Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory on the far northern coast of Australia. Located closer to Jakarta than Sydney, and closer to Singapore than Melbourne, it should come to no surprise that Darwin is highly multicultural city. Only about 105,000 people live in Darwin, but the city metropolis is modern and bustling. People in Darwin enjoy a relaxed lifestyle with a tropical city setting and beautiful natural scenery.
For all NT destinations please see the: Northern Territory Destinations ListDARWIN TOURIST ACTIVITIES/DESTINATIONS: Darwin is full of history, Aboriginal culture, and interesting tourist attractions. In central Darwin, you will find many excellent restaurants, bars, shopping centres, art galleries, theatres, markets, museums, historical sites, and much more. Darwin is also the perfect starting place for your holiday around the Northern Territory. From Darwin, you can easily travel to various national parks and locations in the outback.
The Darwin Harbour is twice the size of Sydney Harbour, and is surrounded by sandy beaches, beautiful mangroves, and cultured pearl farms. The Darwin Harbour also contains some of the earliest Australian history. The best way to experience the Darwin Harbour is take a harbour cruise. The Darwin Harbour also offers excellent sailing and fishing.
Crocodylus Park is a unique tourist attraction that features crocodiles and hundreds of other large reptiles. If you visit Crocodylus Park, you will have the chance to watch crocodiles get fed and even hold a baby croc! The park also boasts an informational crocodile museum. Other animals featured at Crocodylus Park include emus, cassowaries, ostriches, turtles, iguanas, white buffalo, and spider monkeys.
The Australian Pearling Exhibition is a great place to visit while in Darwin. Located in Stokes Hills Wharf, the Australian Pearling Exhibition showcases the history and growth of the pearling industry in the Northern Australian waters.
The Indo-Pacific Marine is located in the same building as the Australian Pearling Exhibition in Stokes Hills Wharf. The Indo-Pacific Marine is one of the four such aquarium exhibits in the world featuring a living coral reef system. In the Indo-Pacific Marine, you can examine live corals, sea horses, clown fish, butterfly fish, and much more.
The Mindil Beach Night Market, also known as the Mindil Sunset Market, has been operating on Darwin's picturesque Mindil Beach since 1987. The markets feature over 240 stalls with different kinds of foods and snacks, such as Thai, Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, Greek and Portuguese. You can also try Aussie specialities of kangaroo and emu meat. The remainder of the stalls at the Mindil Beach Night Market sell art and crafts. Many people bring blankets and chairs and enjoy a bottle of wine with friends. Live entertainment is encouraged. The Mindil Beach Night Market is held every Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon, and they run from April until about October each year.
The Australian Aviation Heritage Centre showcases the city's aviation history with exhibits that include a B52 Bomber, a Spitfire replica, and a Sabre jet. Guided tours are offered daily. Located 15 kilometres from Darwin, the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre is the perfect half-day trip.
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory catalogues many different aspects of natural history, life, and culture in the Northern Territory. The Art Gallery has a fantastic collection of Aboriginal art, as well as art from the South-East Asia and Pacific regions. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory also features a permanent exhibition dedicated to the horrific Cyclone Tracy that ripped apart Darwin in 1974.
The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens reflect the tranquil beauty of the northern tropics. Located two kilometres from Darwin's central business district, the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens feature 42 hectares of natural and exotic flora. You can stroll past mangroves, orchids, aroids, bromeliads, rainforest, and other amazing plantlife. The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens also has the southern hemisphere's largest collection of tropical palms.
The East Point Reserve overlooks Fannie Bay and looks across to the sparkling lights of Darwin City. The Reserve is an excellent place to see undeveloped, natural bushland and mangrove forests. The area also offers open parkland and barbecue areas. Visit East Point Reserve in the afternoon and you'll see wallabies coming out to eat. The Reserve is also an excellent place to sit and watch the sun set.
Kakadu National Park is a must-see for any traveller visiting the Northern Territory. Listed as a World Heritage site, Kakadu National Park is an ecological and cultural gemstone. Walking through the park, you can see crocodiles, wallabies, dingos, goannas, exotic birds, and much more. Kakadu National Park is also rich in Aboriginal culture you can discover Aboriginal shelters and Aboriginal rock images. Kakadu is 250 kilometres east of Darwin, easily accessible from the Stuart Highway.
Katherine is another popular tourist destination from Darwin. You'll get the full outback experience as you explore Katherine's national parks, natural gorges, and wide array of wildlife. Katherine allows you to partake in a number of activities such as canoeing, fishing, and boating. We recommend taking a Gecko Tour.
DARWIN WEATHER: The weather in Darwin is tropical always warm, sometimes humid, and a whole lot of sunshine. Although the Aboriginals from the area divide the year into six seasons, most people think in terms of the wet season and the dry season.
The dry season lasts from May to October, and tempertures range from 16° to 32° C (61° to 90° F). The dry season is the best time for blue skies and sunny days.
During the wet season, which lasts from November to April, temperatures range from 25° to 36° C (77° to 97° F). The wet season usually brings monsoonal rains, high humidity, and spectacular lightning shows. Cyclones are most likely to develop during this season.
TRANSPORT: Darwin has an international airport that provides domestic flights around Australia as well as international flights to Indonesia and other parts of South-east Asia. You can also travel to Darwin by bus or train.
Inside Darwin, the city offers public bus and ferry services. You can also hire a car to explore Darwin and the surrounding area, or book yourself onto a tour.
ACCOMODATION: The city of Darwin offers a large choice of resorts, hotels, rental apartments, motels, and hostels. There are also many camping grounds around Darwin.
MORE DARWIN INFORMATION: For detailed information on Darwin a great website to have a look at is Around Darwin it has information for tourists as well as locals, and even includes a guide to unique Northern Territory gifts & souvenirs.
