Road Trip: Northern Territory

 
City Break: Now's a great time to start planning your Northern Territory getaway as dry season is April to October. First stop should be Darwin, one of Australia's great unsung capital cities, closer to Asia than it is to Sydney and a foodie mecca. Check out its fantastic local produce at any one of the markets run throughout 'The Dry', as it's called: Mindil Beach Sunset Market covers everything from Indigenous Australian to South East Asian cuisines. Or grab lunch at Parap Village Market before a dinner of grilled crocodile or camel at Roadkill Café (www.road-kill-cafe.com). 
Country Mile: Take your pick - there are literally thousands of country miles you could do. Our choice? If you have two weeks up your sleeve, tackle the 1900-odd kilometres from Darwin to the famous rock in Australia's red centre, Uluru. On the way visit Kakadu, Litchfield National Park, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Yulara. Once at Uluru, wash off that red dust and check out the spectacular solar-powered Field of Light Uluru by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro, Off the Beaten Track: The Top End - as the Northern Territory is known - is a cornucopia of off-roading opportunities. The ultimate desert driving adventure is the Old Andado Track, which at first looks vast and arid, but the gently rolling plains gradually develop into more interesting countryside, with rocky outcrops and ridges become dominant. Keep an eye out for the very rare Waddi tree with spiky, needle-like leaves and thick bark.