September to April is When the Northern Territory Comes Alive (And The Crowds Disappear)

This is one of the NT’s best kept secrets. Head there from now until April for full waterfalls, dramatic skies, and empty campgrounds and trails. After half a decade living in Darwin, Amy knows exactly how to plan a holiday to suit the Territory’s seasons.

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place, who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Every Northern Territorian has a strong opinion about their favourite season – I should know, I was one for five years. Whether you’re indulging in tropical summer or heading to the quiet of the desert, I’ve got an adventure for you. 

Photo thanks to Tourism & Events NT | @domandjesso

When’s the best time to visit the NT? All the time!

In the Top End, there are around six different seasons recognised by First Nations people, depending on which country you’re visiting, and based on changes in the environment. But most people boil it down to two – wet season and dry season. 

The dry season runs from May to October and is prime time for pulling out the tent and spending as many weekends as you can in the glorious national parks. 

While the wet season, which runs from November to April, sees the crowds disappear, the sky put on a show, and the region come to vibrant life with the long-awaited rains. 

In summer there might be much more green than you were expecting

Down in the Red Centre and the Barkly region, winter brings warm days and balmy nights, while summer heats up, clearing out the crowds and leaving all those cooling freshwater swimming holes for a precious few to enjoy. 

No matter what season you visit the NT, I personally guarantee you’ll be blown away by the sheer enormity and beauty of the landscapes, the wildlife, and character of the people. 

So if you’re thinking of visiting this off-season, here’s the best things to do to get the most out of your holiday (featuring a few locations and events the dry season tourists miss!). 

Find the Wet Season Waterfalls

The Top End’s wet season is when the endless tropical waterfalls are in full force. Some of these waterfalls I’m about to share aren’t in their prime during the dry season, so they often get overlooked by the high-season tourists, but the off-season is the perfect time to seek them out. 

Please note! Crocodiles live in the freshwaters of the Northern Territory. It’s vital to always follow warning signs and only swim in areas that have been designated as safe by the national parks team. Learn more.

1. Motor Car Falls

Kakadu National Park 

This is one of the lesser-known waterfalls of Kakadu – during the dry, Jim Jim and Gunlom Falls take all the glory – but after a bit of rain has flushed out and filled up the pool, Motor Car Falls is the place to be on a weekend in January. 

Oooh yep, worth the walk

It features a 7.5km return walk with some minor rock scrambling right at the end, but with an enormous flat rock for sun bathing and an emerald green pool for actual bathing, the walk is always worth it. 

2. Southern Rockhole

Nitmiluk National Park 

Another weekend trip that’s always on the wet season calendar is Southern Rockhole near Katherine. Tucked into a nook of the mighty Nitmiluk Gorge, this showering waterfall features a sparkling pool at its base, and a few sneaky channels up the top if you know where to look. 

Southern Rockhole is literally paradise

It’s also a short 5km walk to the falls, but local’s tip; book a return ticket on the ferry that leaves a few times a day from just downstream in the gorge. You’ll save yourself from working up a sweat on the hike out and get a mini cruise through the gorge as well – what a win!

Read more: I Combined Nitmiluk Gorge Southern Walks For a Secluded 4-Day Hike

3. Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole

Litchfield National Park 

For a day trip a little closer to Darwin, it’s hard to drive past Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole, two very different but equally refreshing swim spots that are famous for remaining open almost year-round. 

Photo thanks to Tourism & Events NT | Safari Global

The walk to both of these freshwater swimming holes is short and paved, making them a great spot for everyone to access.

Heads up: Florence Falls is prone to flooding, so make sure that you check if it’s open before you go. If the swim spot is closed, there’s still a ripper viewing deck where you can take it all in.

Walk One of Australia’s Favourite Trails Without the Crowds

Did you know that Australia’s second favourite day hike is the Kings Canyon Rim Walk? And the off-season is the best time to explore this much-loved trail without the masses.

The canyon’s mesmerising beehive domes, surprisingly luscious Garden of Eden, and immense, sheer walls are best witnessed in the soft light of sunrise, so I recommend starting this walk at dawn and avoiding the peak heat of the day.

