Kate Dinning: Top End’s nod from Conde Nast Traveller a sign that good things are building

It’s been a tough start to the decade for the Territory’s tourism and hospitality operators – but a nod from a prestigious global travel publication could herald a golden run, writes Kate Dinning.

The Top End has been named one of Conde Nast Traveller’s Best Places to Go in 2025. Pictured is Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge on the Cobourg Peninsula. Picture: File

I think I’d struggle to pick my 25 favourite places in the Northern Territory.

The list would include some of the most spectacular locations and awe-inspiring views. There’d obviously be some places on there because they hold special memories, and maybe some unique to the NT.

But how could you possibly choose?!

Imagine being in charge of the list of ‘Best Places (IN THE WORLD!) to Go in 2025’?

That’s what the editors of Conde Nast Traveller – a global voice on travel and culture ­– had to do recently.

They’ve openly said that determining the best places to go in 2025 was no easy task – especially for travel editors with an “insatiable desire to go everywhere, see everything, and be dazzled by the world’s rich and varied contours”.

But the editors have chosen the 25 places on this entire spinning globe that they’d jump at the opportunity to visit in 2025.

They’ve listed the 25 places they want us to know about before we see it on TikTok, or places that people haven’t heard of or considered yet – “intriguing new corners of the world,” they called it.

Scenes from Venture North’s multi-day Arnhem Land and Cobourg Peninsula tour. Picture: File

And – guess what? In case you missed it – it’s us!

The Top End, Australia’s Northern Territory, is on that list: an intriguing new corner of the world.

Perhaps our recent surge to the top of Netflix’s most-watched lists globally piqued some new interest, or maybe everyone else is just catching up to the things that we already knew.

Either way – go us!

Conde Nast lists the Top End, taking in Darwin, Kakadu, Arnhem Land, and the Katherine region, as a wonder to witness.

Understandably – they had to use something to narrow down the choices – and so they chose “change”.

“The places that are evolving. The places that are just getting started. The destinations that are being reshaped by new openings. It is those places, imbued with a sense of a fresh start, that have a way of crawling up to the top of our must-visit lists,” Conde Nast explains.

Doesn’t that get you a little bit excited?

It could be arbitrary – I know it’s just a magazine article.

But that’s always where it starts.

Times have been a bit turbulent for our tourism operators for the last four years.

But as Conde Nast highlights – it does feel like we are entering a fresh new chapter. Let’s lean in.

There have been some amazing new openings this year alone, both across tourism and hospitality.

There are new bush tucker tours in Kakadu and even new tours that capture an emerging tourism market – stargazing!

There’s a brand new helicopter touring company operating out of Nitmiluk Gorge.

There’s a new airboat company providing another unique experience out in Bynoe and for travellers in Dundee.

Bynoe Harbour is now home to an airboat experience. Picture: Google Maps

There are new Indigenous tourism businesses launching in Arnhem Land.

Closer to home, we’ve secured the FIM Motocross World Championship right here in Darwin for 2025.

There have also been multiple venue openings that have shaken up the CBD, and plenty of new cafes that are elevating our coffee scene.

I could keep going – maybe I will have to do my 25 favourite places in the NT for next week’s column!

I am proud of the NT and our tourism industry for being right there next to the incredible luxury lodges in Uganda, and with the street food in Bolivia.

On the list with riverboats and tree houses in the Amazon, space tourism in Florida, wildlife spotting in Argentina, and artsy beach scenes in Nicaragua.

It gives us high hopes for 2025.

If we continue to invest in new experiences and products – we will keep getting added to lists, and people will continue to come.

Now all we need to do is fix the flights…