Alley Pascoe

No shocker here, but Australia is home to some of the most spectacular walking trails on the planet. From multi-day treks through red deserts and family-friendly coastal day walks and lush rainforest hikes, the land Down Under offers every kind of landscape imaginable – and trust us, they’re all bloody good.  If you’re ready to lace up your boots, we’ve rounded up the best hikes in Australia to tackle this year. We've categorised them by state, complete with distance breakdowns, trail difficulty ratings and expert local tips. See you on the trails! Editor's favourite hikes in Australia: 🥾 Best multi-day trek: Larapinta Trail, NT 🌊 Best for incredible views: Three Capes Track, TAS 😍 Best hidden gem: Scenic Rim Walk, QLD ❤️ Best outback adventure: Ormiston Pound Walk, NT 🌳 Best for serious hikers: Thorsborne Trail, QLD JUMP TO:NT | NSW | TAS | QLD | WA | VIC | SA | ACT 🥾 The best national parks in Australia🌊 The best coastal walks in Australia

However you like your steak – medium-rare or well done – Darwin serves them up with plenty of Top End character. Whether it's a premium cut kissed by flames, a juicy rib eye fresh from the grill, or a hearty pub meal with all the trimmings, the Northern Territory's steak scene packs a punch. Expect everything from relaxed waterfront restaurants and modern bistros to classic local pubs where great beef is always on the menu. Pair it with a robust glass of red, a cold beer or a tropical sunset, and you've got one heck of a meal. To help you find the very best cut, we turned to local writer Alley Pascoe, who knows Darwin's dining scene inside out. Here’s her pick of the restaurants, bistros and pubs serving some of the best steaks in Darwin. Editor's favourite steaks in Darwin: 🥩 Special-occasion steak: Pee Wee’s at the Point ✨ Steak done differently: Moorish Café 💰 Affordable meal deal: Lizards Bar and Restaurant 🍔 The best burgers in Darwin🍕 The best pizza joints in Darwin

A truly delicious burger is easily one of life’s greatest pleasures, and Australia is teeming with top-notch options, most of which fall comfortably into that hits-the-spot territory. A classic burger’s simplicity – a pillowy bun, a juicy patty, a slice of melted cheese, some salad and a drizzle of sauce – makes it hard to mess up. The flip side, however, is that it also makes finding the best burgers in Australia a meaty challenge. Time Out’s hungry team of local food writers have bravely put their jaws and stomachs on the line (in the name of exceedingly difficult research, you understand) to compile this list of Australia's best burgers. We’ve eaten our way from coast to coast to bring you the ultimate guide, telling you exactly what to order at each venue. So whether you're hunting for a classic American cheeseburger, a gourmet Wagyu creation or an innovative plant-based number, here are the absolute best burgers in Australia, ranked in no particular order. Now it’s up to you to crown the true buns of glory.  Editor's favourite burgers in Australia: 🍔 Best global icon: Café Margaret, Sydney ⭐️ Best gourmet: Bread & Bone, Adelaide 😋 Best cheeseburger: Charrd, Melbourne For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🥧 The best pies in Australia🌭 The best sausage rolls🍕 The best pizzas in Australia

When it comes to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, it’s hard to beat those on offer in Uluṟu, AKA Australia’s Red Centre. This magical stretch of the Aussie outback is full of endless possibilities and wild adventures, all centred around one of our nation’s most recognisable and sacred landmarks, Uluṟu (previously known as Ayers Rock).  Set on the ancestral lands of the Anangu people, Uluṟu holds deep spiritual importance for Australia's First Nations people. By day, explore the rock’s vast ten-kilometre base on foot, where you’ll uncover fascinating geological facts and learn Tjutkurpa (creation stories) shared by the Traditional Owners. As night falls, the landscape transforms with magical drone shows, light projections and star-lit dinners. Here’s our guide on the best things to do in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. When is the best time to visit Uluṟu? The best time to visit Uluṟu is during the coolest months from May to September, when daytime temperatures are a comfortable 18 to 25 degrees – perfect for hiking and exploring. Warning: summer is scorching in the Red Centre, with temps soaring up to a sweltering 45 degrees. Editor's favourite things to do in Uluṟu: 🥾 Best outdoor adventure: Uluṟu Base Walk ⭐️ Best cultural experience: Wintjiri Wiru 🌈 Best bucket-list experience: Field of Light 🌅 The best places to visit in the Northern Territory🌳 The best things to do in Alice Springs

