Author: Matt and Danielle
01 June 2023
Australia's huge, and if you're planning a trip to somewhere like the Northern Territory, then you have to be ready for it! Yes, there are plenty of places to stay between Alice Springs and Darwin, but there is also a lot of Australian outback. When you get into the top end things get a little more...scarce...let's say. Fuel stops can be hundreds of kilometres apart, and you may only see 10 cars on a 10-hour drive. It is very remote at times. We had no idea what to expect when we first drove into the top end. When we left we had a bunch of reasons to visit again, and one hell of an itinerary to pass on. It makes for a great experience!
Whoever coined the phrase "nothing that comes easy is worthwhile" must have been talking about Northern Territory. It has its challenges, and yet there is still so much to love! Places like Litchfield and Kakadu National Park, bitter springs and the crazy Daley Waters are all well worth the long drives. It makes for one unforgettable road trip.
Northern Territory is a very unique part of Australia. It's rich with aboriginal culture and natural beauty. There are also designated safe swimming areas, dressed-up termite mounds and lots of red stuff! It's easy to see why they call Alice Springs The Red Centre.
"Wait...did he say termite mounds?"
You don't need to go back and re-read anything...yes, I said dressed-up termite mounds. They're everywhere, and it's hilarious. The mounds line long stretches of Northern Territory's roads and passers-by put t-shirts and sunglasses etc. on them as they drive past. The best one we saw was a "family" of three with one dressed as a mother, a father and a baby which had a high seat placed over the mound with a bib tied near the top. It kept us laughing for a good while!
Are the drives that long?
There's no escaping or sugarcoating it because the drives are long. Yet, what lies between those drives are some of the most incredible places. Those places more than make up for the time spent behind the wheel. Get that Spotify playlist in tip-top shape, polish up those driving game skills and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
Our three week Northern Territory road trip itinerary will start in the centre of Australia. We begin in Alice Springs...the heart of the Australian Outback.
Now, this is one of the most important sections. Believe me...you will not want to be up this far North during the wet season. Especially if you're going to be living in a van! The climate in Northern Territory is tropical. It's not uncommon for it to be over 40 degrees in the wet season, so it's hot and they are very prone to floods.
The best time of year to be in the Northern Territory is The Dry season, which is usually around May to October. That's your sweet spot. Anything later than that and it gets wet and hot FAST!
If you're planning a Northern Territory adventure then this is one thing you don't need to worry about. There are a bunch of accommodation options to suit everyone's trip. We managed to find a mix of paid and free campsites, and most paid sites we found were on the cheaper side too. Uluru is one of those places where you have to pay a higher fee because there are no other options. Once you start making your way to Katherine or Darwin, there are plenty of places to get a good night's rest.
Make sure to download Wiki Camps for help finding any campsites near you. It's a MUST for anyone taking an epic road trip in Australia. Always read reviews of other people's experiences to ensure you find the safest spots possible.
3 weeks gives you plenty of time to see a lot of Australia's Northern Territory. It's roughly the amount of time we spent in this state so we know it's possible. The schedule will be full, but there are a lot of places you do not want to miss out on.
Here is the best 3-week Northern Territory itinerary around.
Your first week is all about the areas surrounding Alice Springs and Uluru. It's 450km to Uluru so you're going to want to rest up before taking on that drive. The best cheap camp we would recommend staying at in Alice Springs is the National Road Transport Museum. It's not in the heart of the city but it's cheap, clean, safe and the showers are hot.
Start with the areas around Alice Springs first and explore the magnificent West Macdonnell Ranges. Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm are two great stops, and our favourite was Ormiston Gorge. This is your chance to visit a beach which is thousands of miles from any coastline, and right in the centre of Australia! You can camp here for a small fee and enjoy the most incredible scenic walks through West Macdonnell National Park. The ghost gum walk is one of the more popular walks here, and there are no Crocs in Ormiston Gorge so you can swim safely!
You can book a day trip to Ormiston Gorge from Alice Springs here.
On to one of the most incredible sights in Australia...Uluru! Arriving in the Northern Territory and not visiting Uluru would be like visiting Victoria and not seeing the Great Ocean Road. It's one of Australia's most iconic landmarks and no trip to the Northern Territory would be complete without seeing the ancient site.
You need a few days to explore the area because there is so much to see. You will need to camp at the main campsite around Uluru, which was $50-$60 per night for an unpowered sight. 3 days are ideal and give you the best chance to see everything in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. You can learn all about the aboriginal people who once lived there, as well as take in one of the country's most well-known natural wonders.
Uluru at sunset is a must. Watching the sunlight hit the large red rock at the perfect angle and seeing it change to a beautiful shade of orange is amazing. After such an incredible show that night, we decided to see it again at sunrise. When looking over at Kata Tjuta in the distance we couldn't help getting fomo as that looked better! Stick to Uluru for sunset, but maybe head to Kata Tjuta for sunrise. Both of these make for great walks during the day too. You can learn all about their amazing histories, and no Red Centre itinerary would be complete without seeing them in all their glory.
