Travel Answers

Northern Territory

Hello there,
Myself and my co-worker are taking 6(max) kids on a driving/camping adventure from Melbourne to Uluru beginning June 28th until Sunday 7th July. These kids are on their Learners.. what would be the best route and are there any nice stops/attractions to see on the way!!

Any information would be a great help as this planning stuff is very overwhelming!!

Am considering them for tours in and around the Aldelaide/Alice Springs area. Especially this one - groovygrape.com.au/6dayadela... If anyone has reccos for trips starting from Adelaide and ending in Alice Springs, that would be great too.. I am looking forward to do the Uluru, Kings Canyon and maybe Kangaroo Island. Realised pretty late that my tickets have to be booked that way!! Thank You!!!

I am going to be in Alice Springs for five days between March 20th and 25th, after which I am planning to board the Ghan and go to Darwin. I am planning to do Uluru and King Canyon while I am in Alice Spring. Maybe do coach tours. Does anyone have good reccomendations for this. Also, what else do you think I should be doing while I am there - I can think of Larapinta Trail, has anyone else done it - is it really as awesome as everyone else is making it out to be.

Additional Details: I am going to be travelling alone, so no driving for me. Planning to stay in the YHA hostels everywhere. I am an Indian, female living in Australia for the last three years. I am getting back home in a few months time and am doing a three week see as much as you can trip before I leave. Thanks!!

I'm planning a trip to Australia in May and am hoping to visit Uluru and the surrounding area and then travel to Broome to do a tour to Darwin. The travel agents are telling me the best option is to either fly to Broome or do a tour up to Darwin, do the Darwin to Broome tour in reverse and fly out of Broome (via Perth) back home. Does anyone know of a better way I could see everything? I was hoping there would be a circular tour that left Darwin and returned to Darwin visiting the Kimberleys etc on the way but as yet I haven't found any. Thanks for your help. Lisa

Hi We are planning a trip of the Darwin/ Kakadu & Katherine Regions in late May 2013. One of the areas I have read about which interests us, is the Jim Jim falls and Twin falls area. We will be hiring a 4WD from a hire car company (and need to read the fine print on using this) but I cannot find much information on whether this is feasible or not. Is there enough water running in the falls at this time of the year, and therefore worth the extra money to hire a 4WD, as this is really the main reason for us to do this. I researched doing a tour of these falls, but they don't start until June, so this bothers me a little as well, as is it unsafe for us to drive in this area? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Leigh

So I am an American living in Australia now, moved from Victoria here to Kalgoorlie western australia bout year ago my husband and i are planning on a trip in late May to NOrthern Territory via Alice Springs and all that for approx 8 weeks. Looking for suggestions on where to go wat to see and do from anyone interested in chatting about it to me. things to see, things to avoid, tourist traps, hidden gems. not just in NT but also up Northern WA. Husband and I have 4wheel drive wed like to try while out and about so any suggestions...Thanks a bunch

We'll be in the Darwin area in late Aug. We're hoping to go for a few days to Kakadu, then to the Stone Country Festival on August 25. We will be borrowing a friends car (not hiring) and they've said it's ok to use it off-road, but I believe it's 2WD. Will we be able to make it across Cahill's Crossing, if we chose the right time? I'd really love to go the the festival, but don't want to damage the car or drive all the way out there to discover we can't make it across. Any other advice for the area, Kakadu, Nitmulik, or the festival would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Hi! I'm gonna travel to Darwin in a few days and I've done some research on the tours and stuff you can do there. I really wanna experience the nature and see as much as possible. I have three-four days roughly, and I would like to focus primarily on the landbased tours, even though the ocean is great as well. What are the best tours I can take now? I've targeted these as good options so far: 1. Venture North Daytrips: http://www.venturenorth.com.au/ 2. Litchfield Day Tours: http://www.litchfielddaytours.com/ 3. SeaDarwin: http://seadarwin.com/ What I want to experience is as much as possible of genuine nature, wilderness, wild animals and landscapes combined with a guide with a lot of factual knowledge, competence and passion for these things who wants to share. If travelling alone with the guide and not a group is the best option, that's ok. I'm travelling alone, am fit, used to rough terrain, heat, humidity, wild animals and whatnot and like to get out there :) I hope you can give me some tips and recommendations on what I should focus on. Secondarily, tips on nice stuff to do in Darwin itself is appreciated - like where to grab some good food, good place to grab a beer during the evening, and so on. I also noticed the Botanical Garden as a probable nice place to visit. Thanks to everybody who takes the time and effort to assist! :) Chris

