The Northern Quoll occurs in a range of habitats including Eucalyptus open forest, monsoon rainforest, and savannah woodlands. The species is most abundant (and apparently with less fluctuations) in rocky environments. In north Queensland, it is most common in coastal and/or high altitude rocky areas and in drier habitats of upland tablelands (Maxwell et al. 1996). This species is a generalist, as it occurs in a wide range of habitats and its diet consists of a variety of invertebrates and small vertebrates (Woinarski 2005). The Northern Quoll shelters in hollow logs, rock crevices, caves, and tree hollows (Woinarski 2005). It is mostly a ground-dwelling species, but is also an adept climber (Woinarski 2005).

The Northern Quoll occurs in the northern parts of Australia. Historically, it occurred in northern Australia from Pilbara to south-east Queensland, extending inland as far south as Alexandria. More recently, there has been substantial decline in southern and eastern Queensland and the Cape York Peninsula. The Northern Quoll has apparently disappeared from most or all of the lower rainfall former range in the Northern Territory and south-east and south-west Kimberley. A substantial decline has also occurred in Pilbara (Maxwell et al. 1996). The species has been recorded from Groote Eylandt and the nearby North-east Island, Marchinbar Island (in the Wessel group), Inglis Island (in the English Company Islands group) and Vanderlin Island (Sir Edward Pellew group). It has also been recently translocated to Astell and Pobassoo Islands in the English Company island group (Woinarski 2005). This species occurs up to around 1,300 m asl.

The Northern Quoll occurs in a number of protected areas. Recommended actions for this species (Maxwell et al. 1996) include: monitor abundance and disease status at selected sites across range; undertake additional research into causes of decline. In the Northern Territory, it has been recorded from 15 conservation reserves (Kakadu, Litchfield, Garig Gunak Barlu, Mary River, Manton Dam, Nitmiluk, Umbrawara Gorge, Fogg Dam, Charles Darwin, Black Jungle, Tjuwaliyn (Doglas Hot Springs), Berry Springs, Limmen, Leaning Tree Lagoon, and Howard Springs) (Woinarski 2005).