Get Off the Beaten Track and Fall in Love with the Northern Territory’s Best Secret Scenes

If your daily grind looks a little like this: packed shoulder to shoulder on the morning commute, shuffling from meeting to meeting, scoffing lunch on the fly and falling into a heap at the end of the day — you might be craving an escape from the noise.

Stepping away from the rat-pack and leaning into the sublime should be high on the priority list for your next getaway. And if it is, might we suggest venturing to the Northern Territory to discover some of the Australia’s best secret scenes?

Full of wonder, history and perfect nooks to leave the hustle and bustle of life behind, trust us when we say that all your worries will melt away in the NT.

Fancy a dip in a thermal hot spring? Northern Territory has got you covered.

Want to enjoy a delicious meal under the glow of outback stars instead of the glow of your TV screen? You’ll find it in the NT.

Have you been wanting to learn more about the history of our First Nations communities? The Northern Territory has that in abundance.

Keen to discover a hidden patch of paradise without a soul around you for miles? Yep, you’ve got it, NT is the spot to discover the untapped gems you’ve been yearning for:

Scenes Under the Stars

The Northern Territory is home to some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world so it would be a shame not to experience these scenes in the thick of it.

Ditch the swanky city hotels and head to one of the best glamping set ups the NT has to offer for a night or two under the stars.

Kings Creek Station is a sprawling cattle station that gives travellers the opportunity to stay in one of their ‘Drovers Dream’ glamping huts that overlook the dramatic George Gill Range. Guests are provided with all the necessities for a self-cook BBQ, so you can fire up the grill, enjoy some local delicacies and kick back as day folds into night, then fall asleep under the twinkle of the outback light show.

Indigenous Culture Scene

Australia is home to the oldest continuous living culture on earth, in the Northern Territory you’ll find a rich and diverse representation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities that have been inhabiting the land for more than 60,000 years.

One of the best ways to pay respects to First Nations people is to learn more about their way of life, and a day tour of the Tiwi Islands is the perfect place to start.

Take a boat just a few hours north of Darwin and you’ll find the Tiwi Islands also known as the ‘Island of Smiles’. There is so much to see and do here by getting to know the beautiful Tiwi people — head to a smoking ceremony, visit an arts centre to see first hand how their vibrant art is made and sit side by side community elders while sharing local cuisine like fresh damper.

Scenes On the Water

For city dwellers, one of the most common (and expensive) ways to destress is to head to the day spa. What if we told you, you could practice that kind of self-care out in nature without having to pay a cent?

With all of the appeal of a bougie steam room and without having to rub shoulders with strangers, the Mataranka Hot Springs will set the scene for the relaxation you deserve on holidays.

Surrounded by lush outback flora, plunge yourself into the thermal pool that is filled with fresh spring water from the connecting Georgina and Daly basins and stays a toasty 34 degrees throughout the year. For a less crowded scene, make your way around to the Bitter Springs thermal pool where the water is just as warm but a little more secluded. Banish those aches and pains by soaking away all of your troubles.

And the best part? There’s no staff here to tell you your one-hour spa pass has expired.

Hidden Oasis Scenes

When we think of the Northern Territory it’s hard not to conjure up scenes of the spectacular Kakadu National Park with all her dense bushland, dramatic gorges and towering waterfalls.

If you’re looking to find a hidden gem that feels disconnected from the rest of the world, this is the place to take a step off the beaten track and discover Nirvana. Access to Jim Jim Falls is not for the faint-hearted, you’ll have to make your way to this secret spot by 4WD but it is absolutely worth the grunt work (and tire power).

A 2km return walk will take you through lush monsoon forest, past the iconic Jim Jim waterfall, right through to a deep pool at the base of the cascading waters – perfect for a dip. Pack your sunscreen and a picnic lunch and marvel at the incredible surroundings. You might just feel like you’ve found the hidden oasis of your dreams — except this dream has come true. You’ll want to park this scene in your memory bank for years to come.

If you’ve been itching to finally book that trip to the Northern Territory, Flight Centre provides a number of different affordable flights and packages to help you make your holiday a reality — head here to discover more.