NORTHERN TERRITORY PARKS REOPENING

It is officially the Dry Season! What a great kick start to the 2025 tourist season with school and public holidays and some of the Territory’s most-loved nature spots reopening early. Walker Creek in Litchfield and Bitter Springs in Elsey National Park opened ahead of Easter. Central Valley opened last weekend and Gunlom Falls is set to reopen in late May, subject to weather and conditions. These attractions will draw visitors and boost travel through greater Darwin, Katherine and beyond. Just in time for the 2025 hiking season on the Jatbula Trail, ten new tent and sleeping platforms have been installed at the Crystal Falls camp site, providing increased options for a comfortable night’s rest for hikers. 2024 saw tourism deliver $2.6 billion to our NT visitor economy, and we welcomed 1.6 million visitors, a 2.9% increase in total visitors compared to the previous year.

Image credit: Tourism Australia/Nicholas Kavo

NEWS

SCOTT LOVETT

In organisation updates, Deputy Chief Executive Scott Lovett will be moving on to take up a private sector role in Darwin, his last day will be 28 May. Scott has made a huge contribution across many areas from regional development, tourism, hospitality and event management, international business development to investment attraction and regulation. Some of his most notable achievements with the team include:

Managing through a challenging tourism environment created by COVID and still exceeding visitor expenditure targets.
Achievement of the highest ever screen production activity in FY24 including partnerships with Stan, StudioCanal, Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Establishment of the Racing and Wagering Act 2024 and a new Regulatory Impact Assessment Framework.

NORTHERN TERRITORY TOURISM AWARDS NOMINATIONS

Nominations open 30 April for the 2025 Brolga Awards. Exciting updates for 2025 include a new Northern Territory category and changes to the submission process.

Key improvements include:

Simplified and refined questions in a guided response format.
Reduced word count.
More images.

Register for the 2025 Brolga Awards overview webinar on 30 April 2025 to find out more!

REGISTER NOW

MORE VISITORS TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

2025 has started well with the largest cruise season ever for the NT with 127 ships visiting Darwin port. One of the cruise ships Ovation of the Seas which stopped in Darwin had 4370 passengers and 1574 crew onboard. There is now more aviation choice, competition, and connectivity, with Alice Springs and Yulara now connected with Cairns. Internationally, Qantas offers direct flights with Singapore, providing seamless connection from London, and by July we will see AirAsia connect Darwin with Kuala Lumpur. This opens the NT to the Malaysian market providing new opportunities across Asia. Tourism NT’s national drive campaign is now live, running until June 2025 with the theme ‘Road Trip Differently’, encouraging Australians to explore the NT’s unique landscapes and experiences, via drive, caravan, and camping road trips.

THE NORTHERN TERRITORY LISTED IN TIME'S WORLD'S GREATEST PLACES OF 2025

The Northern Territory and The Ghan are listed on TIME's annual list of “The World's Greatest Places of 2025”. The list highlights the most extraordinary international destinations to explore amongst several categories, including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions and more.

VEEP 9 APPLICATIONS CLOSING 1 MAY

The Visitor Experience Enhancement Program (VEEP) provides funding support for tourism operators to enhance the visitor experience across the Northern Territory. If you're working to bring the NT's rich military heritage to life for visitors, have innovative new products and experiences and/or upgrading or improving existing products we encourage you to apply now!

For additional information, to test your idea or if you have any questions, contact [email protected]

NT VISIT TO INDIA

In February 2025, Tourism NT, the South Australian Tourism Commission, and Visit Canberra visited Delhi and Mumbai, hosting events, training 300+ agents, and engaging key trade partners. India, a top five visitor source for Australia, is a growing market for the NT. The roadshow strengthened relationships and boosted destination awareness.

ALICE SPRINGS FAMIL PROGRAM

NT Business Events, in partnership with the Alice Springs business events industry, hosted national association planners and a trade media journalist for a four-day program. Showcasing venues, cultural experiences, and Parrtjima, the visit aimed to boost Alice Springs’ appeal as a host destination for business events across education, science, health, and creative sectors over the next 1–3 years.

