There’s no better time than now to turn up in the NT. You’ll find Australia’s biggest experiences in its smallest capital, Darwin. In the heart of town, buildings are splashed with colorful street art while galleries showcase local Aboriginal talent. Darwin’s food and wine scene is just as vibrant: Indonesian cuisine rolls in with the waves from nearby Southeast Asia, champagne accompanies the sunset on a Darwin Harbour cruise and dinner is best enjoyed with views over the wetlands at Finniss River Lodge.

Outside the capital are incredible national parks and endless outback adventures. Just south of Darwin, Litchfield National Park offers towering termite mounds and cascading falls perfect for a dip, while those that prefer to stay dry can kayak through Nitmiluk National Park, a breathtaking region layered with ancient stories deeper than its spectacular sandstone gorges. Boasting UNESCO World Heritage status and an abundance of wildlife, Australia’s largest national park, Kakadu, is an untouched landscape entwined with more than 50,000 years of Aboriginal culture. And the lesser-known side of the Australian outback is best seen from an award-winning tour of Katherine’s cowboy backcountry.

Continue south to the Red Centre, where tropics roll into an ombre of desert hues, revealing a vast landscape dotted with expansive cattle ranches, historic stock routes and wayside roadhouses. Visit Alice Springs and waltz along the rim of Kings Canyon. Bear witness to the striking formations of Kata Tjuṯa, the formidable marbles of Karlu Karlu and the World Heritage-listed Uluṟu. As night falls, embrace the outback magic with a once-in-a-lifetime Field of Light and fine dining experience under the stars, before retreating in five-star style to Sails in the Desert, an iconic oasis crowning the outback’s soul-stirring landscape.

Undoubtedly, the source of the NT’s magic comes from those who know the land best, the First Nations Australians whose Dreamtime stories invite you to connect with your senses to seek a truly different experience. Find a deeper understanding of iconic sites with traditional-owner guides, or apply for permits to visit Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land or the Tiwi Islands to experience some of the country’s best-preserved rock art and most pristine landscapes.