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Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Northern Territory for your holiday.
Climate Overview
4 °C to 39 °C
25 °C to 28 °C
0.08 – 16.14 in (0 – 20 Days of Rain)Average Annual Temperature is between 21 °C (Alice Springs) and 27.6 °C (Darwin)
Show temperatures in degree
Geography and General
Table of Contents
The Northern Territory in Australia extends from the border to South Australia to the uppermost north to the Timor Sea.
The least populated state on the whole continent includes Darwin (in the top end) and Alice Springs in the centre as the main gateway to the Australian outback.
Colloquially, the entire Northern Territory is often referred to as Outback Australia, which does the tropical-green national parks in the north – above all Litchfield and Kakadu National Park – something wrong.
Popular travel routes through the Northern Territory lead from the top end by rental car or camper to the Red Centre and thus include all important sights of the region up to Kings Canyon and the world-famous Ayer’s Rock (Ulu?u).
Alternatively, the Ulu?u-Kata-Tju?a National Park in the Red Centre can also be reached directly by plane via its own Connellan Airport near Yulara. Connections are mainly via Cairns, Melbourne and Sydney.
Climate in Northern Territory
The Australian Northern Territory can be divided into two very different climate zones. The centre of the country around the popular Ayer’s Rock area is dominated by a typical desert climate. The summer months are extremely hot, but it can get quite cold in winter.
Both in Alice Springs and deeper in the Red Centre, the temperatures between day and night are usually around 15 °C. Even hot days cool down after sunset. There is no real rainy season in the Red Centre, please also note the exact amounts of precipitation in our diagrams:
While Alice Springs receives an average of 40.0.31 in of rain in the wettest month of December, Darwin and the Top End easily reach ten times this amount. The entire tropical north is afflicted by a strong rainy season. Especially between mid-December and the end of March, strong monsoon rains threaten every year.
Best Time to Visit Northern Territory: Overview
JanuaryJan Bad time to traveltime very hot in the outback, very rainy in the northextreme heat in red centre, heavy rain in the north | FebruaryFeb Bad time to traveltime very hot in the outback, very rainy in the northextreme heat in red centre, heavy rain in the north | MarchMar Bad time to traveltime very hot in the outback, very rainy in the northextreme heat in red centre, heavy rain in the north | AprilApr Suitable time to traveltime End of Rainy Season, pleasant after mid-monthEnd of Rainy Season | MayMay Good time to traveltime dry, fresher, perfect on most daysdry, fresher and mostly optimal | JuneJun Best time to traveltime dry, fresher and hence perfect for round tripsdry, fresher and hence perfect |
JulyJul Best time to traveltime dry, fresher and hence perfect for round tripsdry, fresher and hence perfect | AugustAug Best time to traveltime dry, fresher and hence perfect for round tripsdry, fresher and hence perfect | SeptemberSep Best time to traveltime dry, fresher and hence perfect for round tripsdry, fresher and hence perfect | OctoberOct Suitable time to traveltime hot in Centre but endurablehot but endurable | NovemberNov Beginning of Rainy SeasonRainy Season very hot in the outback, wet in the northextreme heat in red centre, wet in the north | DecemberDec Bad time to traveltime very hot in the outback, very rainy in the northextreme heat in red centre, heavy rain in the north |
When is the best time to travel in the Northern Territory?
Since there is no real rainy season in the centre, the world-famous Ayer’s Rock (Ulu?u) can theoretically be visited all year round. However, the extreme heat during the Australian summer makes a visitor to the outback very strenuous and exhausting.
Between November and March, the 40 °C mark is often cracked even in the shade. At the same time, heavy monsoon rains pour down over the tropical north, making many roads and national parks impassable. Fortunately, these two weather extremes fall almost in the same period.
The best time to travel to the Northern Territory and Outback is from mid-April to early November. Especially the Australian winter months of June, July, August and September are perfect for round trips. Those who like it a little warmer will find very good conditions in May and October.
