How to Visit the Northern Territory for Less
The Secret Season in the NT That Everyone Should Experience Once.
I’ve travelled a lot for work, but this was the first trip that actually felt like a holiday. The Northern Territory in “low season” isn’t quiet because no one goes… it’s quiet because the people who do go don’t tell anyone. And you know I never gatekeep, so I’m letting you in on the secret.
The weather’s still warm, the hotels drop their rates, and every sunset looks like it’s been through the most perfect filter.
I went expecting a nice few days away. I left wondering why I didn’t do this sooner.
ALICE SPRINGS.
Landing in Alice Springs doesn’t feel like arriving somewhere, it feels like escaping everything. The air is warm but not sticky, the horizon goes on forever, and the locals have that unbothered energy of people who haven’t sat in traffic for six years straight.
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza… pool, cocktails, perfect light at 4:30pm… and I spent a full afternoon horizontal, watching the sun turn the MacDonnell Ranges pink.
That night, we jumped in a 4WD with Bill, who has been guiding in the NT longer than some of us have been alive. He drove us to Rainbow Valley with red cliffs that look like they’re on fire at sunset. We set up a picnic, and it was just us. This was the moment the magic of travelling in the quieter months really hit me. The colors, the quiet, and the sense of space made it unforgettable.
Stack your savings:
Crown Plaza off-peak rooms start at $150, which is already unbelievable value, but you can join their free rewards club for a further discount.
KINGS CANYON.
On the way to Kings Canyon, the desert turned from rust to rose to gold, like it was showing off and no one minded.
We stayed at Discovery Parks in a villa that was technically “camping” but came with a deep bathtub and a glass of wine situation that would make Pinterest proud. Usually $800 a night, but because it’s low season? You can get around 30% off. Treating yourself is so much easier in the quiet months!
That evening we wandered through Bruce Munro’s Light Towers… hundreds of glass pillars glowing in sync with the sunset. The whole desert shimmered like it was breathing. Canapés featured camel, kangaroo, and lemony green ants (yes, really), washed down with local wine and the kind of quiet you don’t get anywhere else.
And then the next morning we went on a 6am hike. We didn’t see a single soul until we were almost at the end, just the canyon lighting up gold while a kangaroo hopped by like it knew its cue.
Our next stop was the Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience, where the Southern Arrernte people shared their knowledge of bush medicine, art, and food. Hearing those stories firsthand was a genuine privilege, the kind of moment that stays with you.
Off-Peak Perk:
Discovery Parks usually sleeps 2,500 guests, but during our stay there were only around 250. Bliss.
ULURU.
By the time we reached Uluru, I’d started to understand why people say “it gets under your skin.” It’s enormous, yes, but it’s more than that. It’s spiritual, grounding, almost hypnotic.
That night what a true bucket-list moment… Imagine fifty thousand glass orbs glowing across the desert while you eat under the stars with Uluru as the backdrop. The stargazing out there was next-level, it looked fake
The next morning we drove out to Kata Tjuta, about 50 kilometres from Uluru, to watch the sunrise. The air was crisp, the sky turned that soft orange-pink you can never quite capture on camera, and the whole place was still. We walked through Walpa Gorge as the light hit the rocks. It was peaceful, grounding, and honestly the perfect way to end the trip.
Afterwards, we stopped at Gecko Café for breakfast (excellent coffee, no rush) and wandered through the Gallery of Central Australia, filled with incredible local art and stories from the region.
Uluru tip:
Visit between September and April for a bucket list experience without the bucket list crowds.
The NT’s “low season” is when the Territory turns it on… warm days, empty lookouts, and hotels that make your bank account breathe a sigh of relief.
Take it from me: go when everyone else doesn’t.
The Northern Territory’s best-kept season runs from September to April.
*this blog was written in partnership with Tourism NT