TOURISM NT NEW ZEALAND CAMPAIGN

Tourism NT is continuing to build momentum in the New Zealand market, with a new campaign rolling out from April to June. The campaign showcases the Territory’s landscapes, wildlife and adventure, encouraging Kiwis to seek out a different kind of Aussie holiday. Backed by holiday planning tools and deals through House of Travel, Tripadvisor and Qantas, the activity is designed to drive demand and support our operators by connecting with high-value travellers already showing strong interest in the NT.

KAKADU ROADS PROJECT UPDATE

Since the January KTCC meeting, the schedule for the Kakadu roads project has been revised based on feedback from stakeholders and engagement with Traditional Owners. Works are now proposed to commence in 2025 on Kubara and Maguk roads, with all construction to occur under traffic management. Roads will remain open, with minimal disruption expected aside from brief delays of up to 10 minutes. The timeline remains subject to formal consent from the Northern Land Council and approval from the Director of National Parks and the Kakadu Board of Management. We will continue to keep industry informed as planning progresses.

Image credit: Tourism NT/Let's Escape Together

EVENTS

TERRITORY’S LONGEST-RUNNING MUSIC FESTIVAL, BASSINTHEGRASS, RETURNS IN MAY

The Northern Territory’s premier music event, BASSINTHEGRASS, returns to Darwin’s iconic Mindil Beach on Saturday, 17 May 2025. Now in its 22nd year, the festival is set to deliver 10 hours of non-stop live music, featuring a lineup of 22 artists across multiple stages. BASSINTHEGRASS continues to be a major driver of tourism and economic activity, drawing thousands of local, interstate and some international visitors to the Top End. Tickets and premium packages are now on sale.

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TRACK TO TOWN ROARS BACK INTO DARWIN IN 2025

Track to Town returns on Thursday, 19 June, bringing the excitement of the betr Darwin Triple Crown Supercars Indigenous Round directly into Darwin’s CBD. New for 2025, the inaugural Palmerston Driver Parade on Wednesday 18 June, will extend race week festivities and drive further foot traffic across key retail and hospitality precincts. Visitors can experience all the on and off track action at Hidden Valley Raceway from 20 - 22 June, coinciding with Darwin’s peak dry season, an ideal time to promote extended stays and regional travel.

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RED CENTRENATS REVS UP FOR ITS 11TH YEAR

The "Ultimate Festival of Wheels," Red CentreNATS, returns to Alice Springs from 5 - 7 September 2025, celebrating 11 years as a major driver of visitation and economic activity in the Red Centre. The event features a full program of drag racing, burnouts, show 'n' shine, live music, and Australia’s largest street parade, drawing hundreds of car and bike enthusiasts from across the country. Red CentreNATS continues to be a key event on the national motorsport calendar, delivering significant opportunities for the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors. Vehicle entries are now open, with strong interest expected for the 2025 event.

MXGP OF AUSTRALIA MAKES ITS NT DEBUT

The MXGP of Australia is set to take over Darwin from 19 - 21 September 2025, marking the first time in 25 years that the world-class motocross championship has returned to Australia and for the first time, to the Northern Territory. This Australian exclusive event is expected to attract significant national and international visitation, providing a major boost to the Territory’s tourism, accommodation, and hospitality sectors. The MXGP will showcase the world’s best riders across three action-packed days, positioning Darwin as a key destination for international motorsport events. 3-Day Hot Passes are now on sale.

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DARWIN STREET ART FESTIVAL

The 2025 Darwin Street Art Festival returns from 24 May to 15 June, featuring over 20 artists - 60% of which are from the NT. Now in its ninth year, the festival continues to support local talent, drive visitation, and strengthen Darwin’s reputation as a vibrant, creative, and culturally rich destination.