The NT has launched a new tourism initiative which it hopes will encourage grey nomads and others to explore the Territory’s rich military history.
It includes an AI-powered Trip Planner, which will allow visitors to create personalised military history itineraries tailored to their location, interests, budget and timeframe while showcasing local businesses, regions and experiences.
From roadside airfields and untouched battlefield bunkers to immersive museum experiences, it says the new platform will put these iconic sites on the map for all to see.
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Marie-Clare Boothby said the initiative was part a broader strategy to grow the visitor economy by showcasing the Territory’s rich wartime history.
The NT is putting a new focus on military tourism.
“We said we’d put military tourism on the Territory’s map, and we’re doing just that,” said Ms Boothby. “From the Top End’s pivotal role in World War II to its continued importance in Australia’s defence today, we’re leveraging our unique history to attract more visitors, support local jobs, and grow our economy.”
The military wall at the new Darwin Services Club.
The Territory’s military history will be promoted through targeted marketing and innovative tools such as the AI Trip Planner, alongside key commemorative events including Bombing of Darwin Day, ANZAC Day, and Remembrance Day, along with upcoming events like NT Defence Week and Pitch Black 2026.
“The Territory is Australia’s very own battlefield – more bombs were dropped in the Territory than Pearl Harbor, including hundreds of kilometres from Darwin with historical sites right along the Stuart Highway,” Ms Boothby said. “We are telling the world that if you’re looking for war history, you come to the Northern Territory.”
The new AI Trip Planner was launched at the new Darwin Services Club at the iconic Admiralty House on the Esplanade where a new military wall showcasing the Territory’s proud defence history was unveiled.
Guy Dunne, part of the team operating the club said Admiralty House had always been part of Darwin’s story, and we’re proud to bring it back to life as the new Darwin Services Club.
“This new military wall is about honouring the men and women who have served, while helping tell the Northern Territory’s unique story of World War II,” he said. “You can’t experience military history like this anywhere else in the country. We’re right here in the heart of the city, surrounded by some of the most significant military sites in Australia.”
For more information about military tourism in the NT, and to find the AI Planner, click here.
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