Best Time to Visit the Regions
Find the best time to visit the regions (Northern Territory) in the following overview.| Location | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|
| Alice Springs | February, March, April, October, November, and December |
| Ayers Rock – Uluru | March, April, September, October, and November |
| Darwin | May, June, July, August, and September |
Climate Charts Northern Territory
In the following, you will find climate charts for the regions.
Furthermore, there are some charts you can use for quick comparison of climate between the regions.
Show Climate Chart for
Alice Springs
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Tables Northern Territory
In the following, you will find some climate tables for Northern Territory, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.Show climate table for
Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Alice Springs (Northern Territory)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 36° | 35° | 33° | 28° | 23° | 20° | 20° | 23° | 27° | 31° | 34° | 35° |
| Night Temperature | 22° | 21° | 18° | 13° | 8° | 5° | 4° | 6° | 10° | 15° | 18° | 20° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 1.53 | 1.74 | 1.28 | 0.65 | 0.74 | 0.55 | 0.6 | 0.37 | 0.33 | 0.85 | 1.14 | 1.46 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Alice Springs is 21 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: January (29 °C)
Coldest month: July (11.9 °C)
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 11.24 inch on 45 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
Months that have possible snowfall: June, and July
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, October is the sunniest month with an average of 10.1 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 9.6 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Temperatures, Precipitation in Ayers Rock – Uluru (Northern Territory)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 39° | 37° | 34° | 30° | 24° | 20° | 21° | 24° | 29° | 32° | 35° | 36° |
| Night Temperature | 23° | 22° | 19° | 14° | 9° | 6° | 5° | 6° | 11° | 15° | 18° | 21° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 1.04 | 1.59 | 1.41 | 0.5 | 0.47 | 0.78 | 0.83 | 0.2 | 0.34 | 0.96 | 1.36 | 1.65 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Ayers Rock – Uluru is 22 °C.Warmest month: January (30.7 °C)
Coldest month: July (12.6 °C)
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 11.13 inch on 43 rainy daysThere is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
Months that have possible snowfall: July
Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Darwin (Northern Territory)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 32° | 31° | 32° | 33° | 32° | 31° | 30° | 31° | 32° | 33° | 33° | 33° |
| Night Temperature | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 22° | 20° | 19° | 21° | 23° | 25° | 25° | 25° |
| Water Temperature | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 28° | 28° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 16.14 | 14.17 | 11.89 | 4.65 | 0.94 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.12 | 0.47 | 3.23 | 5.35 | 8.78 |
| Rainy days | 20 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 13 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Darwin is 27.6 °C.Warmest month: November (29.4 °C)
Coldest month: July (24.8 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Darwin is 28 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
all months
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 65.91 inch on 95 rainy daysRainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation): January, February, March, and December
Overall precipitation in the rainy season: 50.98 in
You cannot expect snow in any month in Darwin.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, August is the sunniest month with an average of 10.2 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 8.5 hours of sunshine per day on average.Sights and Highlights
The Northern Territory is often simply referred to as Australia’s outback. This means regions far away from civilization with partly untouched nature and endless expanses. This is true, but it neglects the indescribable diversity of the Northern Territory.
In any case, we recommend a round trip to be able to absorb the many different aspects of this region with all senses.
The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs, Mindil Beach in Darwin, Kakadu National Park with the holy Ubirr, the impressive Kings Canyon, Litchfield National Park and Katherine Gorge as well as the classics Uluru and Kata Tjuta (Olgas) are among the most popular sights in the Northern Territory.
More information about the best things to do: Australia
Popular Activities
From Darwin: Litchfield Park Tour & Jumping Crocodile Cruise
Tours
from 138 $ »
Explore Litchfield National Park on this full-day tour From Darwin. Take the Jumping Crocodile Cruise and cool off in the best swimming holes and waterfalls in the area.
From Alice Springs: Day Trip to Uluru with BBQ Dinner
Tours
from 211 $ »
Journey into the heart of Australia’s Red Centre on a full-day tour from Alice Springs. Hike in the wilderness of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and learn about the Aboriginal culture. Watch the sunset at the sacred rock of Uluru.
