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Girl walking the trail at Field of Lights at Uluru

Overnight walksin the Northern Territory

Trek through spectacular gorges, lush eucalyptus forests and mighty mountain ranges, before setting up your swag and sleeping beneath a million stars.

[carousel hero="true" rotateheadings="true" smallheight="false"][slide image="/-/media/images/articles/overnight-walks/hero-image/girl_walking_the_trail_at_field_of_lights_at_uluru,-d-,jpg.jpg" imagealt="A visitor walking through the Field of Light art installation. The Field of Light art installation, a global phenomenon by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro, has come home to the place that inspired it - Uluru. The British artist conceived the idea at Uluru in 1992 after eight years in Australia. Pathways draw viewers into the installation, which comes to life under a sky brilliant with stars. The installation, aptly named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku by the local community means 'looking at lots of beautiful lights' in local Pitjantjatjara will be in place until 31 December 2020." butttontext="" buttontarget="" buttonurl="" video="" slidecontentoverride="" heading="Overnight walks" subtitle="" introtext="" captionlink="" captionlinktext="" darkenimage="false" headingoverride="" renderh1="true"][/carousel]

For the adventurous trekker who’s seeking a deeper connection with the Territory, consider signing up for one of its epic multiday hikes. Get intimate with ancient landscapes as you scramble over boulders and traipse through gorges and lush eucalyptus forests. Arrive at camp and cook up a campfire feast before setting up your swag and sleeping under a million stars. An unforgettable experience.

Larapinta Trail

Perhaps the crowning jewel of treks in the Northern Territory is the world-renowned Larapinta Trail, a challenging 223km track that runs through the heart of Central Australia. Voted by National Geographic as one of the Top 20 trekking experiences, the trail begins in Alice Springs and heads through the stunning West MacDonnell National Park. It’s divided into 12 sections, so less experienced trekkers can choose to join or leave at any point, rather than covering the whole distance.

Nitmiluk National Park

The Jatbula Trail is another fantastic option that takes you along a 62km route into Nitmiluk National Park. Enjoy Katherine Gorge, magnificent waterfalls and stunning views of the Seventeen Mile Valley. The trail follows an ancient Song Line or Dreaming Trail used by the Jawoyn people, linking it to the Dreamtime creators. It takes about five days to complete, and expect to cover around 10 to 17km per day. As much of this route is unsigned, it’s a good idea to join an organised tour for this trek.

Other Walks

Bushwalking in southern Kakadu is another great option, where you’ll find the beautiful region of Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge). It’s a restricted indigenous area so you’ll need to obtain a permit. Other popular walks include the 39km Tabletop Track in Litchfield National Park, and Giles Walking Track that runs 22km between Kings Canyon and Kathleen Springs.

Overnight walk highlights

Explore walking & hiking by region

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