NO TENT, NO WORRIES
Explore the heart of Australia without camping gear, a 4WD, or getting a second mortgage with our perfectly comfy and affordable guide to the Northern Territory.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO DARWIN & SURROUNDS
Head to Darwin Waterfront for a free, safe dip in the lagoon; for $7 entry you could also chill out at the wave pool across the park. Expand your historical knowledge on a self-guided Darwin Audio Tour; all you need is an app ($2.99) and headphones. On Thursdays or Sundays between April and October, spend dusk at Mindil Beach Sunset Market, a Darwin institution and a top spot to enjoy an easy, cheap dinner and prime sunset views. Berry Springs Nature Park, 50 minutes from Darwin CBD, has no entry fee to access its brilliant-blue creek, where it’s de rigueur to chill out afloat with a pool noodle. Litchfield National Park, 120 kilometres south-east of Darwin, offers stunning waterholes you can swim in during winter and thundering waterfalls in summer.
KAKADU
One of Australia’s most famous national parks is open year-round and is actually quite accessible for non-campers and non-4WDers – in fact, about 95 per cent of the Territory’s top attractions overall can be reached by sealed roads. Moreover, most attractions in Kakadu won’t cost a cent. Hire a car from Darwin’s airport and you can arrive in Kakadu in under three hours. Wake early before the heat and drive to Ubirr, for its well-preserved Aboriginal rock art and the never-ending views of the floodplains, then hike the easy rainforest trail to Maguk waterfall, with a stunning waterhole to swim in at the end.
KATHERINE
Nitmiluk National Park is around three hours’ drive south of Darwin and features 13 beautiful gorges to explore via canoe, speedboat or on a cultural cruise. A budget-friendly highlight is swimming at the shady plunge pool at Leliyn (Edith Falls).
THE NEW ULURU
As of 26 October, you’ll no longer be able to climb Uluru, finally, to respect the spiritual connection the Anangu people have with this iconic landmark; however tourists will still be able to visit and tour around the base. One of our favourite Uluru experiences, a sunrise plod atop a camel is about $80 but is a lot cheaper than a heli flight. Cheaper still is a visit to Uluru Camel Tours’ farm, located at Ayers Rock Resort, which is entirely free – as is the great daily ranger-guided Mala Walk along the base of Uluru. If you’re staying at one of the Ayers Rock Resort properties, you can join unlimited free activities, such as guided walks through the native gardens at Desert Gardens Hotel, Aboriginal storytelling sessions, and learning about local native bush foods.
KATA TJUTA
These 36 spectacular rock domes are only 30 minutes’ drive from Ayers Rock Resort and explored by either the stunning 7.4-kilometre Valley of the Winds walk or just the first part of the track to Karu Lookout (2.2 kilometres return). Stop by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to learn about the Anangu culture; entry is free and there are gas barbecues for a picnic lunch on the cheap.
KINGS CANYON
The breathtaking chasm of Kings Canyon is a highlight for people travelling between Uluru and Alice Springs, and is viewed via either the six-kilometre Rim Walk or the much easier 2.6-kilometre Kings Creek Hike.
ALICE SPRINGS
Time your visit for mid-July and you can join cameleers at one of the quirkiest events in Australia – the Alice Springs Camel Cup. It’s a hoot for the whole family and not only can you watch the pros race their favourite camels, but afterwards you can bite into a camel burger from one of the food vans. How’s that for a budget-friendly day out?
PLACES TO STAY AND RELAX Darwin
Darwin has a huge variety of reasonable accommodation choices; our pick is DOUBLETREE BY HILTON ESPLANADE
DARWIN, claiming the largest outdoor swimming pool in the city. Rooms are recently refurbished and run for about $130–$150 in low season.
Kakadu
COOINDA LODGE, an all-encompassing resort, offers motel-style rooms as well as campsites, and is located in the centre of all of the must-see natural attractions.
Litchfield
Hire a self-contained motorhome from Darwin, then you can base yourself in the national park anywhere you can camp. The four-star LITCHFIELD MOTEL , from $150 a night (low season) at nearby Batchelor is an easy non-camping option.
Uluru
Just because splashing out on a luxury tented pavilion at LONGITUDE 131 is out of the question, doesn’t mean you have to rough it – or miss out.Travellers can stay at another Ayers Rock Resort property, such as AYERS ROCK CAMPGROUND, which has two-bedroom cabins and a swimming pool. Cabin prices start from $179 a night between October and March, and there are also low-season specials.
Kings Canyon
KINGS CANYON RESORT has private and shared lodge-style rooms, communal kitchens and bathrooms, a pool, barbecues, restaurants and bars. Another affordable option is KINGS CREEK STATION ,a working cattle and camel property offering powered motorhome sites ($25) and small safari-style cabins.
Alice Springs
LASSETERS HOTEL CASINO is great for travellers with money in mind.The 4.5-star hotel has four restaurants, four bars, a nightclub, day spa, pool and, of course, casino, but room prices hover between $100-$150 per night in low season.