by Danielle Dames

Created on: April 16, 2009

Most international visitors to Australia will slot Sydney or Melbourne into their itinerary. But Darwin?

Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory is perched on a coastline that few make the time to visit. And it is a shame, because the small city is a completely different experience to other cities, but almost more Australian than most.

It is the gateway to the 'Top End'. Hot and often humid, but nonetheless enticing, the Top End encompasses some of the most spectacular scenery in the country with its national parks of Kakadu and Litchfield.

Darwin itself seems more like a large town than a city. With a population of only 110,000, high rises are few and far between. Over thirty percent of the population is indigenous, the greatest representation of the Aboriginal community in any Australian capital city. The flat iron roofs and palm trees could belong to any tropical town, but the Aussie accents and super sized bottles of beer place it firmly on Australian soil.

In Darwin

Popular attractions in Darwin include the WWII oil storage tunnels. Though not well known, Australia was attacked by the same Japanese fleet which bombed Pearl Harbour. The movie 'Australia' depicted the air raid and battle which occurred in the bay on February 19, 1942 at Darwin, killing over 200 Australians, including 7 civilians in the town itself. Considering the tiny population at the time, the deaths were a devastating number.

Another popular Darwin destination is Crocodylus Park, a fantastic educational experience and fun family outing. Home to not only numerous crocodile species including the salt and fresh water varieties, but also other wildlife, such as snakes, lizards and even kangaroos and dingos the park is a great way to experience Australian wildlife in a safe and friendly environment. Prices are $27.50/$13.50. Children under 3 are free.

Around Darwin

The most common trips extending from Darwin are road trips to the nearby national parks of Kakadu to the east, and Litchfield Naitonal Park to the south east. Both can be reached in a few hours, but for a more enjoyable experience plan to spend longer than one day.

Kakadu National Park is home to some amazing Aboriginal rock art dating back thousands of years. Ubiir is a great place to view some important pieces and also hosts some incredible sunsets.

Litchfield National Park, approximately a hour and a half from Darwin, has some great campsites, waterfalls and billabongs which are well worth the visit. Bring your swimmers and a picnic

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