The third-largest of Australia’ s states and territories is more than double the size of Texas, but can be roughly divided into two parts. To the north, shaped like a bull’ s head rushing into the Timor Sea, is the sultry Top End, known for its tropical savannahs, ancient rock art and showstopping national parks. Further south is the Red Centre, Australia’ s heartland, filled with cattle stations converted into luxury stays, vast star-studded night skies and monuments of deep spiritual significance. Against the Territory’ s sheer scale, it! might seem easy to get lost, but there are a handful of popular drawcards. Most
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come to see Uluru, the hulking sandstone monolith at the country’ s center, but you can also soar above lush Kakadu National Park in a helicopter, shop Darwin’ s humid night markets, dine on native flavors found nowhere else, and learn the ancient ways of the Territory’ s Aboriginal peoples— the world’ s oldest continuing culture, dating back over 65,000 years.
TOWNS AND CITIES
Darwin is a popular launching pad to explore Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, but there’ s good reason to linger in the Territory’ s capital. The consistent balmy nights are perfect for wandering
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From left: Dirt road in the Red Centre; Ormiston Gorge in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National! Park Previous pages: Sunset at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park |
images: Tourism NT |