It’s an old Northern Territory saying that the wet season is for those in the know. From September through to April, while most Australians are glued to their beach umbrellas or whinging about Sydney’s humidity, the Top End and Red Centre are quietly coming alive in a way that even locals whisper about with a grin.
They call it the Best Kept Season, though it’s becoming less of a secret by the day. Think cascading waterfalls in full flow, spectacular sunsets that seem painted by a flamboyant outback artist, cultural events that dig deep into the Territory’s soul, and the blissful absence of the high-season crowds that usually line up for everything from a Kakadu cruise to a Darwin laksa.
For those with a streak of adventure or the wisdom to travel against the tide, the NT in its Best Kept Season is nothing short of revelatory. And, in a year brimming with new experiences, blockbuster films, and turbo-charged events, the NT is out to prove that this so-called “low season” is, in fact, its most dazzling time of year.
Big Screen Glory: From Kangaroos to Weddings and Beyond
Forget Hollywood’s obsession with superheroes – the Northern Territory is rolling out its cinematic universe.
The Kangaroo Sanctuary (Tourism NT/Jewels Lynch)
The first one is “Kangaroo,” which will hit cinemas nationwide on 18 September 2025. From STUDIOCANAL, the folks who gave the world Paddington, comes a family comedy set against the ochre deserts and luminous skies of Central Australia.
Filmed entirely around Alice Springs (Mparntwe), the production tips its hat to the Kangaroo Sanctuary, capturing not just kangaroos (who, it must be said, do a lot more than hop) but the culture, people, and landscape of the Red Centre. The majestic Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges make star appearances, as do local eateries and galleries that give Alice its inimitable charm.
If that weren’t enough, “Top End Bub” will land on Prime Video (12 September 2025), proving lightning can strike twice. A follow-up to Top End Wedding, the eight-part series once again stars Miranda Tapsell and Gwilym Lee as Lauren and Ned, this time forced to swap city life for tropical chaos as they become guardians of their eight-year-old niece. Filmed in Darwin and the Tiwi Islands, the series is pure Territory: messy, heart-warming, funny, and drenched in scenery that no studio lot could ever dream up.
One suspects international audiences will reach for Google Maps before the end credits roll.
Fishing for Riches: Million Dollar Barra Bites Back
HeliFish Tour (Tourism NT-Helen Orr)
If cinema isn’t your bait, perhaps the chance of reeling in a million-dollar barra will do the trick.
From 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026, the Million Dollar Fish competition returns for its 11th season. Billed, with some justification, as Australia’s richest fishing contest, it offers anglers a crack at bagging barramundi tagged with cash prizes and yes, one with a cool million attached.
Last season set records, with more than 62,000 registrations and nine lucky fishos landing $10,000 apiece in the first week alone. The action occurs across five legendary NT fishing regions: Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, and Arnhem Land. Thus, the Territory is the only place in Australia where your fishing yarn might include a seven-figure cheque.
It’s bucket-list stuff, and the kind of story you’ll tell the grandkids, though whether they believe you is another matter.
Tourism Titans: G’day Australia Comes to Darwin
While fish pull lures, tourism operators are reeling in something just as lucrative. In October 2026, Darwin will host G’day Australia, the nation’s largest tourism trade event and, notably, the biggest ever held in the NT.
More than 600 delegates, including 300 international Aussie Specialist agents, will descend from 17 key markets such as the US, UK, China, Malaysia, and India. The event will inject more than $3 million into the local economy and, perhaps more importantly, give global agents a first-hand taste of what the NT can offer.
Money can’t buy this kind of spotlight for a region sometimes overlooked on the world stage.
Campaign Fever: The Best Kept Season Goes National
Tourism NT, in cahoots with Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia, has launched a nationwide campaign to rebrand the so-called “off-season.”
The Best Kept Season campaign features real operators and locals sharing their favourite spots and stories, offering an insider’s view of the NT’s hidden gems. The idea is simple yet potent: fewer crowds, better value, more adventure. The pitch couldn’t be more tempting for Australians weary of cookie-cutter holidays.