The Northern Territory is the unofficial watering hole capital of Australia: literally, and alcoholically. After a day spent exploring the Top End's best swimming spots, Darwin is where the action is at for a nice cold bevvy and some good pub grub. And with the city boasting year-round warm weather and a stellar waterfront scene, it’s almost a crime not to kick back al fresco at one of the best pubs in Darwin. To help you navigate the city's nightlife, Time Out's local contributors have rounded up Darwin's best pubs based on their value-packed food specials, central locations and vibrant atmosphere. From the CBD to the waterfront, there's plenty of spots to perch. See you at the bar! Editor's favourite bars in Darwin: 🍔 Best for sports and steaks: Hotel Darwin 🎶 Best for live music: Shenannigans 🌊 Best for waterfront views: The Precinct 🍺 The best bars in Darwin🍔 The best burgers in Darwin

We Aussies are a lucky bunch. You only need to drive an hour or so from any major Australian city to wind up in some of the most beautiful places on earth. However, with so many of the best day trips in Australia, picking which road to venture down can be quite a challenge. To make life easier, our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, has cherry-picked a selection of the best day trips from Australia's capital cities – many of which she's tried, tested and would happily do all over again (if only there were more days in the year). From heritage-listed towns and coastal hangouts to mountain escapes, Australia has something for every explorer. Now, all that’s left for you to do is to load the car and hit the open road. Editors' favourite day trips in Australia: 🌊 Best West Coast day trip: Perth to Rottnest Island 🌳 Best East Coast day trip: Sydney to Blue Mountains ☀️ Best Top End day trip: Darwin to Litchfield National Park JUMP TO: Sydney | Melbourne | Adelaide | Perth | Brisbane | Canberra | Hobart | Darwin  🚘 The best road trips in Australia🌳 The best regional towns you can tick off in a day

Looking for the best things to do with kids in Australia? Whether you're a parent, babysitter or tech-savvy toddler, you’ve come to the right place. Australia is one of the best places in the world to be a kid, with a virtually endless stream of cool things to do – from parks and waterparks to free museums, theatre shows and zoos galore. We reached out to our network of talented writers, who are also parents, for their top recommendations of the best things to do with kids in Australia's capital cities. No matter the age, budget and weather, there’s an activity to make the whole family happy. JUMP TO:Brisbane | Canberra | Sydney | Melbourne | Adelaide | Perth | Hobart | Darwin 🏝️ The best family holiday spots in Australia🎡 The best theme parks in Australia

The Stuart Highway slices straight down the middle of Australia. At the cross-section between the south, north and west is Katherine. Population: 10,000. Kilometres to Darwin: 317. Activities: endless.  Whether you are stopping through on a Top End road trip or sticking around to explore the Big Rivers Region, there’s plenty to do in the town where the outback meets the tropics. Our local NT expert, Alley Pascoe, recommends day tripping to Nitmiluk National Park, where you can cruise the mighty Katherine River, tackle some of the legendary Jatbula Trail and cool off at Leilyn/Edith Falls. We've also included the best spots to eat in town in this ultimate guide to the best things to do in Katherine. When is the best time to visit Katherine? The best time to visit Katherine is during the dry season from May to September, when you can enjoy warm days and cool nights with minimal rainfall. Many tour operators close during the wet season from October to April, with frequent road closures due to flooding.  🌳 The best places to visit in the Northern Territory☀️ All the best things to do in Darwin💗 What to do in Alice Springs

Everything’s bigger in the Northern Territory: the horizon, the highways and the speed limit. It's the only place in Australia where you can drive 130 kilometres per hour on some roads, and it’s a good thing too, as there’s plenty of ground to cover.  Distances may be far in the Top End, but that’s part of the allure. Day trips from Darwin are less 'casual stroll through the countryside' and more 'action-packed adventure'. Whether it's exploring national parks like Kakadu or Litchfield to island escapes to Tiwi and Crab Claw, our local expert, Alley Pascoe, has rounded up the best day trips from Darwin. Strap in, you’re in for a ride (within driving/sailing/helicoptering distance from the city).  🚗 The most epic Australian road trips🌳 The best things to do in Darwin🥐 Darwin's best cafés

What does the city of Darwin have in common with a vindaloo curry? They’re both best enjoyed hot (with a mango lassi in hand). Considering these similarities, it makes sense that there’s a thriving Indian food scene in the capital of the Northern Territory.  Up here in the tropics – where chillies grow all year and mangoes fall off the tree in summer – our Indian restaurants are brimming with biryani, chole bhature and yes, butter chicken, too. From high-end dining experiences to late-night stops, our local food writer, Alley Pascoe, has rounded up the best Indian restaurants in Darwin. Yup, spice is definitely nice! Editor's favourite Indian restaurants in Darwin: 🌊 Best special occasion: Hanuman 😋 Best cheap and cheerful: Darwin Tandoor 🍛 Best fusion: Nirvana For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍕 The best pizza joints in Darwin🍽️ The best restaurants in Darwin🍻 Darwin's best bars for a night out