Hi everyone, we are in Australia in August going from Sydney to Perth in a Campervan, and would love the diversion to Uluru. So, can i ask what the road is like from Adelaide to Uluru, gas stations (are they frequent?), how long in a camper van is the drive? and lastly and most important i suppose, can anyone recommend any good camp grounds for a single night? (i think 1 night will do it as we are rather nomadic and we are on a limited time to get back to the coast road and Perth. Any help and advice appreciated. cheers Dave

Hi, Lady Gaw and I have been lucky enough to score a half price booking (buy one get one free) for The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide in July. We are now quickly considering a 10 day holiday in NT where we've never been to before. We are NOT huntin, fishin campin types, but are thinking of 3 nights Darwin then rent a 2WD for time in Kakadu followed by 2 nights Katherine and then finish up with a further 2 nights Darwin. Everything in the way of accom in Kakadu is expensive but we can't decide between 2 or 3 nights and perhaps all in Jabiru with 2 day trips from there and see something else in the half day available before we head to Katherine. We want to be able to go see Katherine Gorge but not a "hurry up and get going" whistle stop tour from The Ghan with only 4 hours stop over in the town. So: 1. Where would you stay in Kakadu and I'm leaning towards Aurora Kakadu Lodge? 2. How long would you stay? 3. Is the park pass @25 per head usable in Katherine Gorge as well as Kakadu? Thanks.

What do you recommend for 2 days at Uluru-Kata. We are arriving at mid day may 19 and leaving 2;30 PM the 21. We are a group of 6 , one young adult, a 75 years lady and 2 couples in their late 40. We are going to rent a car at the air port . Thanks Wmde

Hi everyone i need some help. will be in Darwin for a few days in August and don't have time for an overnight stay in Kakadu, but would love to see it. Is it possible (read still enjoyable) to go there for a day trip, to see the main attractions. Also, i will have a Tarago to drive around. Do you need a 4 wheel drive in Kakadu. Thanks

My husband and I will be moving to Darwin @May 1 for a three year work project. I am interested in shopping information for locals, not tourists. I hope to pack light! Will the wet season be over? Are there a lot of bugs outside or can you enjoy nights outdoors? Is internet service available in residences? Cable/Satalite tv? What cell phone service is best for international calling? Is there anything that I should bring from U S that I cannot get there?

Dear forum members, My boyfriend and I are planning our stay in Darwin and/or surroundings at the beginning of June 2012. We've already searched the internet, but so far the results we found are quite disappointing with regard to location and/or expenses. So we really hope that one of you will be able to provide some good and helpful information! At the end of our vacation in Australia (including Sydney, Uluru, 4WD trip from Perth to Broome), we will end up in Darwin for 4.5 days. As the drive from Perth to Broome (which will go, partly, into the outback) will probably be some kind of exhausting, we would like to spend the end of our trip with simply relaxing a bit. Our idea was to find a nice place (luxury is not a must, the accommodation should be clean and neat, however...) at the beach somewhere in the surroundings of Darwin or even in Kakadu NP or Arnhemland. It does not have to be spacious etc. but should be directly at a beach or really near to it. Can anyone of you recommend a hotel, B&B or other type of accomodation that is not that extremely expensive? Let's say not more than 300 AUD per night and room? We're really grateful for any feedback and thank you in advance! Best wishes, Catrin

I posted the question re roads - ***um or gravel yesterday and received some answers - I was sent an email with the info VT Forum temporarily unavailable - & one from vtmail.virtualtourist.com/we... - I was informed nothing matched this command - I made sure I copied and pasted the commands so I dont know what I have done wrong This time I have taken careful note of the location etc - woould u please sent me your answers again - many thanks Jan

Hey, I am looking for somebody how is intrested to travel with me from Darwin to Perth. I think the best would be to rent a van or a car. I am flexible with the start date but sometimes in aprli. i think to spent 5-6 weeks there! I am a female from Switzerland and I am 24 years old! Let me know if you are intrested to have fun with me :-) See you! Andrea

Hi Myself and son will be in ayers rock resort for 2 nights in may. we have booked a sunrise tour and base walk and a sunset tour. On last day we do not fly out until 14.35hrs so would like to go back to uluru for the morning poss rock climb. The shuttle costs45 each i think quite expensive.does anyone know how close to the rock it stops. Thinking may be cheaper or about the same to hire a car for day but not sure how close you can park to the rock. Anyone know how long it would take to walk. Many thanks Alan

Hi there, In two weeks we're going to Perth. From there we start our trip by camper to Exmouth, Broome and Darwin for a month. We know it's wet season in February/March but the guy from the travel agency strongly advised us to not go there because of the Cyclone Season. Has someone got experience with that? Is it really that bad or dangerous? Thank you. Cheers, Bas

I'll be headed to Darwin in March for work. What are the do's and don'ts about the city? How is the night life? How are the women?