History with Muscle: Military Tourism Reborn
It’s often said that the NT wears its history lightly. But in 2026, that history will be taking flight, quite literally.
Among the new offerings is Gooney Bird Adventures, featuring a fully restored Douglas DC-3 “Sweetheart” that once patrolled wartime skies. Passengers will soon be able to trace those historic Top End flight paths, blending nostalgia with breathtaking aerial views.
Also in the works is an immersive audiovisual experience from Tiwi Enterprises that will tell the story of the WWII Bombing of Darwin Harbour. Darwin’s famous WWII tunnels are also being upgraded with lighting and ventilation, turning them into even more atmospheric cathedrals of memory.
It’s military history not as dusty exhibits, but as something dynamic, immersive, and unmistakably Territorian.
New Openings and Experiences
The NT, never shy of reinvention, is rolling out fresh experiences and lodgings that speak to its rugged yet refined spirit.
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Hooked on Barra (Darwin region): A purpose-built fishing facility where beginners can catch a barramundi without a boat licence. Add sweeping floodplain views, birdlife, and family-friendly setups; you’ve got an instant hit.
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Outstation Gallery (Darwin Waterfront): Opened in July, Matt Ward and Paul Johnstone’s cultural anchor showcases Aboriginal and non-Indigenous art with deep ties to the Top End. It’s set to be an ethical, must-visit hub for art lovers.
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Cooinda Lodge (Kakadu): Now offering glamping with a twist – ten safari-style Outback Retreat Plus tents have been upgraded with private en-suites, air-conditioning, Indigenous design touches, and shaded decks. In short: bush luxury with bite.
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Wildfoto Nature Photography Tours (Marrakai): Run by Paul Thomsen, an Indigenous photographer with 35 years of expertise, these tours are a dream for shutterbugs chasing everything from crocs to storm fronts.
Festivals and Events: The Territory Turns It On
If you thought the NT was sleepy in its “low season,” think again. The events calendar reads like a fever dream of culture, cuisine, and chaos from laksas to motocross.
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Darwin International Film Festival (11–21 September 2025): Eleven nights of global cinema at the iconic open-air Deckchair Cinema, focusing on Southeast Asian films and Indigenous storytelling.
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Desert Mob (11 Sept – 26 Oct 2025, Alice Springs): One of the nation’s oldest Aboriginal art festivals, featuring works from over 30 art centres, plus talks, workshops, and performances.
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MXGP of Australia (19–21 Sept 2025, Darwin): The FIM Motocross World Championship returns to Australia after 24 years, with a new track at Hidden Valley Racetrack. Expect high-octane thrills, reptile petting zoos, and more noise than a footy final.
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Kakadu Bird Week (24–28 Sept 2025): Timed to the mass migration of magpie geese, this festival celebrates Kakadu’s birdlife, with guided tours by renowned twitcher Luke “Hawk Eye” Paterson.
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Darwin International Laksa Festival (1–31 Oct 2025): A month-long ode to Darwin’s unofficial national dish, with over 50 eateries dishing up laksa variations and battling for the “Golden Bowl.”
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AANT Centre Shows (Darwin): From Trent Dalton’s Love Stories to The Great First Nations Songbook, the revamped entertainment centre is booking acts that prove the NT’s cultural life is as vibrant as its sunsets.
Why the Best Kept Season Matters
For decades, the NT’s tourism pitch has focused on bucket-list icons: Uluru, Kakadu, and Litchfield. Yet what’s emerging now is a richer, more nuanced narrative: a place where military history meets luxury glamping, where blockbuster films spotlight kangaroos, and where a simple bowl of laksa can win international acclaim.
The Best Kept Season is not just a marketing slogan; it’s a reclamation, a chance to challenge old clichés, attract visitors when the Territory is at its most vibrant, and deliver value that resonates long after travellers return home.
For Australians looking to rediscover their backyard, or international visitors chasing the real deal, the NT raises its hand with characteristic swagger: “You think you know us? Come back between September and April, and we’ll show you the Territory you’ve never seen.”
By Octavia Koo
