such a beautiful story in the incredible landscape of the Northern Territory.”

7. Larapinta Drive

aerial of Larapinta Drive into alice springs — Drive along Larapinta Drive. (Image: Tourism NT)

There is no better way to get a feel for how the characters arrived at the fictional Central Australian town of Silvergum than to travel along the iconic state road, Larapinta Drive.

Connecting Alice Springs to the mighty King’s Canyon in the west, via the historic community of Hermannsburg, this road takes in the West MacDonnell National Park, Alice Springs Desert Park and artist Albert Namatjira’s house, among other attractions. Take your time, bring a camera and prepare for numerous stops along the way.

8. Todd River

competitors in Henley on Todd Regatta, alice springs — Join in the fun of the quirky Henley on Todd Regatta. (Image: Tourism NT/ TImparja Creative)

Meandering through Alice Springs like a lazy Western Brown snake, the Todd River is a central part of Alice Springs culture. Known as an ‘intermittent river’, the Todd can go from a dry dusty riverbed to a flowing waterscape in less than 15 minutes after heavy rainfall.

When it’s dry, the famous Henley on Todd Regatta fills the sandy riverbed with handmade ‘boats’ carried by sailors. This is the world’s only dry river boating event, and it’s referenced in the ‘Silvergum Boat Race’ in the movie. Inspired by the real-life event, the characters built quirky “Flintstones-style boats” and competed in teams.

See Kangaroo in cinemas now, and start planning your NT getaway at northernterritory.com.

Ultimate weekends away in the NT