The Northern Territory is so large it covers two very distinct climate zones: The Red Centre and the Tropical North.
The Top End, which includes Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land, has a tropical climate. Darwin has an average temperature of 32°C all year, with varying humidity. The tropical summer, from December to March, is considered by many to be the region's most beautiful time of year.
The summer rains bring the natural landscape to life and deliver the picturesque storms and sunsets the Northern Territory is renowned for. The dry season, from May to October, has warm, sunny days and cool nights. At the end of the year, the build up, or pre-monsoon season, begins and humidity levels start their rise.
The following chart outlines Darwin's monthly climate averages as an indicator for the whole northern region.
Jan - Feb
Min average temperature - 24C (75F)
Max average temperature - 31C (88F)
Mar - Apr
Min average temperature - 24C (75F)
Max average temperature - 32C (90F)
May - Sept
Min average temperature - 21C (69F)
Max average temperature - 31C (88F)
Oct - Dec
Min average temperature - 25C (77F)
Max average temperature - 32C (91F)
Central Australia
Central Australia, which includes Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, the Barkly Tablelands and Uluru/Kata-Tjuta regions, has a semi-arid climate. It experiences Australia's four typical seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring. The Red Centre has hot summer days from December to February and surprisingly cold nights from June to August. Spring and autumn are warm throughout the day and cool at night.
The following chart outlines Alice Springs' monthly climate averages as an indicator for the Red Centre.
Mar - May
Min average temperature - 12C (55F)
Max average temperature - 27C (82F)
Jun - Aug
Min average temperature - 3C (37F)
Max average temperature - 20C (68F)
Sept - Nov
Min average temperature - 14C (57F)
Max average temperature - 30C (86F)
Dec - Feb
Min average temperature - 20C (69F)
Max average temperature - 35C (95F)
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Northern Territory
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Northern Territory - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Northern Territory hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
Northern Territory Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
