Overview
The Northern Territory is a gigantic landscape with thundering waterfalls and deep gorges, red deserts and breathtaking rock formations. For visitors, it embodies the Australian outback like no other landscape. Here, in the Wild West of this vast country, you can still experience real adventures: watch crocodiles, go on safari and take four-wheel drive tours into the wilderness. The interesting, multicultural city of Darwin has a lot of modern architecture and an attractive layout. It had to be rebuilt in 1974 after a terrible cyclone that destroyed more than half of the houses. The Northern Territory is of immense historical importance to Aboriginal Australians, who make up a quarter of the state’s population. Many legends surround much of the landscape and local Aboriginal guides offer walks into the outback bushland to learn more about their fascinating world. See other countries in Oceania on politicsezine.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
There are no direct flights from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to the Northern Territory. The following airlines offer regular connections to Darwin in cooperation with Singapore Airlines (SQ): – from Frankfurt/M. and Munich: Lufthansa (LH) via Singapore; – from Vienna: Austrian (OS) and Swiss (LX) via Zurich and Singapore, Lufthansa (LH) via Munich and Singapore; – from Zurich: Swiss (LX) via Singapore. Domestic airlines Cobham Aviation Services Australia (NC)/QantasLink and Qantas (QF) operate between the Northern Territory and all major Australian cities.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Darwin: 17 hrs 5 mins; Vienna – Darwin: 18 hrs 15 mins; Zurich – Darwin: 16 hours 55 minutes (pure flight times, stopovers sometimes add several hours to the travel time)
airpasses
With the Qantas Walkabout Pass, over 30 destinations in Australia and New Zealand can be booked at reduced prices. The individual flights are booked in advance together with the Qantas flight to Australia. With the Visit Australia Airpass from Singapore Airlines, you can fly to over 35 destinations in Australia at low cost together with the long-haul flight.
Arrival by car
The three major expressways connecting the Northern Territory to the surrounding states are the Stuart Highway, southbound to Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, the Barkly Highway, eastbound to Mount Isa and Queensland, and the Victoria Highway, the heading west to Perth. Rural roads can often only be used by four-wheel drive vehicles. In the Northern Territory, driving on country roads and byways without a qualified guide can be very dangerous. Spare parts, petrol cans and water supplies should always be carried. On the major highways there are service stations with gas stations, as well as shopping and accommodation options (about every 200 km). long-distance bus: Greyhound Australia operates between the major cities of the Northern Territory and the other state capitals. The excellently equipped coaches need 65 hours for the Darwin – Sydney route. There is a daily bus service from Darwin to Alice Springs (journey time: 21 hrs 35 mins) and 6 times a week to Kakadu National Park (journey time: 3 hrs). Tolls: The Northern Territory has no toll roads. Documents: In addition to the national driver’s license, either an officially certified English translation or the international driver’s license must be carried.
Arrival by train
The journey through the desert on the legendary Ghan, a Great Southern Rail train, is an experience (journey time: approx. 24 hours). The Ghan operates the route from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs. When traveling on the Ghan on the Adelaide-Darwin route, a stopover at Alice Springs is an option. There is no regional rail network.
Arrival by ship
The Port of Darwin is used by international cruise ships.
Cruise ships
The shipping companies Cunard, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Phoenix dock in Darwin, among other places, on their world cruises that start in Hamburg.
Ferry provider
SeaLink NT catamaran ferries connect Darwin to the island of Bathurst several times a week (journey time: approximately 2 hrs 30 mins).
Passport and visa regulations
Entry with children
Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
Public Holidays
05/02/2022 may day
06/13/2022 Celebrations for the Queen’s birthday
01.08.2022 picnic day
Business
Business etiquette
SydneyIn Sydney people work hard, but they also know how to have a good time and the working atmosphere is accordingly informal. During the week many deals are concluded over a long meal, accompanied by a glass or two of wine or beer, and the weekend often starts as early as Friday midday. Suits or suits are generally worn for business meetings, although they are a little more casual than their more formal counterparts in Melbourne. In the summer months, you often see businessmen in Bermuda shorts and suit jackets, as well as short-sleeved shirts, with or without a tie. Business hours are normally Mon-Fri 9am-5pm,
Business contacts
Northern Territory Government, Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development (DBERD) Ground Floor, Development House, 76 The Esplanade, Darwin, NT 0800 Tel: (08) 89 82 17 00. Fax: (08) 89 82 17 25. E- Mail: info.dberd@nt.gov.au Internet: www.nt.gov.au:8501/dberd/index.cfm Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (DPIFM) Postal address: GPO Box 3000, Darwin, NT 0801 Tel: (08) 89 99 55 11. Fax: (08) 89 82 17 25. Email: info.DPIFM@nt.gov.au Internet: www.nt.gov.au/dpifm
Shopping
Overview
Native art objects and outback clothing. Opals and other semi-precious stones are offered in Alice Springs.
Nightlife
Introduction
Darwin offers a lively nightlife. Impressive with its avant-garde architecture, the MGM Grand Darwin in Mindil Beach is a building complex that houses a casino, a luxury hotel, restaurants, nightclubs and various sports and conference facilities. Alice Springs also has a casino.
Culinary
Overview
Barramundi fish is the regional specialty. Darwin’s many restaurants offer Creole, Greek, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian and Thai cuisine. Cullen Bay Marina has a number of new restaurants with garden terraces and beautiful sea views.
Accommodation
Hotels
International hotels are in Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock; Hotels and motels of all price ranges in all resorts and cities.
Camping
The Northern Territory encompasses one of the most impassable regions in the world. The nearest major city is more than 1000 km from Alice Springs in each direction; Vehicles and mobile homes must therefore be absolutely roadworthy. During the rainy season in the north (November to April), unpaved roads are temporarily impassable. The Stuart Highway between Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide (South Australia) is paved and open to traffic all year round. There are enough campsites. Numerous companies rent out fully equipped mobile homes. Round trips with overnight stays in tents can also be booked. Details from NTTC (see addresses).
Climate
Best travel time
Hot all year round; in the tropical north, temperatures rise to 34°C in summer with high humidity. Heavy monsoon rains occur here from November to April, especially near the coast. Lower humidity and slight drop in temperature in the remaining months. In the south, which belongs to Central Australia, there is a dry climate. Maximum temperatures in summer at 35°C, in winter (May to September), especially in the months of June/July, temperatures can drop to freezing point at night. During the day they are at 20°C and above.
Country data
Area (sq km)
1,349,129
Population
245,869
Population density (per square km)
0.2 per square km
Population statistics year
2019
