Go exploring: Best holiday destinations in the NT

If you go on a holiday to a place that’s crawling with other people, is it really a holiday? We don’t think so. There’s just something about a place that hasn’t been sullied by hordes of tourists; a place that really enables you to let go and free your mind of whatever problems plague your life.

Get off the roads less traveled and visit one of the following lesser-known destinations in the Northern Territory for your next holiday - you’ll be anything but disappointed!

Day trips ahoy

Batchelor Butterfly Farm

Head south from Darwin for an hour and change to find the Batchelor Butterfly Farm. It’s a fun little experience stepping into the butterfly house where you’ll be surrounded by beautifully-coloured butterflies going about their business. Also on the to-do list during your visit is the petting zoo where the kids will have a great time up close and personal with guinea pigs, rabbits, boats and other animals.

Kakadu (by air)

Navigate your way east along Arnhem Highway for two and a half hours to get to Jabiru, the main township within Kakadu National Park. There, you can hop into either a small plane or chopper and take to the skies over Kakadu, which due to its gargantuan size is the optimal way to take in the stand-out sights like the Twin Falls and East Alligator River.

Wonderful weekends

Kings Canyon Rim Walk

While Kings Canyon is pretty well-known to NT locals, few have managed to make the trek to the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. Why? Well, maybe it’s because of the 5ish hours it takes to complete. It could also be due to the fact that its 6km track isn’t exactly the easiest. Whatever the case, throw all the excuses in the bin and get after it to be rewarded with a view you’ll never forget.

A few hours out of Alice Springs, Kings Canyon has a heap more things to see and do; chopper rides, outback dining and 4-wheeling are just scraping the surface. Stay at the Kings Canyon Resort to be in the heart of the action.

Valley of the Winds

Another rather challenging hike for you is the Valley of the Winds, a 3-hour walk through the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with breathtaking views and amazing scenery including the very-impressive Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) rock formations. Head off on the walk in the early morning, for a couple of reasons:

1. You’re more likely to see some of the native wildlife
2. It can get bloody hot as the day progresses

Remember to get yourself a pass before you go, too. And stay at the Ayers Rock Campground - after a long day of hiking its relatively close proximity (50km) will be a Godsend.

Week-away holidays

East Arnhem Land

If you’re coming from Darwin you’ll have to drive around Kakadu National Park to get to East Arnhem Land, which makes it about a 10-hour drive. Once there, you can do as much - or as little - as you want. It has an abundance of beaches, many hidden away and quiet; there are chartered fishing trips available; there are quite a few pretty awesome 4WDing tracks; you can visit the historic sites dotted throughout the area; or just lay back and enjoy the calming nature that envelops you.

East Arnhem Land is overflowing with Aboriginal culture and heritage, too. Check out the art and craft centres, head off on the Gayngaru Wetlands Interpretive Walk, and take the Yolngu cultural tour while you’re there.

Spend your nights at Dhukurrdji Lodge or Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge.

Palm Valley and surrounds

Time to reconnect the UHF aerial and dust off the driving lights, because the only way you can access this spot is in a (lifted) 4WD. Located within the Finke Gorge National Park, a 140km road trip west of Alice Springs, Palm Valley is one of those places in Australia that you absolutely have to visit. The drive to Palm Valley takes you alongside the oldest river in the world, and on arrival you’re greeted by perhaps some of the best landscapes anywhere in Australia. Red Cabbage Palm sprawls across the Valley, with beautiful peaks and gorges surrounding.

Camping at Palm Valley is a no-brainer; there’s a campground there that has toilets, showers and even barbecues for you to use.

Financing a new car can make your journey that much better

Whether you’ve decided to take a road trip to one of these great spots or you’re simply headed to the local shops to grab a loaf of bread and some milk, making the trip behind the wheel of a new car would be pretty sweet, right?

A 200-series Land Cruiser to take you to the far-reaches otherwise inaccessible? A 5-litre Mustang with its eargasmic exhaust note? Whatever car you’ve been dreaming about, we can help you make it a reality. Tapping into our massive network of lenders, we’ll match your needs with the perfect financing solution every time.

So why not see how low your monthly repayments could look with our car finance quotation tool? When you’re ready to take the next step, apply online in under 5 minutes or give us a call on 1300 787 288. You can also send us an online message if you’d prefer.