01-07-2025
The Northern Territory's 2025 Cracker Night in pictures
It happens just once a year, for five loud, chaotic hours — and only in one rebellious corner of the country.
On the evening of July 1, the Northern Territory once again lit up in a flurry of bangs, smoke and unregulated explosives as thousands of people celebrated Territory Day.
Territorians and visitors that travelled from all over Australia to take part in the celebrations took to the streets and braved the mayhem to mark the 47th anniversary of self-government — and to revel in their right to legally buy and set off fireworks.
While the rest of Australia banned personal fireworks decades ago, the territory has tightly held onto the controversial tradition.
"It's the Wild West out here," said Casey O'Flynn, who drove from Queensland with her family to experience the chaos of Cracker Night.
Celebrated throughout the NT every July 1, Territory Day is the only time Australians can legally buy and use fireworks without a permit, with Northern Territory stores allowed to sell fireworks to people aged 18 or older.
Cracker Night almost didn't go ahead this year, after more than 100 tonnes of fireworks bound for the Northern Territory were seized by New South Wales authorities.
But eventually hundreds of tonnes of explosives crossed the border.
They then vanished in a flash on Tuesday, sold through pop-up, one-day-only shops selling ominously named favourites like Loose Cannon, Heavy Duty Missiles and Bullet Bees. The biggest kits retailed for more than $5,000.
Here's how Cracker Night was celebrated across the Northern Territory.
