Driving Distances

The Top End

More than 50 nationalities make up Darwin’s population of approximately 100,000 people.

The Asian inspired cultural and culinary benefits of such a melting pot are on offer at Darwin’s weekly markets, its variety of restaurants and through the city’s annual calendar of festivals and events.

Darwin is also the gateway to the iconic National Parks of Kakadu, Litchfield and Nitmiluk, as well as the tropical Tiwi islands. The Top End offers a friendly layback approach which will inspire all travellers to the region.

Sail from Darwin to the Tiwi Islands and their unique indigenous artists, take a dip under a waterfall in Litchfield National Park, cruise down the majestic Nitmiluk Gorge, explore the natural wonders of Kakadu or take a cultural tour of Arnhem land, the Top End has an experience to entice every traveller to the region.

BEST TIME TO GO

Boasting warm weather all year around, The Top End which includes Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, Mary River and Arnhem Land, has a tropical climate, and has two distinct seasons, the ‘Dry’ and the ‘Wet’.

May until October, the ‘dry’, will enable travellers to experience all the Top End has on offer. Roads to Kakadu, Lichfield and Katherine are all sealed so travel to these regions is available all year around, although the warm, dry sunny days of the dry’ will make travel more comfortable. It is worth noting that travel to the Top End is extremely busy during July school holidays and the Darwin Cup Carnival.

CLIMATE

Dry Season – This season offers warm, dry sunny days and cool nights and is the most popular time to visit the Top End region. The ‘dry’ runs from May until October.

Wet Season – The Wet season period runs from November until April and has increased humidity followed by monsoonal rains and storms. Travel to some parts can be restricted due to these conditions but the ‘Wet’ is also a wonderful time to see gushing waterfalls, incredible natural light shows and the landscape a lush green hue.

TEMPERATURE CHART

The Red Centre

The Red Centre is where you will find Uluru (formally known as Ayers Rock), Australia’s most recognisable natural icon. Standing 348 metres high, it is located 440kms south west of Alice Springs in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. 40km to the west of Uluru is Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas. Kata Tjuta is a monolith of rock domes that dates back some 500 million years.

Alice Springs has a unique pioneering history and is famous for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and School of the Air. A wealth of touring experiences are available from Alice Springs including the ancient MacDonnell Ranges, Palm Valley, Hermannsburg, an Aboriginal community and renowned for its Aboriginal art collection, the spectacular Glen Helen Gorge and Kings Canyon some 330kms south-west of Alice Springs.

BEST TIME TO GO

‘The Red Centre’ including Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and Tennant Creek, has a semi-arid climate.

Winters offer the most pleasant conditions, with the average daytime temperature in the low 20s (ºC) in June and July. April and May are also regarded as ideal times to visit Uluru (Ayers Rock), as temperatures are nice and warm and there is little chance of rain. September to November has many of the desert plants bloom and the wildlife is more active during this time of the year and can also be considered a good time to visit.

CLIMATE

The area experiences Australia’s four typical seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring, with large variations in temperature from season to season. The temperatures in Central Australia can be extreme: temperatures can drop below 0ºC overnight in winter, and rise above 40ºC in summer (Dec to Feb). What little rain that does fall will usually be during the hottest months from November to March and usually in the form of sporadic, powerful thunderstorms.

TEMPERATURE CHART