Northern Territory Weather in March

March is the last official month of Wet Season in Northern Territory’s Top End. Meanwhile, there’s still a chance of rain in the desert as the Red Centre moves into Autumn. Keep reading to learn more about the Northern Territory Weather in March and the best things to do in Northern Territory in March.

Contents

Red Centre Weather in March
Best things to do in Northern Territory in March

What is the weather like in Northern Territory in March?

Being split into two distinctive climate zones, the

1. Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin and Kakadu National Park) goes through its last official month of Wet Season

2. The Red Centre (Alice Springs and Uluru) moves slowly into Autumn

Top End Weather in March

The last month of Wet Season sees a slight decrease in rainfall. Roads in the more rural areas can still get flooded and cyclones are still possible. We suggest you plan for some extra days if you’re visiting these areas as you might not get around as quickly as expected. With daytime temperatures sitting at around 28°C | 81.5°F and over 80% humidity, it can be tiring to explore the outdoors.

But if you love watching moody weather and thunderstorms with impressive lightning, March is a great month to visit the Top End of the Northern Territory.

Average sea temperatures

The average sea temperatures in March in the Top End are a tropical 30°C | 86°F. Due to the wild weather, it’s not advised to swim in the ocean in March. If you’re keen on a swim, just hop into one of the artificial public lagoon pools.

Red Centre Weather in March

March marks the beginning of Autumn in the Red Centre. The days are warm and nights cool down more than during Summer (December - February), making it much easier to sleep. Autumn (March - May) is the best time to visit Alice Springs and the Red Centre for most visitors. With some luck, you might even experience a rainy day - there are only an average of 2.3 rainy days in Red Centre in March.

Average temperature in Northern Territory

Region	Min °C	Max °C	Average °C	Min °F	Max °F	Average °F
Darwin	24.6	32	28.3	76.2	89.6	82.9
Kakadu NP	24.5	33.8	29.2	76.1	92.8	84.5
Katherine	23.1	34.2	28.6	73.6	93.5	83.5
Tennant Creek	22.5	35	28.8	72.5	95	82.2
Alice Springs & Uluru	17.6	32.8	25.2	63.6	91	77.3

Average sunshine hours

Thanks to its location in the desert, the Red Centre enjoys 9 - 10 sunshine hours per day nearly year-round.

The average sunshine hours in the Top End in March are around 7 hours due to the Wet Season

Average rainfall

City / Region	Rainfall (mm)	Rain (inch)	Relative humidity	Rainy days
Darwin	310.8	12.2	82%	19.3
Kakadu NP	300	11.8	77%	17.1
Katherine	192.6	7.5	70%	7.3
Tennant Creek	50.6	1.9	38%	3
Alice Springs & Uluru	31.6	1.2	31%	2.3

Best things to do in Northern Territory in March

Events in Northern Territory’s Top End are rare in Wet Season and activities mainly focus on the indoors. But this doesn’t mean you’ll be bored as there are lots of indoor things to do in Darwin! The Red Centre puts on a display of colour day and night.

Museum and Art Gallery Darwin

Experience a day of art and culture at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT).

MAGNT is home to internationally renowned artistic, cultural and scientific collections and research programs. Learn about aboriginal culture, the devastating cyclone Tracy and visit the museum’s most famous resident, Sweetheart the saltwater crocodile.

Visit the Royal Flying Doctors

Darwin’s Royal Flying Doctors Tourist Facility is an award-winning interactive museum. Walk through one of their airplanes and touch the doctors’ equipment. Learn how the doctors travel around the outback, providing crucial medical support for the remote Australian stations (farms). Hear about the bombing of Darwin Harbour during WWII from veterans and step back in time to the event using a VR headset.

Marvel at the Uluru Field of Light

What was originally meant to be a temporary art installation proved so popular it’s now a permanent fixture. Walk through a sea of thousands of pulsating light spheres while the stars and milky way twinkle almost as brightly. You can either book the sunrise or the sunset session, depending on your preference. The award-winning ‘Sounds of Silence’ Dinner is an experience not to be missed. Eat canapes and listen to the sound of the didgeridoo while the sun sets and then enjoy a 3-course meal while 50 000 glass spheres gently come to life.

See the desert come to life

See the Red Centre as you’ve never seen it before. After heavy rainfall, the desert springs to life. Not only can you witness waterfalls running down Uluru. Animals that usually hibernate, emerge from their hiding places to feed and mate. Desert flowers start growing, painting a tender green, yellow and purple over the red.

Recommended Northern Territory Itinerary in March

Our 9-day Alice Springs to Darwin Road Trip takes you from the heart of Australia to the tropical Top End in just nine days. See Australia’s Outback on the Explorer’s Way, visit the Devil’s Marbles and cruise through the majestic Katherine Gorge.

Driving in the Australian Outback needn't be intimidating: we provide comprehensive driving instructions, advice, and 24/7 support from the First Light Travel Team during your travels.

Want to know more? Ask us about this and our other itineraries!

Northern Territory Weather in March