You are here: Home > Destinations > DARWIN, NT

Darwin: The Low Down

Why Do People Go There?

Intrigue: Like Perth, Darwin is an isolated city in terms of its proximity to the other states and capital cities, which raises a curiosity in people's minds as to what it is like. For many Australians, to travel so far is like going to another country, except here there are Aussies just like them living a lifestyle similar to theirs. That is a very attractive (and justified) proposition for people who want to do some serious travelling to somewhere far away from home, but don't want the hassles, risks and safety concerns in going to another country.

Its tropicality: Darwin is unique among Australia's capital cities in that it is the only capital in the tropics. Darwin's climate, vegetation, wildlife and dress code are all quite different to those of the other capitals; Townsville and Cairns are the only other Australian cities to share a similar tropical climate and lifestyle.

Its uniqueness: Where else in Australia can you experience a live crocodile show in the main street, grab a bite to eat at an oceanside market and then watch an incredible sunset from your vantage point on the beach as you dine, or decide take a drive and end up in Kakadu National Park before lunchtime?


Sunset at Mindil Beach

Why Do We Go There?

For all the reasons above, which can all be summed up in one simple phrase - it's different to anywhere else. It does cost a bit more to get to than anywhere else in Australia, except for maybe Uluru, and its accommodation is the most expensive of any Australian capital city, but there's nowhere quite like Darwin anywhere else in Australia and it's worth visiting for that reason alone.

Where Do We Stay?

I have stayed in a number of places when in Darwin and have been happy with them all. Hiway Inn Darwin is always good value if you don't mind being out of town (it's about 10 minutes drive from the city, and on a bus route if you have no car). I've stayed at the Mediterranean All Suite Hotel when visiting Darwin with friends and found it ideal if you need accommodation for more than just a couple. Rooms have full cooking facilities, the Hotel is in the city area but not on the main tourist strip (one block away) or the main street, so it's pretty quiet.


Stoke Hill Wharf

What Do We like To Do There?

I wouldn't miss Mindil Beach Markets where, on a balmy winter evening, you can choose from an unbelievable variety of cuisines, then consume it watching the most amazing sunsets. The markets aren't the only place where you get a good feed in Darwin, especially if want to taste the local seafood. I've tried numerous establishments and not one has failed to please.
I love to hang out at the old Qantas Hangar at Fannie Bay and watch the car buffs restoring their prized possessions. The old cars are a delight; I also get a buzz gazing up and looking for (and finding) the bullet holes from Japanese wartime gunfire that riddle sections of the walls and roof. It's not one of the regular tourist haunts, being tucked away off the beaten track, but it is well worth checking out and entry is by donation.
A day drive down to Litchfield National Park always ends up on my agenda. The waterfalls are quite special and afterwards I like to drive a little further on to the township of Adelaide River, where I've spotted a wild croc or two on the riverbank. Speaking of the Adelaide River, a trip on the river on a Jumping Crocodile cruise just past Humpty Doo on the Kakadu NP road is a real treat. Seeing wild crocs in their natural habitat jumping right out of the water to be fed is not a sight one forgets in a hurry.


Wangi Falls, Litchfield National Park

About Darwin

Darwin At A Glance: A capital city with a difference, that boasts an easy-going lifestyle (in the dry season at least) and extends a warm welcome to visitors from the south, eager for a taste of Territory life.

A modern city of over 100,000 people, Darwin is Australia's most northerly city. Darwin has a tropical climate, and is subjected to tropical thunderstorms and cyclones during the wet season (December to March). Darwin has felt the fury of tropical cyclones or more than one occasion - the first recorded cyclone to hit Darwin was the 1867 cyclone, and much of the city was destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. It is also the only Australian city to have come under substantial attack during any war: Japanese planes bombed Darwin during the Pacific War.
Darwin has the largest proportional population of Indigenous Australians of any Australian capital city, and a significant percentage of the people in Darwin are recent immigrants from South and East Asia; as such Darwin is often called the multicultural capital of Australia. Due to its proximity to Asia, Darwin is an important port, particularly for the live export of sheep and cattle, and of minerals. It is also the site of a large Australian Army base and a naval facility supporting patrol boat activity off Australia's northern coastline.


Parliament House

Modern Darwin has a new, clean feel, no doubt a legacy of Cyclone Tracy Darwin which largely destroyed Darwin on 25th December 1974, killing 50 people and flattened over 70% of the city's buildings. After the disaster, an airlift evacuated 30,000 people. The town was subsequently rebuilt with newer materials and techniques during the late 1970s by the Darwin Reconstruction Commission. A satellite city of Palmerston was built 20km south of Darwin in the early 1980s.
A milestone in Darwin's recent history was the completion of the Adelaide - Darwin railway in September 2003, linking the city to the rest of Australia by rail for the first time and offering visitors to the Territory's capital a new way to experience the vast open spaces of Northern Australia.


Knuckey Street, Darwin

Climate; Best Time to Visit

Darwin has a tropical climate with distinct wet and Dry Seasons. The Wet Season is associated with tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. The majority of rainfall occurs between December and March when thunderstorms are common and humidity is regularly over 70 per cent. Darwin's climate averages are:

  • Mean January maximum temperature - 32°C
  • Mean January minimum temperature - 24°C
  • Mean July maximum temperature - 30°C
  • Mean July minimum temperature - 19°C
  • Mean annual rainfall - 1669mm
  • Wettest month on average - January, 422 mm
  • Rain Days: 110

The Dry Season, from April/May until September/October, yields pleasant weather that is similar to summer in the southern states. In Darwin during these months, humidity is low, the temperature is almost monotonously constant (around 30 degrees), and the days are warm and pleasantly sunny. For this reason, the Dry Season is also the peak tourist season.
The Wet Season is hot and humid with high rainfall. The tropical cyclones, choppy seas, endless days of rain and high humidity levels associated with the Wet Season would indicate that the Wet is not the time to visit the Top End, but there are actually two sides to this picture. The Wet Season brings forth the lush scenic beauty, raging waterfalls, an abundance of barramundi for those who love fishing, low prices all round and a lack of crowds at popular tourist haunts.
So there is a side to the Tropical North that you will never see if you are not there during the Wet Season, but there is a price to pay - heat, humidity, rain and the possibility of cyclonic weather. September to December, whilst not being particularly wet, are nonetheless very humid and quite unbearable, so it is best to stay away during those months too if you find humidity unbearable.

Translate this Web Page

Search This Website
search tips advanced search
search engine by freefind

Regions of Northern Territory

Visit Northern Territory
Darwin Travel Guide
Enjoy Darwin
Darwin eGuide
NT Visitors Bureau
Tourism Top End
The Real Outback
World Guide to Darwin
Around Darwin