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 and spend the day wallowing in the natural surrounds of places like Buley Hole and Florence Falls.
Further south you have the town of Katherine; home to the stunning Katherine Gorge. Boat tours run here year round. Swimming is not encouraged from November to April, because of the estuarine crocodile population, which find their way up the river with the rising waters. The population is still recovering from a cull which continued until the late 1970's. Nonetheless, adults are regularly noted at well over 4 meters in length, and sadly tourist deaths do still occur more often than they should. Sensible practice includes taking note of any signs, and if in doubt, don't enter into or fish near suspect waters.
Though there are two distinct seasons - The Wet (November - April) and The Dry (May - October), Darwin is never cold. Regardless of the season, the temperature always seems to sit around 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).
The Wet simply means more humidity and almost daily, albeit brief, rainfall. Rivers rise, roads flood, and in the surrounding parks, some trails become impassable, even with a 4x4 or SUV. Crocodiles swim into the inland waterways and stingers (deadly box jelly fish) frequent the oceans. But with the rain comes the greenery and spectacular foliage and can be a spectacular time to visit.
The Dry brings the tourists as more roads open and the crocodiles head back downstream. The variety and frequency of tours increases with the opening of the roads and accommodation begins to fill up.
There are numerous car and van hire companies in Darwin, where you can rent a vehicle for your venture into the Top End. Prices will vary greatly according to the facilities required, but a 4x4 van with basic cooking facilities, an ice box and bed can be accommodated in a budget at around $75 AUD per day. If you are looking for something more upscale, with a refrigerator and cooling system, and sleeping areas for more than 2 people, expect to pay more.
Regardless of the time of year, Darwin and her national park neighbours are well worth the visit. Australian airlines Qantas as well as their budget airline Jetstar and Virgin Blue all operate flights from the major cities. A return ticket from Sydney will cost between $400 and $600 AUD per adult.