Book all your Uluru tours and activities with Get Your Guide here.
It's a tight squeeze but while you're here you should keep going a little further to reach Kings Canyon. Here you can stay overnight and enjoy walks along the humungous cliffs and see the stunning scenery. A few days in this beautiful area will leave you wondering what else there could be! Trust us, it gets even better.
Now you're all done in the Red Centre. It's time to head back to Alice Springs so you can start making your way North!
On your route up North as you explore the Northern Territory the first notable stop is the Devil's Marbles. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs as you walk around the many red granite boulders that look as though they have been placed there on purpose. These rock formations are estimated to have formed through water and weather erosion 1.5 billion years ago! You can keep heading north as far as you're comfortable with but you'll need to rest up for the night.
Back on the road, it's time to keep going up to Daly Waters Pub and you should add one night here to your itinerary. It's a brilliant place that is incredibly unique and guarantees good times. Rest up for the night and spend the evening with drinks and great food as you watch the various animals that roam freely around. The Daly Waters pub owner comes along in the evening to tell everyone all about the amazing history of the place, and how it got to be so quirky.
In the morning make your way towards Mataranka's Bitter Springs...one of our all-time favourite places in Australia. Bitter Springs is a beautiful freshwater spring with the clearest water we have EVER seen! Bring a floaty and sit back as the beautiful waters take you to the end, walk back to the start and do it all over again. It's the perfect way to spend a day here. If you make your way there bright and early you should see lots of little turtles swimming about too. There are other thermal hot springs in Mataranka, but for us, Bitter Springs is by far the best. There are crocodiles in the surrounding areas around Mataranka, so stick to the designated safe zones.
Now we reach Katherine. If you're around day 10 and you're anywhere close to Katherine then you've made incredible time! You will have covered a lot of kilometres and have earned a much-needed rest. Trade the car for a kayak and head to Katherine Gorge for a day trip and explore the area in the best way possible! There are thousands of freshwater crocodiles here, but they are not known to attack people because they are much smaller. If you still don't want to get in the water then there are plenty of hiking trails or you can stay on the boat and take a scenic cruise around the gorge.
Edith Falls is another great stop and waterfall about 20-30 minutes North of Katherine.
Book your Katherine Gorge day tour here.
Now you're getting towards the end of the journey here, but there is still lots to see. The final week of this itinerary is all about National Parks, and these two here are some of the best. The Aussie adventure continues!
Kakadu National Park is a beautiful place filled with aboriginal culture and incredible ancient rock art. You will be slightly restricted on where you can go unless you're in a 4wd, but you can still get to lots of awesome places if you're not. The UNESCO world heritage site is a blast from the past. It is an opportunity to see somewhere completely unaltered or touched by human hands for millions of years.
There are a lot of things to do in Kakadu National Park. Ubirr Rock is where you will see some of the best ancient aboriginal rock art in Australia. Yellow Water Billabong is full of incredibly diverse wildlife and Jim Jim Falls is a swimming hole where you can take a safe refreshing dip.
That is the perfect 3 week East Coast Australia road trip! It's guaranteed to leave you with the fondest memories that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. It's by far one of the best trips we've ever done in our entire lives.
Don't pass on visiting Litchfield National Park. It's our suggested next stop, and one of our favourites! It's like a natural waterpark where you can swim in different places and jump off rocks into lakes or pools. There is also a lot to do in Litchfield National Park, but start with Wangi Falls which is the most popular swimming spot. You can camp in the national park nearby to go for a morning swim with little to no other people around. Florence Falls and Buley Rock Holes are other awesome stops too. For the best views while swimming make sure to visit Tjaetaba Waterfall.
Litchfield is easy to navigate in a 2wd and one of the best places to see.
You completed the ultimate Australian adventure! It's nearly 1,500km from Alice Springs to Darwin, which is one incredible experience. Now that you're here make sure to take a breather, and maybe grab a drink...or head for a night in Darwin! While visiting Darwin roam around the tropical city and enjoy being away from the wheel. Mindil Markets on a Thursday or Sunday are where tourists flock to get some great food and then sit while enjoying the sunset on Midil Beach. You can also head to the jetty to enjoy food and drinks by the waterfront.
Reward yourself with a sunset cruise with sparkling wine...you've earnt it!
After spending a few weeks in a campervan you may be looking to stay in a hotel for a night or two once you arrive in Darwin. Book your Darwin accommodation here
That's our 3-week Alice Springs to Darwin road trip itinerary for exploring all the Northern Territory has to offer. There are a bunch of other amazing experiences you can have here too. If you have more time make sure to look at aboriginal tours and other incredible experiences.
Have we given you the travel bug? Book your flights, accommodation and travel insurance all here.
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