As the NT Round up returned to the Top End for the first time since 2019 Karryon was back for more to find out the latest travel news and keep our fingers on the Northern Territory’s pulse.
The NT Round Up is both a chance to meet top tourism operators and to feel the Top End sun on your skin as you experience the Northern Territory for yourself.
After returning from a hiatus last year in the Red Centre, in 2024 the Round Up was back in the Top End starting with networking events in Darwin before a four-day famil in Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks.
This year the Round Up brought 24 operators and 23 agents from Australia and New Zealand, plus yours truly, together for a morning of speed dating where every agent had the chance to spend eight minutes with every operator.
After lunch the networking continued at the Mindl Beach Resort as we mingled with more Top End operators at the Welcome to the Dry Event, before raising a glass of bubbles as we set sail on a sunset cruise.
What we discovered
Our morning meetings gave us a chance to sit down with representatives from big and boutique tour companies, hotels and attractions who are doing interesting things in the Northern Territory.
Here are some of the highlights:
After 17 years of operation, Sea Darwin is now 100% indigenous owned by Tiwi Enterprises and has a new name, Sea Darwin – Sea Tiwi . The year ahead will see new Tiwi Islands experiences, starting with the Tiwi Island Football Grand Final and Art Fair in August .
In the past Davidson’s Arnhemland Safari Lodge has only offered two night minimum stays, but this year they’re introducing the option to join a day tour that includes a 90 minute scenic flight over Kakadu and lunch at the lodge before returning to Darwin.
In March, Airnorth introduced direct flights from Perth to Alice Springs for the first time with flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The folks behind the Northern Territory heli-pub crawl, Airborne Solutions will be adding new experiences in Dundee Beach this year including visiting a new tavern and seeing WWII wreckages. They will also be expanding their customisable heli-tour options.
After starting with two hotels in December, Accor’s Darwin Airport Resort now has three hotels just 300m from the airport. The Ibis joined the Novotel and Mercure in February and shares the same reception along with access to the large swimming pool and poolside restaurants, creating 13 room types across three properties.
Later this month Crocosaurus Cove will be adding a new family friendly feature called Darwin Backyard, with a backyard reptile tucker talk in their new garden area to teach people what lizards and other creatures eat and how they can grow the right things to support them.
And future trips with AAT Kings will no longer include backpacks, water bottles, bag tags and other merchandise for guests to avoid contributing to creating waste and landfill.
The year ahead for the Northern Territory
The Executive Director of Tourism NT Tony Quarmby says recent insights and trends point towards a healthier year ahead after a disappointing 2023.
“Already numbers are showing increases year on year, although forwards are soft for some operators in part due to travellers leaving their bookings until much closer to their travel dates than in the last couple of years.”
“We are definitely facing some headwinds due to the ongoing cost of living issues and localised challenges but with the increases in domestic air capacity, steady growth in international visitors and exciting destination campaigns planned, the year ahead looks positive.”
Why the NT Round Up should be on your radar
Travel advisor and owner and director of GuysAdventures Jason Smith says the quality of the trade partners and networking opportunities at NT Round Up is valuable to business.
“The Top End has seen a noticeable increase in quotes and forward bookings for GuysAdventures. We specialise in tailor making LGBT+ small group luxe, adventure and solo travel, and the NT is ticking all of these boxes for our clients.”
For operators, it’s a chance to not only share their latest news, but to also give agents some tips on booking trips to the NT.
Lee Davidson from Davidson’s Arnhemland Safari Lodge says the feedback from their guests is that two nights isn’t enough and that they wish they’d had more time to explore and enjoy the area. Her best advice for agents is to encourage their guests to stay for longer when they travel to the Top End.
How agents can attend in 2025
The NT Round Up is invitation only for agents, with 25 spots shared in different ways. As it’s all about introducing people to the Northern Territory only agents who have not been on a Tourism NT famil before are considered, and the best way to be chosen to join the 2025 NT Round Up is to sign up and to get involved in Tourism NT’s Trade Training Program (TTP) by attending webinars and completing the training modules.
Find out more here.