Yulara: Uluru & Kata Tjuta 25-Minute Helicopter Experience
Tours
from 194 $ »
Combine Uluru and Kata Tjuta on a 25-minute flight with pickup from Yulara. Embark on a must-do experience to appreciate these two spectacles fully from the air.
More attractions
Uluru: Field of Light Sunrise Tour with Hot Drinks | Darwin: Mary River Wetlands Wildlife Cruise with Lunch | From Alice Springs: West MacDonnell Ranges Day Trip | Kings Canyon: Full-Day Tour from Ayers Rock Resort | Litchfield National Park: Full-Day & Lunch from Darwin | Uluru Base Segway Tour & Mutitjulu Waterhole with Transfers | Katherine Gorge & Edith Falls Full-Day Tour from Darwin |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Alice Springs
broken clouds, 31.2 °CClouds: 75 % Wind: 9 mph OSO
Air Pressure: 1007 hPa Humidity: 40 %
Air Pressure: 1007 hPa Humidity: 40 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 10:58 am
The next days …
| 7th Feb 2023 | 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 24 °C to 34 °C |  26 °C to 36 °C | 27 °C to 37 °C | 25 °C to 37 °C | 26 °C to 38 °C | 25 °C to 36 °C |
| 24 °C to 34 °C | 26 °C to 36 °C | 27 °C to 37 °C | 25 °C to 37 °C | 26 °C to 38 °C | 25 °C to 36 °C |
| Clouds: 0 % | Clouds: 0 % | Clouds: 5 % | Clouds: 5 % | Clouds: 3 % | Clouds: 0 % |
| No Precipitation | 0.04 in of rain | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
Australia: Regions
Northern Territory is part of the holiday destination Australia. We analyzed the climate for additional regions, in order to provide you with information about the best time to visit and the expected holiday weather:Hottest Month
January: 39 °C
Day Temperature in Ayers Rock – Uluru
January: 39 °CDay Temperature in Ayers Rock – Uluru
Coldest Month
July: 4 °C
Night Temperature in Alice Springs
July: 4 °CNight Temperature in Alice Springs
Rainiest Month
January: 16.14 in
Rain in Darwin
January: 16.14 inRain in Darwin
Driest Month
June: 0.08 in
Rain in Darwin
June: 0.08 inRain in Darwin
Maximum Water Temperature
January: 28 °C
Water Temperature in Darwin
January: 28 °CWater Temperature in Darwin
Sunniest Month
August: 10.2 hours/day
Sunshine in Darwin
August: 10.2 hours/daySunshine in Darwin
Activities and Attractions
Uluru 15-Minute Helicopter Experience
Tours
from 116 $ »
Darwin: Adelaide River Half-Day Jumping Crocs Cruise
Tours
from 88 $ »
Uluru: Uluru Base Segway Tour
Tours
from 105 $ »
Distances to Northern Territory
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Springs | 9360 mi | 10450 mi | 8110 mi |
| Ayers Rock – Uluru | 9330 mi | 10660 mi | 8320 mi |
| Darwin | 8610 mi | 9980 mi | 7890 mi |
Where’s Northern Territory?
Show Alice Springs on MapShow Ayers Rock – Uluru on Map
Show Darwin on Map
Continent: Oceania
All Holiday Destinations in OceaniaShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Northern Territory holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
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Northern Territory: Experiences of our Visitors
Actually May is a great travel time for the north of Australia, we were told in advance and confirmed our research. Not too hot, not too damp, not too much rain. Clearly in Darwin the high humidity of the tropical north caught us at first with full force, but the days in the Kakadu National Park and surroundings were wonderful. We continued to Alice Springs, where an incredible rain front accompanied us on the drive to the Red Center. So at the world famous Uluru (“Ayers Rock”) there were actually waterfalls and small torrents to see. Back in Alice Springs so much rain had fallen in the meantime that even the dried Todd River began to flow again after years. The climate sometimes goes crazy. Nevertheless, we had countless great experiences, unforgettable encounters and will live on this dream trip for years to come.
Weather Rating: 3 stars – Mixed