Why the Northern Territory?
Simply because there is so much out there yet to be discovered.
Experience the sound of a didgeridoo, taste a territory favourite - laksa, enjoy the art of dot painting, see true monoliths, dodge a crocodile or two in a billabong, catch the world-renowned barramundi, know true wetlands adorned with lilies, discover deserts and places that may never have been trodden on by human foot, walk-in dry river beds or along flowing raging waters, echo your voice in the breathtaking gorges and hear the ancient voices calling back, walk-in tropical forests and feel the chill of nature on your skin, discover rolling plains and find yourself in The Territory.
“To travel is to live.”
Well if the above poetics did not stir your soul and you are more practically orientated you may still be wondering why you should visit the NT? What makes the NT unique when compared to all the possible destinations available to the international traveler? Here is the answer you may have been looking for:-
What is the CORE why the NT?
The NT provides genuine remote adventure travel BUT with the proviso that you can sleep easy at night knowing you are safe.
This may sound rather mundane when first reading it BUT it is truly unique in terms of international travel. As such allow me to elaborate.
Genuine Remote Adventure
In terms of landmass, the NT is enormous and yet it ranks with the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
Safe
Politicly stable, first-world medical infrastructure, and low crime rate make this a safe destination. Knowing this when your head hits the pillow at night makes for a far better holiday experience. Remote travel on offer internationally that is comparable in terms of size and population density to the NT can seldom offer this level of safety.
Now let us look at qualifying the above:
Well, just how big is the NT?
The Northern Territory has a total area of 1,349,129 km2 which accounts for around 17.5 percent of Australia’s total landmass.
Let's put that in perspective.
North America; Texas USA will fit into NT twice.
Europe; The largest country in Europe, France will fit into NT twice with space to spare.
Africa; The NT is larger than South Africa and would come in as the 5th largest country in Africa.
South America; The NT would rank as the third-largest country in South America.
I think we have established that it is a big space to explore.
The Northern Territory is sparsely populated!
The population of the Northern Territory is 245,000. Darwin (the capital city of the Northern Territory) has an estimated population of 145,000 people. This leaves about 100 000 people of which 90% reside in the towns along the Stuart Highway.
Let’s put this in perspective.
The Northern Territory has a population of about 245,000 people. So just how many people is that? Well if you consider that the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) holds 100 000 people then the entire population of the NT would fit into two and a half stadiums.
Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world with 1.252 people per square km as such the entire population of the NT would be represented in 200 sq km of Bangladesh.
The NT has O.18 people per square km this is on par with the most scarcely populated country in the world namely Greenland. The NT has a lower population density than Mongolia (2.1 People/km sq), Western Sahara (2.2 People/km sq), Namibia (3 People/km sq), and Canada (4 People/km sq)
Definition of remote: (of a place) situated far from the main centres of population. So are we happy to accept the NT as being a remote destination?
The Northern Territory is a safe destination
Any remote travel involves a degree of risk that is greater than what would be considered normal travel. This risk is relevant no matter where in the world the remote travel is undertaken. This risk can be mitigated with careful planning, knowledge of how to respond correctly in adverse conditions, and the ability to communicate with the outside world.
However to truly experience remote travel one is often faced with venturing into third world countries like Western Sahara, Mongolia, and Namibia. Traveling to these destinations poses additional risks in terms of poor political stability, lack of medical infrastructure, and high crime rates.
How safe is the Northern Territory that is difficult to quantify?
Australia however ranks consistently in the top 15 annual global peace index ratings. The Northern Territory has many remote areas but a surprisingly large number of remote airfields are available to support medical evacuations. A well-established aerial medical evacuation service provides transport to hospitals in Darwin and Alice Springs where first-world medical intervention is on hand.
The NT and Australia remain politically stable with no areas that are subject to military conflict.
The NT is not crime-free but the crime directed at tourists is often petty crime and not life-threatening or violent crime. An honest police force and a population that mostly respects the rule of law provide a safe environment to travel.