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[teedee]

Here are my 8 Wonders of the Northern Territory of Australia. They are things that ALL visitors to the NT MUST experience whilst they are here, and that alot of people dont!

8) Sunrise at Kata Tjuta - Everyone does sunrise at Uluru, but get out to Kata Tjuta and watch the sunrise here. Most tours dont do this (as its an extra 1/2 hours drive from the resort), but if you make the effort you are well rewarded!

7) Sunrise over Alice Springs - Get up early and drive up to the top of Anzac Hill. As the sun rises from the East, the majestic Mt Gillen lights up. I believe its more impressive then Uluru/Kata Tjuta!

6) Yellow Waters Cruise - When you are in Kakadu, dont forget to experience the Yellow Waters cruise. The best time to do this is on the first one of the day as thats when the wildlife.

5) Arnhem Land - Everyone goes to Kakadu, but people forget Arnhem Land. During the Dry season there are tours daily across to the Gunbalanya community, which is about 17km into Arnhem Land. You visit the community arts centre, then onto Injalak Hill for a bush walk and climb. Although its not the easiest climb (you need to have a good level of fittness), but if you are a good walker, dont miss it! You travel there with a local guide from the Community and its really fantastic.

4) Dinner Cruise on Darwin Harbour - There are a few different companies that operate these cruises and they are all slightly varied. Pick the one you like the best and get out there. Theres not much as good as watching a sunset from a ship over the beautiful Darwin Harbour.

3) East MacDonnell Ranges - These are the eastern version of the West MacDonnell Ranges. At present there are no regular tours into this area, but in my opinion they are just as nice as the West. Visit Emily and Jessie Gaps, and then onto Trephina Gorge. Its a majestic place, especially if you are there early or late in the day.

2) Rainbow Valley - Located 90km south of Alice Springs, the normal tourist can only access this by 4wd and only visit the front of the Valley. But, theres a tour, the Rainbow Valley Cultural Tour, which takes you around the back of the Valley and into a traditional living area.

1) Hermannsburg (Ntaria) - Hermannsburg is a community to the West of Alice Springs. Its the home of one of Australias most famous painters, Albert Namajira, and also to a former German mission. Whilst it is a closed community (meaning you cant just wonder around), if you visit during the Kaporilia Springs weekend (first weekend in October) or the Hermannsburg Spectacular (dates to be advised), this is when Hermannsburg really shows off. A beautiful community, with wonderful people! Its also access into Palm Valley - which would be my 1A if I could have one! Palm Valley is an oasis in the desert, where a stand of Cycads remains from prehistoric days.

[starlagurl]

That's awesome, I just moved it to the Australia forum though...

[purplebuggy]

6) Yellow Waters Cruise - When you are in Kakadu, dont forget to experience the Yellow Waters cruise. The best time to do this is on the first one of the day as thats when the wildlife.

I agree with this one for sure, and I'd also add Sunset over Darwin Harbour. The best sunsets in the world aside from Africa in my view. Mindle Beach in the Dry Season is a well known spot for grabbing a picnic spot, buying some dinner at the markets (Thursday Nights in the Dry and either Saturday or Sunday I forget...) and watching the sun go down with the sounds and smells of the market around you.

[teedee]

Mindle Beach in the Dry Season is a well known spot for grabbing a picnic spot, buying some dinner at the markets (Thursday Nights in the Dry and either Saturday or Sunday I forget...) and watching the sun go down with the sounds and smells of the market around you.

As its a half year event, I didnt add it to one of the wonders. Yeah yeah I know you cant get into Arnhemland on a tour in the wet season, but if you are really keen you can charter a flight in hence why it got added.

Mindil Beach markets run from the last thursday in April till the last Thursday in October - Thursdays 5pm - 10pm and Sundays 4pm - 9pm. They are located up on Mindil beach parklands, near Sky City Casino!

[teedee]

...
5) Arnhem Land - Everyone goes to Kakadu, but people forget Arnhem Land. During the Dry season there are tours daily across to the Gunbalanya community, which is about 17km into Arnhem Land. You visit the community arts centre, then onto Injalak Hill for a bush walk and climb. Although its not the easiest climb (you need to have a good level of fittness), but if you are a good walker, dont miss it! You travel there with a local guide from the Community and its really fantastic....

I guess because you would need a permit to venture to arnhem. and not everyone would bother to, while kadaku is just a huge park to discover. the historic markings are somehow similar with the markings there are in arnhem.

Johnny_mac, the beauty is that by going with a tour operator, they do all that work. They sort out permits, they sort out distances, in short, they get you there and they get you back at the end of the day.

Like I say, I think its a shame that so many people miss it. Like you, they think they need to organise permits and the like, when by going with a tour operator they just dont have to!

[introducinlyric]

Agree with the sunrise over Uluru - Magical

Great photo!!!!

[teedee]

Hi,

I am planning to go to Australia soon, maybe by the end of the year.
Does anyone have some tips on activities I must do there and in particular in the Northern Territory. I am planning to spend 3-4 days and obviously i heard a lot bout Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
Is there a specific tour that is a must do there ? I was thinking of the sounds of silence dinner and sunset/sunrise tours. Does anyone exprienced it before ?

And last question do you have any online resources to check and to book forUluru tours ? I saw a few already and these are the best i have found so far.

Thanks for your replies and your help !

G'day Londoner and welcome to for forums!

Look Im going to be completely biased and tell you the only part of Australia worth visiting is Central Australia, but then Id be telling falsies - it is, however, the part of Australia that you should NOT miss at all.

There are a few different tours that are must do trips, including the Sounds of Silence Dinner, the Desert Awakenings Tour and an indigenous tour of some sort (the Mala Walk tour by Anangu Tours is really good!)

Additionally, try and add a couple more days to visit Alice Springs. Alice is as close as the vast majority of people will ever get to the Centre of Australia, so to be so close, well it would be a shame not to come here.

Theres heaps on offer that will keep you busy here, so you need AT least 2 nights here in Alice Springs. That will give you a whole day in town. Really you should go for 3 nights - as you need a full day in Alice Springs to see everything, and then another day to visit the West MacDonnell Ranges. This is my FAVORITE part of the Territory.

As for people to book your trip for you - Territory Discoveries are the Government owned travel company for the Northern Territory and they have a massive range of experiences (more then alot of the other companies around).

Get intouch with them and they will take care of it all for you!