No Adventure In The World Can Beat A 4WD In The Australian Outback

Posted on May 4, 2013

by Martin Crowe

The Northern Territory is the central northern state of Australia and is famous for marvelous outback journeys. Frequently known as the Never-Never by the customary owners on account of it’s timelessness and mythical stories, the Northern Territory delivers more adventure than almost all of Australia’s states and the opportunity to get truly lost in the beauty and ruggedness of what is the quintessential “Australian Outback”.

The best way to travel this vast red, green and sapphire land is with a vehicle of your own rented in Darwin or Alice Springs – the 2 leading cities. There is only 1 thing to bear in mind if driving in the Northern Territory, Western Australia or anyplace in the outback: if you want to be leaving the black tar, you have to be in a 4wd!

Where is Darwin.

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, and is the biggest in the state. It is situated on the central north coast of Australia on the Timor Sea and is found between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Equator.

About Darwin.

Darwin is the gateway to the outback of Australia – the rugged, beautiful, red, green and blue lands that have made Australia celebrated the world over. From Darwin you get quick access to a number of Australia’s most iconic landmarks. Kakadu National Park – the world heritage listed park lands, Litchfield National park – the inland treasure of the Northern Territory, Uluru – the worlds largest monolith, and a plethora of other attractions which make you gaze in wonder. You cannot find any better way to visit these timeless, rugged places than with your very own 4wd camper hire from Darwin.

The Northern Territory is sparsely populated and is primarily outback bushland and national parks. Darwin has a population of about 130,000 defining it as the biggest city in the Northern Territory, however is only 16th biggest in Australia. It is an important gateway to South East Asia and possesses quite a military significance to Australia. As a result, you will normally find Navy ships in the harbour. It is the northernmost point of the popular Ghan railway that crosses the country in a North/South course with the alternative end being Adelaide some 2979km away.

Like all leading cities in Australia it has a bountiful supply of shops, eateries, cafes, petrol, places to stay and everything a tourist will need to have a wonderful time.

When to Go.

Darwin is in a tropical location so is hot and humid throughout the year. It is more defined by a wet and dry season. The ideal time to go is the dry season, but in particular the times when there are no school holidays is the best of the best.

Dry Season: Late April to September/October. This the perfect time of the year to go. In this time there is less rain and the night times become a little cooler. “A little cooler” in Darwin means an average of around 20 deg C (68F) as apposed to 24 deg C (75F). The days stay about the same average all year at 32 deg C (90F) but they seem far more tolerable during the dry season with about 50% the humidity of the wet season.

School holidays: These are the times which will raise crowds in Darwin and other attractions in the Northern Territory during the dry season. Dates differ from state to state, but taking in to account the beginning dates of the first state(s) to go on break and the end of the last state(s) to go back, these are the dates of school holidays. (Subject to minor change each year).

29th March – 26th April 1st July – 21st July 23rd September – 13th October

Wet Season: October/November to around April. The wet starts with particularly steamy, hot weather accompanied by some remarkable lightning storms. The rain increases as you approach the end of the year. The wettest part of the year is from January to March. During this time numerous unsealed roads will close to all but local residents and it is not advised to go at this time except if you like being wet. Even 4wd campers are likely to get bogged at this time of year. This is also the part of the season that is most prone to cyclones.

What to See.

Darwin is the gateway to outback Australia. With a 4wd campervan rented from Darwin you may get to all the places you want to go and even to some you don’t know you want to get to yet. From Darwin it is just a road-trip to the likes of Litchfield National Park, Katherine, Uluru & Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and The Kimberly in Western Australia. And don’t forget Darwin itself for some enjoyment and relaxation. As little as three hours drive from Darwin, Kakadu National Park possesses a rare dual World Heritage listing for both its natural splendor and its historic Aboriginal culture, dating back 50,000 years. It is one of the most popular sights in the north, with Uluru being the most favored in the south.

Transport.

There are no trains or trams around Darwin, it is just buses. There are several sight-seeing opportunities around Darwin that are not in the middle to town and you can save yourself a great deal of waiting at a hot bus stop if you splash out on a camper. And once you are ready to see the places that are further afield, make sure you get yourself a 4wd camper hire to do the long miles with. There is minimal useful public transport options outside of Darwin. The only train operates from Darwin to Adelaide 2 times a week (The Ghan).

Darwin and the Northern Territory are where so many of the most famous photographs of Australia are taken, not to mention movies like Crocodile Dundee and Kangaroo Jack. It is a destination where time simply stopped tens on thousands of years ago and now gives the contemporary sightseer a glimpse in to the past when only the Aboriginals inhabited the land along with the native animals. No other place in Australia or the globe can offer wonderment, tranquility, exhilaration and adventure like that which is on offer in the “Never Never”.

Before you plan your next vacation anywhere, discover more about the amazing journey you can experience with a campervan hire Darwin Australia. Discover which type of Darwin campervan hire will suit you and where to take it.