Choose from 54 Fun Things to Do in Northern Territory
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a World Heritage Area and iconic Australian destination. Preserved within the park are two of Australia's most striking natural landmarks: Ayers Rock (Uluru) and the Olgas (Kata Juta).
The park is co-managed by the Anangu people and the Australian government. The traditional owners run walking tours through the park and co-manage the park's cultural center which provides valuable insights into the land's significance for Anangu culture. At the cultural center you can also browse traditional carvings, paintings and ceramics made by central Australia's Anangu communities.
Along with sunrise or sunset viewings of Ayers Rock (Uluru) and the Olgas (Kata Juta), you can take a tour of the park by camel, motorbike or scenic flight, witness traditional activities such as boomerang-throwing, or see the park through the eyes of the Anangu on a cultural tour.
Practical Info
Uluru is 445 km (276 miles) south-west from Alice Springs and 18 km (11 miles) south of the Ayers Rock Resort.
Lyons Cottage
Facing the sea, Lyon's Cottage was - at the time of its building - the first stone house built in Darwin for 30 years and is the only surviving example of colonial bungalow architecture in the city. It's made from locally quarried stone and now houses a museum.
It was built in 1925 from the same porcellanite stone used to construct many of Darwin's major public buildings, including Fanny Bay Gaol and Government House. The architecture of the house is similar to many that the British built in other colonies such as Singapore and Malaysia.
It came through the bombing of Darwin without damage, although it was occupied by the US army. Ironically, Cyclone Tracy saved its life. It had been sold and scheduled for redevelopment, but after the cyclone it was repaired and became today's museum, featuring local and early European history.
Practical Info
Lyon's Cottage is located on the southwestern edge of the city center, just near Bicentennial Park.
Bicentennial Park
Practical Info
Simpsons Gap
Practical Info
Ubirr
Practical Info
Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre
Practical Info
Tiwi Islands
Practical Info
Darwin Cruise Port
Port Information
The Olgas (Kata Tjuta)
- The Olgas are essential for outdoor and adventure lovers, and first-time visitors to the region.
- This is a sacred Aboriginal site, and climbing the Olgas is considered disrespectful to the Anangu people.
- Cell phone coverage can be limited, but Wi-Fi is available at the Cultural Centre in Uluru and Ayers Rock Resort.
- The Olgas are located in the desert, so sunscreen, a hat, water, and comfortable shoes are a must. Prepare for high temperatures during the day and chilly weather at night.
- Alcohol is not allowed in the park except on organized tours.
- The Kata Tjuta Dune viewing platform is accessible to wheelchair users.
Myilly Point Historic Precinct
The Myilly Point Historic Precinct is a small group of houses built in the 1930s by the architect B.C.G. Burnett. They are the only remaining examples of this particular pre-war housing style.
The houses are light and breezy in feel, with pale colors. They're raised for ventilation and represent a European aesthetic sunnily adapted to their tropical climate.
The houses were created for top-level civil servants. Burnett House is the pick of the bunch, and is an unusual type of house called a 'Type K.' It took some hits during WWII and Cyclone Tracy, but has since been restored and functions as a museum.
It sits in a heavenly tropical garden. Take a stroll through the house, chat to the volunteers and (on a Sunday) take high tea, complete with scones, on the veranda.
Practical Info
Myilly Point is located in Larrakeyah, north of the city, southwest of the Botanical Gardens and south of Mindil Beach Reserve. It's about a 10 minute walk from the city city center.
Aquascene
It's amazing what a few scraps of bread flung to a mullet can start. That's what a resident of Doctors Gully did in the 1950s, and it didn't take long for the local fish to realize they were onto a good thing. The number of fish turning up for a free meal grew and grew, the word got around, and these days it's turned into Aquascene, a healthy tourist attraction.
Every day at high tide (the tides vary, naturally, so you'll have to check the local paper or contact Aquascene for exact feeding times) a deluge of fish flood into the shallow bay, napkins on, as it were. The original mullet population have been joined by a host of other species including catfish, milkfish and bream.
Practical Info
The fish are now so tame you can feed them by hand and get a good close-up look at the local marine varieties. If you're squeamish about fishy lips or don't feel like getting in the water, there's seating from which you can watch the feeding frenzy.
Parliament House
Practical Info
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre
Tjukurpa is the story and the spiritual law of the Anangu people, and the Tjukurpa Tunnel is where you are encouraged to begin building your understanding of their way of life before your visit to Uluru or Kata Tjuta. Much of Tjukurpa is considered sacred and cannot be discussed publicly, so this is a fantastic opportunity to take in those parts which can be shared.
Artefacts and informational plaques are displayed throughout the tunnel, and documentary DVD’s are screened on a loop, providing fascinating insights.
After experiencing the tunnel, visitors can check out a cafe, souvenir shop, and indigenous art galleries, which are all owned and operated by the indigenous community. An information and booking desk operates, where indigenous tours of the park can be organised. Free Cultural presentations and tours are also frequently available.