The best hikes from bus stations in Northern Territory

No Merlot here — the shelf stands empty, quiet, waiting for a bottle that never comes. Kein Merlot hier — das Regal bleibt leer, still, wartend auf eine Flasche, die nie kommt. Pas de Merlot ici — l'étagère reste vide, silencieuse, attendant une bouteille qui n'arrive jamais. No hay Merlot aquí — el estante queda vacío, silencioso, esperando una botella que nunca llega.

This is a lovely, shaded bench set beneath a flowering canopy supported by a simple trellis. The seating area sits just back from the waterfront path, and is a great place to pause under the dense seasonal blooms and tropical shade. It sits along the harbour-facing walkway, with beautiful views across Darwin Harbour.

Bicentennial Park runs along the Darwin waterfront on The Esplanade, stretching from the Northern Territory Parliament House to Doctor’s Gully and overlooking Darwin Harbour. Shaded by tropical trees and lined with shared paths, the park is known for its harbour views, open lawns, and memorials connected to the Bombing of Darwin, including the Cenotaph and USS Peary Memorial. Large public events often take place here, but the long waterfront setting also makes it a popular place for walking, cycling, and stopping to watch the harbour, especially at sunset when ships, tidal flats, and changing light become part of the beautiful scenery.

The Casuarina shared path follows the coastal reserve between Rapid Creek and Buffalo Creek, linking beach access points, picnic areas, lookouts, and shaded pockets behind the dunes. This stretch gives you a good mix of Darwin coastline, with sandy beaches, casuarina trees, sandstone cliffs, monsoon vine thicket, paperbark forest, and mangroves all close to the path. It’s exposed in sections, so bring water and sun protection, especially if you’re walking outside the cooler dry season hours.

Dripstone Cliffs is one of the most interesting stops along the Casuarina shared path, with red-orange cliff faces, sea views, picnic areas, and WWII observation posts built into the cliff top. The cliffs look out across Casuarina Beach towards Rapid Creek and Nightcliff Jetty, making this a good place to pause for coastal breezes and sunset views. Keep an eye out for birdlife along the shoreline, and follow local signs around turtle nesting areas, swimming, and protected cultural sites.

Nightcliff Beach sits below the foreshore cliffs, with a narrow strip of sand at high tide and wide sand flats and rock platforms exposed when the tide drops. Swimming conditions change with tides and season, so check signs and patrol advice before entering the water — lifeguard patrols usually run during the dry season.

The Uluṟu Base Walk is the best way to experience the scale and cultural significance of Uluṟu up close. This roughly 10 km track circles the entire base of the rock, passing beneath towering red cliffs, quiet waterholes, and sections of desert woodland. Each part of the walk feels different, from shaded areas with surprising greenery to wide open stretches of red desert. Many walkers start from the Mala car park early in the morning and follow the track clockwise while temperatures are cooler. Along the way you’ll encounter native plants, wildlife, and places connected to the Tjukurpa stories of the Aṉangu people.

Tucked beneath the towering red walls of Uluṟu, Mutitjulu Waterhole is one of the few permanent water sources in the area and a place of deep cultural significance to the Aṉangu people. he waterhole sits below a cave where ancient rock art can still be seen, and interpretive signs along the path explain the Kuniya Tjukurpa story connected to this place. A short detour from the Uluṟu Base Walk leads to a viewing platform overlooking the waterhole, making it one of the most meaningful and memorable stops around the base of the rock.