Are We There Yet?

It’s the great Australian tradition – packing up the car and heading off into the great wide yonder on an extended holiday – and the Northern Territory boasts some of the most interesting drives in the world.

In conjunction with the Northern Territory News, Tourism NT has revamped its annual guide, Drive the NT, with a fresh new look and more information to help travellers plan their driving holiday.

Tourism NT Chief Executive Maree Tetlow said the new content was designed to entice visitors to stay longer, particularly in regional areas.

“The Northern Territory has an array of fantastic options for driving holidays and this year the guide provides more content regarding the experiences people can have in the destinations they are driving through,” said Ms Tetlow.

“The information will enable them to slow down their trip and get more from the places they visit,” she said.

“There is a bit of a misconception that you have to have a four-wheel drive to travel in the Northern Territory, and while we boast some exciting and challenging adventure routes, most of our best known attractions can be accessed by two-wheel drive vehicles,” she said.

Drive the NT also targets special interest groups and for the first time includes a section on birdwatching destinations, as well as more in-depth content on the NT’s world-class fishing destinations, trekking, art, heritage and cultural experiences.

Maps have been redesigned to be more user-friendly and the comprehensive guide covers all the Northern Territory’s icons as well as the lesser-known attractions.

The guide features each of the Northern Territory’s tourism drives and provides comprehensive information about the attractions along the way. They include:

• Red Centre Way, through the West MacDonnell Ranges to Kings Canyon, Uluru and Kata Tjuta;

• Savannah Way, from the ‘big sky’ country of the Gulf of Carpentaria to the NT’s north-west;

• Explorer’s Way, from Darwin to Adelaide via many of the NT’s highlights;

• Binns Track, a four-wheel drive alternative to the Explorer’s Way, and

• Nature’s Way, from Darwin through Kakadu National Park to Katherine Gorge;

The updated Explore the Northern Territory by 4WD, produced by Tourism Central Australia and Tourism Top End in collaboration with Tourism NT, is also out now.

Both guides are available at caravan and camping shows around Australia and from visitor information centres in the Northern Territory.

More information on holidaying in the Northern Territory got to www.travelnt.com