You’ll want to start early at Kings Canyon – especially in summer

The trail is a 6km loop and starts with a challenging set of stairs, edges around the rim of the walls, heads down into the oasis at the bottom of the canyon, then climbs back up and around the other side. 

Just be sure to check it’s open before heading out – the trail closes after 9am on days it’s forecast to reach 36ºC or higher.

Early starts make for better photos, too

Witness the Wetlands at Their Peak

One of the most underrated places in the Top End, no matter what the season, are the wetlands of Mary River National Park, around two hours’ drive from Darwin.

Mary River swaps red rock for lush green and abundant wildlife

Each time I’ve visited, it’s felt like someone’s turned up the saturation on my vision. Particularly by mid-wet season when the rain has brought colour back to the flora, the birds are gathering in their hundreds, and the Barra are biting – it becomes an oasis of life. And yet, there’s hardly a soul around! 

The Mary River wetlands deserve a day or two of your time and awe – whether you’re cruising the wetlands on the lookout for crocs and buffalo, on a fishing tour during the run off (the end of the wet season) attempting to nab yourself a Barra, or steering your own house boat to spend a night on the water.

Just make sure you’re only spending time on the water, not in it – this is serious croc country, after all. 

Heads up! From the 1st of October 2026 until the 31st of March 2027 one red-tagged barramundi worth $1 million is swimming in NT waterways, with a further 100 worth $10k up for grabs. This is Million Dollar Fish Season 12.

Catching a barra at Mary River is a rite of passage – could you get the Million Dollar Fish?!

Wander Through Karlu Karlu/Devil’s Marbles

Karlu Karlu may just be the most impressive road side pit stop in all of Australia – and it’s just been recognised as a Dark Sky Sanctuary, the first in the Northern Territory! 

Pull off the Stuart Highway around 100km outside of Tennant Creek and within 20 seconds you’ll find yourself amongst a field of beautifully rounded, rust-orange boulders also known as the Devil’s Marbles. 

The boulders at Karlu Karlu  here are strangely round

It’s not obvious at first, but there are hundreds of these perfectly-sculpted stones stacked atop one another and scattered for hundreds of metres around, with multiple walking paths meandering between them. 

Karlu Karlu is a must-do stop at any time of year, but it’s particularly busy during the peak season, owing to all the grey nomads who take advantage of the cheap campground alongside the boulder field. But come the off-season, when all the caravanners are back down south, the place will be yours for the admiring. 

Psst! Did you know the next total solar eclipse will pass over Karlu Karlu in July 2028? Internationally-recognised dark skies and astronomical events – this place is a stargazer’s dream!

See the World’s Oldest Living Culture Illuminated at Parrtjima

Each year for ten glorious nights in April, Parrtjima makes the desert shine with enchanting light installations projected onto Alice Springs’ iconic red sand and ruby rock. 

Photo thanks to Tourism & Events NT Parrtjima – A Festival in Light

This incredible free event offers locals and visitors the chance to see First Nations musicians perform in the heart of the country, and participate in workshops like screenprinting, bush food cooking demonstrations, sculpture making, and introduction to Arrernte language. 

Parrtjima is a visually stunning festival and an awesome way to introduce yourself to Arrernte culture before exploring more of the Red Centre. Plus the community vibes are unmatched, so expect to leave feeling positively wholesome! 

Don’t Miss Darwin’s Favourite Food Festival

Darwinians are so obsessed with laksa that there’s an entire festival based around it each year. For a month in the lead up to the big day, cafes and restaurants around the city invent and serve a laksa-inspired dish, and locals are encouraged to try them all, score them, and then a winner is crowned during the October festival.

The unique event has embedded itself into the annual Darwin calendar and is a great way to initiate yourself into the Top End Laksa Fan Club. Trust me, it won’t take long to understand what the fuss is about.

Laksa? In Darwin? But of course

From the Top End to the Red Centre, the Northern Territory makes for an unforgettable holiday at any time of year. But there’s something special about experiencing a place when the crowds have left and just the locals and the landscapes remain. The off-season leaves a lasting impression and allows those daring enough to explore the chance to see what life’s really like in the glorious Northern Territory.

Oh alright, one more Kings Canyon photo!