A WORLD OF ITS own making

Covering an equivalent landmass to France, Italy and Spain combined, the Northern Territory has Australia’s widest diversity of conditions – from searing desert to lush tropical wonderland.

You can now take the train from Adelaide through the heart of Australia to Darwin, one of the world’s great train trips, stopping off in Alice Springs to experience the many attractions of this quintessential outback town.

Luxury accommodation & cottages in Northern Territory

Explore the timeless McDonnell Ranges by camel; play a round of golf on Australia’s top desert courses; chance your luck at Lasseters Casino, where a memorable scene was shot for the hit movie, Pricilla Queen of the Desert; and explore the Alice Springs Desert Park, where there’s a captivating bird show daily. And don’t miss Bojangles, the lively Aussie pub in the centre of town. You can get a first-class camel steak or goulash if you ask around.

Darwin, in the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory, is equally lively. The best way to get a feel for the city’s multicultural make-up is to head to the famous Mindil Markets on Thursday and Sunday evenings from April to October on the lawns at Mindil Beach. The sunsets are reliably spectacular and you’ll be able to eat inexpensively from a vast array of ethnic foods from the various communities that call Darwin home. There’s also live music and plenty of arts and crafts to browse.

The newly developing Cullen Bay area is a great spot for dining and enjoying the movement of the yachts and luxury cabin cruisers in the marina. You can join a charter fishing expedition or go scuba diving from here.

Another taste of contemporary Darwin is on hand at Brown’s Mart in the CBD. It’s a theatre, bar and exhibition space offering music, comedy and conviviality all year round.

You’ll never know if you never go!