Planning this road trip over 14 days at mid/end of April 2012 Would appreciate planning advice on what to see - which camp sites to use (or avoid) - how long to spend at each location? Do I need pre bookings for power camp sites How busy is this time of year ? and generally any suggestions on things we should be aware of Many thanks Mike

Hi everyone :) I'm travelling to Australia with my mum and sister in January. Me an my mum have both been to Uluru before but my sister haven't so we would like to show her some of the real Australian dessert and Uluru. We are short on time, and we are having trouble finding a tour that would either depart from Uluru and finish in Alice spring or reverse without it beeing an AAT kings tour and not being much longer than 2 or 3 days. We would like to get to see as much as possible and not sit in a bus the intire time, but would rather not join one of the backpacker tours. We have considered flying in tho Uluru and then on our own do the basewalk and then watch the sunset, and then on our way back join a tour that lets us see the sunrise and Kings Canyon and then finishes in Alice Springs. Would it be easier to everything on our own or do you have any suggestions for tour companies we might join? Neither of us have a drivers license so self drive is not an option :) Any suggestions would be very helpful! Thanks!

Hi, in march 2012 me and my girlfriend intend to go to australia for a month in march 2012. And i thought this is a nice opportunity to ask her to marry me. We will start our journey in Darwin and go to kakadu in the first few days. Now my question: what are nice, romantic and quiet locations near the kakadu national park? It would be nice if we could be alone. thanks!

Hi all! We're picking up a 4WD camper in Alice Springs and heading to Kings Canyon (staying the night there). We're trying to decide whether to take Namatjira Drive then Mereenie Loop to see the Macdonnell ranges along the way, or to go the Larapinta Drive through Hermannsburg. Any advice on which would be more interesting/scenic for first time visitors to the NT? Thanks!

Hi, A Google search has come up empty, so I am hoping someone on the VT forum might know of any possible scuba diving spots near or around Alice Springs. I understand that's not normally the first thing that comes to mind when you think the middle of Australia, but that is exactly why I want to find a place to make it happen. I'm thinking that there have to be freshwater lakes or caverns around. Ones without crocodiles. Thank you very much in advance.

My previous travelbuddy had to go home due to family reasons. I am therefore looking for someone to maybe split a car or just travel together with. Plans are to go to Alice Springs around the 15th of july and then head up to Darwin after that. A detour to Cairns isnt totally off the map either ;) Johannes

Hi, just planning second part of our 2012 hols. We will be spending a couple of weks in Darwin in March 2012 and plan to go to Alice for a few days. We are thinking about the GHAN train. Can anyone advise the best and cheapest way to book. Also thoughts of taking Cairns in some time during the hol, whats the easiest way to travel is it from Darwin - Cairns, or Alice _ Cairns. Many thanks POEPAT

Hi can anyone advise the best way to travel from Darwin to Vietnam and vice versa. We are coming to Darwin in March next year but stopping off at Vietnam for several days first. Many Thanks Poepat

I am planning a one week trip mid-March 2012 to The Red Centre with return flight from Sydney. I wish to travel independently but would need to take advantage of bus tours for day trips since I do not plan to drive. We will fly to Alice Springs and then move on to Kings Canyon and a finale in Uluru with return flight to Sydney ... your suggestions for a more detailed daily itinerary, day trips and overnight hotel stops would be much appreciated ... thanks from Atlantic Canada!

Does anyone know how I can get the "An Insight Into Uluru - self-guided walks" booklet? I did not realize that it existed when I went to the Cultural Center or I would have gotten one then. An electronic copy would be fine. I am just trying to figure out the things I saw on the walks that I took.

Hi. Am thinking of hiring a Backpacker Nomad Campervan to bring down the cost385 for 5 days. Is a camper better than 2WD for my Alice Springs to Uluru trip via Kings Canyon with a day to West McDonnell & another day in Alice Springs? Am having doubts coz it has minimal hire of 5 days & has no drop off in Uluru which I prefer. Am also concern about flies going inside the van. Does Backpacker Camper have positive reviews? Do you advise campervan in Sept? This is my rough itinerary (arriving 10:35am day 1 & leaving 5:20pm day 5): Day 1 - West McDonnell to Glen Helen (Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm etc.) 2 - Kings Canyon Rim Walk 3 - Uluru Cultural Centre, Mala Walk, Base Walk, Sunset 4 - Uluru Sunrise, Olgas Walpa Gorge Walk or Valley of the Winds 5 - Back to Alice Springs. Town tour. Please suggest caravan parks from day 1-5. Thanks.