Juxtaposition – that's what makes a good burger. A juicy patty sandwiched between a lightly toasted bun, gooey cheese paired with the tangy crunch of a pickle, the freshness of lettuce combined with a house-made burger sauce...   If your mouth is watering just thinking about burgers and you happen to be in Darwin, you’re in luck. We got local foodie Alley Pascoe to compile a list of the very best burgers in Darwin right now. Yep, she selflessly tried, tested and rounded them up for you – all in the name of research. Editor’s favourite burgers in Darwin 🍔 Best beef burger: Patty Shack Burger Bar ✨ Best luxe burger: De La Plage 🐓 Best chicken burger: Besser Brew Bar For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍕 The best pizza joints in Darwin🍻 Darwin's top bars for a night out🍽 Darwin's best Indian restaurants

As the old saying goes, ‘There’s no such thing as a bad pizza’ – because even when it’s average, it’s still a treat. This rings especially true for the pizzerias in Darwin, where every pizza is a slice of heaven.  Our local Darwin pizza expert, Alley Pascoe, has rounded up the cheesiest, sauciest, tastiest pizzas in the city. From slices with a sea view at Nightcliff foreshore, to mouthfuls of flavour at the most authentic Italian restaurant in town, this list of the best pizzas in Darwin won’t let you down. In the same way, pizza will never disappoint you. 🍕 The best pizza in Australia🌳 The best things to do in Darwin🍽 Darwin's best restaurants

From start (Nitmiluk Gorge) to finish (Leliyn, also known as Edith Falls), this hike has it all: cascading waterfalls, sandstone escarpments and monsoon forests. The Jatbula Trail along the western edge of the Arnhem Land plateau has long been walked by the Jawoyn people, and now it is open to a select number of people (15 a day) during the walking season (June to September). The trail starts at 17 Mile Creek, which can be reached by ferry from Nitmiluk Gorge. The scenic cruise sets the tone for the rest of the picturesque adventure. Expect to see ancient rock art, native red-tailed black cockatoos and crystal-clear water holes.  Drive time from Katherine: 22 mins to the drop-off area at Nitmiluk National Park Visitor Centre  Duration (one way): 61km (5–6 days)  Level of difficulty: Medium to hard

The Ridgetop Walk is a one-day hike that connects John Hayes Rockhole (Atneperrke) and Trephina Gorge (Alherrkentye). You can start the hike at either end, but locals suggest beginning at Trephina Gorge, walking to John Hayes Rockhole and then following the road back to the carpark at the Gorge. If you want to enjoy a night immersed in the East MacDonnell Ranges, then bring a tent as there are camping areas at both sites. Amongst the rock formations, River Redgums and spinifex, you might be lucky to see a Splendid Fairywren or Western Bowerbird. Come prepared for the conditions and make sure to bring enough water. Drive time from Alice Springs: 1 hr Duration (one way): 9km (5 hrs)  Level of difficulty: Medium to hard

To fully appreciate the beauty and history of the Yolŋu culture, one must walk in the footsteps of the Yolŋu people. Look no further than the Dhimurru Coastal Walking Trail, marked by three short walks from Binydjarŋa (Daliwuy Bay) to Garanhan (Macassan Beach), Ŋumuy (Turtle Beach) and Bariŋura (Little Bondi). The trail takes you from white sandy beaches to eucalypt woodland and paperbark swamp, showcasing the immense variety of land and sea resources in the area, as documented by the Traditional Owners who have provided interpretive material along the route. Experience East Arnhem Land in all its glory on the Dhimurru Coastal Walking Trail (with a visitor access permit from Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation).  Drive time from Nhulunbuy: 40 mins Duration (one way): 7.2kms (3 hrs 45 mins) Level of difficulty: Easy

Over several days, hikers can dive into the wilderness (and plunge pools) of Litchfield National Park, an hour-and-a-half’s drive south of Darwin. The Tabletop Track is a triumphant trail through the bush, along creeks and to waterfalls. Prepare for water crossings, tall grass fields and rocky slopes. Reward yourself after a challenging day’s hike with a swim at Florence Falls, Greenant Creek, Wangi Falls and Walker Creek, which are all stops on the loop route. This is an adventurous trek for the wild at heart and the well-experienced walker. Go forth and get amongst it.  Drive time from Darwin: 1.5 hrs Duration (return): 39km (3–5 days) Level of difficulty: Medium to hard