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On May 11, a digital National Geographic Traveller (UK) Travel Geeks event sponsored by Tourism NT saw a panel of experts come together to discuss how best to explore this Australian region. National Geographic Traveller Food assistant editor, Farida Zeynalova, was joined by travel writers Nori Jemil, David Whitley and Justin Meneguzzi, as well as Fleur Sainsbury of Tourism NT. Here are seven key takeaways:

1 The landscapes are epic
The Northern Territory is six times the size of Great Britain, with incredibly diverse landscapes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what you imagine when you鈥檙e thinking of the sandstone escarpments, the red deserts and the vest open spaces,鈥� said David. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 so much more to it. The Aboriginal culture is so closely linked to that landscape that you can鈥檛 separate them. When you start travelling through it, you realise you鈥檙e travelling through a big story book.鈥�

2 Don鈥檛 miss out Darwin
This tropical city tends to be a destination for repeat visitors, but it鈥檚 a great place to start a trip through the Northern Territory. It鈥檚 around four hours from Singapore and two hours from Bali, which cuts a chunk of time off flying to the east coast. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place that doesn鈥檛 feel like anywhere else,鈥� said David. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an Asian vibe to it, there鈥檚 a bit of a bohemian vibe to it as well, and they all mix in a place that鈥檚 manageable and has got loads of attractions.鈥�

3 You don鈥檛 have to rent a car
鈥淚 went on the train from Alice to Darwin, and it鈥檚 such an amazing experience,鈥� said Nori. 鈥淵ou can get off and go to Katherine and do all kinds of trips on the way. There are a lot of interesting people on the train itself, so you have that experience while you see the landscapes go by.鈥�

4 A very active destination
鈥淭he territory has got a really great climate,鈥� said Fleur, 鈥渟o, for people who love the outdoors, it鈥檚 an absolutely perfect place to be.鈥� There are mountain bike trails all around Alice Springs; hot air ballooning and quad biking across the Red Centre; walking routes across the territory 鈥� including the Jatbula Trail out of Katherine, the Larapinta Trail out of Alice Springs, and several shorter walks in Kakadu; plus kayaking in Katherine Gorge.

5 Take a walking tour around Uluru
鈥淓veryone knows that one picture of Uluru, but it changes vastly as you walk around it,鈥� said David. 鈥淭here are gullies where the waterfalls have been, there are little outcrops of plants, there are places where wildlife lives, it looks so different. For anyone who鈥檚 thinking of not going because you can鈥檛 climb it anymore, don鈥檛 worry about that 鈥� it鈥檚 far more interesting to walk around it.鈥�

6 Check out the Aboriginal art scene
Justin recommended visiting the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs. 鈥淭hey display art from a variety of different Aboriginal tribes and cultures in the area; it鈥檚 really quite interesting to see how diverse they all are.鈥� Elsewhere, in Kakadu and Arnhem Land, there鈥檚 centuries-old rock art that serves as an historical record, and visitors can also take dot painting workshops with Indigenous teachers at Uluru.

7 The food is diverse
The Northern Territory has a multicultural soul, and a place such as Todd Mall Markets in Alice Springs are a great way to experience it through a plate of fried noodles, stew or curry. Justin highlighted Kungkas Can Cook, too 鈥� an Aboriginal-owned and operated caf茅 in Alice Springs that serves ethically sourced, organic bush food. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still building up our native food experiences, but that鈥檚 a really good place if you want to know what a bush plant or a finger lime taste like.鈥�

Watch the full discussion on the National Geographic Traveller (UK)  and head to the website to read a on the region.

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