The most popular way of exploring Australia is by camping - whether with a motorhome, campervan, caravan or a roof tent on top of a car. This gives you the ultimate freedom of going as fast or as slow as you like.
Free camping is permitted (staying somewhere for free) throughout the country and we're reveling in the joy of simply parking up our home somewhere for the night before carrying on our journey the next day.
I first visited Australia in 2019, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport.
This time, we bought ourselves a campervan (a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter) and are living in it full-time to drive "the lap" of Australia (completing the entire perimeter of the country). With this freedom, we're trying to hit the lesser known spots along the way. It's a massive undertaking and we're taking all the challenges and wins and all the highs and the lows in stride.
COMING SOON → My complete guide to van life and driving the lap of Australia!
The Northern Territory is in the central north of Australia touching the Pacific Ocean to the north with Western Australia to the west, South Australia to the south and Queensland to the east.
→ Check out my favourite free campgrounds in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia!
Here are all the places we have camped for free at across the territory that we loved and would recommend for anyone on their trip down under, in geographical order from north to south:
Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia can be found in my Australia | Ultimate Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite restaurants, campgrounds, accommodations, shops, photo spots, museums, beaches, lakes, animal spots, bridges, viewpoints, hikes and SO much more in Australia, including its three external territories.
Each pin includes exact locations, images, detailed information, the ability to open and save the spot in your Google Maps and a link to my relevant blog post to read more.
COMING SOON → Buy the Australia | Ultimate Map!
Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to the Northern Territory. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In the Northern Territory, Aboriginal people have lived on the land for more than 60,000 years, with over 100 different traditional language groups.
→ Learn more about the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. The Northern Territory, situated in the central north of the country, has a hot, wet season between November and April with a risk of cyclones along the coast so the best time to visit is April to September for clear, pleasant, dry days. Many national parks are also closed during the hot, wet season.
Darwin
As with the rest of Australia, the Northern Territory permits free camping on designated sites. These sites can vary greatly; some offer a variety of facilities such as toilets, trash bins, picnic tables, outdoor cooking stations and others have none of this and might simply be a pull-out on the side of the road.
The best way to find legal free camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
We found all our campgrounds using Wikicamps Australia (both free and paid).
Here is a map of everywhere we camped in the Northern Territory:
Where we stayed in the Northern Territory
There are hundreds of campgrounds, both free and paid, across the Northern Territory. To get you started and inspire your camping trip through the state, here are all the free campgrounds we stayed at, in geographical order from north to south.
I have not included campsites in Darwin or Litchfield National Park as they were paid, not free, but you can click on the links for all the details.
Wagiman Rest Area
About 40 minutes north of Katherine, we camped at the Wagiman Rest Area. It's a little difficult to spot, as the road is a bit hidden, tucked behind a grassy hill just off the side of the highway. This pin is the exact location of the campsite, located behind the hill so drive slowly on approach and keep your eyes out to the right if driving south or left if driving north!
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Wagiman Rest Area listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Mathison Campsite
Just before arriving in Katherine, we camped at Mathison Campsite after crossing the border into the Northern Territory. It's only about an hour before Katherine located in a parking bay just off the side of the highway.
Amenities: toilets, dump point
→ Check out the Mathison Campsite listing on Wikicamps Australia.
WW2 Barrow Creek Staging Camp
We chose to stay at a free campground near to the Devils Marbles (there is a paid campground right in the Conservation Reserve). The WW2 Barrow Creek Staging Camp is not much more than a patch of red earth with concrete slabs to park up on but for those of us who are traveling in self-contained vehicles, it was perfect. It was quiet, spacious and level for parking.
Amenities: none
→ Check out the WW2 Barrow Creek Staging Camp listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Tropic of Capricorn
The closest free campsite to Alice Springs is located at the Tropic of Capricorn Rest Area, marking exactly halfway between the equator and the South Pole (we also crossed it on our way up the west coast!). It's just 20 minutes' drive from town.
Even though it's just off the Stuart Highway, it's a quiet and peaceful place to park up for the night.
Amenities: toilets
→ Check out the Tropic of Capricorn listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Point Howard Lookout
There are both free and paid camping options within Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. A fabulous free campsite is at the Point Howard Lookout, a worthy stop on its own for the incredible views. There are covered picnic tables and trash bins to use. Even if you don't plan to camp here, make sure to come up simply to take in the breathtaking views of the ranges.
The campsite itself is free to stay at but because it is within Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park so incurs at least a $30 3-day pass fee (2-week and 1-month passes also available) (or you can visit if you hold a NT Annual Parks Visitor Pass).
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Point Howard Lookout listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Sandy View Rest Area
20 minutes east of Yulara there is the Sandy View Rest Area with a view of Uluṟu on the horizon. It's located on the side of the road from Alice Springs but given how little traffic there is at night out here, it was surprisingly quiet!
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Sandy View Rest Area listing on Wikicamps Australia.
Russell's Gravel Pit
Russell's Gravel Pit is literally what the name says, just a gravel pit on the side of Tjukaruru Road with zero amenities. We were the only people the night we stayed there and it was completely silent with an amazing view of Kata Tjuṯa. It's just five minutes from the national park border.
Amenities: none
→ Check out the Russell's Gravel Pit listing on Wikicamps Australia.
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY!
PIN THIS POST TO REFER BACK TO LATER!
GET READY TO TRAVEL!
— Book tours and experiences - with GetYourGuide
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (North America)
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (Europe)
— Find a place to stay - with Booking.com
— Choose a hostel to stay at - with Hostelworld
— Purchase global travel insurance - with World Nomads
— Load an international eSim on your phone - with AirAlo
— Start your own travel blog - with Hostinger
— Join the GetYourGuide Travel Creator Community - with GetYourGuide
Discover more from Jana Meerman
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
